READ: 2 SAMUEL 6:12-23

Did you know God commands His people to party? Just skim through Leviticus 23 and count how many times God tells His people to celebrate. In fact, Jesus’s first miracle took place at a wedding celebration (John 2:1-12). And, as we can see in today’s Bible passage, sometimes holy festivities can look pretty wild.

Celebration is vital to the Christian life. A birthday, a holiday, a graduation, or just a long weekend can be a reminder to look backward at all the good things God has done for us. Many of the festivals in the Bible commemorated times God saved His people, so festivals acted as regular reminders of God’s faithfulness. When we celebrate, we also look around at the good things God is doing in this moment, and we pause from normal life to acknowledge His great works. Then, we look forward to the good things He will do in the future, including our ultimate celebration with Jesus at the Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9).

We also celebrate because we follow a God who celebrates. Zephaniah 3:17 says God rejoices and even sings over His people. When we rejoice, we are joining in with God’s perpetual celebration over us. Heaven echoes with the songs of God, and we can take every opportunity to sing along. As Christians, we always have a truth worth celebrating: we get to live in relationship with the God of the Universe because of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.

That’s why King David danced in the street until his clothes fell off—because the ark of the covenant, where the very presence of God dwelt, was among them. David realized this incredible truth, and his joy was so great, he couldn’t hold it in. Celebration bubbled up from within him when he was in God’s presence. Today, everyone who has put their trust in Jesus has the joy of having the presence of God with them. Jesus’s love for us is wild, so let us celebrate with abandon! • Taylor Eising

• What is your favorite celebration? What about it do you find fun and/or meaningful?

• How do celebration, joy, remembrance, and merrymaking help us draw near to God?

• Celebration is an act of faith that acknowledges life doesn’t depend on us. In Leviticus 23, how many times does God tell His people not to work? By resting, the Israelites remembered they depended on God to provide for them. What are some ways you can practice rest in your life?

[Jesus said,] “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 (NIV)