The other company of those who gave thanks went to the left, and I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and the half of the officials with me; and the priest Eliakim. Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenau, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. They offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. The joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

Nehemiah 12:38-43

If you have been to a Promisekeepers event you know what it sounds like when 50,000 men sing praises to God. Have you ever wondered how those praises sounded out in the neighborhoods? How far away could people hear the celebrations going on in Jerusalem, years ago?

Joy cannot be contained. It must break out in praise to God through songs of Thanksgiving. Whether those who hear our outpouring of joy understand it or not, it will resound as a chorus that cannot be ignored – the music of lives lived out in praise of God.

Each day gives us new reasons to sing God’s praise.

Our Daily Bread – November 27, 2003