Rejoice!

And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. - Lev 23:40

I've just finished reading Leviticus and embarked on Numbers.

The word “rejoice” only occurs once in Leviticus. Perhaps this is why it stood out for me when I first read it, but I only realised this fact (that it occurs only once) when I did a search for it. I found this intriguing because, in a way, this word defines the book of Leviticus for me. Maybe that's why God used it only once in this book - to make it stand out.

Strange to say, but the laws on sacrifices, offerings, feasts and other matters to be found in Leviticus evoke in me a sense of great joy. They reflect on a God who is holy, and worthy to rejoice in.

I can imagine two Jews taking part in the sacrifices and offerings and the various feasts. One sees these rituals and ceremonies as burdensome and wearisome to the flesh, and takes part in them only because he is commanded to.

The other KNOWS in his heart the God who ordained these laws and, by faith, can see beyond the ceremonies to catch a glimpse of the grace typified in the sacrifices and offerings and feasts, that they provide a way to approach and worship YHWH, which would otherwise not be possible for sinful creatures.

He sees the importance of holiness for the priests who intercede for him, as well as the importance of personal holiness, separating between the clean and the unclean. And he rejoices in this, that YHWH is good, and has provided a way for him to be cleansed in order that he may approach Him who is holy!

He sees that YHWH makes a way for his sins to be atoned for, and he rejoices in that!

He sees the practical laws on how he may love his neighbour, practising justice and mercy, and he rejoices that in this way he has been shown how he can honour and love YHWH!

He sees the promise of blessing for obedience and punishment for disobedience, and he “rejoices with trembling” that he worships a just and holy God!

It will not escape the careful reader that the rejoicing exhorted in this verse of Leviticus foreshadows the rejoicing of the Jews during Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem! And so we rejoice in Christ, who fulfills the law, which spoke of Him.