In Deuteronomy 12, Moses is telling the Israelites to gather, according to God’s instructions, to offer sacrifices and offerings to the Lord. When the Israelites offer the sacrifice and offering, there in the presence of the Lord, the Israelite men, women, children, those working for them, and the priests appointed by God, are all to eat and rejoice! As thought telling this once is not enough, Moses tells them three times –
gather in the presence of the Lord
parents, their children, those working for them, and priests; in short, everyone is together
eat to your heart’s content
rejoice and be glad
These instructions, as we will see in the New Testament, is relevant for us today. In Hebrews 10:1 we learn that “the old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come. . . the sacrifices under that system were repeated year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleaning for those who came to worship.” Then in Hebrews 10 in verses 10 and 14 we learn that “God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. For by that one offering God forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we who follow Jesus have the privilege of being in God’s presence, always! In every circumstance of life, because He is with us, we can rejoice – yes, we can rejoice in the Lord always! Immanuel, God is with us and God will take us through days of pain and days of plenty. And we can say again, rejoice!
