Ceremonies and Rituals

It may be a simple ritual like saying grace before each meal or a life changing ceremony like becoming a citizen of another country.  Either way, rituals and ceremonies highlight special moments throughout our life…

1 Kings 1.28-53

Reference:  v.34  “There have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel.  Blow the trumpet and shout, ‘Long line King Solomon!'” (NIV Bible)

Explore:  Ceremonies are a special part of our lives.  Whether it is something as simple as cutting a birthday cake or the grand commencement of a marriage, ceremonies help to form meaning and ritual.  It is an important day for the person/people in celebration, however being a witness to a ceremony can be just as sacred.  To know that you are part of something bigger, you are not just an isolate walking this earth on your own, is an important part of being.
While it was Solomon who was being crowned as king over Israel there were still many others involved.  Zadok, Nathan and Benaiah were certainly pivotal to the ceremony but there were many others there (the Kerethites and the Pelethites) to witness the occasion.  While there was some conflict going on at the time as to who should be king, it was clear that the celebrations of Solomon’s appointment was monumental.

Application:  Sometimes we tend to fob off ceremonies. I have to admit that I have escaped attending some of my graduation ceremonies.  However I still believe that ceremony and ritual are an important part of life.  It may be a simple ritual like saying grace before each meal or a life changing ceremony like becoming a citizen of another country.  Either way, rituals and ceremonies highlight special moments throughout our life that help to bring humans together in celebration.
Our faith ceremonies are important too.  Due to our routine of meeting every week as we gather for a worship service, we can often become complacent of the importance of this ceremony.  We might turn up late to miss the songs or make sure we have a good game on our phone so we’re not bored during the sermon.  However, we start to lose the greater impact that meeting together as a people of God can bring.  This is a ceremony that can support, encourage, challenge, and help us to be better people for God.  Let’s not be flippant about our regular ceremonies and rituals but know that they are an important element of community.

Prayer:  Lord God, when you set the world in motion you created a pace and ritual of time.  Often we can run through life without stopping to notice the importance of these ceremonies.  From the rising of the sun to the going down, may your name be praised.  Amen.

What is a meaningful ritual/ceremony for you?

1 Kings