Exodus 34:21-26 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in ripening time and in harvest you shall rest.… I. THAT SEASONS FOR REJOICING WERE COMMANDED. Let those who think that the Old Dispensation was gloomy remember that there was Divine injunction for joy and feasting three times a year. II. That these seasons for rejoicing WERE CONVENIENTLY APPOINTED. Not in winter, but — 1. In spring, Passover. 2. Summer, First-fruits. 3. Autumn, Ingathering. III. That these seasons for rejoicing HAD A RELIGIOUS BASIS. 1. The feasts were "unto God." 2. Were in remembrance of Divine services which made rejoicing possible. IV. That these seasons for rejoicing WERE CONNECTED WITH RELIGIOUS ACTS (vers. 17-19). 1. Personal dedication. 2. Sacrifices. V. That seasons of rejoicing MUST NOT ENGENDER SLOVENLINESS AND UNCLEANNESS (ver. 18). VI. That seasons of rejoicing MUST NOT BE DESECRATED BY UNNATURAL OR SUPERSTITIOUS CEREMONIES. "Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk"; an outrage on nature and connected with witchcraft. In conclusion, if Judaism was a religion of joy, much more so is Christianity. The latter — 1. Was inaugurated as "glad tidings of great joy." 2. Its leading fact and doctrines are grounds of joy (1 John 1:1-4). 3. Its great central and fundamental principle is an occasion of joy (Romans 5:11). 4. The "fruit of the Spirit is joy." 5. It provides an eternity of joy. 6. But remember the joy of the Lord's your strength, and it is only in the Lord that we can rejoice evermore (Philippians 4:4). (J. W. Burn.) Parallel Verses KJV: Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest. |
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