Torah Living 49–The Day of Firstfruits or the Wave Sheaf Offering

by | Apr 11, 2015 | Blog

A Sheaf of Barley
 
Yom Bikkurim or the Day of Firstfruits
This Feast of Firstfruits in Hebrew is referred to as Yom HaBikkurim (meaning the Day of the First ripe fruits of a crop) or the Day of the Wave Sheaf. On this day, the cohen (aka priests) would wave a sheaf of the first fruits of the barley harvest before Yehovah. According to Batya Wootten in her book “Israel’s Feasts and their Fullness,” this would be the “first offering of the year.” Prior to entering the land of Canaan, the Children of Promise could not observe this day as they had no crops in which to harvest and Yehovah was providing them manna for food.
 
Sheaves were first mentioned in Scripture as depicted in the story of Joseph who dreamed about 11-sheaves (or 11 bundles of barley) interpreted as Joseph’s brothers that bowed down before one sheaf (or 1 bundle of barley) interpreted as being Joseph himself. The telling of this dream to his family along with the dotting that Jacob did over Joseph caused Joseph to be sold into slavery. As we recall the story, Joseph ends up in Egypt and through a series of incidents years later become the 2nd most powerful man in Egypt. The dream that Joseph had about the 11-sheaves bowing before the 1-sheaf would be fulfilled in the homage that Joseph’s brother would pay Joseph  when they migrated to the land of Egypt to escape the famine. Thus “sheaves” or a “sheaf” can be representative of people or a person respectively. 
 
On Yom Bikkurim, the person who would bring his firstfruit offering to the Temple and present it to the cohen to be waved before Yehovah, would tie a batch of wheat or barley into a single bundle. Each sheaf was called an “omer,” a derivative of “amar” which according to Wootten means “to chastise, as if piling blows, to gather grain and bind sheaves together.”
 
As we saw in the Feasts of Pesach (or Passover Day) and Unleavened Bread, Yom Bikkurim was a shadow picture of good things to come (Heb 10:1). The actual day of Firstfruits was to be a reminder to all that the first of the year’s increase or produce belonged to Yehovah. This would include produce, cattle, money and sons. These “firsts” were deemed “holy” (or kodesh) by Yehovah. Thus being deemed “holy,” they belonged to Yehovah exclusively.
 
In addition to being the first of the firstfruits of their harvest, the Children of Promise were responsible for ensuring that these firsts were “the choicest of all.” (Wootten) The giving of the firstfruits was to be done with praise and thanksgiving. 
 
Many may be confused that this harvest, this presentation of the firstfruits of the year was generally taking place each year during what would translate as our months of March or April. However, we must always be cognizant that our reckoning of time is not the same as the Father’s reckoning of time. Yehovah described and instituted His reckoning of time or calendar for the Children of Israel in the Book of Exodus, citing that the first day of the month of the Aviv was to be “New Year’s Day” for His people. We here in the west, and even the Jews, have taken upon ourselves to erect calendars that do not match that of the Creator’s calendar. For the Jew, New Year’s Day is Yom Kippur or Day of Atonement which is during the fall of the year, typically September/October time frame. Yehovah never ever sanctioned the Day of Atonement to be the first of the year. In fact, He was quite explicit: 
 
NAS  Exodus 12:1 ¶ Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of 1Egypt, 2 a“This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you. (Exo 12:1-2 NAS) This passage does not indicate which month it was. But a subsequent passages in the same book does provide the month in question:  4 “On this day in the amonth of Abib, you are about to go forth. (Exo 13:4 NAS)  15 “You shall observe athe Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the bmonth Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And 1cnone shall appear before Me empty-handed. (Exo 23:15 NAS)  18 ¶ “You shall observe athe Feast of Unleavened Bread. For bseven days you are to eat unleavened bread, 1as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the cmonth of Abib, for in the month of Abib you came out of Egypt. (Exo 34:18 NAS)
The rest of the world acknowledges New Year’s Day as being on January 1st each year, dead in the middle of winter. Thus the world as a whole has lost a crucial element as it relates to their relationship with the Creator. Yehovah created time. Man and the world He lives in operates within the confines of time. According to Scott Laird in his introduction to the 6015 ‘Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar,’ “Time is the ultimate context.” Indeed it is. Yehovah set His Feasts to occur during specific times of His calendar year. Yehovah instructed Moshe as follows: “Speak to the sons of Isra’el, and say to them, ‘The LORD’S appointed times (or mo’ed) which you shall proclaim as holy convocations” (Lev 23:2). Each mo’ed was specifically and carefully woven into the fabric of time by the Creator and is dependent upon the sighting of the renewed moon each month as well as the agricultural state of the land of Canaan. Unfortunately, once the temple was destroyed in 68 C.E. and the Jews scattered throughout the world, Yehovah’s reckoning of time fell upon hard times and men decided to make their own calendars–although the pagan world had already begun jacking around with the Creator’s calendar and Yehovah reckoning of time centuries before–e.g., the Romans and the Julian calendar). 
 
