Nehemiah 12:46
For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
The verse stands near the close of the book written by Nehemiah, a governor appointed of the Lord and given the burden of restoring Jerusalem. It belongs to the dedication of the restored walls of Jerusalem after the return from the Babylonian captivity. The book records the ups and downs, battles and conflicts, defeats and victories of the Jews at Jerusalem under the last reformation, which is typical of God's work in other ages, especially in the last days. Adversaries put forth every possible effort to hinder Nehemiah and his work, but he answered that he was doing a great work and could not come down, and God carried the work to glorious success despite all hindrance, with the last reform undertaken upon the better observance of the Sabbath.
The thanksgiving at the dedication was given with gladness and singing led by appointed singers with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, after the order from the days of David and Asaph of old. The thanksgiving also included purification of the priests and Levites and the people, the offering of great sacrifices, and rejoicing by the whole community including wives and children, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. Thanksgiving is thus almost inseparably connected with sacrifices and offerings, making material giving its really practical feature and providing a pattern for a Thanksgiving program.