Feasting In The Lord

-April 10, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.”

(Esther 9:18-19).

Feasting among God’s people is found many times in Scripture. God commanded that the Israelites gather collectively and celebrate many feasts. They gathered to celebrate the goodness of God and praise and thank Him. Passover was the very first one. There was also the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, The Day of Atonement, Tabernacles, First Fruits, and Trumpets. There are seven in all. The Feast of Purim was a new one that the Jews celebrated in the book of Esther.

Without exception these feasts and others on the Sabbath and at other family gatherings were associated with joy and gladness. They ate and drank together, giving thanks to the Lord. The Lord was the center and focus of their feasting. Later on the early Christians gathered together often to eat and drink. It seems like a lost art today.

The context of our reading from Esther is the victory that the Lord gave them over their enemies who had plotted to destroy them. The wicked man Haman, who hated Mordecai and all the Jews, was led and inspired by the devil. Though God is not specifically mentioned in the book of Esther, He was working behind the scenes to protect, promote, and preserve them. The Jews celebrated a new feast called Purim. They had great joy and celebration, and they sent presents to one another.

We as believers should gather together to feast with good friends, to partake of good food and drink, and give all the glory to God for His goodness. When the pilgrims came to America in the early 1600’s they gave thanks to the Lord. They shared a great feast with the native Americans. Thanksgiving Day had its roots in this special time. Today we have special days, many of which are not just holidays but holy days: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter being three prominent ones. We also celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, and other wonderful times.

I remember all the potluck dinners and prayer breakfasts I attended as a young man. They was good fellowship, food, and fun. We still have church lunches and dinners today. We need more times like this to get together and thank the Lord for what He has done for us. Feasting isn’t indulging it is enjoying God’s bounties and our meals with gusto. Acts 2:46-47 says, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

There is a verse of a hymn entitled, “He keeps Me Singing,” that comes to my mind. It says, “Feasting on the riches of His grace, resting ‘neath His sheltering wing, always looking on His smiling face—That is why I shout and sing.” Have a blessed day thanking and praising God, enjoying good friends and good times, and celebrating the special times of feasting in and around the Lord.

True feasting is at its best when Jesus gives us peaceful rest,

Dean