Leviticus 23: Times of Refreshing

The festivals of Leviticus 23 provide their observers with many benefits. One benefit is mentioned by prolific writer and blogger Pam Dewey in her site "Times of Refreshing." God has provided us with a great series of vacations! If you are looking for more information on these festivals greater than the brief overview I plan here, I recommend a road trip to http://youall.com/refresh/.  

Dr Bacchiocchi's book on the Fall festivals of Leviticus 23

These festivals include: the Sabbath, Passover, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. 

What is interesting is that Most Christians already observe two of these festivals, Passover and Pentecost. I can hear some of you saying, "What!? I have never observed Passover, that's Jewish." You have observed in under a different name—you call it Easter. Only in English and German is it called Easter. (The name is derived from the Teutonic Goddess of the Dawn Eostre.) In the Romance Languages, and for that matter in Russian, it is called Passover.  

Many Christians are uncomfortable with the name Easter, and the pagan customs associated with modern Easter like Easter Eggs, the Easter Bunny, and the Easter Basket. So some have adopted the name "Resurrection Sunday." Although I would quibble and say the resurrection was on Saturday night, I do not want to be critical as this is a big step in the right direction. 

Historically this was a big, big issue in the early Church. At first Christians observed Passover at the same time as the Jews. For various reasons this was transferred to Sunday. This process took centuries. There was a lot of animosity toward the Jews, and the main reason for the change was to avoid having anything to do with them. I have always felt that this was an inadequate reason and eventually joined with those that keep the Passover in the same general time that the Jews do. (We do it as a three day celebration centered around the traditional date of the Passover. We begin by reenacting the Last Supper by doing what was done on that night; the following night on the traditional Passover night we have a meal; the next day we celebrate the beginning of the days of unleavened bread, which we celebrate for 7 days.)

Pentecost comes 50 days later. I remember keeping it even when I was a Baptist. Over the years I have been bemused by the criticism I have received for observing these days from those who observed these days themselves without realizing it! 

There are three Fall Festivals that are not generally observed by Christians. Although as you can see by the photo, some prominent TV evangelists do. These three feasts are: Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. Both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Greek Scriptures that make up our modern Bible provide interesting meanings and thoughts to ponder on these days. For a chart on Pam Dewey's site where these days are summarized, click here. 

I remember my first exposure to these days. I was in the 6th grade in Palm Springs and I noticed that about 20% of my class was missing. It was one of the Fall festivals, probably Atonement.

So for the next couple of weeks I will be blogging about these days, and in particular the Feast of Tabernacles, and the details of modern festival observance using the principles I mentioned yesterday. Hopefully many of you will find it of interest. 

Leviticus 23?

Many people like me desire to observe the Holy Days of Leviticus 23. However, while the laws contain eternal truths, they are couched in the technology and culture of when they were first revealed. It is difficult, if not impossible, to woodenly port these over into a modern observance; instead they need to be morphed to modern times while always being aware of the various principles expounded in the Law.

These principles include: The Principle of Worship (a Holy Convocation in the KJV Bible); The Principle of Pilgrimage (you need a critical mass of people); The Principle of the Placement of God's Name; The Principle of Temporary Shelters (booths); The Principle of Sacrifice; the Principle of Tithing (There was a separate tithe for these observances);The Principle of Community (There are aspects of community sharing); The Seasonal Principle (3 times in the year); The Principle of Decoration; The Principle of Beer Drinking (rejoicing by means of physical food consumption); and finally the principle of Education (the Torah was to be read every 7 years). To a degree these principles are in tension with each other. For example: it is difficult to construct, transport, and live in a temporary structure and travel a few hundred miles to a pilgrimage festival site; and it is difficult to listen to the Torah being read and explained and do anything else that year. 

We will discuss these principles over the next few weeks in future blog posts leading up to and including the Feast of Tabernacles, and hopefully come to some conclusions about modern festival observance. I will begin tomorrow with an overview of the various festivals discussed in Leviticus 23. 

Going Too Fast, or Going To Fast

Not eating food for a period of time for meditative or religious reasons goes way back in history. Most cultures do it. Looking at my waist, I can see that this is not a common practice here in America. 

Jesus was criticized because his disciples did not fast in the prescribed manner of the Pharisees, twice in the week, in fact. Here is what he said (Mat 9):

¹⁴ Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

 ¹⁵ Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

(Jesus as the bridegroom and we his followers as the bride continues the pattern I mentioned in a previous post on Revelation 21-22.) 

The point here is that Jesus expects his disciples to fast after his departure. Do you fast? 

Matt 6 tells us this:

¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Jesus did not say: "If you fast." He said: "When you fast." Do you fast? 

