Thursday 15 December 2016

December 15

Passage: 2 Samuel 6:1-11

“David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.” (2 Samuel 6:5)

What images come to mind when we imagine King David and likely more than 30,000 people “celebrating with all their might”? I’m not sure if the first thing that comes to our mind would be an event at one of our mega-churches. Events we might associate with all-out celebrating could possibly include Woodstock, or similar mega-events with anything but Christian content. But perhaps that might be because we’re not aware of events like Franklin Graham’s “Rock the River” which brought out 8,000 people for a one-day event in Cloverdale last year or “Creation Fest NorthWest” at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington which averages more than 50,000 each July for a four-day festival!

Practicing celebration as followers of Jesus, however, doesn’t depend on the quantity, it depends on the quality of the celebration! David and the whole house of Israel celebrated “before the LORD!” That thought might change both the content and the form of our celebrations if we take it serious enough! How do our celebrations differ from secular celebrations? Do they contrast by being more boring in form – as seen from an unbeliever’s perspective? Do we hesitate to include Scripture, prayer and witnessing for fear of offending anyone? Does our church throw a Block-Party to bless everyone in the neighborhood?

Assuming that we are not the ‘makers and shakers’ organizing the events at our church, does it even make sense to engage in the practice of celebration as individual followers of Christ? If we ask the Lord to open up opportunities to celebrate, I am confident that He will! The Holiday Season offers many opportunities to celebrate, but perhaps there are other unique opportunities that are usually overshadowed by the Christmas cheer? Is there a December birthday, a wedding anniversary or another event we could or should commemorate between now and New Year’s Eve?

Knowing that Jesus would want us to invite “the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame” (Lk 24:21) might lead us to find special ways to include those who would otherwise not be invited. Perhaps this includes being culturally sensitive – making sure there is at least one dish with rice for our Asian friends, clearly identifying dishes that are vegetarian or without pork for Muslim neighbors, including a national specialty dish for some of the non-Christians of a different culture from ours. Too often I have invited others to an event with my favorite food and drink and music rather than showing my guests how important they are by making them feel at home with something within their comfort zone.

Now that we’ve asked the Lord to give us an opportunity to celebrate, let’s thank Him for providing us with another party, concert, dinner or anniversary! God Himself commands His people to celebrate at least three times a year in the Old Testament. How much more reason do we as people of the New Covenant have to celebrate and include all those that our loving Heavenly Father would want us to celebrate with! To Him be all the glory!!!

Prayer: Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for inviting us to celebrate! Teach us what it means to celebrate with all our might before the Lord. Infect us with the Joy of Your Salvation which makes us want to share Your Love with others. Reveal the occasions You would want us to celebrate. Lead us to those whom You would want us to celebrate with! Thank you for inviting us to Your Table at the Great Banquet and for allowing us to invite those who need to know You to the banquets You provide for us here and now! Blessed be Your Name! Hallelujah! We give You all the glory and pray these things in the wonderful Name of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!!

Further lectionary texts for today:
2 Samuel 7:1-17 God will build you a house 
Galatians 3:23-29 Children of God by Christ's coming 
2 Samuel 6:1-11 The advent of the ark of the Lord
Hebrews 1:1-4 In the last days God speaks by His Son 
Jeremiah 31:31-34 A new covenant written on the heart 
Hebrews 10:10-18 New priest, new sacrifice once for all

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