In Deuteronomy chapter 16, Moses reminds the Israelites of the importance of four of the feasts throughout the year. (Not mentioned are the Feast of First Fruits, the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement). He begins, “Celebrate the Passover of the Lord your God, because in the month of Abib He brought you out of Egypt by night… sacrifice an animal from your flock or herd in the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for His name“. Interestingly, the Passover was celebrated individually in each home, but here we are told, in the Promised Land all will celebrate together “at the place the Lord will choose as a dwelling for His name“. 1 Corinthians 5:7 explains that, Jesus Christ is our Passover Lamb. Jesus became the very dwelling for the Name of God, and it is only in Christ that we find perfect unity with God. After the Passover Moses commands, “Do not eat bread made with yeast, but for seven days eat unleavened bread“. Leaven (or yeast) is a symbol for sin, and this feast represented living without sin after the Passover sacrifice. It spoke of the righteousness we inherit when we accept salvation through Christ. Notice the sequence, first comes the sacrifice of Christ, then comes our righteousness. You will only be frustrated if you try to live without sin before you accept God’s forgiveness through Christ.
Next Moses commands, “Then celebrate the Feast of Weeks by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you. And rejoice before the Lord… you, your sons and your daughters, your servants, the Levites… the aliens, the fatherless and the widows living among you“. The Feast of Weeks was also called Pentecost. Pentecost was the very day the Holy Spirit of God was poured out on the believers gathered in Jerusalem after the resurrection of Christ. Notice what happens when we experience the Holy Spirit: rejoicing and unity and freely expressing thanks.
Next Moses reminds Israel to “Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and wine press“. He tells the people, “Be joyful at your feast you and your sons and daughters… for the Lord your God will bless all of your harvest and in all the work of your hands you will be complete“. Remember from our study of Leviticus 23, the Feast of Tabernacles prophetically spoke of the millennial age, the thousand years of peace after the return of Christ. Notice verse 16, “No man should appear before the Lord empty handed“. Moses concludes, “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord has blessed you“. In Revelation chapter 4 we see into the throne room of God and those gathered there. We read, “twenty-four elders fall down and worship Him… they lay their crowns before the throne and say: You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things”. The apostle Paul tells Timothy (2 Tim 4:8), “there is laid up for me the crowns of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day; and not to me only, but to all who have loved His appearing“. Typical of our gracious God, He gives us honor so that we can present that back to Him in our worship! May you experience the abundance of God’s grace and love today and in the age to come.