As true Torah honoring-believers in Yeshua Messiah, we have embarked upon a lifestyle that hearkens back some 3-1/2 millennia. It is a lifestyle that takes us back to the roots of our Faith whereby we adhere to the rules established by the Creator for our righteous living. And not to be left lacking, the Creator in His infinite wisdom provided us not only a sacrifice that would repair the breech, that broken relationship that existed between mankind and Yehovah, but also provided us a perfect example of how to apply His laws and commandments to our day-to-day lives. Part and parcel of living according to the Creator’s principles and directives is for us to honor and celebrate His Feasts, His appointed times throughout the Biblical Calendar year. These Feasts are not just select days to have a party, but are rehearsals and reminders of key events that occurred in the lives of our forefathers who sojourned in the Sinai Wilderness and then in the Land of Canaan. These are not just reenactments of those key events in the history of Israel that occurred so long ago, but are also prophetic pictures of mankind’s redemption and mankind’s ultimate potential that will manifested in the coming Kingdom of Yehovah. The Creator’s calendar when properly followed, forces us to focus on where we’ve come from, where we are now and where we’re heading. It keeps us grounded in His Word as we search the Scriptures each year to mine for those kernels, those nuggets of spiritual truths that enrich our lives and cause us to grow and walk in the fullness of Yeshua Messiah. Yom Bikkurim is another one of those great celebrations embedded in the Creator’s calendar that provide us the opportunity to honor Yehovah for the things He has done for us and the things He will do for us in the future.
 
How sad for the rest of the world that they remain blind to the rich truths that are contained in the Father’s Feasts. That blindness, brought about in part by a hatred for God and His Torah as well as a hatred of anything having to do with the Jews, has led men to abandon the Creator’s calendar and His appointed Feasts for a pagan-based reckoning of time with its associated feasts. How brilliantly evil is the enemy to replace that which the Creator instituted with a cheap knock off that the world will fight to the death to defend. Have you not experienced challenges to your celebrating the Feasts of Yehovah and your rejection of the pagan horror-days of Easter and Christmas? I have and it’s very disconcerting. No matter how much detail I provide; no matter how I press to show to the unbeliever the relevance of Yehovah’s Feasts in their lives, the angrier and the more turned off the unbeliever gets. Despite how much evidence we can provide the unbeliever as to the pagan origins of their horror-days, the unbeliever remains married to their feasts of hasatan. It’s not just blinders my friends; it’s spiritual bondage. Even those who experience a partial release from their blindness, are still unable to break free from the draw of these pagan feasts. Try to break an unbeliever from his/her celebration of Christmas for example–it’s virtually impossible without direct intervention by Yehovah’s precious Ruach Kodesh. But let us not dread over being such a small flock and being such a pariah to the world. There is a move afoot in this world today whereby the scales are falling from unbelievers’ eyes and the Ruach Kodesh is freeing more and more unbelievers from the bondage of religion and secularism. The Feasts of Yehovah are slowly being accepted in several mainstream Christian denominations. I came across on the internet a few weeks ago, a “YouTube” video of Jim Baker and his wife, interviewing a Messianic preacher about the prophetic shadow pictures of Passover. I didn’t watch the entire episode, but there were dozens of people in the audience who seemed perched on the edge of their seats as this man of God delineated to Baker and his wife about the significance of Passover to the Christian believer. Baker himself appeared dumbfounded about the many prophetic shadow pictures associated with Passover and the relevance of Passover for the Christian believer today. I don’t know if Baker and his followers will break away from traditional churchainity for the Hebraic Roots of the Christian Faith anytime soon, but suffice to say that the seed was planted and just maybe some of those attending as well as some watching will be convicted and come over to the true faith once delivered. Amein!
 
