Tonight starts the holiday of Shavuot, Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost which all happened on the same date. One might only identify the millennium in order to figure out what name to put on it. I do not usually cover every holiday on this blog. I like to keep all my chapter and verse posts in a smooth continuous flow. But God did something different and lined the holiday up with tomorrow's post.
I could not have planned this.
Every week I read the next set of verses in Hebrew and grab the next English text so that people can read that with me. Having a Feast and its readings line up on the same day that I am reading, presenting, and celebrating it is quite "coincidental", or is it. I will let you decide that for yourself.
The Feast
Shavuot The giving of the Torah (law)
The longest running version of this the passage that we are reading tomorrow. There is talk of a covenant and promises made. The people are to spend three days preparing themselves to meet God. They will be washing their clothes and staying separate from their mates to be pure and they will be dedicating themselves. Some translations would use the word "sanctifying".
God himself will be showing up to this event in a thick black cloud. He rightly should be there in person for this is a covenant, which to me almost sounds like a marriage proposal. He wants the people to hear his voice and see his power and his fire at the top of the mountain. He has seen some doubt from the people about what Moses is saying and wants them to know that God is really speaking to their leader.
The "Feast of Weeks" the modern holiday name (Ex. Feast of Trumpets --> Rosh HaShanah)
Pentecost The giving of the Ruach haKodesh (Holy Spirit)
I remember Yeshua stating that he was not here to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. Later, he spoke of a day when he would be leaving, and if he does not leave, then the counselor will not come. (the Holy Spirit).
In fact, he never broke the law at all. If the scribes and Pharisees that were needling him were to check into the things that he was doing they would find that he was not breaking the law.
The donkey that he used to ride in on Palm Sunday had never been ridden before, therefore it was not "work" for that donkey. Healing on Shabbat was a form of compassion which is allowed on Shabbat.
Celebrating
Right before the law was given, the people knew there would be a limitation on how to butcher and whether you can eat meat, so at the time they were avoiding eating meat. Back then they were eating a lot of dairy.
So the feast in modern times finds people eating a lot of quiche and cheesecake and other dairy treats.
Another tradition is to stay up late after all the festivities wind down and study Torah all night, staying up through the night, if possible.
I believe both traditions. I think we had the giving of the law and I think we had a Pentecost after Yeshua was taken up to be with the Father.
I study the Torah and observe the feasts. As a matter of fact, I have finished reading the Torah in Hebrew, and I'm only presenting it again to you on a weekly basis here.
I have started reading the Brit hadesha, (New Testament), also in Hebrew, and I'm in the book of Mark right now, right at the part where the fish and loaves are multiplied in the wilderness.
So, if you want to get in on the feel of Torah/Pentecost,
Have some cheesecake this evening and see how
late you can stay up
חַג שָׂמֵחַ.
Hag Sameach.
Happy Holiday
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