CELEBRATION

CELEBRATION

HOW DOES THE BIBLE MAKE CELEBRATION AN IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE? (Leviticus 23:1-44)

"The LORD said to Moses, “Give the Israelites instructions regarding the LORD’s appointed festivals, the days when all of you will be summoned to worship me.” (Leviticus 23:1-2)

TRUE WORSHIP INCLUDES CELEBRATION (Nehemiah 8:1-18)

"Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them, “Don’t weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the LORD your God.” All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the law. And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of choice foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:9-10)

Worship involves both celebration and confession. But in the case of Israel’s national holidays, the balance seems heavily tipped in favor of celebration-five joyous occasions to two solemn ones. The God of the Bible encourages joy! For example, the Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Ingathering, was a special celebration involving the whole family (see Leviticus 23:34; Exodus 23:16; Deuteronomy 16:13). Like Passover, this feast taught family members of all ages about God’s nature and what he had done for them and was a time of renewed commitment to God.

God does not intend for religion to be only meditation and introspection. He also wants us to celebrate. Serious reflection and immediate confession of sin is essential, of course. But this should be balanced by celebrating who God is and what he has done for his people. Families also need rituals of celebration to renew their faith and to pass it on to their children. In addition to Christmas and Easter, we should select other special days to commemorate God’s goodness.

CELEBRATION IS A WAY OF GIVING ( 2 Kings 23:1-23)

"There had not been a Passover celebration like that since the time when the judges ruled in Israel, throughout all the years of the kings of Israel and Judah". (2 Kings 23:22)

The people wept openly when they heard God’s laws and realized how far they were from obeying them. But Ezra told them they should be filled with joy because the day was holy. It was time to celebrate and to give gifts to those in need.

Celebration is not to be self-centered. Ezra connected celebration with giving. This gave those in need an opportunity to celebrate as well. Often when we celebrate and give to others (even when we don’t feel like it), we are strengthened spiritually and filled with joy. Enter into celebrations that honor God and allow him to fill you with his joy.

GOD ENCOURAGES HEARTFELT CELEBRATION (Luke 15:1-10)

"There is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents". (Luke 15:10)

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When Josiah rediscovered the Passover in the Book of the Covenant, he ordered everyone to observe the ceremonies exactly as prescribed. This Passover celebration was to have been a yearly holiday celebrated in remembrance of the entire nation’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12), but it had not been kept for many years. It is a common misconception that God is against celebration, wanting to take all the fun out of life. In reality, God wants to give us life in its fullness (John 10:10), and those who love him have the most to celebrate.

HERE IS CELEBRATION IN HEAVEN.

Palestinian women received ten silver coins as a wedding gift. Besides their monetary value, these coins held sentimental value like that of a wedding ring, and to lose one would be extremely distressing. Just as a woman would rejoice at finding her lost coin or ring, so the angels would rejoice over a repentant sinner. Each individual is precious to God. He grieves over every loss and rejoices whenever one of his children is found and brought into the kingdom. Perhaps we would have more joy in our churches if we shared Jesus’ love and concern for the lost.

GOD’S WORD ON CELEBRATION

When we think of celebration we usually think of enjoying ourselves, of having a great time with others. We celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, victories, promotions, awards, special milestones, the birth of a new baby. But we also celebrate occasions such as the Lord’s Supper, the anniversary of the death of a loved one, and other solemn events. What makes celebration unique is that we take time out from the ordinary to honor and to observe something that is notable, something that is special, something important to us all. Whether we are leaping in joy before the Lord, as King David did (see 2 Samuel 6:14), or solemnly listening to God’s Word at the Lord’s Supper (see Luke 22:17-19), we pause to remember, to honor, to worship, and to praise. And the end result of all celebration should be joy, the joy that comes from a full and grateful heart. God gives us the ultimate reason to celebrate because he has rescued us from the consequences of sin and shown us the wonders of eternity. Those who love him truly have the most to celebrate!

WHAT CAUSES GOD TO CELEBRATE?

Ezekiel 35:15 . . . You rejoiced at the desolation of Israel’s inheritance. Now I will rejoice at yours! You will be wiped out, you people of Mount Seir and all who live in Edom! Then you will know that I am the Lord!

Luke 15:10 . . . In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.

Matthew 25:23 . . . The master said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”

God celebrates the defeat of sin and evil, the salvation of the lost, and the daily joys and successes of his people.

