Feasts of the Lord

“These are the Feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations which ye shall proclaim in their seasons (Lev. 23:4).”

Why study the Feasts of the Lord? What relevant truths do these ancient rituals hold for us today? Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 5:17-18, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law and prophets; I am not come to destroy but fulfill. For verily I say unto you, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled.”

Paul tells us in I Corinthians 10:6, that everything that happened to Israel in the Old Testament is an example for us today. Remember, these feasts were not Jewish feasts, they were the Feasts of the Lord.

The seven feasts were part of the Law that God gave to Moses. Sometimes we get the idea that the law was not a good thing, but we are wrong. Psalm 19:7, “The Law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul…” The law given to Moses on Mt. Sinai was a picture or a shadow of good things to come. Paul tells us in Galatians 3:24, “Wherefore the Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified through faith, but after faith is come we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, can never with those sacrifices continually make the comers thereunto perfect (Hebrews 10:1).”

Why study the Feasts of the Lord? By studying the seven feasts of the Lord, we can gain a deeper revelation of Jesus. He has fulfilled the feasts and will fulfill them in the future.
“Then ye shall know if you follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He will come to us as the rain, as the early and latter rain upon the earth (Hosea 6:3).”

Three times a year, the Israelites had to travel to Jerusalem to celebrate the 7 Feasts of the Lord.

(1) Passover ----- Nissan 14 (March/April)
(2) Feast of Unleavened Bread ---- Nissan 15
(3) Feast of First Fruits -------- Nissan 16

Notice these three feasts are celebrated in the spring during the barley harvest. Keep the Barley Harvest in mind. It is a very important part of God's redemptive plan. We will talk more about the Hebrew's three harvests later.

Fifty days later or 7 Sabbaths plus one day

(4) Feast of Weeks or Pentecost --- Sivan (June)

This was celebrated during the wheat harvest, another important harvest to remember.

The Israelites had to come to Jerusalem to observe the fall celebrations.

(5) Feast of the Trumpets ----- Tishri 1 (Sept./Oct)
(6) Day of Atonement -------- Tishri 10
(7) Feast of Tabernacles ------ Tishri 15

This was during the vintage harvest (grapes, pomegrantes, figs). Israel three harvests are very important. The harvests are, spring Barley Harvest, the Wheat Harvest, and the Fall Vintage Harvest. These harvests happened around the rainfall in the land. Remember the words of Hosea, "Then we shall know, if we follow on to know the Lord. His going forth is prepared as the morning. And He will come to us as the rain; as the latter and former rain upon the earth (Hosea 6:3).

Christ has fulfilled the Passover. He became our Passover lamb. “…for even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us… (ICorinthians 5:7).” He became the unleavened bread because He knew no sin. He fulfilled the Feast of First Fruit because He was the first one to rise from the dead to live forevermore.

The Law was given to Moses on the fiftieth day after the Israelites left Egypt. At the giving of the Law 3,000 people lost their lives. “And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses: and there fell the people that day about 3,000 men. (Exodus 32:28).”

Remember, God works in patterns. The Feast of Weeks was celebrated fifty days after the Feast of First Fruits. The Feast of Weeks is also called Pentecost. Also, remember that the Old Testament Law was a “shadow of good things to come.” Now look at Acts 2:1-4 “Now when the day of Pentecost (or the Feast of Weeks), had fully come they were all in one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

We remember when God gave the Law, 3,000 people lost their lives. Now look, what happened when God made the New Covenant, the Covenant of Grace. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day there were added to them about 3,000 souls. Look at the pattern of God. At the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, 3,000 men lost their lives. At the giving of the Holy Spirit in the Upper Room on the feast day of Pentecost, 3,000 men were saved.

Jesus told his disciples that He would not leave them comfortless after He left them, but God would send a comforter. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26).” On the Feast day of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks, God sent the Holy Ghost, and just as He breathed His breath into Adam and Adam became a living soul, God breathed His breath, the rushing mighty wind, into the church and the Church became a living entity. This all happened on the Feast of Weeks. Why study the Feasts? We can’t have a clear picture of God’s plan without searching deep into His word and studying our deep Hebrew roots.