Leviticus 23: Thus Begin the Traditions...

"These are the Lord's appointed times that you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for presenting fire offerings to the Lord, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its designated day."

Leviticus 23:37

Traditions can be wonderful facets of a civilization.  They can bring the people together in perfect unity.  They have the power to obliterate doubt about the community's past, legends, and religion.  They provide an avenue through which the people can focus on specific aspects of their culture.  Traditions can be a powerful, positive force within a society.

Traditions are good; I like traditions... when they're used in all the ways mentioned above.  God spent the previous chapters of Leviticus detailing how each tradition should be carried out, and more importantly why each tradition is important.  Here in Leviticus 23, He details the when.

Problems arise, as always.  Calendars change.  Time zones are set up based on the movement of the sun.  There comes a point when Israelites must make decisions.  Does everyone celebrate at the same time, no matter where they are in the world, or does everyone celebrate at the right time in their local time zone?  Do the dates change to match the new calendar, or are they modified to meet the new calendar's needs?

Broken traditions are bad; I am not referring to the times when someone chooses not to partake in a tradition, but rather to the brokenness that we find inside traditions, which moves us away from partaking in them.  Sometimes, the decisions related above can break a tradition.  Other times, it's the loss of focus on the tradition's intent.  For whatever reason, we often find that change is inspired - not by any new-found intuition, but by the human need for true worth, which can never be found in a broken tradition.

Nearly all of the traditions listed in this chapter are still followed by Jews in modern times.  Few are held to the same standards as listed in Leviticus.  On the other hand, the spirit of the traditions is still held.  The purpose of the traditions is still remembered.  The celebration of Passover remembers the night when the Lord destroyed the firstborn son of every non-Israelite in Egypt, but spared Israel's children from harm.  There are celebrations to remember the time God saved Israel from Egypt and led them across the Red Sea, the land God promised to Abraham, and many other important intricacies of Israel's relations with the Lord.

Question of the Day:

Do you remember the day you first became a Christian?  Do you remember any other specific turning points in your relationship with Christ?  Do you celebrate these events regularly?  If so, in what way do you celebrate them?

Prayer of the Day:

Lord, help me to remember all the wonderful moments You have shared with me.  Give me the peace and joy of knowing that those moments were not in vain, and that You're still with me.  Celebrate with me, as I contemplate Your glory and magnificence, and as I thank You for this incredible life you've given me.  Amen.