Tag Archives: celebration

Do not grieve; this is a holy day!

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Bible studyI love discovering things that are new to me when reading passages that I think I know pretty well. Nehemiah 8 is a favorite of mine. I like the story of the Jews who have returned from exile hearing the Law for the first time. First they cry when they realize what they haven’t been doing. Then the text is explained to them, and they spend the rest of the day celebrating.

But here’s what I missed:

Nehemiah 8:9   And Nehemiah, who was ethe governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.”

This is a holy day… don’t be sad! No crying… this day is God’s.

I’ve been in churches where sadness was next to godliness. Situations in which a smile was seen as disrespectful and heaven help the one who dared to laugh.

This day is holy… so celebrate! Eat good food. Drink enjoyable drinks. Because God’s days are about joy, not about sadness.

Granted, there were times when God’s people were to “afflict their souls,” especially on the Day of Atonement. But that’s not a permanent condition nor a common element of worship. The joy of the Lord is your strength!

It’s amazing how men can take a religion that was/is so full of joy and turn it into something grey and burdensome.

Bringing The Ark: Consuming Praise

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Yesterday, we looked at the first attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. In that effort, no attention was paid to God’s instructions about how to move the Ark. Because of this, Uzzah died when he touched the Ark during the move.

David was angry with God and fearful at the same time. He left the Ark at the home of Obed-Edom. Months later, seeing that God had blessed Obed-Edom during this time, David decided to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.

I love the description of David’s actions as the Ark was being brought: “David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Samuel 6:14-15)

David laid aside his royal robes and put on common clothes, the clothes of a servant, somewhat similar to what the High Priest would wear when he entered the Holy of Holies. Chronicles tells us that the Levites and musicians wore the same clothes that David wore. They weren’t royal clothes, but they weren’t immodest, either.

I love the description of David’s worship. He worshiped with all his might. When was the last time I could say that? How often do I come away from a time of worship feeling tired?

This wasn’t prescribed worship. God didn’t tell David to dance, nor to surround the Ark with musicians and their instruments. The Israelites weren’t told to shout for joy. All of this was natural, spontaneous worship of God.

Last week, in the comments section, Jay talked about how the church has forgotten how to celebrate, how to truly rejoice. The Old Testament is full of calls to worship God through feasting and rejoicing. None of that changed in the New Testament.

David, the great king, humbled himself and joined in the celebrations with all the people. He worshiped God with all his might. It’s a beautiful image. It’s a beautiful example for us.