To begin a series on the feasts of Leviticus 23 I thought I would begin by pointing out that tomorrow is the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). Leviticus 23 tells us:

²⁶ The LORD said to Moses, ²⁷ “The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the LORD. ²⁸Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. ²⁹ Those who do not deny themselves on that day must be cut off from their people. ³⁰ I will destroy from among their people anyone who does any work on that day. ³¹ You shall do no work at all. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live. ³² It is a day of sabbath rest for you, and you must deny yourselves. From the evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening you are to observe your sabbath.”

The phrase “deny yourself” is idiomatic and refers to fasting. 

So Jesus said his disciples would fast after he had departed. Leviticus 23 tells us that tomorrow is a day of fasting. Do you fast? If not tomorrow, when? 

Update on Friday, October 7, 2011 at 6:01AM by [Positive Dennis]

I decided to have this part as an update to draw attention to it. There are obviously people who should not fast due to medical reasons. Looking back over my "religious life," I can see that common sense was sometimes lacking. I suggest you use common sense on the issue of fasting. 

Banksters

It is amazing how much this is like my interpretation of Revelation 17-18:

Revelation 18

Lament Over Fallen Babylon

 ¹ After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ² With a mighty voice he shouted:

   “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’
   She has become a dwelling for demons 
and a haunt for every impure spirit, 
   a haunt for every unclean bird, 
   a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal. 
³ For all the nations have drunk 
   the maddening wine of her adulteries. 
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, 
   and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

Warning to Escape Babylon’s Judgment

 ⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

   “‘Come out of her, my people,’
   so that you will not share in her sins, 
   so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 
⁵ for her sins are piled up to heaven, 
   and God has remembered her crimes. 
⁶ Give back to her as she has given; 
   pay her back double for what she has done. 
   Pour her a double portion from her own cup. 
⁷ Give her as much torment and grief 
   as the glory and luxury she gave herself. 
In her heart she boasts, 
   ‘I sit enthroned as queen. 
I am not a widow;
   I will never mourn.’ 
⁸ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: 
   death, mourning and famine. 
She will be consumed by fire, 
   for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

Threefold Woe Over Babylon’s Fall

 ⁹ “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. ¹⁰ Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:

   “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, 
   you mighty city of Babylon! 
In one hour your doom has come!’

 ¹¹ “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes anymore— ¹² cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; ¹³ cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and human beings sold as slaves.

 ¹⁴ “They will say, ‘The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.’ ¹⁵ The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn ¹⁶ and cry out:

   “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, 
   dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, 
   and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! 
¹⁷ In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

   “Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. ¹⁸When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’ ¹⁹ They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:

   “‘Woe! Woe to you, great city, 
   where all who had ships on the sea 
   became rich through her wealth! 
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’

 ²⁰ “Rejoice over her, you heavens! 
   Rejoice, you people of God! 
   Rejoice, apostles and prophets! 
For God has judged her 
   with the judgment she imposed on you.”

The Finality of Babylon’s Doom

 ²¹ Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, and said:

   “With such violence 
   the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, 
   never to be found again. 
²² The music of harpists and musicians, pipers and trumpeters, 
   will never be heard in you again. 
No worker of any trade 
   will ever be found in you again. 
The sound of a millstone 
   will never be heard in you again. 
²³ The light of a lamp 
   will never shine in you again. 
The voice of bridegroom and bride 
   will never be heard in you again. 
Your merchants were the world’s important people. 
   By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. 
²⁴ In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, 
   of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.”

Update on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 7:35AM by [Positive Dennis]

I just wanted to add that these protesters see the problem clearly, but thier solutions are nonsense. 

The Past and Future President

The past and future president of Russia, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, recently said:

"They are living beyond their means and shifting a part of the weight of their problems to the world economy," Putin told the pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi while touring its lakeside summer camp some five hours drive north of Moscow.

"They are living like parasites off the global economy and their monopoly of the dollar," Putin said at the open-air meeting with admiring young Russians.

  

It is hard to disagree that America is abusing her reserve currency status. One reason that we are not experiencing inflation is that we are exporting it to other countries, especially China. China, Japan, and yes even Russia have large investments in American Treasury Bills. Finance ministers around the world are not sleeping well.

   

Last year at Davos, a economic meeting of various big wigs and elites, Putin said this:

   

In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive. This lesson cost us dearly. I am sure nobody wants to see it repeated.

Nor should we turn a blind eye to the fact that the spirit of free enterprise, including the principle of personal responsibility of businesspeople, investors and shareholders for their decisions, is being eroded in the last few months. There is no reason to believe that we can achieve better results by shifting responsibility onto the state.

   

And one more point: anti-crisis measures should not escalate into financial populism and a refusal to implement responsible macroeconomic policies. The unjustified swelling of the budgetary deficit and the accumulation of public debts are just as destructive as adventurous stock-jobbing.

    

We live in a world I thought we would never see. A world where the past and future president of Russia under-stands economics better than the present and future president of America. I think we have to agree that not only is Putin more econo-mically correct, but he also looks better without a shirt.