Shavu'ot - Dr. Steve Elwart - www.khouse.org
This coming Saturday evening (23 May 2015 at sundown, or the 6th of Sivan, 5775) starts the Feast of Shavu'ot.
The Meaning of Shavu'ot
Shavu'ot ("Weeks," "Pentecost") comes on the fiftieth day after the start of the Omer count (Lev. 23:16-21). It marks transcendent completion: just as the week itself is made up of six full work-days, a complete sum in hexagesimal systems (a numbering system based on 60), plus one day for transcendence, so fifty is seven times seven, plus one. Moses ascended Mt. Sinai then and returned with the first revelation of the Ten Commandments and some other commandments; Israel accepted the covenantal bond even before learning of all the commandments, saying "We will put into practice and obey ..." (Exod. 24:7). So Shavu'ot, in addition to being a Yom Habikkurim (first-fruits offering, Num. 28:26) or Hag Hakatzir (wheat harvest festival: Exod. 23:16, cf., 34:22) represents the moment when essential aspects of the Torah were first revealed at Mt. Sinai. The "first-fruits harvest" is of Torah and of the bounty (crops, etc.) springing from Torah observance.
Jewish Observance
After the evening service beginning Shavu'ot, the especially pious Jews stay up all night studying key passages of Torah, so as to be worthy of receiving Torah the next day. The actual liturgy of Shavu'ot, however, is not much different from other festival days. The Torah readings are from Exod. 19-20, telling of the giving of the Torah, and Num. 28:26-31, commanding the festival. Milk and vegetarian dishes are traditional for Shavu'ot. Interestingly, the Torah does not state explicitly that Shavu'ot is the "Time of the Gift of our Torah," the Talmudic phrase; as with most other festivals it merely stipulates the working details needed by the priests, namely the precise kinds and numbers of sacrifices that were required.
Shavu'ot in the New Testament
Pentecost is first mentioned in the NT as the occasion for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Disciples of Christ, an event that marks the beginning of the church:
When the day of Pentecost was being celebrated, all of them were together in one place. - Acts 2:1, ISV
Since this was a required festival, Jews gathered from great distances to observe Pentecost in Jerusalem, making it an appropriate time for God's work.
Paul and the Pentecost
Two passages mention Paul's travel plans in connection with Pentecost. The first is found in Acts 20:16:
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in Asia, as he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if that was possible. (ISV)
This verse recounts Paul's decision to bypass Ephesus (located in the Western part of what today is Turkey; "Asia" is approximately modern Turkey). It seems he altered his plans in order to try to reach Jerusalem in time for Pentecost. The rest of Acts 20 recounts Paul's sending for the Ephesian elders, his farewell speech to them, and then in Acts 21, Paul's ensuing journey to Jerusalem. That he succeeded in arriving at or in time for Pentecost seems indicated by Acts 21:27 in which "the Jews from Asia, seeing Paul[a] in the Temple, stirred up a large crowd ..." This would indicate that Jews from the Diaspora had come to Jerusalem, which would be expected at a pilgrimage festival like Pentecost.
The Torah commands all Jews in Israel to make the pilgrimage, but in practice those living in the Diaspora did not always go up to Jerusalem. Those farthest away would perhaps go once in their life, and that would likely be on a Passover. While Jews living in the Diaspora were not all expected to be in Jerusalem for Shavu'ot, it would certainly have been considered meritorious to do so. Paul's eagerness to arrive in Jerusalem by Shavu'ot could just as well have been for Spirit-inspired evangelistic motives (Acts 20:22-24; compare Acts 23:11) as to observe the festival.
The second passage in which Paul mentions Pentecost is found in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9:
However, I'll stay on in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door has opened wide for me to do effective work, although many people are opposing me. (ISV)
In this situation, it seems possible that Paul was planning to celebrate Pentecost in the Diaspora, rather than in Jerusalem. He is planning strategically, taking into account both the opportunities for ministry as well as his opposition.
The Book of Revelation ties together the images of Shavu'ot, of greenery and fruitfulness, with the consummation of our redemption in Christ. For in the new heavens and new earth, we find the Tree of Life from the Garden of Eden. The fruitfulness of the land of Israel and all the many first fruits ceremonies not only picture God's present goodness but point forward to the fruitfulness of the renewed heavens and earth.
The Promise to Us of Redemption
Throughout the New Testament, we see first fruits imagery used in various ways, including Jesus' resurrection, the Holy Spirit, and believers as the beginnings of the new creation. In all cases it reminds us:
*Our redemption has begun, with the fullness yet to come. As Jesus has risen, so we will too. As we have come to Christ, more will follow. The Holy Spirit who guarantees our final redemption is the first part of our vital new relationship with God, with more to come. The existence of the church, with its obligations and responsibilities to act as the church, presages the redemption of the world.
*All that God has promised will happen. The same God who gives life to the world of nature, causing growth to spring forth, will give life to us, now and in the future. God is faithful to His Word.
May we too be faithful in responding to God's gift of life and growth.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY ALL NEW PROPHECY AND CREATION DESIGN WEBSITES. THERE IS A LOT TO SEE AND DO..........
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.