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Monday, September 20, 2004
There's a scene from the '80's movie "Animal House" in which the brothers of Delta Tau Chi (led by John Belushi) had a party with their favorite bands, Otis Day and the Knights. They sing a song called "Shout!" that sends the toga-clad fraternity boys and their dates into a dance frenzy.
Hands were thrust out in unison, singing was loud, dancing was the order of the day. They were even getting "a little bit softer now" and crouching low and then they got "a little bit louder now" and screamed along with the band. Guys sang along. Girls danced. They "gatored" on the floor. Everybody was together, and still doing their own things.
They were having fun. Together.
I was in a fraternity in college. We had fun. Together. On occasion, it involved togas.
We did "life" together. The ups. The downs. 60 or so of us in the same house together. We ate together,usually two times a day. We traveled together to football games or ski trips. We studied together (well, at least enough to get "C's"). We had parties together...often involving song and dance, and "Shout" was one that usually got us going.
It didn't take much to get me fired up when word of the upcoming party started to spread. We looked forward to our Thursday night socials for a variety of reasons.
That's why I can relate to David's words in Psalm 122: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.' Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem."
He then talks about it being an important city, which gave Israel a place to come together and worship the Lord. Therefore, peace and prosperity is a worthy prayer...because if there's peace and a good economy, well, everybody can focus on God and have a great time together.
What were these festivals that got David so keyed up to get excited to go to Jerusalem? Well, the Law prescribed three annual feasts. The first, a 7-day festival held in April, was the Feast of the Passover. It commemorated the events of the Exodus. The second, a one-day festival in June called the Feast of the Pentecost celebrated the giving of the Law. The third festival was called the Feast of Tabernacles which took place over 6 days in October. (Eventually, the Israelites added a few more to commemorate the story in Esther or the cleansing of the Temple by the Macabees).
One reason David would be excited would be the sense of community that would be developed. Not only would you travel with your family but you'd also get to be reunited with others who were in a relationship with God, too.
You'd also get to think about how faithful God has been to you, and not only you, but to others in relationship with Him as well, over all time and history. You'd bring an offering. You'd tell the stories and re-live them. You'd sing about them. You'd read about them.
And you'd have a party. With food and drink and dancing and staying out too late and by the end of the week or day, I'd imagine there'd be more memories and a refueling of the work of God in your midst. You'd be awed (tomorrow's lesson) by the fact that you were a part of God's economy. It'd be a celebration of God by the people of God.
So, with that in mind, today's mind vitamin/journal prompt: What is your attitude towards going to church? What about David's attitude/experience can you relate to? What about it do you not identify with?
Brent 7:08 AM
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