God understands our basic need and desire to celebrate. He knows that our delight in Him needs a chance to express itself in community. This is one of the great joys of worshipping with other Christians. The Old Testament places a lot of emphasis on the feast days. 50 Days Ablaze - Celebrate 167 These days of feasting were to be as influential as were the strict regulations of fasting and sacrifices. The Book of Leviticus has the reputation for being a book of laws and regulations. It has a fair share in its pages. But it also has a lot to say about celebrating among the community of believers. 

God is pleased when His people gather to celebrate in His name—celebrating His victories, His faithfulness and grace. This is what rests at the very heart and center of worship—the celebration of God’s goodness and glory. So often we want to make worship about us. We look for hymns that move us in certain ways; messages that help us with “real life” problems; worship time that helps us to experience His presence. I rejoice when this is the result of worship, but these are secondary. First and foremost, our worship celebrates Him. He alone is worthy to receive our praise and honor. This is reflected so well in the hymn of praise, “This is the Feast”: 

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. 

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, 

Whose blood set us free to be people of God.

Power and riches and wisdom and strength 

And honor and blessing and glory are his. 

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. 

Sing with all the people of God, 

And join in the hymn of all creation: 

Blessing and honor and glory and might 

Be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. 

This is the feast of victory for our God, 

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia, alleluia. 

(Lutheran Worship. pp. 182-183) 

When worship is carried out in spirit and truth as Jesus taught (John 4:23), all of worship is a feast—a feast on the love and faithfulness of God. The highpoint of this feast is the celebration of Holy Communion. What a great way to refer to this meal—the celebration of Holy Communion. That is precisely what it is—a celebration. God is victorious. He rules. He alone is worthy. 

Worship is nothing less than offering Him the praise He deserves in a rhythm that echoes our daily walk with Him.

--
 

Helping people live life with Jesus everyday,

Rev. Dr. Brent L Parrish