Today we will examine this sixth of the seven celebrations that God mandated here in the law. There are some very interesting things to note about the Day of Atonement. First, the timing of this celebration once again comes in close proximity to the previous one (the Feast of
Trumpets). God directs that it take place on the 10th day of this seventh month of the year. In the bible, the number 10 represents a number of perfection when it comes to man’s obedience (think of the 10 commandments). This is setting the general theme of this day of
celebration. A theme of man’s returning to that perfect obedience by choice.
After telling them when to observe this day, God begins to go through a series of repeated instructions of the same theme. He tells them repeatedly to deny themselves (as in fasting), to do absolutely
no work on that day, and to give special offerings to purify themselves with the Lord.
These things are symbolic of the time on God’s kingdom calendar when the door is about to close and final separation will take place. The time of the great tribulation has just passed when God
spent seven years pouring out great judgment on the world trying to get the attention of the people so that they would do these three things:
Deny themselves, recognizing that their natural desires are sinful and an offence to God
Stop trying in their own efforts to live based
on those sinful natural desires (surrender)
Offer themselves as the ultimate sacrificial offering to make peace with God
God says that anyone who does not do these things on THIS day will be permanently cut off from His people. The door is about to close and God’s kingdom is
about to be re-established here on earth. Anyone who is still defiantly trying to do their own work and choosing not to surrender to be with God will be allowed to continue to do so into eternity. Out of His incredible love for them, God will give them what they desperately want
in their hearts. But for those who finally surrender, their work is literally done and they enter into that which God’s Sabbath has always represented… rest from their works.
And now let’s see what God said in these instructions in Leviticus 23:26-32:
The Day of Atonement
26 Then the Lord said to Moses, 27 “Be careful to celebrate the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of that same month—nine days after the Festival of Trumpets. You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present
special gifts to the Lord. 28 Do no work during that entire day because it is the Day of Atonement, when offerings of purification are made for you, making you right with the Lord your God. 29 All who do not deny themselves that day will be cut off from God’s people. 30 And I
will destroy anyone among you who does any work on that day. 31 You must not do any work at all! This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation wherever you live. 32 This will be a Sabbath day of complete rest for you, and on that day you
must deny yourselves. This day of rest will begin at sundown on the ninth day of the month and extend until sundown on the tenth day.” - Leviticus 23:26-32
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#GeraldsDevotional
The Seven Appointed Festivals – A Summary
I hope and pray that this series that we did on Leviticus chapter 23 over the past week has blessed and touched you in some way. Today I just want to do a quick summary of the chapter to highlight some of the key take-away points. I like to do this in my personal bible study so
that even if I don’t remember the exact scripture and verse (which I usually don’t), I remember general themes and topics that I can later use as points of reference in my life experiences.
First, remember that even though God is giving the Israelites these annual festivals,
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The Festival of Shelters and Epilogue
Today we will look at the 7th and final festival that was commanded by the Lord. First let’s take a look at and consider the numerical symbolism that appears in these instructions. This is the 7th festival, a number which represents the idea of “completion” in the bible. He also
directs that this festival last for seven days. The children of Israel are told to celebrate this festival starting on the 5th day after the previous celebration (the Day of Atonement). The number five in the bible represents God’s amazing grace.
This morning we will look at the instructions that the Lord tells Moses to give to the people regarding this fifth of the seven festivals. But before doing so, let us remember the pattern that is being used and the biblical significance of these festivals up until this point.
First, each festival has represented significant biblical events in the historical timeline of God’s kingdom plan. Also, He has been using a metaphor of a season of an agricultural crop with terms like planting, seeing the first fruits of the early spring season (with many more
#GeraldsDevotional
The Celebration of First Fruits
Of the seven special festivals, the third one, the Celebration of First Fruits, represents the one that is probably the most familiar to people today – both Christians and non-Christians. What we commonly celebrate as Easter Sunday is memorialized in this special celebration
event that also occurs in close proximity to the first two. It is called First Fruits (or First Harvest) because it celebrates what happened on the third day after the Passover and the Feast of unleavened bread.
On this day that followed the Sabbath they were to have a special
Up until now we have explored the basic history and background of the seven Jewish Festivals and how the Lord commanded the children of Israel to follow and observe them. Today we will examine and consider the first two festivals. Before jumping into these first two, let’s take a
high-level view of all seven festivals (a simple list). They are:
The Passover
Feast of Unleavened Bread
First Harvest (First Fruits)
Feast of Weeks (Festival of the Harvest)
Feast of Trumpets
Day of Atonement
Feast of Shelters (Tabernacles)
#GeraldsDevotional
The Seven Festivals of the Lord – The Background
Today I will begin to ponder the significance of the seven festivals of the Lord and what is the role that God may be showing us that they play in His timeline. Today I want to give you a little background to consider about these festivals.
At this point in the book of
Leviticus, the Lord is giving Moses very specific and detailed instructions of how the people of Israel are to worship Him. In the previous chapter, He had just told Moses to give Aaron and the priests instructions on how to bring offerings into His presence. Failure to follow