Nehemiah returned to Israel from Babylon to rebuild the people of Israel, the walls of Jerusalem, and a new temple where all Israel would worship God. In the face of much opposition, Nehemiah finished the job! As Nehemiah prepared for the new dedication, he sent invitations to all surrounding communities. He wanted everyone to rejoice and celebrate together. Verse 12:27 says” “to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.” He had a great time planned for everyone. And so, they came. We read in 12:43 that” the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.”
Jesus gave many invitations in the Bible to the crowds and individuals to follow him and come to him for healing, health, and wholeness. Some suggest that all of Jesus’ parables and lessons contain obvious invitations, others more subtle. Also, Jesus tells the story about the official inviting many people to celebrate with him. We don’t know the occasion, but it was significant, and he planned a great time for everyone. Luke 14:18 says, “But they all alike began to make excuses.” So, the official sent his servants into the streets to bring in anyone willing to come and celebrate with him.
The point of Jesus’ story was that” the good time” he had planned for us could be ours simply by accepting His invitation. Those who reject it will miss out on the best thing: celebrating with God through all eternity. Paul invited the Philippian jailer to “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is an invitation to faith, which opens the door to the eternal “good time” that “God has planned for all those who believe in Him.” The Bible ends with an invitation to everyone. Revelation 22:17 says, “The Spirit and the bride say, Come! Let the one who hears this say, Come! Let whoever is thirsty come; whoever wishes may have the water of life as a gift.”