Transcript [00:03] [music] [00:04] >> Worship precedes warfare. [00:07] We need to be filled with [music] our [00:09] God-given purpose. [00:12] >> Our role as musicians is bringing [00:14] healing to this nation. [00:17] >> You have to expand your boundaries of [00:19] what worship is. [00:22] >> Don't be afraid. Do not shrink back [00:24] [music] in unbelief. [00:26] Victory is on the other side. [00:31] >> I am Dr. Erez Soref. I was born and [00:34] raised in the heart of Israel, but I [00:36] never heard the gospel message until on [00:39] a journey abroad my eyes were opened to [00:42] the Jewish Messiah. From that [music] [00:44] point my life has been dedicated to [00:47] bringing this gospel back to my people [00:49] Israel, equipping them [00:51] >> [music] [00:51] >> to reach Israel and the world. [00:54] Together as Jews and Gentiles, we are [00:57] one in Messiah, one for Israel. [01:01] >> [music] [01:08] [music] [01:17] >> Jerusalem is now the most populated city [01:20] in Israel. [01:21] With such a high demand to live here, [01:24] the city is bursting at the seams. [01:27] But in Nehemiah's day, even after the [01:29] walls were constructed for peace and [01:31] security, [music] [01:32] there were still very few people living [01:35] within its gates. [01:36] This was unacceptable. Nehemiah had [01:39] prepared the structure, the wall. He had [01:42] led Israel to a great victory under the [01:45] banner of the Lord. [01:46] The people had experienced an awakening. [01:49] Their hearts were tender to [music] the [01:51] word once again. [01:53] But now, this city needed to be [music] [01:55] filled with people who could give [01:58] witness to God's greatness day after [02:00] day. [02:02] Even though Israel had experienced great [02:04] victories, Nehemiah needed to fill the [02:07] city [02:07] >> [music] [02:07] >> so the victory would last. Only then [02:11] could their victories turn into true [02:13] celebration. [music] [02:15] As we walk the walls with Nehemiah, we [02:17] will see his steps of preparation for [02:20] celebration. [02:22] Yeshua gave a teaching about the man [02:25] being released from demonic bondage. He [02:27] said that after a while the unclean [02:29] spirit would come back. It would find [02:32] its home swept clean in order and empty. [02:36] The demon would then find seven spirits [02:37] [music] more wicked than himself. They [02:40] would inhabit the man and his state [02:42] would be worse than before. One thing we [02:45] can learn from this is that we as humans [02:48] need to be filled. Filled with the Holy [02:50] Spirit. Filled with the love found in a [02:53] Messiah-centered [music] community. [02:56] Filled with our God-given purpose. But [02:59] the scenario Yeshua described [music] is [03:01] also the same danger Nehemiah faced with [03:04] Jerusalem. [03:05] The people had repelled [music] [03:07] the enemy and built up the walls. The [03:09] city was swept clean and put in godly [03:12] order, but it was largely empty. [03:15] Unless there were a thriving [music] [03:17] people living inside who followed God's [03:19] word and lived to glorify him, their [03:22] victory would have been short-lived. [03:25] So Nehemiah became intentional [music] [03:27] and strategic. He needed to take people [03:29] from the surrounding towns in Israel and [03:32] relocate them inside Jerusalem to dwell. [03:35] He was [music] already prepared. A few [03:38] chapters earlier, Nehemiah had made all [03:40] the families [music] register so he [03:42] would have an accurate record. Now, he [03:45] went [music] through the record and cast [03:47] lots, selecting one of every 10 [music] [03:50] families to live inside the city. In [03:53] ancient Israel, the will of God was [03:56] sometimes determined by casting lots. [03:59] These lots [music] would be a sovereign [04:01] indicator of God's will. [04:03] Proverbs 16:33 [04:05] says that [music] the lot is cast into [04:08] the lap, but its every decision is from [04:11] the Lord. [04:12] Today, we live in the age where the Holy [04:14] Spirit lives inside every