Does it seem unfair to you that God excluded men with deformities from the priesthood, as we read in yesterday’s chapters? We can perhaps understand that animals with defects were not acceptable sacrifices; but to discriminate against a handicapped man, especially for something that was not his fault, seems cruel to us. Is God cruel and unfair? The whole counsel of Scripture tells us that He is not; so what can you understand from His restrictions against men with deformities?
The observance of God-given holidays was part of their covenant requirements. Each has a significance for us New Testament people of God as well. The holidays are, in chronological order:
- The first three holy days were celebrated together. When the day would come that God would designate a place to build a temple, they would be celebrated in a single pilgrimage.
- First month/day 1 – Passover. We have looked at this already at the institution of the Passover after the Exodus. It is celebrated at about the same time as Easter, which is easy for us to remember because Jesus was crucified during the Passover celebration. The connection to us is obvious, but no less profound for it: Jesus is our Passover Lamb.
- First month/day 15, for 7 days – Feast of Unleavened Bread. No laborious work was to be done on the first and seventh days. Throughout the seven days, special offerings were made to God and they had to eat unleavened bread to commemorate the Exodus. Note that Jesus used leaven to signify sin. Today Jews will do their spring cleaning in preparation for this feast, to make sure that no yeast is in their homes. Do you get the significance for us?
- First harvest of grain (April) – Firstfruits. They had to offer to God the very first of their harvest of grain, which would be the choicest of the harvest. They were permitted to eat none of the new harvest until this offering was brought to the priest. This connection isn’t so obvious. It’s that Jesus if the “first fruits” of those of us who will rise from the dead; its significance is hope.
- 50 days after the Firstfruits offering (June) – Feast of Weeks. A celebration of the harvest, where they offered bread and animal sacrifices, held a “holy convocation” (solemn assembly) and were permitted to do no laborious work. It was to be celebrated as a pilgrimage. In the New Testament this was called Pentecost, and it brought Jews from all over the world to Jerusalem to witness the first infilling of the Holy Spirit in the ascended Jesus’ followers. New Testament believers who celebrate Pentecost today are celebrating the giving of the Holy Spirit.
- Seventh month/day 1 – Feast of Trumpets. They were to rest, blow trumpets as a remembrance, hold a solemn assembly, and offer an animal sacrifice. This day looks forward to Jesus’ Second Coming, which will be accompanied by the sounding of trumpets.
- Seventh month/day 10 – Day of Atonement. The priest made atonement for the people, the Tabernacle and its articles of worship; they held a solemn assembly; and they were to rest, doing no work of any kind, and reflect and humble themselves and offer animal sacrifices.
- Seventh month/day 15 for 8 days – Feast of Booths/Feast of Tabernacles. They were to hold solemn assemblies and do no laborious work on the first and eighth days. For all eight days they camped out in booth-like shelters and offered sacrifices to God. This relaxing week represented the end of harvest for all the crops, and recalled the days they lived in the wilderness. It is significant for us as we look forward to the time when we are no longer pilgrims.
These days were given to them for multiple purposes. All of them required rest; almost all of them commemorated God’s provision for them and thus were celebrations of remembrance. Three of them required observance at the Tabernacle and, in the future, the Temple in Jerusalem, which would require them to gather as a nation, enhancing unity and a strong sense of identify as a people. If these were important for God’s people then, are they any less important now? Does understanding His requirements prompt you to consider your own holiday observances?
I provide the outline here as a reference for you, because God will reiterate the required holy days again in the Law, and describe them more fully. They are important for us because each has significance for us as well as for God’s Old Testament people, either because they help us understand what Messiah has done for us, or another truth relating to our salvation. You can reflect on that significance based on what you know about them.