Setting – Outlines the celebration of the Passover, Feast of Weeks and of Booths.
Content – Only unleavened bread was to be eat with the Passover, because it represented how quickly they exited Egypt (v. 3), “…for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste…” (v. 4), “For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory…” Also, they were (v. 5) “…not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns…” but they were to sacrifice at a place that the Lord specified and at sunset (this is when they left Egypt).
Seven weeks after they started harvest they were to celebrate Feast of Weeks. This was to remind them that they were slaves in Egypt.
The Feast of Booths started seven days after they gathered in from the threshing floor and wine vats. This was to celebrate the produce that the Lord had blessed them with.
Three times a year at these celebrations all the males shall appear before the Lord (v. 16), “they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed”
Lastly, they are to appoint judges in each town and they were to execute justice without bribes or being partial (v. 20), “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue…”
Application – God appointed celebrations to remind Israel of what the Lord had done for them. This was done every year. This would be a great practice for Christians to follow. Christmas and Easter are such occasions to recall what God has done for us. We celebrate birthdays to honor someone once a year. We could set aside such events as moving to a new home, new church, job, recovery from sickness, etc. Each celebration would thank God for what He did for those situations.
The goal is to avoid forgetting about God. We are easily distracted. This is clearly seen when we go on church retreats. Retreats remove us from our distractions and we are able to focus on those things that we know to be important. But we quickly forget. We need to establish ‘things’ (such a celebrations or reminders) to remind us to remember.
Content – Only unleavened bread was to be eat with the Passover, because it represented how quickly they exited Egypt (v. 3), “…for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste…” (v. 4), “For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory…” Also, they were (v. 5) “…not allowed to sacrifice the Passover in any of your towns…” but they were to sacrifice at a place that the Lord specified and at sunset (this is when they left Egypt).
Seven weeks after they started harvest they were to celebrate Feast of Weeks. This was to remind them that they were slaves in Egypt.
The Feast of Booths started seven days after they gathered in from the threshing floor and wine vats. This was to celebrate the produce that the Lord had blessed them with.
Three times a year at these celebrations all the males shall appear before the Lord (v. 16), “they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed”
Lastly, they are to appoint judges in each town and they were to execute justice without bribes or being partial (v. 20), “Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue…”
Application – God appointed celebrations to remind Israel of what the Lord had done for them. This was done every year. This would be a great practice for Christians to follow. Christmas and Easter are such occasions to recall what God has done for us. We celebrate birthdays to honor someone once a year. We could set aside such events as moving to a new home, new church, job, recovery from sickness, etc. Each celebration would thank God for what He did for those situations.
The goal is to avoid forgetting about God. We are easily distracted. This is clearly seen when we go on church retreats. Retreats remove us from our distractions and we are able to focus on those things that we know to be important. But we quickly forget. We need to establish ‘things’ (such a celebrations or reminders) to remind us to remember.
Comments