“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.”

Nehemiah 12:28-30

Last time we saw the Levites being brought from where they lived to celebrate the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. Today we see the musicians and priests involved.

First up is the musicians, or, more literally, the sons of the singers (shir). This word means to sing, song leaders, behold. And the phrase gathered together is our familiar asaph – to gather, collect, all together, assemble, rear guard. Which makes sense as what’s a party without music?

But they were also to lead the people in song. And in Temple, the purpose would be worship. To behold again the Most High Who had performed miracles to bring them to this moment. We need to be led there, don’t we? To see clearly again what the hard work on the wall was for, Who had helped them, and to set it apart for His purposes.

I wish I didn’t need help remembering, always set my gaze where it belongs. But I do; we do. And we need reminding even if we’ve been reminded before. What better way than through lyrics and psalms, hymns and choruses? Music to stir our senses, transcend our situations?

The next section is very straight forward: the musicians were brought from regions around Jerusalem. Regions around is kikkar – a round, a round district, a round loaf, a round weight, a talent (a measure of weight or money) cake. Which is no big deal, it just means round. Except for how the name of one of the musicians’ villages mentioned is Beth Gilgal, meaning “circle of stones, a wheel;” It’s a form of galgal – a whirl, whirlwind, heaven, rolling thing.

Something about the round, circular, wheel, and whirlwind gives me pause. Especially recently after our area was hit with a tornado. No one was harmed, but the massive, whirling wind caused serious damage.

I want to stand in awe of a God Who touches mountains so they smoke, Who rides on the wings of the wind, Who makes winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants. And yet is still involved with me as I cook dinner, text people, make plans, stare at my calendar, watch the news, teach students, and seek to love. It’ll never not blow my mind, but I want to live aware.

And I just happen to love one of the areas in which the musicians built for themselves a village has its root in the word heaven.

Another definition which may intrigue you is Azmaveth which means “strong one of death,” from az (strong, mighty, fierce) and maveth (death). Makes you wonder who named this region such. Likely those who worshipped the Most High knew He was the decider of people’s destinies, and yet, Strong One of death has such a different meaning in light of the resurrection, doesn’t it?

Oh, it still matters, death. I say this during a week when our nation is once again grieving mass shootings. This is not how it was meant to be and we know it. But death doesn’t get to boss us around in fear anymore. We neither have to rush through grief because of it, nor give in to despair in light of it.

Our final section says, “When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.”

Here we see our Levites from last time. They and the priests were required to be ceremonially clean, worthy to lead others into God’s presence. Remember, they hadn’t had Temple or the Law for a generation. Now that they knew what was required of them, they took it seriously.

The word for purified here is taher – becomes clean, pronounce him clean, pure, purge, purified, purifier. And not just them; this purification also included the people (am – folk), the gates, and wall. It was all meant to be set apart for Him.

We can no longer pretend that the divisions among believers have no consequences. That extreme ideology and scarcity mentality – over Creator providing for creation or provision for all humanity – don’t scar our souls. It’s not that we have to line up exactly on every single point, it’s that we won’t even listen or take heed of how we’re reaping what we collectively sow.

May we be willing to let him purge what needs purging, remembering we belong to the Kingdom of a sacrificial Savior.