Indeed, we have work to do. It’s not enough for us to stay locked up in our own little homes or in our congregations celebrating the Feasts each year. Indeed, as disciples of Yeshua Messiah and Yehovah’s redeemed, we are compelled to honor the Feasts of Yehovah because of our love for Abba and our desire to please Him in every possible way. Our older brother Yeshua Messiah–the Firstfruits of Yehovah’s human harvest of sons and daughters–commanded His disciples and us to : “Go! Teach all nations to carry out all the things that I have commanded you forever” (Rood translation–Mat 28:19, 20). How often have we read this particular passage and never truly gotten a full understanding of what Yeshua was commanding us to do. Denominationalism reads into this passage as “go forth and get people saved!” Despite the fact that nowhere in these 2-verses of Matthew has Yeshua commanded us to “evangelize” and get people saved, churchianity interprets the Great Commission as being just that–getting folks saved. Praise Yehovah, however, we are taught to read Yehovah’s Word without denominational glasses, but with purity of heart, the leading of the Ruach Kodesh and in truth. Thus, the Great Commission is about teaching the world to conform to Yehovah’s instructions for man’s life as demonstrated by His Son, Yeshua Messiah. It’s about teaching the world to abandon their religious and secular ways of life for a life devoted to doing things God’s way, and that includes honoring and obeying His Torah and Feasts Days. What a great vocation. There has been no other assignment ever given to men with so great a purpose.
 
