Celebrating
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Celebrating in the biblical context often involves expressions of joy, gratitude, and reverence towards God. It is an integral part of the life of God's people, encompassing various forms of worship, feasts, and personal expressions of thanksgiving. The Bible provides numerous examples and instructions regarding celebration, highlighting its significance in both communal and individual settings.

Old Testament Celebrations

In the Old Testament, celebrations are frequently associated with the feasts and festivals ordained by God for the Israelites. These events were not only times of joy but also served as reminders of God's faithfulness and mighty acts. The Feast of Passover, for instance, commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egypt (Exodus 12:14-17). The Berean Standard Bible states, "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come" (Exodus 12:14).

The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, and the Feast of Tabernacles are other examples where celebration is commanded. These feasts involved offerings, sacrifices, and communal gatherings, emphasizing joy and gratitude for God's provision and blessings (Leviticus 23:15-44).

New Testament Celebrations

In the New Testament, celebration takes on a more personal and spiritual dimension, reflecting the joy of salvation and the presence of the Holy Spirit. The early church is depicted as a community that celebrated together, sharing meals and rejoicing in their newfound faith. Acts 2:46-47 describes this communal joy: "With one accord, they continued to meet daily in the temple courts and to break bread from house to house, sharing their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people."

The New Testament also emphasizes the celebration of the Lord's Supper, a commemoration of Jesus' sacrifice and a proclamation of His death until He returns (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). This act of worship is both a solemn remembrance and a joyful anticipation of Christ's return.

Personal and Communal Celebrations

Celebration in the Bible is not limited to formal feasts and communal gatherings. Personal expressions of joy and gratitude are also encouraged. The Psalms, for example, are replete with calls to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness. Psalm 100:1-2 exhorts, "Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs."

Moreover, the Bible encourages believers to celebrate in all circumstances, recognizing God's sovereignty and goodness. Philippians 4:4 instructs, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This call to rejoice is a reminder that celebration is rooted in the believer's relationship with God, transcending external circumstances.

Conclusion

Celebrating, as depicted in the Bible, is a multifaceted expression of joy, gratitude, and worship. It encompasses both communal and personal dimensions, reflecting the believer's response to God's acts of salvation, provision, and ongoing presence. Through feasts, worship, and daily acts of rejoicing, celebration remains a vital aspect of the Christian faith, encouraging believers to continually acknowledge and honor God's work in their lives.
Topical Bible Verses
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Topicalbible.org

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 14:33
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth you are the Son of God.
Topicalbible.org

Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Topicalbible.org

1 Timothy 5:23
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your often infirmities.
Topicalbible.org

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(p. pr. & vb. n.) of Celebrate.
Greek
5215. humnos -- a hymn
... English as "hymn"). 5215 ("hymn") in antiquity was a song celebrating (praising)
pagan gods, heroes, and conquerors. In the NT, 5215 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5215.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
7832. sachaq -- to laugh
... root Definition to laugh NASB Word Usage amuse (1), amusing (1), celebrate (2),
celebrating (3), hold a contest (1), joking (1), laugh (6), laughed them to ...
/hebrew/7832.htm - 6k

3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... inner man, mind, will, heart NASB Word Usage accord (1), attention (4), attention*
(1), bravest* (1), brokenhearted* (3), care* (2), celebrating* (1), chests ...
/hebrew/3820.htm - 7k

3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... root Definition to be good, well, glad, or pleasing NASB Word Usage adorned (1),
amend (3), better (3), better he made (1), bless (1), celebrating* (1), deals ...
/hebrew/3190.htm - 7k

Library

Whether the Time for Celebrating this Mystery Has Been Properly ...
... OF THE RITE OF THIS SACRAMENT (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the time for celebrating
this mystery has been properly determined? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the time for celebrating.htm

Whether the Actions Performed in Celebrating this Sacrament are ...
... OF THE RITE OF THIS SACRAMENT (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the actions performed
in celebrating this sacrament are becoming? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the actions performed in.htm

Of Celebrating Manumissions in Church, that Permission be Asked ...
... The Sixth Ecumenical Council. Canon LXIV. (Greek lxvii.) Of celebrating
manumissions in church, that permission be asked from the Emperor. ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon lxiv greek lxvii of.htm

Answering the Reasons which those Ministers Give, which Hinder the ...
... Answering the Reasons which those Ministers give, which hinder the Faithful from
Communicating, and the Priest from Celebrating, having their Consciences free ...
/.../chap ii answering the reasons.htm

Argument: He Briefly Shows, Moreover, what Ridiculous, Obscene ...
... Chapter XXIV."Argument: He Briefly Shows, Moreover, What Ridiculous, Obscene, and
Cruel Rites Were Observed in Celebrating the Mysteries of Certain Gods. ...
/.../felix/the octavius of minucius felix/chapter xxiv argument he briefly shows.htm

Further Use Made of the System of the Phrygians; Mode of ...
... Book V. Chapter IV."Further Use Made of the System of the Phrygians; Mode of
Celebrating the Mysteries; The Mystery of the "Great Mother;" These Mysteries ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter iv further use made of.htm

