“Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day? 18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” 19 So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.” Nehemiah 13:17-19 NKJV
Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day.
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, 3 On an instrument of ten strings, on the lute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. 4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:1-4 NKJV
Lord of the Sabbath,
One of Nehemiah’s reforms was to reinstate the Sabbath. This practice set them apart from every other nation. Nehemiah is very abrupt and seems quite severe. Some would do as they were told I am sure because they were told they must, a legalistic keeping of the Sabbath. But others would be glad to be able to take a days rest and be glad to praise God who had brought them back from captivity.
Today we live in a political system that values money and trade and convenience. There are still a few shops that close on a Sunday but there are as many occupations that demand shift work on a weekend for safety and necessity. But for us worshippers, church goers – it demands a question. (And some have to work on a Sunday). When people ask us if we go to church, when we can, do we sound like the Psalmist? Do we reflect how good it is, and do we go joyfully at least most of the time? Do our Sundays look different to the world? Joyful does not have to mean happy clappy but to want to be there and enjoy fellowship?
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 27th September 2026
We worship the God who was
We worship the God who is
We worship the God who evermore will be
He opened the prison doors
He parted the raging sea
My God, He holds the victory
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
There’s joy in the house of the Lord today
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise
There’s joy in the house of the Lord
Our God is surely in this place
And we won’t be quiet
We shout out Your praise
(Oh-oh, oh) we shout out Your praise
(Oh-oh, oh)
We sing to the God who heals
We sing to the God who saves
We sing to the God who always makes a way
‘Cause He hung up on that cross
Then He rose up from that grave
My God’s still rolling stones away
Chorus
We were the beggars
Now we’re royalty
We were the prisoners
Now we’re running free
We are forgiven, accepted
Redeemed by His grace
Let the house of the Lord sing praise
‘Cause we were the beggars, Now we’re royalty
We were the prisoners, Now we’re running free
We are forgiven, accepted., Redeemed by His grace
Let the house of the Lord sing praise.
Repeat
Chorus
Repeat . . .
Songwriters: Jonathan Smith / Phil Wickham