Day Fifty-five: February 24: Today’s Tasting – Leviticus 23-25:23: Why understand Jewish Feasts? God desires intimacy with His people. The feasts promote worshiping the Lord and receiving His blessing:
Today’s Nourishment: The Seven Major Feasts (holy days or appointed times) of the Lord, set specific times to meet with God—holy times for holy purposes. The holidays set a rhythm for life. Otherwise, as creatures of habit, we would live the same way, day after day.
God started establishing His pathway (law) to Israel out of love for her. Israel worshiped idols in Egypt, but now God mandated they worship Him – love Him and receive His love. The feasts reveal the love relationship between God and Israel.
Israel continues to celebrate the feasts today. Jesus did not eliminate the feast, but celebrated them. For that reason, believers may celebrate the feasts, yet in a different way—believers celebrate Jesus fulfillment of the feasts.
Therefore, we worship the Lord in each feast. Love Him as He loves you! The following brief description of each feast reveals how they exalted Christ and how we may worship Him for his fulfillment of them:
Sabbath (Shabbat) – celebrated every seven days reminds that the Lord rested (a satisfaction) after creation. The Word of God says this was a fixed date—“an everlasting ordinance.”
SHABBAT, Sabbath means to BE STILL, REFLECT, and CELEBRATE:
- Be Still: Posture to hear the Lord
- Reflect: On Christ completed work – Wait to hear Him
- Celebrate: Breathe, rest, enjoy life, and worship Jesus Christ
Each of the seven major feasts is a type of Sabbath or Shabbat:
1. Feast of Passover: Israel remembered the Passover of the death angel. God rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt.
Jesus exalted: His crucifixion occurred on Passover at 9am, the time of the early morning sacrifice. He died at 3pm, the time of the evening sacrifice. He rescued us from slavery to this world. Worship Him.
2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: a reminder that God rescued Israel from Egypt. They ate unleavened bread for seven days, which represents “putting off the old way of life.”
Jesus exalted: The Bread of Life buried on Unleavened Bread. Worship Him.
3. Feasts of First Fruits presented a sheaf of first fruits to Lord for the early spring offering.
Jesus exalted: His resurrection on First Fruits, which represents, “Putting on the new.” The same Holy Spirit who brought Him forth abides in you. Worship Him.
4. Feasts of Pentecost (Shavuot means fifty) occurred fifty days from the Feast of First fruits. The giving of law, along with a marriage covenant between God and Israel, occurred on Mount Sinai. Israel sinned and three thousand died at this great outpouring of God.
Jesus exalted: The Spirit departed slowly from the Temple in Ezekiel 10-11. His promise to return, by Jesus, in John 7:35-37 occurred in chapters one and two of the Book of Acts. He rushed back into the lives of believers waiting on Him. Pray for a fresh filling of His Spirit. Worship Him.
5. Feast of Trumpets: First day of the year, in the seventh month, represents a new beginning with God – a time to make things right with God and others.
Jesus exalted: He returns. Celebrate life – reflect on life, return to Him. Listen for the trumpet sound. Worship Him.
6. Day of Atonement: Holiest Day of Jewish Year: Day of Atonement: (at one-ment) with God Yom Kippur – ten days after Feast of Trumpets.
Jesus exalted: He is our sacrifice, allowing us to approach God. Celebrate Christ completed work. Get right with God, neighbors, and family.
7. Feast of Tabernacles: Celebrated, Sept 30 – Oct 7, as a reminder of Israel’s wilderness experience where they lived in tents. When Israel lived in tents, God lived in a tent to dwell among His people; when Israel lived in houses, God said, “Build a house for me to dwell among you.”
Jesus exalted: He came to live inside human, so He came as a man and made His home among us, John 1:14. He wants to tabernacle (dwell) with us. Worship Him.
8. The Wedding Feast of the Lamb, yet to come, we will worship for eternity. We will tabernacle with Him forever.
The feasts reveal our worship of Christ. We worship before birth:
Passover: 14th day of the 1st month: Pregnancy occurs
Unleavened Bread: 15th day – the buried seed and fertilized life occurs
First Fruits: all implantations occur sometime the following week
Pentecost: 50 days ~ baby becomes recognizable
Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah: 7th month, 1st day: hearing develops just in time for trumpets
Yom Kippur: 7th month, 10th day: baby’s blood becomes adult blood, acceptable for Day of Atonement
Tabernacles: 7th month, 15th day: lungs develop: baby tabernacles to grow in strength and size – developing fullness
Two hundred eighty days occur from conception to birth – the exact number of days from the beginning of the first day of the year to Hanukah. You worshiped before you were even born. Celebrating the feasts, not only gives life, He is Life!
Describe your celebration of Jesus in the feast:
Tomorrow’s Reading: Leviticus 25:24-26:46
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