What the Bible says about Rejoicing
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Deuteronomy 16:15 uses an even stronger phrase in relation to rejoicing and the feasts: "so that you [shall, KJV] surely rejoice." The wording is so strong we might be misled into thinking it is to be one big blast! Make no mistake, He desires us to rejoice, but He wants us to rejoice with purpose. If we are not rejoicing with His purpose in mind, we will have merely titillated our senses.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Preparing for the FeastRelated Topics: Feast of Tabernacles | Praise | Praising God | Rejoice | Rejoice in the Lord | Rejoicing
The Israelite set aside the second tithe throughout the year and consumed it at the annual holy festivals of God for whatever his heart desired. This means that he spent the tithe on things that enhanced his glorifying of God or added joy to the feast.
The same applies to our use of second tithe today. Unlike the use of first tithe, the individual who saves second tithe should use it. God wants His people to enjoy the physical abundance He provides at the feasts as they worship Him and learn to reverence and fear Him in ways that please Him. Because of His blessing, many can also help others observe the feasts.
Martin G. Collins
Tithing: Second TitheRelated Topics: Feast of Tabernacles | Joy | Rejoice | Rejoice in the Lord | Rejoicing | Second Tithe | Tithe, Second | Tithing | Tithing, Principles of
Just about every year, we hear messages reminding us that the Feast of Tabernacles is not a vacation, and we largely agree with that. It has aspects of a vacation—we are away from home, mostly free from work or school responsibilities, with extra money in our pockets, living at a hotel, eating out, and doing activities we do not normally do—yet its purpose is far more serious and spiritual. But do we really believe and display our conviction by doing what we must to share this holy time with the Father, the Son, and one another in the way and in the place God has determined for us to serve Him and our brethren?
Granted, various factors—such as age, health, and unforeseen, insurmountable difficulties—will make it difficult or impossible for us to attend the Feast in the place God has put His name. However, will we let the physical circumstances of our lives determine this without trying to seek God's will diligently so that we do not fail in our duty to appear before Him?
Just as much as the Sabbath is not optional holy time, neither are God's holy days. Leviticus 23:33-36, 39-43 clearly states God's will that we keep the Feast of Tabernacles, as does Deuteronomy 16:13-15.
God blesses those following His financial planning system with such an unusual abundance of physical wealth at this time of year that even the most faithful can fall victim to the deceitful trap of a self-deceptive heart. Such a heart could very well equate the joy of a true feast to the Lord with the mere physical pleasure of a vacation. This brings God's solemn and commanded festivals down to the level of an elective, only to be kept if everything in our lives is just right!
Consider this: If we fail to keep His holy days and rejoice in the way He intends, for His honor and glory, we may not only be letting God down and disappointing Him, but we may also be letting one another down. Who will fill our places in the choir? Who will do our ushering jobs? The message intended to help us grow we will not hear. The widows, whom God planned for us to serve, will not receive the level of service we could have given them. And what about those whom God intended to train in righteousness by serving us in our difficult circumstances? They will never have the opportunity!
What about what God says in Malachi 3:16-17?
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."
So we must ask ourselves, what does it say about us if those God-fearers fellowshipping together at God's feast did not include us?
I have seen many dear brethren who have worked so hard to be faithful and honor God. One lady, in pain because of cancer, was transported to the Feast lying in the back of a van. She died two months later, but she was determined to attend as God commanded. God lifted up another dedicated member, also dying, so that, in faith, he could be where God wanted him. One woman traveled halfway around the world, alone, to honor God and be where she knew God wanted her to be.
To these people, the Feast of Tabernacles was not merely an elective time for physical rejoicing. It is the commanded and holy assembly of God's people, who have been called together for His honor and glory in the continuing process of preparing His jewels for the Kingdom of God!
Some of God's people cannot be there because of dire or unforeseen circumstances. That is, sadly, a fact of life in an anti-God world. But we must all examine ourselves and ensure our deceptive hearts have not demoted God's solemn and holy time to a mere elective. When God calls a holy convocation of His people, we should do our utmost to be there!
At this time of year, it should never be far from our minds that the Feast of Tabernacles—and indeed, all of God's feast days—are holy times, set apart by Him to be observed as He commands, to help us to become holy as He is holy (I Peter 1:16).
Mark Schindler
The Feast: Vacation or Holy Time?Related Topics: Becoming Holy | Deterrents to Spiritual Growth | Holy Time | Rejoicing | Second Tithe | Seeking God's Will | Spiritual Growth
The terms "morning stars" and "sons of God" are biblical names for angels, who express joy when events in God's plan unfold. Not only God but also angels are thrilled when a sinner repents of his worldly ways. Prayer for forgiveness brings about joyous repentance and restoration of righteousness in a person's life.
Martin G. Collins
JoyRelated Topics: Angels | Forgiveness | Joy | Morning Stars | Prayer | Prayer, Power of | Rejoicing | Rejoicing over Repentance | Repentance | Righteousness | Sons of God
There will be everlasting joy when God's Kingdom is established on earth. Joy and gladness are not only deep inward feelings, but they are also expressed in visible celebration when God's people gather together. Speaking of the future church, Isaiah 60:15 says, "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, a joy of many generations." In the meantime, the apostle Paul advises us to "rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)
Martin G. Collins
JoyRelated Topics: God's Kingdom | Joy | Kingdom of God | Kingdom of God, Established on Earth | Rejoice | Rejoice in the Lord | Rejoicing
These verses link the unveiling of Jesus Christ with our future and all that the Father is working out. Verse 3 recalls to us our status as children of God, reminding us that our hope lies in the resurrection from the dead, when we will be composed of spirit, able to inherit the Kingdom (see I Corinthians 15:50). God Himself safeguards this perfect inheritance, which can never be diminished, for all those who are regenerated and endure to the end.
Verse 5 reminds us that our salvation will be revealed "in the last time." This gives us reason for great rejoicing, even though various trials may grieve us. Those trials are necessary, Peter tells us in verse 7, so that the genuineness of our faith—the tried and proven character of our faith—may be found when Jesus Christ is unveiled to the entire world (cf. Luke 18:8).
Verse 8 points out the contrast that, at this time, we do not see Him with our eyes because He is still veiled, hidden from the world. His revelation has not yet occurred. Even though we cannot see Him now, we still love Him and can still rejoice because we know that the Father will soon send Him back to this earth. Then, every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7).
Verse 13 summarizes what we should be doing as a result of this understanding. We need to brace ourselves mentally, and think, plan, and act seriously and circumspectly, setting our hope wholly on the divine favor that the revelation of Jesus Christ will bring to us. For concurrent with the apocalypsis of Christ is the salvation of the saints, both living and dead.
David C. Grabbe
What Is the Book of Revelation?Related Topics: Apocalypsis | Apokalypsis | Faith, Trying of | Heirs According to the Promise | Heirs with Christ | Inheritance | Inheritance of the Christian | Inheriting the Earth | Last Days | Rejoicing | Rejoicing in Trials | Resurrection | Resurrection to Immortal Life | Revelation | Revelation as Disclosure | Revelation as Unveiling | Reward of the Saved | Trials | Trials, Purpose of | Trials, Rejoicing in | Trials, Shaping Power Of