believer. [04:17] Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that the [04:20] Spirit searches out the mind of God and [04:22] reveals his thoughts to us. God gives [04:25] his people knowledge and wisdom by the [04:27] Spirit without needing to cast [music] [04:30] lots or inquire of a priest. [04:33] But how often do we try [music] and [04:35] figure things out on our own? [04:38] We should follow Nehemiah's example, not [04:41] in casting lots, but in leaning on God's [04:44] wisdom. [04:45] When we lack wisdom, we can ask God who [04:47] gives generously without finding fault. [04:50] God revealed his will to Nehemiah and [04:53] the people, [music] [04:54] and they leaned into his sovereign [04:56] wisdom. One out of every 10 Israelite [04:59] families [music] were chosen by lot to [05:01] relocate to Jerusalem. It was a tithe of [05:05] the people who were chosen by God to be [05:07] dedicated [music] [05:08] to him, to live in the holy city and [05:11] prepare the way for the future coming [05:13] Messiah. It was a preparation for [05:16] celebration. [05:17] There's a stigma of Jerusalem today [05:20] being a city of conflict. Imagine how [05:23] they might have felt in Nehemiah's day. [05:26] Israel had no advanced army. The land [05:28] was occupied by a foreign empire, and [05:31] [music] enemies surrounding them could [05:33] break out at any time. But astoundingly, [05:36] >> [music] [05:36] >> the families that were chosen to dwell [05:38] in Jerusalem did not see it as a [05:41] dangerous [music] duty, but as a [05:42] privilege. So great was their desire to [05:45] celebrate God's goodness in God's city [05:48] that the joy overcame [music] fear. [05:51] The joy of the Lord had once again [05:53] become their strength. Just like the [05:55] people of Jerusalem, we can [music] make [05:57] the choice to offer our lives to God [06:00] willingly. [06:01] When we do this, when we agree with [06:04] whatever he asks of us, he renews us. He [06:07] transforms us [06:08] >> [music] [06:08] >> and we begin to see more clearly the [06:11] will and plan of God and just how good [06:15] it is. [06:17] Our yes gives us [music] a reason to [06:19] celebrate. If you want to go deeper in [06:22] Nehemiah's story, we're offering a free [06:25] 31-day devotional as a companion to this [06:29] book. [06:30] Visit the link below to download the [06:32] free devotional. [06:34] And don't forget to get the new book, [06:36] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah. It goes [06:39] deeper into these powerful lessons of [06:41] restoration, prayer, and perseverance. [06:44] Order our new book, Walking the Walls [06:46] with Nehemiah, and discover how you can [06:49] pick up bricks and [music] build with [06:51] God. [06:52] >> For a limited time, get our new book, [06:54] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah, with [06:56] our devotional companion for a gift [06:57] [music] of any amount. Scan the QR code [07:00] on your screen or visit [07:01] oneforisrael.org/walls. [07:03] Your gift will help us bring the gospel [07:05] back to Israel [music] [07:07] and equip believers in Israel to reach [07:08] the world. Scan the QR code now [music] [07:11] or visit oneforisrael.org/walls [07:13] and for a gift of any amount, receive [07:15] these free resources. [07:18] >> [music] [07:22] >> Nehemiah sought God's wisdom on how to [07:25] repopulate [music] the rebuilt city of [07:27] Jerusalem. [07:28] He cast lots and selected one out of [07:31] every 10 to inhabit the city. Nehemiah [07:34] 11 and 12 lists the names of those who [07:37] were chosen to live in Jerusalem. [07:40] And though this list can seem very long, [07:42] those families made up a very important [07:45] [music] [07:45] remnant. A remnant that would eventually [07:48] prepare the way for the Messiah. [07:50] For example, among the list is one [07:53] [music] of the priests of Iddo. [07:56] Perhaps you don't recognize his name, [07:58] but his line would eventually lead to [08:00] the priest Zechariah. [music] [08:02] And his son, John the Baptist, was the [08:05] prophet that prepared the way for [08:07] Yeshua. So, God was preparing even in [08:10] the time of Nehemiah. Also, among [08:12] [music] this list of Jerusalem's [08:14] inhabitants were entire families of [08:17] musicians. These were Levites [08:19] >> [music] [08:19] >> who primarily played instruments and [08:22] sang. [08:23] They saw their talent as more than [08:25] [music] just a hobby or a marketable [08:27] skill. For them, their excellence in [08:30] music [music] was a means to worship and [08:33] celebrate the goodness of God. [08:37] >> [music] [08:41] >> My name is Oren Troniak. I'm from [08:43] Jerusalem. [08:45] Um I'm a artist, composer, [08:47] multi-instrumentalist. [08:49] >> [music] [08:55] [singing] [08:57] [music] [08:58] >> One particular instrument that I really [08:59] like playing is the Persian tar. [09:02] I'm not Persian. I'm partially from a [09:05] Eastern Jewish [09:06] family and Ashkenazi Jewish family, so I [09:09] had both words of the Ashkenazi tunes [09:11] [music] [09:12] and the Mizrahi tunes. But actually I [09:14] grew up listening mainly to rock music [09:16] and Western music. In the book of [09:19] Nehemiah, [09:20] we read about this beautiful moment of [09:24] the people of Israel going back to their [09:26] land, rejoicing, [09:27] >> [music] [09:27] >> giving thanks, singing songs with [09:30] cymbals, with harps and lyres. We can [09:33] imagine that it's not only one type of [09:36] song or type of music genre. There were [09:39] different genres. The expression of the [09:41] text shows you that you have to go [09:43] beyond what you understand [music] as a [09:45] musician. You have to expand your [09:47] boundaries as a musician, as a composer. [09:50] But I think what actually brought me to [09:52] discover ancient [music] music or Middle [09:55] Eastern music [09:56] was trying to find my identity in God. [10:00] I suddenly realized that all these music [10:02] genres that I grew up listening to, [10:05] they didn't express enough. They They [10:07] expressed some feelings, but there were [10:10] a lot of nuances that I couldn't find [10:12] there. But suddenly I I found I don't [10:15] think mistakenly, but I found someone [10:17] walking in Jerusalem and he was playing [10:19] the Persian tar. [10:20] So, I asked him, I said, "Can you give [10:22] me like just a few notes just to listen [10:24] to it?" And I I was just falling in love [10:27] with the sound of this instrument [10:29] because they had such a beautiful [10:31] resonance and and scales that I couldn't [10:33] find in the guitar or the piano or any [10:35] other Western instrument. [10:38] That's a Persian tar. [10:40] It's made out of uh mulberry wood. [10:43] This white stuff on the on the neck of [10:46] the instrument is a [10:48] is made out of camel bone. [10:50] It's a very organic instrument, right? [10:53] Once I played it, something inside of me [10:55] started to stir, started [music] to [10:56] move. And I was like, "It's echoing [10:58] something I feel inside. It's echoing [11:00] some kind [music] of a deeper process [11:02] that I'm going through." We often [11:04] dismiss miss performance as something [11:06] more artificial. [11:08] We think performance is something that [11:10] only involves the [music] mind. [11:12] But it's actually a meeting point of [11:14] your mind and your soul. We read in the [11:16] Bible about the Levites and the priests. [11:18] We had once a year [11:21] the high priest entered [music] [11:23] the most quiet place, right? The Holy of [11:25] Holies. This moment is filled with awe. [11:28] It's It's filled with excitement because [11:30] it's only repeated once a year. [11:34] But, this is also a performance. He had [11:36] to fulfill his role as a high priest [11:39] entering the Holy of Holies, and I think [11:42] um as someone that [11:44] writes [music] worship songs or songs [11:46] that are rooted in the biblical Hebrew [11:49] text, showing professionality is part [11:51] [music] of your place as someone that [11:54] leads others into a better state of [11:57] mind. [music] [11:58] Right? You want to You want to lead your [12:00] audience [12:02] into what we call the presence of God, [12:04] right? Part of leading others into this [12:07] presence [12:09] is putting your ego aside. You're not in [12:11] the middle. [12:12] You're not the center. It's not about [12:14] you, how you look, or how you sound. [12:17] Imagine you had to bring back all the [12:20] Levites from different regions and [12:22] convince them [12:23] that it's worth coming and playing again [12:25] [music] music for God after the tragedy, [12:27] right? That our people went through. [12:30] They lost everything, right? [music] And [12:32] now you had to [12:33] reassemble your hope, reassemble your [12:36] vision for the country, for the land, [12:38] for the temple, [music] for Jerusalem, [12:40] and reimagine it again, believing that [12:43] it's worth singing in Jerusalem. We have [12:45] to come together in order to see this [12:48] space transform. Beautiful example of [12:51] how music can function as a as part of a [12:53] healing process. We had one event where [12:56] actually a couple of concerts on campus [12:58] of the Persian ensemble with the most [13:01] leading masters of Persian music. The [13:03] whole [music] ensemble was Israelis and [13:05] Iranians [13:06] while we're having anti-Semitic marches [13:10] on campus. We can't We can't see music, [13:12] [music] but we can feel it. Therefore, I [13:14] think our role as musicians is being [13:17] part of this healing process [13:19] bringing healing to this region, to this [13:21] nation. So, be part of it. I want to [13:23] challenge [music] you. Go and pick up an [13:25] instrument not from your culture. Go [13:28] study language not [music] of your [13:30] native tongue. And why I'm saying that? [13:32] Because Jerusalem is a mixture of so [13:34] many sounds, cultures, everything [13:36] happening at once. If you want to come [13:39] and experience Jerusalem, come with an [13:41] open-minded [13:42] uh approach [13:44] that you're part of a process [13:46] of expanding [music] your understanding [13:48] of worship because worship is a process, [13:50] is a must be a dynamic process. We step [13:52] out [music] of your comfort zone as a [13:53] songwriter, a worshiper, and and pick up [13:57] an instrument or start listening to [13:59] other type of [music] worship music from [14:01] the different regions of the world. [14:09] >> Nehemiah depended on God's wisdom to [14:12] strategically repopulate the city of [14:15] Jerusalem. [14:16] And after all the people were in [music] [14:18] the right place, he began preparing for [14:20] another strategic event, celebration. [14:24] Here I am. [14:26] At the dedication of [music] the wall of [14:28] Jerusalem, they sought the Levites in [14:31] all their places to bring them to [14:33] Jerusalem [music] to celebrate the [14:34] dedication with gladness, with [14:37] thanksgivings, and with singing, with [14:40] cymbals, harps, and lyres. Then I [14:43] brought the leaders of Judah [14:44] >> [music] [14:45] >> up onto the wall and appointed two great [14:47] choirs that gave thanks. [14:50] Remember how [music] Tobiah had mocked [14:52] Nehemiah and the workers in chapter 3? [14:55] He had said that if a fox goes up on it, [14:58] he will break down [music] their stone [15:00] wall. [15:01] But now the wall was so wide that [15:04] Nehemiah had to form [music] not one, [15:07] but two processions of singers to [15:09] surround it for the dedication. It was [15:12] huge. [15:13] >> [snorts] [15:13] >> If Israel had listened to the mockers [15:15] [music] at the start, there would be no [15:17] celebration at the end. Doubt always [15:20] shouts louder, but hope, even if it's [15:24] quieter, endures. And when [music] we [15:27] choose to follow hope, the day comes [15:29] when its song rises above every other [15:32] sound, [15:33] >> [snorts] [15:33] >> and celebration drowns out the [music] [15:35] noise of doubt forever. [15:38] If you want to go deeper in Nehemiah's [15:40] story, we're offering a free 31-day [15:44] devotional as a companion to this book. [15:47] Visit the link below to download the [15:50] free