The Day of the Wave Sheaf–Yom HaBikkurim
 
The following are specifics related to the Day of Firstfruits or Yom Bikkurim:
  • this was to begin once the children of promise entered into the land and began to reap a harvest
  • the first of their firstfruits the children of promise were to bring into the house of Yehovah (Exo 23:19; 34:26)
  • the children of promise were told not to delay to offer the first of their firstfruits, including their firstborn of their sons (Exo 22:29)
  • the children of promise were commanded to observe firstfruits (Exo 34:22)
  • when the first of the firstfruits was presented to the priest (the sons of Aaron) in the temple/tent of meeting, the sheaf of wheat/barley was to be waved before Yehovah to “be accepted for you”–that is “ratson” which means in Hebrew to be a pleasure, favor, delight (Exo 29:24; Lev 23:11)
  • Firstfruits was to take place on day after the Sabbath during the week of Unleavened Bread (Lev 23:11)
  • Yehovah deemed the firstfruit to be holy (Rom 11:16)
  • In addition to providing a sheaf of the firstfruits to the cohen to wave before Yehovah on behalf the family offering the firstfruit, the family was to bring a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering (Lev 23:12)
priest waving sheaves
Thus we have somewhat of a conundrum in front of us: we do not reside in the land of Canaan, nor does the Temple exist today. Yom HaBikkurim is a Feast Day that is sandwiched in the midst of the 2-high Sabbaths of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It should be noted, however, that this particular year, the first day of Unleavened Bread fell on a Sunday or the 1st day of the week, and the last day of Unleavened Bread falls on Saturday or the weekly Sabbath. The Day of Firstfruits always occurs on a Sunday within the midst of the 7-day celebration and observance of Unleavened Bread. This year, then, the only place that Firsfruits could occur are the 1st day of Unleavened Bread that occurred last Sunday, if we are to stay true to the Day of Firstfruits occurring in the midst of Unleavened Bread. Torah scholar Nehemiah Gordon and Arthur Bailey and his ministerial staff have concluded that this is the proper date for Yom HaBikkurim this year. Both camps based their assessment and determination for the date to observe Firstfruits on a careful but strict read of Torah. However, Michael Rood, the developer and producer of the Astronomically and Agriculturally Corrected Biblical Hebrew Calendar contends that Yom HaBikkurim this year could only fall outside the 7-day period of Unleavened Bread and on the very next Sunday or 1st day of the week, which will be this coming Sunday, the 12th of April. Michael’s determination on the date to observe Yom HaBikkurim this year is based upon Hebrew practices during the time of the Temple in addition to precepts contained in the Torah. During Temple times, at sundown after the one weekly Sabbath that occurs during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the men of Israel would go to the fields with sickle in hand, cut the first fruits of the barley and wheat harvest, bundle them into sheaves and prepare them to be taken to the Temple the next day. The next day the sheaves would be taken by the men to the Temple, given to the cohen as directed by Yehovah in His Torah, and the cohen would wave the sheaves before Yehovah on behalf of the people offering the sheaves. The harvesting of the wheat and barley from the fields could only be done after the sun has set after the weekly Sabbath during the Week of Unleavened Bread. The harvesting could not be done during the day on Sabbath because we are commanded not to perform any work during the Sabbath. Thus we waited for the sun to set and likely with lamps and torches, we harvested the barley and wheat in preparation for the Temple ceremony the next day which was Yom HaBikkurim. Thus, Michael believes that given that last Sabbath was Passover Day or Pesach, then Sunday was the first day of Unleavened Bread (a high Sabbath) in which no work could be done, the only logical time in which to celebrate or honor the Day of Firstfruits is Sunday the 12th of April. If we were living in the land of Israel during the time of Temple operations, we would observe the weekly Sabbath, which this year would also be the last day of Unleavened Bread (a high Sabbath), and at sundown we could go to the fields and gather the sheaves for Sunday’s Firstfruits offerings. I tend to agree with Michael on this determination. I, however, do not believe this to be an issue that should spark any debate or contention within the community of Messianic Believers. We do the best we can with the information we have available to us and with the leading of the Rauch Kodesh. In this case, our community will observe Yom HaBikkurim on one of 2-days. We will have a problem, however, as to when Shavuot will hit since that day is based upon the counting of the omer and the 50-days from Firstfruits Day. Again, I believe we’ll just have to make due with whatever day we arrive at based upon which Firstfruits day we elect to celebrate. 
 
Yom HaBikkurim–A Shadow Picture of Redemption and Salvation
 
As it was with Pesach and Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits or Yom HaBikkurim at the time the Children of Promise were residing in Canann and during early Temple operations, was full of prophetic shadow pictures of good things to come. As I mentioned earlier in this episode, a sheaf can depict a person as well as sheaves may depict people. 1500-1200-years after Yehovah commanded the Children of Promise to observe Yom HaBikkurim, Yeshua Messiah died on the stake for our sins. According to Michael Rood’s Chronological Gospels, the Savior’s cruicifixion occurred on Pesach, which at that time took place on Wednesday, April 28, 28 C.E. (reference Joh 19:13-15) Thus the shadow picture of Pesach depicts Yeshua as the Lamb of Yehovah that was slain for the sins of the world, even before the foundations of the earth were laid (Rev 13:8). Prior to sundown that same day, Yoseph of Aramathea, disciple of Yeshua, requested the remains of Yeshua for purposes of providing the Master with a proper burial of sorts. Granted permission to do so by Pontius Pilate, Yeshua was hastily laid to rest in Yoseph’s personal tomb, having not received the traditional preparations for burial afforded to Jews at death. Sundown was looming and it was imperative that Yoseph got Yeshua’s remains into the tomb as quickly as possible or else Yeshua’s remains would likely remain on the stake throughout the night and even throughout the next day. Sundown that evening began the first day of Unleavened Bread, Thursday April 29th, 28 C.E. Considered a High Sabbath, all was still in Yerushalayim that day and there was no activity apart from the Sanhedrin requesting of Pilate that a Roman guard be posted at Yeshua’s tomb, which Pilate granted. The next day would have been Friday, April the 30th, the 2nd day of Unleavened Bread, but a preparation day for the weekly Sabbath that would begin at sundown. Thus the women went out to purchase spices and oils to prepare the Savior’s remains. The weekly Sabbath commenced at sundown, which would have been Saturday, May 1, 28 C.E. The city of Yerushalayim was once again at rest. Throughout the entire morning and into early and mid-afternoon, Yeshua’s body remained in the sealed tomb. 
 
