Today's readings are Exodus 23.14-33 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+23.14-33 ) and Luke 4.31-44 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+4.31-44 ).
In Exodus 23 we see God establishing festivals for his people Israel. We'll just take a moment to notice a few important features about the festivals God has appointed.
1) There are three at the outset. Maybe this has something to do with the trinity, maybe not.
2) Two of the festivals have to do with ongoing routine events - the first and last crops of the year. Our Lord gives us annual reminders of his faithfulness to us as he provides for our needs. Our worship returns thanks to the God who gives us all we have.
3) One of the festivals is an annual celebration of God's power and desire to deliver his people from bondage. Like we would die if we did not receive food from the hand of God, we would also not find release from bondage and slavery without his mighty hand exercised on our behalf.
4) Through the festivals the Lord establishes, he makes a distinction between his people and the people around them.
5) God provides what we need for worship, he provides the reason to worship, and he tells how we are to worship.
Things have not changed much. God's people still come to him to worship his mighty act of deliverance and sustenance, using the means he has established and the resources he has given. Need we seek something new and different? Let us rather seek the Lord and giver of all through the means he has given us.
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