Summary: Our hearts were designed to find satisfaction by delighting in God. In fact, satisfying our heart in this way is the foundational starting point for our mission. God has designed life so that our heart loves must be ordered properly. The first commandment and Great Commandment are about giving God first place in our affections—“Have no gods before me.” “Love me with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength.” We were created to be worshippers, to delight ourselves in the Lord—to find pleasure in praising God’s moral beauty.

In fact, Peter tells us that the purpose of our redemption is to fulfill our created role first and foremost as worshippers. Peter writes, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9). Nehemiah 12 is the story of God’s people celebrating God and proclaiming his excellencies. From it we remember again how to keep our heart properly aligned by filling our heart with the joy of praising him 

For Further Prayerful Thought. 

1. Why do we not devote ourselves more to delighting ourselves in him?
2. Nehemiah inspired thankfulness to God in his people’s hearts for what God had done (enabling them to complete the wall in 53 days) by having them physically walking on the wall they built. How can we, as Christians, do a better job of setting our focus on what God has done for us?
3. What else stood out to you about this joyful worship celebration planned by Nehemiah?

For the printed version of this message click here.

For a summary of topics addressed by podcast series, click here.

For FREE downloadable studies on men’s issues click here.

To make an online contribution to enable others to hear about the podcast: (Click link and scroll down to bottom left)