My husband preached a wonderful sermon about the feast in the book of Nehemiah that I would like to reflect upon this Thanksgiving as we prepare to feast ourselves with our loved ones 
The book of Nehemiah is kind of unique because he wrote it himself. For this reason, having written the Word of God, he might be considered in part a prophet. He was also a cupbearer for the Persian King Artaxerxes in 445 BC. In 586 BC, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar took the Jews into exile and according to God’s judgment on them for their idolatry and rebellion they remained exiled for 70 years.
In 539 BC, the God-appointed Persian King Cyrus the Great (referred to as a “Messiah” in the prophet Isaiah’s book of prophecy) conquered Babylon and issued a decree declaring the Jews were free to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. This started a gradual return of some Jews in the following years. In the time of Nehemiah, he received word one day from a Jewish messenger that the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed and in shambles and the city lay unprotected. He became very sad on hearing this news and prayed to God. The king noticed his sorrow and asked him why and what did he wish. He requested permission to return and rebuild the wall. The king granted it and he returned and built a coalition with the remnant Jews in Jerusalem to begin construction of the new wall. This process was fraught with challenges and attacks. There were schemes and plans to foil his efforts. The builders literally had to build with one hand and bear arms with another. They funded the efforts from their own resources and homes. It was a tremendous undertaking and, in the end, they were successful!!
In Nehemiah 8:10, the Israelites were celebrating the joyful Feast of Tabernacles and the completion of the Wall of Jerusalem. The feast of Tabernacles was a celebration of God’s faithfulness in the harvest and the spiritual revival of the people after hearing the Law read aloud. Starting in verse 10 we see him declare to the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.” So, too, do we weep and mourn when we first hear the law of the Lord and realize our sin and repent with a contrite heart in the day of our salvation, a holy day in all our lives—the day we place our trust in our Savior Jesus Christ. Just as Cyrus was the Messiah of the Jews in his day, God provided us a Messiah in Jesus. Just as the Jews rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem, so too, does God rebuild the wall of protection around our hearts kept in peace in Christ Jesus.
Just as the Jews were getting ready to celebrate, Philippians 4:4-7 states, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men for the Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.” God calls us out of the exile of His judgment on our sins back home to the Jerusalem of His mercy and forgiveness and into the worship of our God, guarding the temple of our hearts with His peace. In this salvation we can rejoice and say again, we will rejoice!! Always!
In the next verse in Nehemiah, verse 10, we see, “Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink the sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” So too, do we go our way and eat the fat of the bread of the Lord’s Word and His broken body and the wine of His shed blood in the practice of communion. We eat the fat of the spiritual meat of His gospel and the oil of His Holy Spirit—indeed, we feast on His saving grace on this holy day of our salvation! In thanksgiving, we send portions to those who don’t yet know Him and need His gospel too, who are still lost in the exile of their sins. We share the gospel abroad and bring them back home to their heavenly Jerusalem—Zion. The prophet Isaiah prophesied of this holy day well before it arrived, saying in Chapter 51, verse 11: “So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. I, I am He who comforts you.” We too must take heed and find our strength in the joy and comfort of our God and Savior! We have been ransomed and returned to Zion!
Sometimes it can be hard to rejoice when we are faced with trials or loss, especially in a holiday like Thanksgiving. What can we do then? To whom can we look? I am always touched with the example of Paul and Silas. In the book of Acts, Chapter 16, after delivering a woman from demons, they ended up seized by the authorities and treated harshly and cruelly thrown into prison. They were “stripped of their clothing and ordered to be beaten with rods. After they had given them to a severe flogging, they threw them into prison…” And not just any cell, but “he put them in the innermost cell and put their feet in stocks.” So they’re in a dungeon, bound and severely wounded, in great pain with what hope? What would we do in such a dire circumstance? What do they do? Verse 25-26 states, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened.”
From their example, we can learn to pray and sing hymns to God in the midnight hour of our trials. It may be tough and this is why it is called a sacrifice of Praise and thanksgiving. Colossians 3:16-17 says, “…and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” In in doing so, God may just provide a miraculous earthquake and break off our chains! Just as David reminds us in Psalm 103, let us always forget not His benefits and bless His holy name as he says in verses 1-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me; bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits—who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good as long as you live…”
So this Thanksgiving, let us remember most of all to thank our Redeemer God who saved us from the exile of His judgment, who redeemed our life from the Pit and crowned us with steadfast love and mercy—who ransomed us and led us home to our heavenly Zion with everlasting joy on our heads, rebuilding the walls of our redeemed heart. Let us rejoice always in so great of a salvation, even when we may find ourselves in chains locked away in the dungeon of our trials. Let us sing our songs and spiritual hymns of thanks to Him and love one another with joy and gratitude. Let us send portions to those without and share this magnificent gospel of our salvation with others. Let us never forget this Great Gift—for on this holy day and each one coming up, the Joy of the Lord is our strength!! Amen!
Happy Thanksgiving and God bless!