Deuteronomy 16:12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes.
If you have been to Walmart recently, and I’m sure you have, you have noticed that there are already decorations, promotions, and gifts out for the next big holiday. There is a continuous push to party through different times of the year. There is a difference, as I have often said, between having a party and having a celebration. A celebration demands a reason; a party merely demands an excuse.
When you come to Deuteronomy 16, you have one of many examples of God reminding Israel of the significance of life and of His giving them tools by which they could remember the significance of life. Specifically, in Deuteronomy 16 God instructs Israel about keeping the Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. The reason for this is found in verse 12 which says, “And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shall observe and do these statutes.”
So, these feasts, special days, and fasts were to help the children of Israel to remember the significance of life. One of the keys here is the significance in their history of God’s leading. Every celebration was one that acknowledged God and acknowledged their history.
It is important to remember. Over and again, whether it is the Passover, Feast of Weeks, or others special days, these were special occasions to help Israel to remember what is too easily forgotten in the hustle and bustle of life. They were not to forget the importance of God and the significance of their lives as His creation.
One of the things you find here is the juxtaposition of “rejoice” and “solemn.” On the one hand, Israel was told more than once that they were to “surely rejoice.” It was a feast, and they were to give according to the blessings of the Lord which God had given them. You and I should give generously for the same reason today.
Then you have the word “solemn” twice in this chapter. Once in the words “solemn assembly” and once with a word that is translated “solemn feast.” So, how can you be solemn, serious-minded, and rejoice at the same time? The point is that they were to be “minded,” to think about what God had done, who they were, and where they were. They had cause to rejoice. So, being solemn is not just being poker-faced all the time. It is a matter of seriously thinking about all that you have to thank God for.
The long and the short of it is that a life well lived is one that regularly acknowledges its significance.