|
Mikra'ey Kodesh - Holy Convocations
Introduction and Overview: part 1
"Yeshua
said to them, "This is what I meant when I was still alive with you and told you that everything written about me in the Torah
of Moshe, the Prophets and the Psalms had to be fulfilled" (Luke 24:44, CJB)
Next to Isaiah 53, nowhere else is this
statement of Yeshuašs more vividly demonstrated than in the Holy Convocations of Leviticus Chapter 23. The opening few
lines of that chapter clearly teach that the Biblical Feasts, including Pesach (Passover) to Sukkot (Tabernacles), are "designated
times of ADONAI " (verse 4). Historically, the Nation of Israšel was to act as a repository of the wisdom and Word of
HaShem. With his Called-out Ones acting as a "fishbowl", the surrounding nations were to learn about the Creator, the
One True God of the Universe, from the everyday activities of the offspring of Avraham. This is one of the primary reasons
that the Torah was graciously given to Israšel.
In both Biblical and Modern Hebrew, the word for "appointed time" is
"mo-eyd". Interestingly, this meaning conveys the sense of the "dress rehearsals" that occur before an actual play.
In this way, HaShem masterfully designed the mikrašey kodesh to act as dress rehearsals for his children. "Of
what?" you might ask.
The Feasts of ADONAI are dress rehearsals of Messianic Redemption.
Our LORD Yeshua has
literally and prophetically fulfilled the first four of the seven feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23; it is my belief that the
Torah teaches that he will, likewise, literally and prophetically fulfill the final three at his soon to be second arrival.
As the children of Avraham willingly and faithfully lived out HaShemšs yearly cycle of "mo-eydeem", the Spirit
of the Holy One graciously opened their hearts to understand that, as his treasured possession, they were responsible to actively
pursue a genuine, loving relationship with their "husband". It is this type of personal relationship that HaShem desired
from his children, and to this end, the surrounding nations might also see the goodness and mercy of ADONAI, and seek to become
one of his treasured possessions. Today, our responsibilities to our Holy God have not changed any more than he himself
has changed.
History has demonstrated that in the fullness of HaShemšs timetable he sent his Only Begotten Son Yeshua
into the world, to redeem fallen man, and make it possible to have a right relationship with our Heavenly Abba. This
Messianic Redemption of ours, which was accomplished through the sacrificial death, burial, and miraculous resurrection of
Yeshua our Savior, has been prophetically and historically displayed through the teachings of the Holy Convocations of Leviticus
23. It is, therefore, HaShemšs desire that these teachings become an integral part of our everyday lives, as we walk
out the truths of our new identification in Messiah. To be sure, the Torah has demonstrated,
"Then he opened
their minds, so that they could understand the TaNaKH"
(Luke 24:45)
Introduction and Overview: part 2
"ADONAI said to Moshe, "Tell
the people of Israšel: The designated times of ADONAI which you are to proclaim as holy convocations are my designated times."
(Leviticus 23:1)
The
verse quoted above will act as our theme verse, as I take you on a Messianic understanding of the Feasts of HaShem. The
complete study will serve as a primer to the reader, encouraging and challenging him to study further into the pages of the
Torah to mine the rich blessings that lay in store for him there. Perhaps the study might even pique your curiosity concerning
the area of shomer mitzvot, that is Torah-observance.
The time has now come for all of Godšs children to begin to have
a unified voice when it comes to the Torah. For too long, we, HaShemšs olive tree (Romans Chapter 11), have been divided
over this issue of "Who should follow the Torah? And why?" Išm not ashamed to answer authoritatively up front:
the Torah details the lifestyle of a genuine follower of HaShem as correctly interpreted (fulfilled) by Yeshua HaMashiach!
This means that all genuine believers have been given divine permission, as it were, to follow as much of Godšs Word
(Olderš Testament and Newerš Testament) as they feel directed by the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) to do.
Because the
feasts are found in the older portion of the Bible, many Christians simply neglect the study of them. It is my wish
that these commentaries will capture the attention of the average believer and ignite a spark of interest within him, spurning
him on to further investigate the practical application of these wonderful Torah-truths. I am not prepared to conduct
a thorough study of the feasts in the space provided here. I simply want to provide the readers with the Messianic framework
necessary to properly appreciate the scope of HaShemšs historical handiwork, as expressed in the feasts.
As we shall
see, the feasts, which we will refer to as "mikrašey kodesh" (holy convocations), were meant to serve as daily, monthly, and
yearly reminders, of our identity and purpose, in the historical plans that HaShem has for all of mankind. The Torah
teaches us that they are the "rehearsals of Messianic redemption". Properly understood, they tell the story of the birth
and life, atoning work, death, resurrection, promise of power, assurance of dedication, promise of return, and promise of
eternal abiding, of the Messiah Yeshua, in relation to all genuine followers. Surely it is in the mind of the Holy One,
for his children to have an intimate knowledge of these aspects of his Sonšs ministry! Yet, for nearly two thousand
years, our appreciation of these feasts has remained marginal at best and non-existent at worst.
The reader needs to
familiarize himself with our main body of text, Leviticus Chapter twenty-three. Below is an outline and brief themes
of the seven mikrašey kodesh (not counting the Sabbath) that the Torah has for us (The following list and brief definitions
was supplied by First Fruits of Zion Publications):
… Pesach (Passover) redemption, salvation, deliverance, freedom
…
Chag HaMazah (Unleavened Bread) sanctification
… Bikkurim (Counting the Omer) sanctification, deliverance
…
Shavušot (Pentecost) the giving of the Torah, the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh, firstfruits, ecclesiology
… Rosh HaShanah/Yom Teruah (New
Year/Feast of Trumpets) - eschatology
… Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) atonement, forgiveness, blood sacrifices
… Succoth (Feast of Tabernacles/Ingathering) worship, praise, redemption,
eschatology, thanksgiving, celebrating the harvest of righteousness in our lives
As we journey through our commentaries
I will detail the times, dates and circumstances surrounding each feast. This will provide the historical framework
to which we can apply the Messianic fulfillment of each feast. Ultimately, it is my intent to invite each one to consider
taking HaShem up on his offer, of divine permission, to participate each year in his feasts. Shomer mitzvot is a wonderful
way to "walk out" the reality of the newness of life, found only in union with Yeshua HaMashiach! A Godly desire to
obey the Torah, as a non-Jewish believers, is evidence of the Holy Spiritšs activity of "putting the Torah of HaShem within
you, and writing it on your heart" (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10, paraphrase mine).
May the Holy One richly bless you
as you seek to be obedient to his Word!
For further study, read: Genesis 1:14; Exodus 19:5, 6; 31:13; Leviticus ch.
23; Deuteronomy 4:5-10; Joshua 1:7, 8; Psalm 40:7; ch. 119; Isaiah 2:2, 3; ch. 62; Jeremiah 31:31-37; Ezekiel 36:26, 27; Micah
4:1-7; Zechariah 8:20-23; Malachi 4:4; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 10:4; Hebrews ch. 4; 10:7; James 1:22-25; 1 John 5:1-3
By
Rabbi Ariel ben-Lyman HaNaviy yeshua613@hotmail.com
|
