WATCHWORD FEBRUARY 2026
You shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
Deuteronomy 26,11
A JOYFUL FEASTING The two main marks of the peace offering were eating and rejoicing. Of the peace offerings, Deuteronomy says the Israelites were to “eat there, and … rejoice before the Lord your God” (27:7). Consider now especially the rejoicing. Peace offerings were sacrificed particularly at times of joy and thanksgiving. Examples of these thankful times included after God performed some great deliverance; at the culmination of a national feast; or at a blessed event, such as the dedication of the temple. It is easy to understand from these examples why godly rejoicing was directly connected to the peace-offering feasts. Many psalms that speak of rejoicing are referencing the joyful feasting that followed the sacrifice of a peace offering. Jesus has offered Himself as our peace offering, and now our joy is made full. We have the utmost reason to enter God’s house with thanksgiving, for God in Christ has reconciled us to Himself, and our peace offering has risen from the dead! “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24). Now eat of our Lord’s peace offering, and with such eating rejoice in the Lord always.
O Lord, as I consider Your peace offering on the cross, grant me a rejoicing and thankful spirit.
Amen.
https://blog.cph.org/read/5- reflections-on-giving-thanks-to-god
