“And the Lord said to Moses, 34 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. Begin celebrating the Festival of Shelters on the fifteenth day of the appointed month—five days after the Day of Atonement. This festival to the Lord will last for seven days. 35 On the first day of the festival you must proclaim an official day for holy assembly, when you do no ordinary work. 36 For seven days you must present special gifts to the Lord. The eighth day is another holy day on which you present your special gifts to the Lord.” Leviticus 23:33-36 NLT
Jehovah Jireh, Our great Provider,
Five days after the Day of Atonement Lord you inaugurated the festival week of living in home made shelters and spending time with family and friends. Celebrating You as Jehovah Jireh, the “Lord who Provides”, who gave mana and water, a pillar of light and a pillar of fire and all the children of Israel needed to reach the promised land.
Later in Solomon’s time many would make pilgrimage to Jerusalem for this festival and look ahead to when the promised Messiah would come. Solomon prayed for the newly built Temple in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 6), that all the foreigners would hear about You, God and come to worship too. Jesus prophetically stood, on the last greatest day of this festival, and invited those who were thirst to come to him to drink.
We thank You that You, God are our provider still today. Your love remains the same. You are Messiah, Saviour. We too look to the future when You will come again and all will be changed. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:52 in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet the dead shall be raised and we shall be changed. Our promised land, the new heaven and new earth will be just as real. (Revelation 21:1). It will not be ethereal. But with no pain, sin or evil. We cannot understand all of Revelation Lord but we know the ending. Give us a glimpse of heaven.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Sunday 2nd March 2025
I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk by Your side
I can only imagine
What my eyes would see
When Your face is before me
I can only imagine
Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence
Or to my knees, will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine, yeah
I can only imagine
Chorus
I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship You
I can only imagine
Lyrics: Bart Millard