Time for a Feast?

This past month I have been working through Kelly Minter's study of Nehemiah:  A Heart That Can Break.  Here's what I got out of this past week's lessons...get ready...it's exciting!

In Nehemiah 8, we read that the people are participating in a Feast of the Trumpets ("a special day for God's people to begin anew and remember the grace God had poured out on their lives," p 106), yet the people are in mourning.  Crying.  A celebration that equates to our New Year's Day.  I cannot ever remember our people crying, mourning throughout this holiday. (No, this is not the exciting part...wait, though, it's coming!)

Why such depths of spirit?  The Israelites now realize how far short they have fallen from where they should have been.  On second thought, yes, maybe this country should be crying on such a holiday.

Back to the Israelites and Ezra and the Levites and Nehemiah, though.  In verses 9-11, they tell the people three times that this is a sacred day and to not grieve, for, as Minter points out, holiness and gloom just do not, cannot, go together.

Then, as I was working through the scriptures in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Nehemiah, it clicked. The Feast of the Trumpets was held on the first day of the seventh month, so I actually read the chart going across the pages of Leviticus, and this holiday's timing equates to the modern Sept/Oct.  Get this...our church's 125th Anniversary is scheduled for October 7.  This is just what we need...a Feast of the Trumpets!  "...a special day for God's people to begin anew and remember the grace God had poured out on their lives."  Yes, absolutely!

Then, as I continued to read,  Kelly Minter stated, "God loves celebration, community, feasting, and lightness of heart." Again, just what our church needs as we are currently between pastors and are working through this process, also.

Nehemiah says in 8:10, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.  This day is sacred to our Lord.  Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  What a tremendous theme scripture for our 125th birthday!

I just met with the 125th Anniversary Committee last evening.  Then, as I worked through the study, I felt such a sense of joy, exactly what Minter said would happen.  God is good!

I encourage your committing to such a study.  Oh, the wealth of joy you will receive.