Ep. 45. Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29 | The Feasts

EPISODE 45

THE FEASTS: LEVITICUS 23,

I am generally good at knowing my limits, and this is one of them. I am sure there are beautiful truths surrounding the feast days that I have not yet come to understand. I know many websites and articles deal with this topic, but I've always told myself that I'm a crock pot, not a microwave. It takes me a long time sitting with something to get to where it settles in my heart. So, for now, I'm just journeying through the text, doing what I can to understand the feasts better before adding outside resources.

That being said, three feasts are in common between all four books, Exodus through Deuteronomy. Those feasts are the Feast of the Unleavened Bread in conjunction with The Passover, The Feast of First Fruits (also called Feast of Harvest and Feast of Weeks), and the Feast of Booths (also called the Feast of Ingathering.) These feasts are relatively easy to discern. Jesus was crucified during the Passover celebration, so his death aligns with the Feast of the Unleavened Bread. The Bible makes it clear that we believers are "unleavened" in Christ, having been made new by faith in him. Jesus, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed, and we have been made new. The Feast of First Fruits, which took place fifty days later, corresponds to the giving of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts and the first believers at Pentecost (meaning 50). The first fruits, then, spiritually speaking, are the first to come to faith and receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. The Feast of Booths also called the Ingathering, is the last feast of the year and corresponds to the return of Christ.

We must be careful not to observe the feasts as though they have value in themselves. The feasts only have value insofar as they point to Christ who fulfilled (and will fulfill) them. Remember, the value of the things of the Law of Moses is that they are shadows that point to and indicate Jesus, but Christ himself is the substance of these things. It is easy for us to get distracted by temporary things rather than to delight in Christ. Remember, we don't hold to the Aaronic priesthood, the sacrifice of lambs and goats, or the tabernacle of Moses. Christ has brought those shadowy things to true substance in himself, so we also adopt a similar attitude as it relates to the feasts of the Old Testament.

Leviticus and Numbers mention two other celebrations that Exodus and Deuteronomy exclude. These two days fall between the Feast of First Fruits and the Feast of the Ingathering. There is the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement. If I had to guess, I'd argue the Feast of Trumpets coincides with the return of Christ at the trumpet sound and calls all believers together. On the Day of Atonement, I only have thoughts on its spiritual fullness, so I'll keep my thoughts to myself for now.

Remember, the covenant of the Mosaic Law in the Old Testament was meant to reveal the beauty and truth of Jesus Christ. The Feast Days are no different.

ADDITIONAL READING: Exodus 23; Deuteronomy 16; Numbers 28-29; Acts 1:3