Street Corner Worship

"At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.

I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.

The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.

The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away."  Nehemiah 12:27-43

I wish I could have seen this procession of singers and miusicians coming from opposite directions, rejoicing and celebrating.

This reminds me of chapter one of Entering the Restricted Zone by Steve Willoughby.

Steve writes of his experience of going to Ethiopia for a church conference. When the bus reached the conference destination, He and the team of ministers stepped off of the bus into a throng of singers. They lined up on either side of a pathway, formed for the ministers to walk through. They were singing, dancing and worshiping God with all their might. Steve decided to join them in their worship celebration. Instead of simply walking through the throng of worshippers, he sang, danced, and praised God with abandon, all the way to the platform.

Purchase the book. You will be hooked from the first words. I have just decided to read it again. 

Reading Nehemiah 12 and remembering Steve Willoughby's book sparks a desire in me to sing and celebrate more frequently than once a week at church. 

I am also reminded of Vesta Mangun, my pastor's wife when I was a child. She has spoken of singing and playing her accordian on a street corner after a powerful church service.

I have considered standing on the corner downtown with a keyboard and playing and singing worship songs. I have been wanting to do this for years. It's time for me to take action.

God deserves our praise, anytime and anywhere. 

"Thanks, God for the reminder this morning. You deserve my praise! Okay, God. Here is my promise. Before winter, I am going to drive downtown, get out on the street corner and sing praises to You. I give You my vow. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN."