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The Great Feasts of Israel - Lev. 23
The Great Feasts of Israel - Lev. 23
"These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at the times appointed for them" (Lev. 23: 4).
Thus, we have a list of various feasts of Israel.
Passover - 5f; 1st month, 14th day
Commemorating the salvation as Israel was saved from death and delivered from bondage.
Unleavened bread – 6; 1st month, 15th day
Thus begins a 7-day feast
First Fruits - 9; 1st month, 16th day
This began harvest, the first ingathering.
Pentecost - 16; 3rd month, 1st day
Coming 50 days later 'Feast of Weeks' "first fruits' , also called Pentecost - Acts 2:1; feast of the Harvest - Ex. 23:16; and day of firstfruits Num. 28:26
Trumpets – 24; 7th month, 1st day
The blowing of the trumpets that marked the beginning of the great 7th month of Israel and her feasts, the most sacred month in Israel's calendar.
Day of Atonement - vs. 26; 7th month, 10th day
This was the great day when the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies and made atonement for sin. Much of the ritual has been explained in chapter 16. It pre-figures the great once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus (see Heb. 9:7- 10:5).
Booths – 34; 7th month, 15th day
A day of celebration (vs. 39, 41,) and rejoicing (vs. 40). Also called Feast of Tabernacles, Feast of Ingathering
Some observations on these feasts:
1. These are part of the Old Covenant and are no longer binding having been fulfilled and superseded.
2. They were 'everlasting' - as were many things that belonged to the OT, yet they are now done away with in Christ.
3. Being part of Israel's covenant, they were not universal in their scope, even when applied to Israel throughout the OT period.
4. The three 'great festivals' required all of Israel to appear in Jerusalem to celebrate them. This posed a great problem after the captivities of Assyria and Babylon and the dispersion that followed. Israel ended up being scattered throughout the known world (cp. the gathering in Acts 2), and hence many, if not most, were not able to be there three times a year (if they EVER got there at all). This, of course, changed the way in which things worked, as in how to have the priests sacrifice the lamb on Pentecost, how to present the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, etc. Today's attempts to keep these feasts simply cannot follow the stipulations as given.
Some Observations for Christians
In the Passover, we see God's people rejoicing in salvation, ultimately in Jesus (1Cor. 5:7).
In the First Fruits, we see God's people rejoicing in God's provisions of life, ultimately in the resurrection and eternal life.
In the Day of Atonement we see God's gracious offer of forgiveness for sin, ultimately in Jesus.
In the Feast of Tabernacles, we see God's people remembering His great act of deliverance, ultimately in the remembering of Jesus' dying for us and delivering us from sin.
Let us rejoice in God's provisions for us through Jesus our Lord.
Hugh DeLong
