Thanksgiving: A Study of Nehemiah Chapter 12

The children of Israel had a Thanksgiving Day when they dedicated the walls and city of Jerusalem. This occurred after they had been allowed to return and rebuild the Holy City Jerusalem by the King of Persia, however, they were still under Persian control.

While life was still not ideal for the Israelites, they knew how to give thanks to their God for what he had done for them, and what they believed He would do for them.

Some of the things the Israelites did on their day of thanksgiving, we do on our traditional Thanksgiving Day- they traveled, they gathered together with family, they ate and they gave thanks. By looking at how they gave thanks in Nehemiah 12 will enlighten us on how we should be giving thanks to our God also.

Before the day of thanksgiving started, they first purified themselves. The Israelites then had a ritual of purification, for us, purification is repentance of sins.

The people were divided into two large choirs, and these choirs walked around the city walls, playing instruments, singing and giving thanks. One choir group went to the left, the other choir group went to the right, both groups ended their walk at the Temple where they joined together in their thanksgiving. Do we go to God's House and give Him thanks on Thanksgiving Day, or are we like Martha, cumbered about with much serving, ( Luke 10:40) and don't take time sit at the feet of Jesus?

Specific gates and towers along the wall are mentioned in this chapter of Nehemiah also, they give us insight on times to give thanks.

Verse 31 mentions the dung gate. We are to give thanks at the 'dung gates' of our lives-the times when things don't look so good and life stinks.

Verse 37 mentions the fountain gate. We are to give thanks at the 'fountain gates' of our lives-the times when things seem to be pouring out on us faster than we can deal with them.