Deuteronomy 16 can be
summarized in a single word: remember.
The question is: remember what?
Passover
First, we have the
Passover. The Passover is a celebration
causing the Jews to remember how God delivered them from Egypt. The unleavened bread is a trigger to remember
the haste. The lamb is a trigger to
remember that God’s angel passed over the Jews who had put blood on the
doorpost.
The Passover is a
time to remember what God has done for the Hebrew people in the past. The Passover is a time to remember that God
freed them from an oppressive form of human slavery. The Passover is a time where the people can
remember that God is more powerful than the other nations of the world. The Passover is all about salvation from the
ways of the world.
Pentecost
The Feast of Weeks
comes next in the passage. The Feast of Weeks
(Or Pentecost, since it was fifty days from when the sickle is put to the
grain) is about remembering that God is the Lord of the land. In many cases this was the time that the
first-fruits of the year would be gathered.
This was a joyous time and the offering prescribed here is one of
voluntary appreciation to the Lord. It
is a tribute to God out of that with which God had blessed the people.
This festival was
about remembering God’s promised provision – for the harvest had not yet fully
come in yet but the fruits could be seen in their coming. This festival is about looking ahead to the
full blessing of God. This festival is
about rejoicing in the bounty of the Lord.
Pentecost is all looking forward to receiving the full bounty of God’s
provision.
Booths
The Feast of Booths
(or Tabernacles as it is sometimes translated) is a feast at harvest time. This is a festival held when the land has
been harvested and the bounty of the land is known. It is a time for the Hebrew people to see
just how gracious their God was. This is
a celebration for the people to remember God’s grace and bounty.
This festival was a
time to give praise to God. This
festival was a time to acknowledge all that God has done. This festival is all about recognizing that
God does keep His promises. The Feast of
Booths is about acknowledging the greatness of God.
Bringing It All Together
If we look at these
three festivals, we see a glorious progression.
First the Hebrew people remembered what God did for them in the
past. Then, the Hebrew people remembered
what God has promised for them to come.
Finally, the people remembered how God has made good on His
promises. It is a series of celebrations
that are designed to remind us about God’s character. It is a series of celebrations that help guide
us to an ever-increasing appreciation for God.
But the key to all of this closeness is in our ability and desire to remember.
A Christian Spin
As we move forward in
our understanding of this passage, let me put a Christian spin on this:
- Of course we know that Christ is our Passover Lamb. We remember Christ’s death and acknowledge all that He has done in setting us free from our bondage to sin and slavery.
- We also know about Pentecost, but I think we do a poor job of actually celebrating Pentecost. We treat Pentecost as the day to remember the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. But Pentecost is so much more than that. Pentecost is the day where we see the first fruits and should look forward to the greater things that God will bring after the first fruits. So often we think, “Okay, we’ve got the Holy Spirit, we’re done.” No! We should be thinking, “Ok, now that we’ve got the Holy Spirit to what great places is God going to take us?”
- And then there is Booths. We don’t celebrate the Feast of Booths in Christianity. Actually, I think that’s the way it should be. We speak about the great wedding feast of the Lamb that will take place after Christ returns and all of God’s people will be gathered unto Him. I like to think of that as our Booth celebration. That is when we will look back upon all that God has indeed done and give glory to His name forever because of the great work of His hand.
A Closing Clarification
Before closing off
this blog, I would like to make a comment about a particular verse. In verse 16, we hear that the males need to
appear at the festivals. This should not
be taken as a condemnation upon women or as a statement that they were not
welcome. In fact, the ideal would be for
a whole family to travel and take part in the celebration! What this statement is actually saying is that
the man of the house is obligated to attend whereas the women and children
could attend if it was possible to do so.
Certainly women and children were welcome; but the men were obligated.
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