Because It's Awesome

Nehemiah depended on the Lord’s covenant promise to bring the outcasts of Israel back to Jerusalem. He was ready for the Lord to “make my name dwell there” (Nehemiah 1:9). This happened in part. Nehemiah prayed for it, saw it in part, and there is still more to come.

Included in the Lord’s promises of old is that the nations will know His name. The last prophet of the Old Testament, who seems to have overlapped with Nehemiah, revealed the Lord’s plan:

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 1:11)

And before that point, right now, God is dwelling in us who are in Christ.

Christ Jesus himself [is] the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22).

Maybe that’s a lot to hold together in your mind. That’s because it’s awesome. The Lord built a temple for His glory, He is building a spiritual temple in the church for His glory, and at the right time, His name will dwell on earth and nations will know He is great. Even as we come to the eat this bread and drink the cup, we are proclaiming the Lord’s death and expecting His return.