Concordia Lutheran Church
Easter Sunday, August 4, 2010
Hava Nagilah
Isaiah 65: 17-25
† IN JESUS NAME †
May the grace, the incredible love and mercy of God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ bring you great rejoicing and peace this day, as we begin to grasp that we, united with His death and the hope of the resurrection are a new creations. AMEN!
Something to look at
Isaiah 65:18-19
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. 18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness
Be glad and rejoice! Christ Is Risen!
Rejoice! An incredible word!
Rejoice: to focus and express the joy at a level that is at a level where words are not enough. We will see something close to it, as we watch 30,000 people cheer and go crazy as 15 young men toss a round level ball more times than 15 other guys through a metal hoop 10 feet above the ground Monday night. You see it in a father’s face, as their precious child transforms into a man, and chooses wisely his bride. Interesting thought, for we aren’t witnesses to a wedding this day…at least not that we are yet aware of.
In Hebrew, actually I think, no, I would bet that many of you are familiar with the word for rejoice in Hebrew. Anyone want to take me up on the bet? That let’s say at least 25 of you have used the word for “rejoice” not just said it, but sung it, and invited others to use it too?
No one want to take the bet? You really expect that 25 people in this room know how to say “Let’s rejoice” in Hebrew? Or have you gotten used to me enough… to know that I don’t make bets I cannot win?
Let us rejoice, in Hebrew…. (Chris to start picking the tune…slowly)
“Hava Negilah, Hava, negilah hava negilah vay nis may cha”
The word gilah, like so many words in the Hebrew language, is a picture, more than a concept. Gilah means to dance with joy in a circle, and the concept includes singing. The modern song actually comes from the celebration of a modern battle during World War II Palestine, where jewish people were saved despite horrible odds against them.
Even more then appropriate is it, as an invitation to rejoice and celebrate our greatest victory, the victory that is symbolized by the empty cross, and the empty grave.
Hava Negilah! Let us Rejoice!!!!
I don’t know when or how the church decided that in view of God’s work, that we needed to be highly dignified in order to be reverent. There is a time for quiet solemn celebration, but scripture so often describes the response to God’s work, His outpouring of mercy and grace, His saving of His people, with words like these. Somehow we toned them down as they came into English, Be glad, our modern dictionaries say it means to be pleased. Yet the Hebrew is more like abounding in delight, amazed, and perhaps the best known use of Hava Nigelah is Jeremiah 31:13 – and He will turn your mourning into dancing!
It’s time to dance & celebrate! Why?
God Has Created Something New!
He’s broke time –
All history centers there
All history for us – centers at baptismal font!
The past is Gone!
Instead of remembering that – remember this!
Hear verses 17-18 again.
17“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.
This morning, and for weeks to come, we celebrate the new life we have in Christ, as seen in the fact that the grave wasn’t strong enough to keep him in it. That God raised us from the dead with Christ. He is Risen, and as we have been united in His death as He baptized us, so to are we united in His resurrection!
I have mentioned it before, in Ephesians 2, we Lutherans know well verses 8 and 9 – 8
Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; 9 not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit.
It is verse 8 that causes us to rejoice, to celebrate, to cry out Hava Negilah!
10 We are God's work of art, created in Christ Jesus for the good works which God has already designated to make up our way of life. Ephesians 2:8-10 (NJB)
When Isaiah proclaims that God has created a new heaven and earth, you and I are part of that new creation, and indeed, the part that God claims as His greatest work. To take that which was damaged and broken, and fix it.
One way I recently heard this described is that God entered His creation called time, and broke it. He smashed it to pieces and pulverized it. That He might recreate things completely from scratch, without any blemish. This is what Isaiah is talking about, when He says,
and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.18But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create
Hava Negilah! Let us rejoice
What kind of things shall not be remembered or come to mind? Uhhmmm.. don’t know – can’t remember them!
Things like the times when we sinned against God, by have false idols. When God broke time by destroying times greatest power of death, our past sins against Him were erased, they cannot be brought to His mind. Other things cannot be remembered either, things like the sins I have committed against you, and the ones you committed against me. They aren’t in the records, they cannot be brought back up – so be glad and rejoice in that which God has created!
Hava Negilah! Let us rejoice!
What is remembered instead? (look at the altar) This is… that the Body of Christ was given, and His blood was shed, to mark our newly created relationship with God. This is seen, the blood that blots out every sin, and cleanses us from all injustice. That is why Isaiah spends the rest of the chapter talking about the peace that exists between former enemies, and the return of God’s justice!
Hava Negilah! Let us rejoice!
God has redeemed His people, He has gathered them together into His city, into His kingdom, where we know joy in ways that are inexpressible!
Hava Negilah! Let us rejoice!
We aren’t the only one’s dancing!
Verse 19
One of the ways I described rejoicing before, is the joy of a Father, as he realizes His son has become a man, and takes to himself a bride. That Hava Negilah is often heard at weddings, and in Jewish culture it is often led by the father of the groom! There is a rejoicing, a great rejoicing, for it is a new time, and the promise of new life is seen!
There is such a time here today, for while none of us are getting married, we are in a way. For this day, as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ, we, the church, have been prepared to be His bride. We have been cleansed, and are spotless, by His work. The banquet has been made ready, - no, not the one after church – this one here. A foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb!
Isaiah mentions this too, in verse 20.
19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people;
Remember – the word rejoice is the word Gila – God is exuberant over what has happened to us – so full of joy that He is leading the dance!
His obedient, only begotten son, has found and prepared for himself a bride. God has created for Himself a people to love, a people to care for, a people to dance with!
Hava Negilah – rejoice with God, rejoice with your Savior, with your Lord!
This is what we celebrate this day, this is what the open, and empty grace is all about, It is a time for rejoicing, for great joy, for God can delight in a people, cleansed of all sin, so clean there is no trace, no remembrance, for that which is passed away has passed away!
The chorus of the Hava Negilah, uru, uru achim, Uru, uru achim, Uru achim belev same'ach – works well this day – it means Awake, Awake, my Brother – awake with a joy filled heart.
Our reaction to the resurrection, to the glorious resurrection of our Lord, of the Christ, and the fact that our sins have been covered completely. Each day we awake, we need to awake, to rejoice with all of our heart, as we realize we are His new creation, created in Christ Jesus! And with that knowledge, comes joy and peace, that cannot be described with words, but still, let us rejoice!
Hava Negilah! AMEN?