According to Yeshua’s own prophecy, He arose from the grave late that Sabbath afternoon, just prior to sundown and the start of Yom HaBikkurim. As recorded in Rood’s Chronological Gospels, “Yeshua arose from the grave ‘on the 3rd day’ after His burial. Thus the resurrection transpired on the weekly Sabbath.”
 
NAS  Matthew 12:40 for just as aJonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so shall bthe Son of Man be cthree days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  (Mat 12:40 NAS)
 
Contrary to the traditionals and basic elementary-school arithmetic skills, the Master did not nor could he have died late on a Friday afternoon and then resurrect about 45-hours later. That year Pesach fell on a Wednesday and given that the Feasts are all prophetic shadow pictures of good things to come, it stands to reason that Yeshua was also crucified on that very same Wednesday that Pesach fell upon. The weekly Sabbath passed at sundown and Yom HaBikkurim would begin that year on Sunday, May 2nd. It was around dawn that day, and incidents were occurring fast and furious. Yeshua had already resurrected from the dead the previous afternoon just before sunset in accordance to His 3-days and 3-nights in the earth prophecy of Himself. Matthew 27:52, 53 record that the bodies of many saints who slept in their graves arose and came out of their graves and went into the Holy City of Yerushalayim, appearing to many. The Roman guard that was posted at the grave site were frightened by the appearance of an angel who rolled the stone from the tomb opening. (reference Mat 28:2-4). Miriam of Migdal finds the tomb empty as she ventured to the tomb before sun-up on that same day. Miriam informs Kefa and Yochanan of the empty tomb.(reference Joh 20:1-10)  Both disciples respond to the tomb and confirm that it was indeed empty just as Miriam had said. Miraim has an amazing encounter with the newly risen Messiah. Seeing Yeshua, Miriam makes a move to embrace the Savior but is told by Yeshua not to touch Him as He had yet to ascend to His Father. (reference Joh 20:11-17) Soon after His encounter with Miriam of Migdol, all indications are that Yeshua ascended to heaven, to the Holy of Holies, sprinkled His blood upon the mercy seat, and presented Himself to the Father. Praise Yehovah, the head of satan had been crushed and sin forever atoned for. 
 
Now during this time in Yerushalayim, the Temple was alive with the waving of the sheaves by Temple priests. These sheaves were the firstfruits of the people, deemed holy by Yehovah. In heaven around the same time, Yeshua was the firstfruit offered to the Father. Thus Yeshua fulfilled His role as the “Cohen Gadol,” the High Priest, after the order of the Melek Tzadek. 
 
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 
Rev 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 
 
According to Rood, in addition to Yeshua being the firstfruit of the human race, those saints who rose from the dead at Yeshua’s resurrection were also presented to Yehovah by Yeshua as firstfruits.I don’t know about you, but I believe Rood to be correct. Indeed, this is not found in our Bibles, but it makes sense. Where would those resurrected saints go otherwise and whatever would have happened to them after they appeared in Yerushalayim? Rood’s explanation for what happened to these folks is the only one ever offered that makes sense to me. The only other question I have on this issue is, who were these resurrected saints? Only time will tell. Hallelujah.
 
So What do we do with Yom HaBikkurim?
 