devotional. [15:51] And don't forget to get the new book, [15:54] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah. It goes [15:56] [music] deeper into these powerful [15:57] lessons of restoration, prayer, and [16:00] perseverance. [music] [16:01] Order our new book, Walking the Walls [16:04] with Nehemiah, and [music] discover how [16:06] you can pick up bricks and build with [16:08] God. [16:09] >> For a limited time, get our new book, [16:11] Walking the Walls with Nehemiah, with [16:13] our devotional companion for a gift of [16:15] any amount. Scan the QR code on your [16:18] screen or [music] visit [16:18] oneforisrael.org/walls. [16:21] Your gift will help us bring the gospel [16:23] [music] back to Israel and equip [16:25] believers in Israel to reach the world. [16:27] Scan the QR code now or visit [16:29] oneforisrael.org/walls, [16:31] and for a gift of any amount, receive [16:33] these free resources. [16:38] >> The day had come for Nehemiah and the [16:40] city of Jerusalem to celebrate all that [16:43] God had done. [music] [16:44] As Solomon said, there is a time for [16:47] everything. Sometimes there is a time [16:50] for work, a time to fight, a time to [16:52] repent, [music] [16:53] a time to put in order. But there is [16:56] also an appropriate time to celebrate, [16:58] to take joy in recognize what God had [17:00] done. [17:02] Nehemiah writes that the people of [17:03] Jerusalem organized two great choirs. [17:07] Nehemiah himself headed one [music] [17:09] procession, and Ezra led the other. They [17:12] went in opposite directions and [17:14] surrounded the entire city wall with a [17:16] march of Thanksgiving. [17:18] As they marched around the wall, maybe [17:20] they reflected on the stories of their [17:22] ancestors of Moses and the children of [17:25] Israel as they marched out of Egypt, of [17:27] Joshua and the army marching around the [17:30] walls of Jericho, of David and his army [17:33] marching to conquer Jerusalem years ago. [17:35] Then maybe they would think of their own [17:38] stories. The victory God has given in [17:40] their lifetimes. They may have [17:42] remembered when Nehemiah first examined [17:45] the wall where he saw beyond what was [17:48] and saw God's prophetic vision. [17:51] As the [music] people went around each [17:53] one may have seen the portion of wall [17:55] they had personally built. [17:57] They would remember the initial [17:59] excitement they had felt for the vision. [18:01] The discouragement and the setbacks [18:03] [music] from the opposition. [18:05] And as they marched, they would realize [18:08] just like their forefathers, [music] [18:10] it was God that gave the victory. [18:13] Think of your own history with God. What [18:15] he's done for you, for your family. [18:18] Maybe you're in the middle of the battle [18:20] right [music] now. [18:22] Don't be afraid. Do not shrink back in [18:24] unbelief. [18:26] Victory is on the other side. [18:28] And when we overcome, [music] we realize [18:30] that it was only him. [18:32] Galatians 6:9 says, [18:35] "Let us not grow weary of doing good, [18:38] for in due season we will reap if we do [18:40] [music] not give up." [18:55] >> Oh, daughters of Zion, [19:00] oh, Abraham's sons, [music] [19:04] hear the words of your father. [music] [19:09] Here is promise of love. [19:13] >> [music] [19:14] >> I will make you a blessing. [19:19] So, count the [music] stars if you can. [19:24] You will [music] be a great nation. [19:29] I will give you this [music] land. [19:37] >> [music] [19:44] [music] [19:48] [music] [19:55] >> There [music] is nothing on earth that [19:58] could take you away once I gather you [20:02] under my [music] wings. [20:05] I will bring you all back home [20:10] again. [20:14] >> [music] [20:20] [music] [20:23] >> I will send you a savior. [20:28] I will finish [music] [20:30] my work. [20:35] >> [music] [20:43] >> Green pastures [music] [20:45] await [20:48] in Zion once more. [20:54] >> [music] [21:01] [music] [21:04] >> You will no longer roam [21:07] lost [music] [21:08] alone in the night. [21:14] There [music] is nothing on [21:16] Earth that could take you away [21:19] once I gather you [21:21] under my [21:22] >> [music] [21:22] >> wings. [21:27] >> [music] [21:32] [music] [21:38] >> Every prophet, priest, [music] and king [21:42] in the city will [21:45] look on the one they [21:46] pierced. [21:49] >> [music] [21:55] >> But don't fear, all my daughters, [21:59] and [music] sons of Abraham. [22:05] >> [music] [22:12] [music] [22:14] >> Though your sins were like scarlet, [22:16] [music] [22:19] they'll be whiter than [22:21] snow. [22:22] >> [music] [22:29] [music] [22:35] [music] [22:35] >> I will [22:36] bring you back [22:38] home. I'll bring you back home, [22:41] all my children. [22:45] >> [music] [22:53] [music] [22:55] >> There is nothing [22:57] on Earth that could [22:58] take you [22:59] >> [music] [23:00] >> away. I will [23:01] gather you [23:02] under my wings. [23:05] >> [music] [23:10] [music] [23:18] [music] [23:24] [music] [23:33] [music] [23:43] [music] [23:48] [music] [23:53] [music] [23:59] [music] [24:07] >> There was a great celebration. The [24:10] people had formed two choirs and marched [24:12] around Jerusalem. [24:14] After they circled the city, they met in [24:16] front of the temple at the gate of [24:18] mercy. [24:19] There they entered the temple courts [24:22] together. [music] [24:23] As they remembered the wonders of God [24:25] and reflected on what he had done, the [24:28] choirs exploded in worship. Nehemiah [24:31] writes, [24:32] "They offered great sacrifices that day [24:35] and rejoiced, for God had made them [24:38] rejoice with great joy. The women and [24:41] children also rejoiced, and the joy of [24:44] Jerusalem was heard far away." [24:47] The joy of Jerusalem was heard for [24:49] miles, like a roar from a stadium. [24:52] It made their enemies tremble. God was [24:55] working on behalf of his [24:57] His blessing was on them. So, the people [25:00] recognized, understood, [music] and [25:02] rejoiced. [25:04] Now, you need to realize that the [25:06] circumstances of the Israelites had not [25:09] actually changed that much. They were [25:11] still [music] a small minority under the [25:13] rule of the Persians. There were still [25:15] troubles from their enemies, as we'll [25:17] see next time. Yet, God himself caused [25:21] his [music] people to rejoice once again [25:24] with great joy. Joy is the fruit of the [25:26] spirit. It comes from within, regardless [25:29] of our circumstances. [25:31] I want to read you a beautiful song from [25:34] the prophet [music] Habakkuk. [25:36] Though the fig tree should not blossom, [25:39] nor fruit be on the vines, the produce [25:41] of the olive fail, and the fields yield [25:44] no [music] food, the flock be cut off [25:46] from the fold, and there will be no herd [25:49] in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the [25:53] Lord. I will take joy in the God of my [25:55] salvation. [music] [25:57] God, the Lord is my strength. He makes [26:00] my feet [music] like the deer's. He [26:02] makes me tread on my high places. To the [26:05] choir master, with stringed instruments. [26:10] In Hebrew, the word for choir master is [26:13] from the root word netzach, which is [26:16] connected to the idea of victory, [26:19] nitzachon. [26:20] It was anointed worshipers that would [26:22] often lead Israelite warriors into [26:24] [music] battle. Worship precedes [26:27] warfare. When we find ourselves [music] [26:29] in trouble and cannot see our way out, [26:32] we can join Habakkuk in singing songs of [26:34] praise in the dark. [26:36] We can trust that God will overcome our [26:39] enemies, that he will ultimately lead us [26:42] out in victory. Our battle is [26:45] preparation for celebration. [26:47] But, next time, [26:48] >> [music] [26:48] >> we'll see that the celebration is not [26:50] the end. The race is not over when you [26:53] pull ahead of the other runners, but [26:55] when you cross the finish line. [26:58] Next time we'll see the importance [27:00] [music] of finishing well as we conclude [27:03] our series Walking the Walls with [27:06] Nehemiah. [27:07] >> [music]
