Leviticus 23
Feasts! Gotta love ‘em! I remember going to the Maxey reunion every summer as a kid. It was held at a park in Guthrie, OK. We always had this giant pavilion reserved for about a hundred people. Everyone brought food, great food and lots of it. Most of my first cousins from my mom’s side would be there as well as second, third, and so on cousins. I didn’t know anyone but my first cousins, but that did not matter. It was great food and great fun! While the children played, the adults caught up on relationships that had lain dormant for a year. Does our Holy God care about feasts? Is holiness somehow beyond festivities of feasts? Absolutely not!
This chapter briefly describes each of the seven Holy festivals given to Israel. They reflect the Glory of our Lord in that they demonstrate how He prophetically works in history with the feast days of Israel. Each feast speaks of the Messiah. Below is a simplification of the feast days and how they reflect God’s plan in the Messiah
Passover—the crucifixion and death of Messiah
Unleavened Bread—the fellowship we have with Messiah because of His death
Firstfruits—the resurrection of Messiah
Pentecost—the giving of the law, the giving of the Holy Spirit, the beginning of the church (two loaves)
Trumpets—Israel brought back into the land (future)
Great Day of Atonement—the work of Messiah upon the Cross for us
Tabernacles—the time when Israel is in the land (future)
The Firstfruits can be kind of confusing. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary rather cryptically identifies this feast with Pentecost. Yet, that does not really capture it. Here is what The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia has this to say:
The phrase “the first of the first-fruits” (Ex23:19; 34:26; Ezk 44:30), . . . is not quite clear. . . . It may mean the first-ripe or the choicest of the first-fruits. . . . The priest waved a re’shith of corn before the Lord on the morrow after the Sabbath in the week of unleavened bread (Lev. 23: 9-11). . . . At the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) seven weeks after the offering of the sheaf, bikkurim of corn in the ear, parched with fire and bruised, were brought to the House of the Lord as a meal offering (Ex 34:22-26; Lev. 2:14-16).
So then, it was kind of a divided holiday. It began on the first Sunday following the Sabbath that fell during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. On this day new sheaves recently sprouted in the field were cut and brought to be offered as a wave offering before the Lord. This was the day that Jesus rose from the grave. Paul, as a good Pharisee recognized this. In 1 Cor 15:20-23 he is indicating more than that Jesus is the first to rise and stay risen from the dead. He is the fulfillment of the Feast of Firstfruits.
Fifty days later when grain had produced ripe heads, they were harvested and brought to the Lord. The Feast of Pentecost was celebrated. It was celebrated with two loaves of bread made with leaven. This day is the creation of the church. The Mystery is now revealed. Jew and Gentile are blended together into one body. The two loaves become one. But wait a minute! These loaves are made with leaven. Leaven is a symbol of sin. As in the parable of the tares, Israel and the Church through the centuries has had to wrestle with sin and evil in its midst. Hmmmm. . . .
The last three festivals fall in the seventh month. Seven is the number of completion. The Feasts of Trumpets and Tabernacles look to the second coming. One day He will return and we will sit down at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev.19:9). The feasts will then all have found their fulfillment in History, and we will enjoy fun and renewed relationships in the presence of our Holy God. In the mean time we have the privilege of hastening His Kingdom by spreading the good news of His of His glory. Is it not amazing how He has it all planned from the foundation of the world? Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
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