Celebration Is Always Appropriate

I was looking for joy in the Old Testament.  I have heard it before but it is becoming clear that partying is important in the kingdom of God.  The world has distorted it and added piles of sin in the midst of the festivities, but on the basic level celebrating the goodness of God is a required pursuit of a Christ follower.  The Bible shows us volumes about the sinful nature of mankind, and even more about the overflowing love of God.  If somehow we get to be part of the family of God and we get to see how He loves, we have adequate grounds for a celebration.  Rarely did a celebration last for a few hours on a Friday night (or Sunday morning).  It is more likely to last a week. 

I don't know how we can manage that kind of celebration - how can we make time in our schedule and in our budget for such an extravagance?  For the middle class American, a family vacation and the celebration of Christmas break are the two times of the year that might look a little bit like what we're talking about.  Truth is, only in rare cases is the real foundation for either of these expenditures of time and money based in celebrating the goodness of God. 

In 2 Chronicles 30, we read about how King Hezekiah invites all the tribes to celebrate Passover again after they have missed it for a while.  They celebrate for seven days and still haven't had enough so they extend it another seven days.  They actually didn't do it quite right or at exactly the right time - but God blessed it.  They returned to celebrating what really mattered. 

God is good all the time, so celebration is always appropriate.  Yes, we mourn with those who mourn.  We don't deny the sin that entangles those we love and us.  We get angry at injustice.  We fear God.  None of that supersedes the joy coming from the goodness and wonder of God.  Celebration is always appropriate.  Sometimes it is so loud it shakes the earth (I Kings 1:40) and sometimes it quiets a whole city (2 Kings 11:20). 

Getting through all the clutter to find true joy is a challenge worth undertaking.  When we uncover this treasure, we will celebrate.  The time and expense won't be an issue.