LESSON 11 Festivals of Jehovah

 LESSON 11

Festivals of Jehovah


Objective: To celebrate the victory and joy of life in Jesus Christ

Bible Portion: Lev. 23

Memory Verse: 2 Cor. 2:14; Psa. 118:15

2 Cor. 2:14: Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us [a]diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

Psalms 118:15: The voice of rejoicing and salvation. Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.

Introduction

Is Christian life joyful or sorrowful? What is your personal opinion?

Do the people whom you know praise God and rejoice in all circumstances of their life? When Paul and Silas were in the prison of Philippi, they sang praises to God (Acts 16:25). Paul asks the Philippians to 'rejoice in the Lord always' when he writes to them from the prison of Rome (Phil. 4:4). The voice of rejoicing and victory will be there among the people of God. Festivals of Israel are shadows of this truth. As these are given to Israel by God Himself, the festivals are also called the Festivals of Jehovah.

Reasons for giving the festivals

1. God's will was that people who were delivered from Egypt should enjoy not only peace and rest but also happiness and joy in their lives (Deut. 16:11, 14, 15). But their joy should be in the presence of God. Therefore, God instituted festivals to give them spiritual happiness and sustain them in that happiness.

New Testament believers must always rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 4:4; John 15:11).


2. During the festivals, the practice in Israel was to read and hear the Word of God. Nehemiah gathered the people together on the first day of the seventh Month. The scribe Ezra stood up on the platform and read the law to the people from morning till noon. They rejoiced to hear the Law (Neh. 8:1-12). It is an experience of joy to read, hear and meditate on the Word of God.

3. It provided opportunity for people from different walks of life to gather together from different places and have fellowship at the festivals. In those days when communications were difficult, festivals helped people to come together as a nation. Believers should endeavor to help each other and be in fellowship. 'But to do good and to communicate forget not' (Heb. 13:16).

4. Festivals served as a reminder to other nations about the strength of Israel and prevented them from being attacked. Enemies of the gospel will be afraid if believers stand together. The Lord wants His people to be perfect in unity (John 17: 11, 21,23).


5. Festivals were occasions for people to bring their tithes, offerings and voluntary donations to the Temple of God. New Testament believers are duty bound to give bountifully for Lord's work from their material blessings. "He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly...for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. 9:6-7).

6.

Festivals of Israel prevented them from observing festivals of the heathen. They were commanded to observe separation and holiness as God's chosen people. Believers must keep themselves separated from heathen festivals and find joy in the presence of God along with other believers.

7. Festivals contained great prophetic meanings. They foreshadowed Christ's death and resurrection. His second coming, the millennium, etc. In the New Testament age, we experience the substance of the festivals. How foolish it will be if we still run after the shadow!



Hebrew months:

Days were allotted for the celebration of the festivals. The Month in which they were liberated from Egypt was the first Month in their calendar. Let us learn the Hebrew months in their order before we study the festivals:

1. Abib (Nisan) Esther 3:7; Exo. 13:4 March - April

2. Ziv 1 Kings 6:1 April - May

3. Sivan Esther 8:7 May-June

4. Thammuz Ezek. 8:14 June - July

5. Ab Ezra 7:9 July - August

6. Elul Neh. 6:15 August-September

7. Ethanim (Tissri) 1 Kings 8:2 September-October


8. Bul (Marchesvan) 1 Kings 6:38 October-November


9. Kislev Zach. 7:1; Neh. 1:1 November-December

10. Tebeth Esther 2:16 December - January

11.Shebath Zach 1:7 January February

12. Adar Esther 8:11 February - March


Seven Festivals:

God had given Israel seven festivals. Their names and the days in which they are celebrated are given below. All males in Israel were commanded to gather together in the presence of God on three seasons of the year and celebrate the festivals (Exo. 23: 14-17).


1. Passover Month 1 (Abib) Day 14

2. Unleavened bread Month 1 (Abib) Day 15-21

3. First fruits Month 1 (Abib) Day 16

4. Pentecost (feast of weeks) Month 3 (Sivan) Day 6

5. Trumpets Month 7 (Ethanim (Tissri)) Day 1

6. Atonement Month 7 (Ethanim (Tissri)) Day 10

7. Tabernacles Month 7 (Ethanim (Tissri)) Day 15-22


The three festivals in the first Month are referred to as the Passover feast or the feast of unleavened bread. The fourth festival, which falls on the fiftieth day after the festival of the first fruits, is known as the Feast of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. The three festivals in the seventh Month are together known as the feast of Tabernacles.

Other festivals of Israel

Two more festivals were added to the Israelite calendar later on.

1. Feast of Dedication (John 10:22): Antiochus Epiphanes, the Syrian king, desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem by sacrificing a pig on it. The Temple was reclaimed by Judah Maccabee and his brothers (commonly called the Maccabees) and dedicated once again. To commemorate this event, Israel starts to observe on the Feast of Dedication on the 25th day of the 8th Month from BC. 164. On that day, Jewish homes would be illuminated, and the heroic deeds of the Maccabees would be narrated to their children.

2. Festival of Purim (Esther 10: 20-25): When Haman, the minister of King Ahasuerus, plotted to annihilate the Jewish race, they were saved miraculously by God's providence. Thus, Purim was declared a day of joy and victory on the 14th and 15th days (12th Month). This festival, which was instituted in the 5th century BC, is being celebrated as a Jewish national day. Purim means 'lot'. The day which was selected by Haman through casting lots to destroy Israel turned out to be their day of celebration.

All festivals of Israel were days of joy which teach us many deep

spiritual truths. Shall we praise God for the joy that we enjoy through our Lord Jesus Christ

Questions

1. Explain the reasons why God instituted festivals for Israel.

2. Write down the months of the Hebrew Calendar in the correct order.

3. Name the seven festivals of Israel. How are they classified into three groups?

4. Is it right or wrong for the New Testament believers to celebrate festivals or special days like Israel?

5. How are Israel's festivals different from those of other nations?

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