GOD OF CELEBRATIONS

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of trumpets, a holy convocation” – Leviticus 23:24

We serve and worship the GOD of CELEBRATIONS. Jehovah is not a stranger to feats and festivities. Celebrations commemorated His presence and provisions for the entire community of the people of Israel. He appointed festivities “according to the daily rate offering according to the commandments of Moses, for the Sabbaths, the New Moons and the three appointed yearly feasts – the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles” (2 Chr. 8:13). Exodus 12:14-17, 23:9-32, and Lev.23:40-43 provide additional insights to indicate that these feasts memorialized the Exodus, Salvation (Passover), and God's provision of land so Abraham's descendants would no longer wander as nomads.

The list of feasts was repeated in the Torah to emphasize their significance and purposes (Lev. 23; Dt.16). Through the array of celebrations, God acknowledged His role in meeting the needs of His people. For example, sowing seed and harvesting were vital to people who depended on the land for survival. The festivals constituted an acknowledgement that no matter how hard they worked, God was their ultimate source of food, supplying nature's bounty of rain, sun, and soil: “and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering, which is at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field” (Exo. 23:16).

Through the ordained feasts, Israel mutated from viewing themselves as underlings of Egyptian rulers for four hundred years into their identity as God’s chosen people. The statutes of Sabbaths and feasts presented new horizons for former slaves to express their God-purchased freedoms, and the annual gatherings reminded each generation of the works of God Almighty. Hence, their relationship with Him deserved jubilant salutation: “Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feasts, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be a memorial for you before your God: I am the LORD your God” (Num. 10:10).

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel tended to syncretise their celebrations, combining pagan rituals to their worship or neglecting God totally. For example, Jeroboam set up new gods, feasts, and sacrifices to draw political and religious allegiance to himself, away from worship in Jerusalem's temple (1 Kgs 12:32). Periodically, Israel reclaimed their identity as God's people, such as when Solomon reinstated the feast days (2 Chr. 8:12-14). After their exile to Babylon, resuming the appointed rituals caused great joy and restored their uniqueness as a nation: “…Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our LORD. Do nor sorrow, for the JOY of the LORD is your strength” (Neh.8:8-10).

Festivities brought benefits to participants, while providing respite from work for people. The weekly Sabbath was God's gift, a social day of rest and reflection for diligent families (Exo. 16:30; 20:11; 23:3). The land rested in the seventh year, a sound agricultural practice that kept the ground from becoming overworked and unproductive (Exo. 23:10-11). God’s mandate for every celebration is not only for His Glory, but is always for our good. It is noteworthy that no other acclaimed deities ever promised rest to their followers. Adherents of other religions work extremely harder to please their gods but they are never certain that they have done enough. What a contrast to the God of the Bible, who calls us pause from life's routines and , to feast, celebrate, and remember His goodness!

In the New Testament, followers of Christ are encouraged to meet regularly for encouragement (Acts 20:7; Heb.10:25). Hence, one of the qualities of the Church is a joyful attitude (Gal. 5:22). “Now to Him who is able to keep your from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with EXCEEDING JOY…be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 24).