Celebrate Joyfully

     This is the season for many celebrations. Graduations and weddings will likely fill your calendar weekends for the next few months. These are times when we celebrate the accomplishments of our children and the new lives our friends and family will be starting with their new spouses. When thinking about celebrations and celebrating, how often do we celebrate these occasions (or any occasion) for more than a day or a few hours?

     Most often, our celebrations last for a day, or maybe even just a half of a day. But it wasn't always this way. In Old Testament times, there was something called the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of Ingathering and the Feast of Booths. It occurred on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, every year. During this time, the Israellites were to celebrate joyfully, thanking God for their harvest, their protection and their freedom. They did this every year, much like our Thanksgiving. The only difference was they celebrated for seven days. 

     Can you imagine a seven day celebration, joyfully giving thanks to God for all he has given us? Most of us can't imagine taking that much time to celebrate. In fact, I think it's safe to say, many of us wouldn't want to be around some of our own family members for seven days and be joyful about it! In Deuteronomy chapter 16, verses 14-15, the Lord tells us to "Be joyful at your Feast- you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless, and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate.......For the Lord your God will bless you..........and your joy will be complete." 

     The Israellites were told to celebrate joyfully with everyone in their families and their towns for seven days and the Lord would bless them in all their harvests and all the work of their hands and they would have complete joy. When you are celebrating, no matter what the celebrating is for, think about how joyful you are for all the things the Lord has given you and your family, then thank Him for it. And don't just think about it for a few hours while your with your family and friends. After all, if it wasn't for Him, we wouldn't have anything to be celebrating joyfully. 

Have a great week!