This week I celebrated my 40th birthday. My mom was here for the occasion. I ate cake for breakfast and enjoyed a glass of prosecco with dinner. Every moment of the day was filled with joy but I kept wondering why I don’t celebrate like that more often…

What else do we get this excited about?

Anniversaries. Baptism Days. Years Cancer Free. Promotions. Retirement.

Christmas. Easter. Pentecost. Thanksgiving.

We throw parties and sing songs and eat cake. But these events come around annually, seasonally, or sometimes only once in a life time.

One of my favorite stories of celebration in the bible comes from when the ark of the covenant is returned to Jerusalem. Did you know the Israelites actually lost the ark of the covenant that housed the presence of God containing the Ten Commandments, the Pentateuch (Genesis - Deuteronomy), a jar of manna and Aaron’s rod that budded? They had turned the ark into somewhat of an idol carrying it around with them to battles - believing that the thing itself brought them victory instead of their God and then the Philistine army captured it.

Losing the ark meant the Israelites had lost the presence of God among them.

Eventually, the Philistines realized that having this icon was causing them a lot of problems. Not only did the statue of their god Dagon topple over twice, falling prostrate in a posture of worship toward the God of the Israelites, but they were also suffering a national distress of boils and an infestation of rats.

They decided to send it back and placed it on an unmanned cart drawn by cows. If the cows went one direction this was a sign that the Israelite’s God had defeated Dagon and caused their current situation. If the cows wandered aimlessly in the other direction, they would understand that their troubles has been unrelated to the presence of the ark of the covenant. Either way they were ready to have it gone.

Those cows made a bee-line for Israelite territory and arrived in a city named Kirjath Jearim where the ark and its contents remained under the care of a priestly family for about 100 years. Then, in his first year as King over all of Israel in 1003 BC, about 20 years after defeating the Philistine giant Goliath, David brought the ark to Jerusalem.

When the ark finally made its way into the city, David goes overboard, singing and dancing and making offerings to the Lord and sharing raisin cakes with the people - to the point of embarrassing his wife and and some say even making fool of himself… He celebrated excessively. (2 Samuel 6)

When is the last time you partied that hard for Jesus?

These days excessive celebration has taken on a different meaning - a flagrant foul in the end zone or maybe an upset tummy or an aching head in the morning.

David’s celebration was certainly scandalous, but not by today’s standards. His rejoicing was about honoring the one True God whose presence had returned to His people in the Ark of the Covenant, not overindulging or putting on a theatrical display, but pure unbridled worship.

David understood how important the presence of God was for their National safety and prosperity.

You and I, as baptized children of God, have His Spirit living inside us at all times. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. So we can’t lose His presence like the Israelites did. That should give us something to celebrate - and not just on Sundays or high festivals or special occasions. But every single day of our lives - even unto death.

Lutheran funeral services tend to have a celebratory nature. When those we love die in the faith, we celebrate Jesus Christ’s victory over death and the resurrection we proudly profess with confidence. Death lost it’s sting (1 Corinthians 15:55) on Easter Morning when Mary found the tomb empty. The power of sin and death could not hold Him and His resurrection is our assurance that it will not restrain us either.

If in death we can find cause to celebrate, then nothing we encounter in life should have the power to cause us inconsolable sorrow either.

This is not to say that we will endure no sadness in our earthly existence. Even Jesus wept. But no matter what we face here on earth we know that Jesus has claimed victory for those who believe in Him.

Therefor, in everything let us rejoice in the Lord and give thanks for His grace (Philippians 4:4). We don’t have to be thankful for every circumstance, but we can remember that in Jesus we always have something over which to rejoice.

Instead of mourning, worrying, or complaining - exalt the name of Jesus.

Today, I want to encourage you to engage in excessive celebration regularly.

Dear Father, Thank you for the gifts of your Holy Spirit working inside me in this life and the resurrection and everlasting life to come. Help me to celebrate this with David’s unbridled joy every single day. When the circumstances of my life make it seem as though there is nothing to rejoice over, bring to mind all you have accomplished by Your Son for my sake. Amen.