That the Worshippers of the Gods Never Received from them any ...
... Book II. Chapter 4."That the Worshippers of the Gods Never Received from Them Any
Healthy Moral Precepts, and that in Celebrating Their Worship All Sorts of ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 4 that the worshippers of.htm

Whether this Sacrament Ought to be Made of Unleavened Bread?
... bread, because the Word of the Father was clothed with flesh; as leaven is mixed
with the flour." Hence, as a priest sins by celebrating with fermented bread ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether this sacrament ought to.htm

Whether it is Lawful for a Priest to Refrain Entirely from ...
... time he was well." But it sometimes happens that those who are already ordained
as priests incur defects whereby they are hindered from celebrating, such as ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 18.htm

Of the Rite of this Sacrament (Six Articles)
... (1) Whether Christ is sacrificed in the celebration of this mystery? (2) Of the
time of celebrating; ... (4) Of the words uttered in celebrating this mystery; ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the rite of this.htm

Thesaurus
Celebrating (7 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Celebrating (7 Occurrences). John 10:22 Now the feast
of the dedication was celebrating at Jerusalem, and it was winter. (DBY). ...
/c/celebrating.htm - 8k

Celebration (8 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The act, process, or time of celebrating.
Multi-Version Concordance Celebration (8 Occurrences). Acts ...
/c/celebration.htm - 9k

Passover (81 Occurrences)
... no alien or uncircumcised person, or unclean person could partake thereof, and that
one prevented by uncleanness or other cause from celebrating the Passover ...
/p/passover.htm - 58k

Incense (167 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The perfume or odors exhaled from spices and gums when burned in
celebrating religious rites or as an offering to some deity. ...
/i/incense.htm - 44k

Feasts (45 Occurrences)
... the Babylonian captivity marks a complete change, not only in the kinds of festivals
instituted from time to time, but also in the manner of celebrating the old ...
/f/feasts.htm - 36k

Fasts (3 Occurrences)
... the Babylonian captivity marks a complete change, not only in the kinds of festivals
instituted from time to time, but also in the manner of celebrating the old ...
/f/fasts.htm - 21k

Triumphing (4 Occurrences)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Triumph. 2. (a.) Having or celebrating a triumph; victorious;
triumphant. Multi-Version Concordance Triumphing (4 Occurrences). ...
/t/triumphing.htm - 7k

Divine (39 Occurrences)
... 3. (a.) Appropriated to God, or celebrating his praise; religious; pious;
holy; as, divine service; divine songs; divine worship. ...
/d/divine.htm - 19k

Morrow (113 Occurrences)
... This recognition of an after-Sabbath during festive periods has its counterpart
in the later ecclesiastical practice of celebrating not only Easter Sunday, but ...
/m/morrow.htm - 41k

Bethgilgal
... House of Gilgal, a place from which the inhabitants gathered for the purpose of
celebrating the rebuilding of the walls on the return exile (Nehemiah 12:29). ...
/b/bethgilgal.htm - 7k

Resources
Should Christians celebrate birthdays? | GotQuestions.org

Why do we celebrate Easter? | GotQuestions.org

Should a Christian observe Earth Day? | GotQuestions.org

Celebrating: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Celebrating (7 Occurrences)

John 10:22
Now the feast of the dedication was celebrating at Jerusalem, and it was winter.
(DBY)

Exodus 31:16
Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
(See NIV)

Judges 19:22
As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may have sex with him!"
(See NAS)

2 Samuel 6:5
David and all the house of Israel played before Yahweh with all manner of instruments made of fir wood, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with castanets, and with cymbals.
(See NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 13:8
David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with stringed instruments, and with tambourines, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
(See NAS NIV)

1 Chronicles 15:29
It happened, as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David dancing and playing; and she despised him in her heart.
(See NAS NIV)

Esther 8:17
In every province, and in every city, wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had gladness, joy, a feast, and a good day. Many from among the peoples of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews was fallen on them.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Celebrating

Celebrating Birthdays

Celebrating Christmas

Celebrating Halloween

Celebrating Holidays

Celebrating Life

Celebrating Pagan Holidays

Related Terms

Celebration (8 Occurrences)

Passover (81 Occurrences)

Incense (167 Occurrences)

Feasts (45 Occurrences)

Fasts (3 Occurrences)

Triumphing (4 Occurrences)

Divine (39 Occurrences)

Morrow (113 Occurrences)

Bethgilgal

Beth-gilgal (1 Occurrence)

Celebrates (1 Occurrence)

After (10866 Occurrences)

Songs (100 Occurrences)

Song (207 Occurrences)

Sabbath (126 Occurrences)

Woman (4043 Occurrences)

Eucharist

Supper (17 Occurrences)

Isaiah (64 Occurrences)

Harp (36 Occurrences)

Hosea (6 Occurrences)

Phoenicians

Phoenicia (6 Occurrences)

Lord's (548 Occurrences)

Celebrates
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