Neh 12:27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.

 After the wall was completed, it was dedicated to God. The word “dedication” means consecration (Strong’s Definition, e-sword). To consecrate is to set apart. Christian consecration means the act of setting apart people or things from the ordinary affairs of life and presenting them to God for His service.

What is the significance of dedication of the wall?

1. The dedication of the wall is a sign of gratitude and thankfulness to God. They had gone through a lot of hardship to complete the rebuilding. Their hard work and devotion spent toward the completion of the wall paid off. Yet, none of it would be possible without God’s continual protection, help and intervention. Now that it’s completed it’s time to dedicate and celebrate. Now it’s time to worship God and offer up thanksgiving for what He has done. This was a time of thanking God for His protection.

2. The dedication of the wall is a sign of acknowledgement that God is great. Men dedicate an object to someone who is greater or honourable. Some writers dedicate a book to their beloved wives and some to a great mentor. The dedication of the wall acknowledges that God is greater and the owner, that the wall belongs to Him and hence, the glory should be unto Him.

3. The dedication of the wall is a sign of renewal. The dedication came after their repentance and confession of sins. It is saying, from this day, just as the wall is renewed, we will renew our conviction to God. It is giving a fresh start. It is giving a second chance to make good. The wall was broken and it has been rebuilt and so, a broken life ought to be rebuilt.

Dedication ought to be the desire of our hearts each and every day. It is surrendering oneself to an all mighty God. Paul declared: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). That’s one hundred percent dedication. Christ was his life. He never regretted that he had followed Christ. He would even die without regret that he had followed Christ (2 Timotthy 4:7-8). In fact, no believer, when he comes to die, should regret that he has lived for Christ all his life because there is a reward that is awaiting them: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Revelations 14:13).

I don’t write a book and dedicate it to God. I don’t think God wants it; He wants me and not the book. We don’t renovate the church building and dedicate it to God. I don’t think God wants the building; He wants us. His word says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

God wants our personal dedication, our consecration, our setting apart for His service. Christian dedication is the act of a person in setting himself apart by solemn agreement, unreservedly and unconditionally, to do the will of Jehovah God through Christ Jesus. It means one must live a holy life, separate from this world, and serve God henceforth to eternity. As Paul says: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

The best gift to present to God is our personal commitment to God (Romans 12:1). Is your life dedicated to God? Will you re-dedicate to God today? It is giving oneself a fresh start, a second chance.

Let us re-dedicate ourselves to God this day and commit to be faithful to Him.

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.