“And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horn” ( 2 Samuel 6:14- 15).

Celebrations and festivals are very much part of the people of Israel. First, there is Sabbath, a public holiday where most services are suspended except the most critical, as most people spend the day at home with family and friends enjoying family feast and thanking God for a good week.

The Rosh Hashanah is celebrated as the beginning of the Jewish new year. Yom Kippur, eight days after, is the Day of Atonement, a time to enumerate one’s misdeeds and pray for forgiveness. Sukkot, is the “Feast of Tabernacles” which celebrates the mass pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Passover, is celebrated in the spring, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt and liberation from bondage. Hanukkah, commemorates the triumph of the Jews, over the Greek rulers and against the Hellenism of the Greeks. There are over 25 other festivals celebrated among the Israelis through the year.

What does this way of life teach us? One thing for sure is the importance of pausing in our hurried life to celebrate life, significant events of the past, and give glory to God. Each one of us has those events  in our life’s journey worthy pausing and celebrating because of the goodness of the Lord!

To celebrate is not about splashing money. Celebrations are about pausing, laughing and having a good time while reflecting what the Lord has done. Through the monotony of life they bring cheer and joy. And when one looks back over a long life there are many things that give life memories, of a life well lived and time that was set aside to honor the living God.

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, teach us to learn to pause in our hurried lives to celebrate of your goodness in our lives and give you glory, in Jesus’s name we pray.