Spring Feasts and Festivals

One of my fondest memories growing up was Family Sunday Dinners. As our family has grown, married, moved, it makes it harder to meet every Sunday evening for dinner. What if I told you Jesus has family dinners. Weekly, Monthly, and Annually? What if I showed you why Jesus’ invitation to His family dinners was something we should want to accept?

“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. 16 You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord.”

• Leviticus 23:15-16

Feast of First Fruits

Yesterday was the Feast of First Fruits.  It is the day after the Sabbath (traditionally during the Passover Feast) where we honor God with the FirstFruits of our labor.  In Biblical times this was primarily agricultural, such as fruits, grains, or whatever was grown and sold. Today most are not farmers, and so we do so with our financial offering.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:23:

“But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.”

Christ is also considered the FirstFruits of God’s Kingdom. That upon His second coming we will be welcomed in the harvest with Jesus.

God’s Agricultural Calendar-

The Bible utilizes agricultural terminology a lot.  This can sometimes make it hard for those of us who don’t utilize a green thumb to understand what God is saying.  Simply put, everything in this world belongs to God.  There are times weekly, monthly, and annually God wants you to have family dinner with Him and bring gifts to show that you honor the blessings He bestows on you.

This starts with the weekly Sabbath, and then cycles into the Spring Feasts and Fall Feasts.  These are all a part of God’s rhythms, times, or better put calendar.  It is as old as creation.  

In the Spring there is:

• Passover

• Feast of Unleavened Bread

• Feast of First Fruits

• Feast of Weeks 

The Feast of Weeks-

The Feast of FirstFruits is the day after the weekly Sabbath during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  It is the start of the count of seven full weeks (7x7), which is 49 days, plus one.  So from the Feast of First Fruits we are instructed to count 50 days, to the day after the seventh Sabbath (Saturday) to celebrate the Feast of Weeks.

The Feast of Weeks in Hebrew is traditionally known as Shavuot.  It commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. Two tablets given, two loaves of bread to be waived.  There is so much significance in the Feasts of the Lord. Shavuot is more commonly known in the Christian church as Pentecost and celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to humanity.  Spirit and Truth.  The commandments of God given at Mt. Sinai on Shavuot, and the Holy Spirit given to mankind as a gift at Pentecost.  The same day, years apart.  

Counting the Omer-

In Leviticus 23 it tells us to count.  The word Omer is an ancient Hebrew unit of measurement.  It is a dry capacity measurement equal to one tenth of an ephah.  So when you see other Christian Churches like HFF counting the omer, or numbering the days to Pentecost, it is a reminder to grow in anticipation of what God has and will do on the day of Pentecost.  

“So teach us to number our days so that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

• Psalm 90:12

God gave the instruction to Moses and the Israelites to count.  We see Jesus tell His disciples to stay and wait for him. As Christian’s we believe our Jewish Messiah is coming back for us.  We believe the entire Bible to be true. We believe there is wisdom and understanding in obeying the commandments of God.  

For me personally, Pentecost is my favorite Feast gathering.  The historical significance of the power and might that God has poured out multiple times during this gathering, leaves me in awe and anticipation.  I count, expecting to meet God’s power and presence again every year at Pentecost.  

Pentecost in the Park-

I’m not a green thumb. I would say I don’t have an agricultural bone in my body. Yet every year we get to gather in the center of Norman in a park. Allowing God to bring the sunshine, rain, flowers, or whatever else He desires. We get to worship corporately and outdoors. We baptize any who want to rededicate their faith or accept Jesus as their Messianic Savior for the first time.  We offer outreach opportunities for those less fortunate.  These are parts of the precepts and parables of the Feast of Weeks.  That we are all one body, made up of many parts, to work together to honor God.  If it doesn’t bring glory to God, we don’t want any part of it.  If it doesn’t allow for God’s spirit to move, we don’t want any part of it.  The Feasts were times where God invited His children to His table to have a family dinner.  If you have never celebrated or heard of any of this before we would like to invite you to join our family studies and gatherings.  Remember God gave for the edification and encouragement of His people and His body.  The Feasts and Festivals should be a unifying time to draw into the community.  If you find yourself in division during this season it might be time to adjust.  

May God richly bless you as you continue to pursue His kingdom, and His righteousness!