Thus Yom HaBikkurim celebrates Yeshua’s ascension to heaven where He presented Himself before Yehovah as the first of many who would become true sons and daughters of Yehovah for all eternity–NAS  Hebrews 2:10 ¶ For ait was fitting for Him, bfor whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to cperfect the 1dauthor of their salvation through sufferings. (Heb 2:10 NAS) How wonderful is it to celebrate such an amazing day with its tremendous symbolism. We are truly blessed.
But what does a 21st century believer in Yeshua Messiah do with Yom HaBikkurim? There is no Temple in existence. Getting sheaves of barley or wheat is pretty difficult, especially given that the vast majority of us living in the West are not barley or wheat farmers. It’s not one of those Feasts of Yehovah that is considered a holy convocation with a work prohibition. So it’s sort of like Hanukkah and Purim–celebrations with a historic lesson and a prophetic shadow picture to gleen. The difference being that Firstfruits is actually named among the 7-mandated Feasts (i.e., Passover, Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles and Last Great Day).
Some Hebraic Roots-based ministries celebrate this Feast by offering their followers or listeners [that day] to send in a special offering that would imitate a Firstfruits offering. Hilary and I had an interesting conversation about this yesterday morning, specifically regarding the Biblical basis of having one’s listeners and followers donate money to your ministry specifically on Firstfruits. On the surface this seems like a reasonable compromise for observance of Firstfruits given the absence of the Temple service today. Indeed, giving of the firstfruits of our increase is the physical–historical focus (if you will) of this particular feast. But then, are we actually celebrating the spiritual meaning of the feast which is Yeshua being the first of many sons and daughters who have been harvested and will reign with the Father and Son for all eternity? For me, something seems to get lost when we start to focus on sending in special offerings on this particular day. It’s like some Messianic groups whose focus is on Jewish seders during Passover. Yeshua provided us a renewed focus for Passover in the after-shadow of the ancient Passover observance. Indeed, there’s nothing wrong with having traditions associated with Feasts celebrations and we are commanded to remember the Exodus story when we celebrate Passover. But we must also be equally cognizant of the renewed covenant in Yeshua Messiah when we celebrate Passover. So as it relates to giving of our increase on the Day of Firstfruits, it would seem to me to be a decent gesture in commemoration of that day. However, I think we have to be careful to not lead folks along a path of thinking that replaces the entire Biblical and spiritual purpose and focus of Firstfruits with the day being an opportunity for ministries to bring money into their coffers. I have a fear that having such a bent (although probably not intentional), will only move our Faith closer to that of churchianity. Again, this is just my opinion and should only be taken as that. 
 
So, to answer the question: celebrating Yom HaBikkurim should at least be a day of prayer, praise and acknowledgment–acknowledgment that Yehovah is the source of our being and all that we have. Additionally, it should be a day to seriously consider the tremendous potential being afforded to mankind through the work of Yeshua Messiah. We have the potential of being sons and daughters of the Most High–to be made just like our older brother Yeshua HaMaschiyach. That should be at the very least the focus of the day and if we elect to send in some moneys to one or more of the ministries that bless us throughout the year, then by all means–give with the greatest of pleasure and praise. 
With that, I pray and trust that you will have a blessed Day of Firstfruits–Yom HaBikkurim. Thank you for taking the time out your busy schedule to listen to this episode of Sabbath Thoughts and Reflections. Now we begin the 50-days count to Shavuot, Pentecost. Let us spend this 50-days spiritually preparing to receive the Shavuot. We’ll be here, good Lord willing, to bring you more stuff that will hopefully aid you in your walk in Yeshua Messiah. Until next time, may Yehovah bless you, and keep you and your family: may Yehovah make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: and may Yehovah lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. In the name of Yeshua HaMaschiyach, our soon coming King, Amein and Amein. Stay blessed Saints! Shalom!

Mentally Preparing for Passover

by | Apr 1, 2015 | Blog


6 aYour boasting is not good. bDo you not know that ca little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?7 Clean out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our aPassover also has been sacrificed.8 Let us therefore celebrate the feast, a not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1Co 5:6-8 NAS)
Preparation is a key factor in getting the fullest possible spiritual, cognitive and physical benefit from the Feasts. Failure to adequately prepare in every aspect of our being could lead to a less-than optimal experience. That old adage: you only get what you put into a thing certainly applies to the Feasts. You only get what you put into the Feasts and that includes preparation–preparation in advance of the actual Feast day and celebration.
It’s like the parable and analogy of sowing seeds and reaping a harvest. The more we sow into our preparation of and then participation in the Feasts–be it hosting a gathering such as a Passover Seder or attending a gathering such as a service–the more we stand to reap a great spiritual harvest. That great harvest will not only be realized and enjoyed by us as individuals, but also those with whom we share the Feasts; these too will be blessed abundantly. The harvest? Spiritual growth and physical blessings.
Preparations for the Feasts don’t have to be all that elaborate. Simply reading relevant portions of Scripture that pertain to the Feasts is a good start. One thing I’ve learned is that if you’ve read the same passages several times in the past, a new reading may reveal nuggets and spiritual riches that eluded you in past readings of that same passage of Scripture. As we grow from participating in the Feasts year after year, the Ruach Kodesh will provide new insight and revelation–but only when we are ready to receive the new stuff.
Allow me to expound upon the areas that I believe are important in preparing ourselves for the Feasts–especially the Spring Feasts of Yehovah or Passover. I’ve broken these areas into 3-main elements: the mental or cognitive; the physical; and the spiritual.

