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Jun 13, 2022 18:30pm

Eight Days of Gifts

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Around December every year, we have Christmas carols playing in the background, as the tree glistens and the lights on the mantle twinkle. One carol that I always thought was fun to sing is the 12 Days of Christmas.

Can you remember all the gifts?

It’s hard, isn’t it?

We can usually remember the first 5, because you end up having to repeat those more than you do the 12 drummers drumming.

But it’s fun to see if we can remember it and sing it. The carols, the tree, lights and decorations, advent calendars, movies and plays, all of it fills our hearts with joy and prepares us for the main event, Christmas Day!

Do you remember coming into the living room and all the presents under the tree? The stockings full and excitement filled the air as your parents let you dive in, even if it was 4 AM!

We would open gifts at home and then get ready to head to my grandmother’s house for dinner with the rest of the family. It was always eventful to say the least. But we each hold memories of that special day being celebrated throughout the years.

In our study of Numbers, we come to chapter 28 and 29. God instructs Moses on the offerings to be made, the feasts to be held and the sacrifices required. In chapter 29, He details what gifts were to be brought during the 8 days of celebration.

“On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering.” (Numbers 29:35-38)

As I read this morning, I thought about the song the 12 Days of Christmas. Why did God instruct the people to do these certain things for 8 days? Each item was a gift to bring the Lord to show their thankfulness for His mercy over them and their sins, His righteousness and holiness, His authority, and commitment to being His people.

Each day, as the people would ready their sacrifices, they spent time preparing them just right. It makes me think about wrapping that special gift for someone, picking out the perfect paper, making sure the corners are creased, the bow tied just right and the tag with our best handwriting. As I wrap, I think about how much they will love this gift, or at least I hope so. I think of the smile on their face as they open it and that they will know how much I love them.

As they prepared their gifts, they were also getting their hearts ready to worship the Lord.

Just as the wisemen did. Tradition says that the song the 12 Days of Christmas describes the 12 days it took for the wise men to travel to see Jesus and give their gifts to the Messiah. I can only imagine what was going through their minds and their conversations as they traveled to see the long-awaited Messiah, God Himself, robed in flesh as a new born baby.

When Christmas approaches each year, how do we prepare our hearts for the main event, celebrating the birth of our Savior? Don’t get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Instead, take time to think about each gift the Lord has given you. Count your blessings and praise Him. Give from your heart. Let’s celebrate!