Belonging

Deuteronomy 16

Passover.

Remembering the LORD’s past redemptive acts.

This is a Deuteronomy type theme.

I stopped

when I read the mention of Israel’s call

to rejoice before the LORD,

During the Feast of Weeks.

Counting off 7 weeks

from the time the sickle

was put to the standing grain.

Ch 16:11 “ Rejoice before the LORD your God

At the place HE will choose

As a dwelling for His Name.

You,

Your sons and daughters

Your menservants and maidservants

The Levites

And the aliens,

The fatherless,

And the widows. “

You,

Your children

My children.

And all the refugees

All the displaced people among us

All the orphans

Zelophehad’s daughters

And the widows

All the Ruths and Naomis.  

Ch 16:15 “ And your joy will be complete.”

17” Bringing gifts

in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you. 

No man shall appear before the LORD empty handed.”

In this place

This Promised Land

There is room for everyone.

God’s rest is for all of us

And for all of them.

I love words like

Gather

Together

Belonging

Community

And everyone.

That the place God chooses for His Dwelling

Is a place for gathering.

And by default

It will be a place of joy

And of rest. 

I love that!