Keeping festival with God

The journey’s of the Israelites was intended by God to be a journey of festivals.

Numbers chapter 28 and 29, gives the description of the people connecting with God at certain times of the year, to celebrate His mercy and grace, His greatness and love. 

First, God was to receive His gifts and offerings and then the portions and pleasure for the people. Each festival had a significance connected with the experiences of the emerging nation.

 Although He was then ( and now) a holy God of justice, He intended that the people should be glad and able to sing praise unto their Saviour God.

       In our day, when ceremonial laws have largely been abandoned and individualism has dominated, I fear that the portion for God has very much been lost. I search my own soul to assess how much “ I rejoice in the Lord”. Even as I visit church services, so much has become horizontal  in orientation and content. Modernism has caused people to judge most things by the question ‘What is in it for me?’

      Although I am not promoting the ritual like Israel was asked to follow, I do perceive we need the disciple of time, habit, mindset, so as to give God His true honour, praise and adoration.

      The Holy Spirit within each believer would lead us to this joyful occupation – learning Christ, worshipping in spirit and in truth, praising Him in all we do and say.

Then as we connect with others, we will enjoy God honouring festival.

  When was the last time you thanked God for sending His Son to be your rescuer from judgement???

  How much time do you spend thinking about the greatness and goodness of God???

  How often does God hear your voice in joyful song???

Maybe you can’t relate to the idea of continuing personal praise to God – Read the Psalms – which are songs which flow out of the many experiences of life. Read the New Testament and notice the encouragement to be thankful, to rejoice in the Lord always, to sing Psalms , hymns and spiritual songs (Not just listen to them).

It will be a wonderful day to enter  heaven and listen to all voices sing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing” ( Revelation 5.12).

Let us begin now, bowing low to adore Him, and continuing the distinctive of the Christian faith – Singing to the glory of God.

John McKee

PS - Don't forget to teach your children to sing unto the Lord. Melody is a wonderful means to communicate precious truth.