This chapter reminds the people of the three main festivals they are to celebrate, and some guidelines on those festivals.
“Three times a year all your men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread [ie. Passover], the Festival of Weeks and the Festival of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the Lord empty-handed: Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.” (v16-17)
Celebrating these festivals was very important for the people. Note, these festivals were intended for the people’s benefit, not God’s. Why was it so important they have these celebrations? We are reminded of some of the reasons:
– Remembrance: “so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egypt.” (v3b)
– Rest: “For six days eat unleavened bread and on the seventh day hold an assembly to the Lord your God and do no work.” (v8)
– Worship: “And rejoice before the Lord your God…” (v11a)
– Recognition of God’s Provision: “For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” (v15b)
– Joy: God doesn’t want His people to be miserable for following Him, He wants them to celebrate and be joyful that He is their God and He has provided for them.
Israel is reminded that at least three times per year they are to celebrate the blessings and provisions of God, so that they would not go too long without celebrating Him. Of course they were to still honor God on days in between, such as every Sabbath, and other annual events (eg. Day of Atonement).
Another interesting point is these festivals were spread throughout the year, and they were 7 days long. If you think about it, it’s like God was giving people 3 weeks of holy time each year (almost like a vacation from the day-to-day grind).
How often do we celebrate God and His provision for us, and how long do we celebrate? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly? Semi-annually? Annually? Less? 0-1 days per year? 2-3 days per year? 52 days per year? More? To follow this model of festivals and Sabbaths meant celebrating / honoring God at least 70 days per year (that’s almost 20% of our time). Now, I don’t have time to dig into all of the Hebrew holidays and their biblical roots at the moment, but I know there are even more holy days listed in Lev. that we haven’t even mentioned, which is why I said “at least 70 days”.
The point is, we are to be honoring and celebrating God constantly and consistently, whether we are of physical Jewish lineage, or spiritual Hebrew descent. I’m not saying we have to honor all of the festivals exactly as outlined in scripture (though you can choose to do that), but we do need to be upholding the core reasons behind these festivals – to honor the Lord our God as Savior, Deliverer, Provider and King, who is deserving of our worship and thankfulness. Really, when we delve into the deeper meaning, these celebrations / Sabbaths are meant to help us remember and fulfill the two greatest commandments – to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love others as Christ loves us. My challenge for us today is to not only honor our Lord God, but consistently celebrate Him and His mighty works.
Father God, O Wise and Glorious King, we praise Your holy name. We lift our voices in adoration and celebration of You and Your mighty works. By Your hand You delivered us from slavery, and by Your hand alone we have provisions and blessings. Please help us to remember You always, celebrating You with thankful and joyful hearts. To You be all honor, praise, and glory, every day of the year, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training