Mentally

Realizing the time–We must first understand which calendar to reference. There are 3-calendars with 3-different perspectives: the Gregorian (which is secular/of the world/developed by the Romans in the 4th to 5th century). Then there’s the Rabbinc or the calculated Jewish calendar developed by Hillel in the 4th century CE; calculated; not always in proper alignment with the Creator’s reckoning of time. Lastly, there’s the Creator’s calendar–instituted by Yehovah and today has been re-instituted by Karaite Jews; it is Biblically based, agriculturally driven; it requires sighting of the renewed moon to commence each month; it can be estimated but never substantiated before the actual time.

CJBGenesis 1:14 ¶ God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to divide the day from the night; let them be for signs, seasons, days and years; (Gen 1:14 CJB)

CJBPsalm 104:19 You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.(Psa 104:19 CJB)

The Month of the Aviv is the beginning of the Biblical new year, which is contrary to both the Gregorian and Jewish or Rabbinic reckoning of when the new year is to start (i.e., on the Gregorian it is January 1st and on the Jewish/Rabbinic it start on Rosh HaShanah or the Day of Atonement). The term “Aviv” always refers to the state of barley maturity in the land of Israel. When the barley is deemed to be in an Aviv state, that coupled with the sighting of the renewed moon over the land of Israel, signals the beginning of the Creator’s calendar year. Aviv (also spelled Abib in some translations) as used in the Scriptures only refers to mature barley and that is determined each spring in the month of March/April. There are a couple of Karaite-based organizations that make it their mission to search out Aviv barley each year. One group is headed by Nehemiah Gordon–well known Torah scholar and teacher.

CJB Exodus 13:4 You are leaving today, in the month of Aviv. (Exo 13:4 CJB)

NAS Exodus 23:15 “You shall observe a the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the bmonth Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. And 1cnone shall appear before Me empty-handed. (Exo 23:15 NAS)

CJB Exodus 34:18 ¶ “Keep the festival of matzah by eating matzah, as I ordered you, for seven days during the month of Aviv; for it was in the month of Aviv that you came out from Egypt. (Exo 34:18 CJB)

CJB Deuteronomy 16:1 ¶ “Observe the month of Aviv, and keep Pesach to ADONAI your God; for in the month of Aviv, ADONAI your God brought you out of Egypt at night. (Deu 16:1 CJB)

For a more detailed explanation on the various calendars and their appropriate places in the Believer’s life, check out my blog posting on this issue at http://www.themessianictorahobserver.org/2015/01/02/happy-new-year-whats-on-your-calendar-for-2015-2/

I personally follow the Creator’s Calendar publish by “A Rood Awakening International– http://www.aroodawakening.tv/biblical-hebrew-calendar/

Are we always going to get it right in terms of determining the exact timing of the Feasts? No. There will be times when we may miss a date entirely or we misjudge when a feast day will occur. If we are convocating with others, there may be times when we inadvertently get flights and travel arrangements mixed and tied in with key feast days when it is commanded that no work is to be done on those days. When these things happen, we can’t beat ourselves up too much. We should repent and try ever so hard not to repeat the mistake or oversight again. Consider:

CJB2 Timothy 2:15Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. (2Ti 2:15 CJB)

Understanding the meaning of the season and Spring Feasts of Yehovah

The Feasts of Yehovah are “shadow pictures” of good things to come.

