The concept of "The Command to Gorge" is not explicitly found as a direct command in the Bible. However, the idea of feasting and consuming food in abundance is present in various contexts throughout the Scriptures. This entry explores the biblical instances where feasting is encouraged or depicted, examining the cultural and theological significance of such practices.

Feasting in the Old Testament

Feasting is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, often associated with celebrations, religious observances, and expressions of joy and gratitude. The Israelites were commanded to celebrate several feasts, which included abundant eating and drinking as part of their worship and community life.

1. The Passover Feast: The Passover is one of the most significant feasts in the Jewish calendar. In Exodus 12:14, the Israelites are instructed to commemorate their deliverance from Egypt with a feast: "This day is to be a memorial for you, and you are to celebrate it as a feast to the LORD. You are to celebrate it as a permanent statute for the generations to come." The Passover meal included the consumption of a lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs, symbolizing the haste and hardship of their escape.

2. The Feast of Tabernacles: Also known as Sukkot, this feast is described in Leviticus 23:39-41: "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the produce of the land, you are to celebrate the feast of the LORD for seven days. The first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day is also a day of rest. On the first day you are to take the branches of majestic trees—palm branches, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook—and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days." This feast involved dwelling in booths and celebrating with abundant food, reflecting on God's provision and protection during the wilderness wanderings.

3. The Feast of Weeks: Known as Shavuot or Pentecost, this feast is a time of thanksgiving for the harvest. Deuteronomy 16:10-11 instructs, "And you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God—you, your son and daughter, your male and female servants, the Levite within your gates, and the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow among you."

Feasting in the New Testament

In the New Testament, feasting continues to hold significance, often symbolizing the joy and fellowship found in the Kingdom of God.

1. The Wedding at Cana: Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine at a wedding feast, is recorded in John 2:1-11. This event underscores the importance of celebration and abundance in the context of a wedding, a symbol of the union between Christ and His Church.

2. The Parable of the Great Banquet: In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus tells a parable about a man who prepares a great banquet and invites many guests. The feast represents the Kingdom of God, and the invitation to partake in the abundance of God's grace and salvation.

3. The Lord's Supper: While not a feast in the traditional sense, the Lord's Supper is a significant meal instituted by Jesus. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Paul recounts, "For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, 'This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.' In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'" This meal is a reminder of Christ's sacrifice and the spiritual nourishment He provides.

Theological Implications

Feasting in the Bible is often a metaphor for the abundance of God's blessings and the joy of fellowship with Him and others. While the Bible does not command gorging in the sense of gluttony, it does encourage celebration and gratitude through feasting. These occasions are opportunities to remember God's provision, celebrate His goodness, and anticipate the ultimate feast in the Kingdom of Heaven, as depicted in Revelation 19:9: "Then the angel told me to write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'"