The Joy of the Lord
Christmas “down under” is very different from Christmas in America. For starters, it’s summer here in December so we have Christmas “barbies” (BBQ) in shorts and tees. Most Australians have never had pumpkin pie and would never dream of having pumpkin for dessert in their holiday meals. However, most Australian Christmas menus have at least one form of beetroot, either as a salad, side, or filling in a burger. This Christmas, I ate everything from mandoo to beetroot salad, couscous to gelato, pumpkin pie to mochi (ironically, the mochi was a Christmas gift from my Mexican-French friend in Melbourne).
No matter where you live, and across all cultures, the holiday season guarantees one constant – feasting.
Feasting creates community. There’s nothing like a good food coma to heal old wounds and warm our hearts towards each other, as stories such as “Babette’s Feast” illustrate.
I think that’s why God incorporated so many elements of food in His prescript for worship. Whether in the Garden of Eden or the sanctuary, the Passover or the Lord’s Supper, you find food. Many times in His life and ministry, Jesus was around food (multiplying, cooking, and sharing it).
There is a time to fast, but there is also a time to feast.
In Nehemiah, there is a wonderful story of how the Israelites return to Israel after being captives and ex-pats for many years. After they rebuild the city of Jerusalem and its temple, the people “gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded Israel. So Ezra the priest, brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:1-3, NJKV).
As Ezra read the “Book of the Law” (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the people began to weep. They realized that they had not kept God’s commands and that they were extremely guilty.
But what Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites say next is an unexpected and a beautiful command: “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep . . . Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (v 9, 10).
The joy of the Lord is your strength.
While conviction for sin was necessary and appropriate, what God wanted His people to realize was that for their great sinfulness, there is a greater Savior. The books of Moses told a story of a God who did everything possible to be with His people – a God often forsaken and forgotten and yet who forgave and offered an intimate and lasting relationship.
“So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.” And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them” (v11, 12).
The people understood that their strength was not in their worth or works – it was in the joy of the Lord.
Often times, we think that true understanding of God will lead us to austere lives of self-denial and seriousness. And while self-control and faithfulness are part of the fruit of the Spirit, so are love, joy, and peace. Perhaps when we really understand the words that God declares to us, the joy of the Lord will strengthen our discouraged hearts and wearied wills.
Then, in the strength of His promises and presence, we can truly “eat the fat, drink the sweet” and share with those who have not this New Year’s, preparing ourselves to mount up on wings like eagles to soar over the coming temptations, to run and not be weary of the race set before us, and to walk and not faint along the narrow way.
For the joy of the Lord is our strength.
Pastor Jinha Kim is currently working with her husband Pastor Roy Kim (and baby Micah) to plant a church in the city of Melbourne, Australia. They also work at two other churches in Victoria and are passionate about connecting and reconnecting people to God.