A humble assignment

Today I wanted to share with you a quick, but comical thought......
Again, I was reading in Nehemiah this morning and I was in chapter 12.
 The Israelites have gathered to dedicate the wall that was built around Jerusalem and what's a dedication without music? So, two choirs were assembled. One went one direction around the city and the other choir went off in the other direction. In the end, the choir surrounded the city.
Vs 31 says, "I led the leaders of Judah to the top of the wall and organized two large choirs to give thanks. One of the choirs proceeded southward along the top of the wall to the Dung Gate.

How amazing must it had been to be a part of that choir. As a singer, I can only imagine the melodic sounds that came from that crowd of voices. But can you imagine lining up along the wall. You're getting your choir robe all situated just right and your voice is all warmed up and your heart is pounding and you're ready to be a part of this historical occasion.

Then you are told that you are in the section of the choir that stands at the Dung Gate...not on the steps of the temple, not near David's house, not even near the Water Gate or Sheep Gate....nope, you get the section of the wall called the Dung Gate. (and let me just say, this wasn't called the Dung Gate because a rose garden bloomed there.)

Can you imagine those folks sitting around the dinner table telling their grand kids, "Oh, I was in the choir that day. Yep, I was at the Dung Gate." Oh, what a humble assignment that was, to be stationed at the Dung Gate.

But I venture to guess that those folks sang just as loud as the others, because in verse 43 it says, "and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away." Given what they had just come through and what they had accomplished, I would imagine even those stationed at the Dung Gate sang their heart out.

That makes me wonder about you and I. Even when we aren't standing in our Sunday best with sound and instruments and stage....do we still worship?  Even amidst the dung of life....do we still raise our voices to shout to God?  I hope, had I been assigned to the Dung Gate, I would have sang so loud. 
A humble assignment indeed, but a song still sweet to the ear of the Lord.