Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Feast of Weeks
"From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering [Firstfruits, see two posts earlier], count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD. From wherever you live, bring two loaves, ... seven male lambs, ... one young bull and two rams. ... On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live." (Leviticus 23:15-17, ..., 21 NIV)
Counting fifty days from after the Feast of Unleavened bread--that is, the Firstfruits--places you in the 3rd month of Sivan. This day was referred to the Feast of Weeks in Leviticus and Numbers and the Feast of Harvest in Exodus. Due to the number fifty, this feast is referred to as Pentacost in the New Testament.
"After his [Jesus'] suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom. ... he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." (Acts 1:3, 9)
(The comment about forty days might be more evidence that Jesus arose on the day of Firstfruits. Maybe?!)
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4)
Later Jewish tradition held that the Law was given to Moses on the same day Pentecost was celebrated (see Exodus 19:1 for possible proof). However, the giving of the Law does not seem to correspond to why God told them to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Nevertheless, if the tradition is true, the contrast of Law-driven Jews in the Old Testament and Spirit-driven Christians in the New Testament is accented.
Counting fifty days from after the Feast of Unleavened bread--that is, the Firstfruits--places you in the 3rd month of Sivan. This day was referred to the Feast of Weeks in Leviticus and Numbers and the Feast of Harvest in Exodus. Due to the number fifty, this feast is referred to as Pentacost in the New Testament.
"After his [Jesus'] suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom. ... he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight." (Acts 1:3, 9)
(The comment about forty days might be more evidence that Jesus arose on the day of Firstfruits. Maybe?!)
"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:1-4)
Later Jewish tradition held that the Law was given to Moses on the same day Pentecost was celebrated (see Exodus 19:1 for possible proof). However, the giving of the Law does not seem to correspond to why God told them to celebrate the Feast of Weeks. Nevertheless, if the tradition is true, the contrast of Law-driven Jews in the Old Testament and Spirit-driven Christians in the New Testament is accented.
# posted by Wesley Son of Cornelius @ 11:18 PM 
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Nice post Hair. It is amazing to see how all of God's word fits together for His purposes and pleasure. Nothing is out of place or used sparingly.
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