HOW CAN I INCORPORATE CELEBRATION IN MY WORSHIP?

Psalm 150:4-6 . . . Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that lives sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!

1 Chronicles 13:8 . . . David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing and playing all kinds of musical instruments-lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

Celebration in worship can take on many forms, but the point is that part of our worship experience should be celebrating the God we worship and all he has done for us.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY IN CELEBRATION?

Nehemiah 12:43 . . . Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away.

Exodus 12:26 . . . Then your children will ask, “What does all this mean? What is this ceremony about?”

Esther 9:28 . . . These days would be remembered and kept from generation to generation and celebrated by every family throughout the provinces and cities of the empire.

As we celebrate the Lord with our family, we role model the Lord’s presence in our lives. This is the greatest inheritance we can give to our children and grandchildren; it is a treasure to be passed on to future generations.

REGARDLESS OF MY PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT CAN I ALWAYS CELEBRATE?

Psalm 135:3 . . . Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his wonderful name with music.

Isaiah 49:13 . . . Sing for joy, O heavens! Rejoice, O earth! Burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on them in their sorrow.

Sometimes we can celebrate the joy of good circumstances, but always we can celebrate the Lord himself!

GOD IS NOT AGAINST CELEBRATION! HE WANTS US TO CELEBRATE, BUT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.

Deuteronomy 16:9-17 . . . This festival will be a happy time of rejoicing with your family . . . to honor the Lord . . . for it is [he] who gives you bountiful harvests and blesses all your work.

We celebrate to thank God for all he has done for us, to recall his acts of goodness, and to enjoy each other’s company.

Nehemiah 8:10 . . . Go and celebrate with a feast . . . and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day . . . Don’t be . . . sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!

Joy and fun, as God intended, are important parts of celebration because they lift our spirits and help us see the beauty and meaning in life.

Leviticus 23:25 . . . You must do no regular work on that day.

Celebration allows us to rest and focus on what is good. It should take our minds off the ordinary and routine.

Exodus 13:4-11 . . . This day in early spring will be the anniversary of your exodus. You must celebrate this day . . . During these festival days each year, you must explain to your children why you are celebrating.

We celebrate to mark important milestones in our lives; we also celebrate to teach our children the ultimate reason for our celebration.

Psalm 47:1 . . . Come, everyone, and clap your hands for joy! Shout to God with joyful praise!

Psalm 98:4-6 . . . Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! . . . Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

Psalm 150:1-6 . . . Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

We celebrate to praise and worship God because he loves us, because of the blessings he has given us on earth, and because of the eternal blessings he has waiting for us in heaven.

WHAT KIND OF CELEBRATION IS INAPPROPRIATE?

Exodus 32:25 . . . When Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control-and much to the amusement of their enemies.

Numbers 25:1-2 . . . Soon the Israelites were feasting with them and worshiping the gods of Moab.

1 Peter 4:3 . . . You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy . . . their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties.

Celebration that is self-centered, indulgent, involves sinful acts, or has conditions that can tempt you into sin is wrong.

THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOD ALONE SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF OUR CELEBRATION.

Deuteronomy 2:7 . . . The Lord your God has blessed everything you have done and has watched your every step . . . the Lord your God has been with you and provided for your every need so that you lacked nothing.

Through life’s journey and its regular milestones, God has been there to supply all we need. Celebration should be a time for fun and eating, of course, but it should also be a time for thanksgiving to God for his blessings to us. Celebrate occasions, celebrate persons, but most of all, celebrate God.

THERE IS A TIME AND A PLACE, DURING CERTAIN CELEBRATIONS, FOR SOLEMN OBSERVANCE BEFORE GOD.

1 Kings 8:62-63 . . . Then the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to the Lord . . . so the king and all Israel dedicated the Temple of the Lord.

Dedicating someone or something to God’s use is a celebration, but one marked with a special seriousness of commitment. These times of celebration can be just as meaningful as the joyous times of celebration.

THERE ARE TIMES FOR GREAT CELEBRATION IN HEAVEN.

Luke 15:10 . . . In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.

Revelation 5:11 . . . Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne.

Heaven is filled with celebrations too wonderful for the human mind to imagine. Angels worship God in mighty celebrations and rejoice wildly when one sinner repents. Someday we will be able to join in these great heavenly events.

PROMISE FROM GOD:

Psalm 5:11 . . . Let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Protect them, so all who love your name may be filled with joy.