16  mLet no one, then, pass judgment on you in matters of food and drink or with regard to a festival or new moon or sabbath.1 17 These are shadows of things to come; the reality belongs to Christ.n (Col 2:16-17 NAB)

In terms of Passover, it is a shadow picture of what Yehovah would accomplish for His people through the agency of Yeshua HaMaschiyach.

Heb 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

This is referring to Yehovah’s “Plan of Redemption”–that plan in which Yehovah would reconcile His creation unto Himself. But in order to do this, Yehovah had to deal with the issue of sin and that is part and parcel of the shadow pictures that are depicted in the Spring Feasts of Yehovah.

These Feasts are holy convocations or “Miqra” or rehearsals. These are Feasts that belong to Yehovah–NOT Feasts of Israel or the Jews.

DBY Leviticus 23:4 ¶ These are the set feasts of Jehovah, holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons: (Lev 23:4 DBY)

The Feasts of Yehovah were meant to be holy assemblies (holy miqra) or rehearsals to be kept by His people.

(Exo 12:16)–NAS Exodus 12:16 ‘And aon the first day you shall have a holy assembly (miqra), and another holy assembly on the seventh day; no work at all shall be done on them, except what must be eaten 1by every person, that alone may be 2prepared by you. (Exo 12:16 NAS)

Rehearsals because in commemorating each feast we “rehearse” or “depict” our relationship with the Creator as well as our walk with  Yeshua Messiah. When we celebrate the feasts we “re-hear” lessons that encourage and build us up in our walk. We are reminded of the sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior. We are reminded of just how much the Father loves us. We are reminded of just how far we are from the “mark” and how much further we need to go in living Torah the way Yeshua showed us.

The feasts portray a 3-phase plan for our lives (reference Batyah Wootten):

      1. Passover/Pesach (personal redemption)
      2. Pentecost/Shavuot (infilling of the Ruach Kodesh)
      3. Tabernacles/Sukkot (restoration of the Kingdom of Yisra’el)

From there, the 7-annual feasts are broken into 3 clusters (reference Batyah Wootten):

      1. Spring Feasts (8-day period) that includes: Passover (Pesach), Unleavened Bread (Matzah), and Day of the Wave Sheaf (First Fruits)–collectively referred to as Passover
      2. Early summer–Shavuot (50-days after First Fruits or Wave Sheaf)–. AKA, Feast of Weeks
      3. Fall Feeasts–Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot=21-day period or Tabernacles

What exactly are the Feasts as described by the Creator? Levitcus 23 describes them as “mo’edim” or “appointed times” during the Creator’s calendar year. These are “set apart times” in which we are to proclaim the truths depicted in the particular feast being celebrated.

DBYLeviticus 23:2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them,Concerningthe set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim as holy convocations — these are my set feasts. (Lev 23:2 DBY)

The act of a believer in Yeshua HaMaschiyach keeping the Feasts as well as keeping and obeying Torah can be best described (in my humble opinion) as “honoring Torah” and “honoring the Feasts.” Ours is a “love-based obedience” as opposed to simple-blind adherence to or obedience to Torah commandments; or simply taking off from work to sit at home in acknowledgment of the Feast day. Recall the depiction of the stony versus fleshy heart in which Yehovah prophecied would happen at some point in the future to His chosen ones? When Torah would no longer be a simple keeping of tasks and commandments. But Torah and Feast-keeping would become a joy and something that profoundly resonates within our being. That we obey Torah and keep His Feast-days because we love and honor Him–the Creator of the universe.

NAS Ezekiel 11:19 “And I shall agive them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within 1them. And I shall take the bheart of stone out of their flesh and give them a cheart of flesh, (Eze 11:19 NAS)

Indeed, we realize that salvation cannot be earned. We realize that salvation is received as a gift; that our eternal life comes through grace which is Yehovah’s unmerited favor. This gift is received by faith in the person and work of Yeshua Messiah. So why then honor or celebrate or keep the Feasts of the Lord? Because of our abiding love for Yehovah and His son, Yeshua HaMaschiyach. No longer do we follow the Father’s ways out of blind fear of being punished; or because the Bible says so. We follow the Father’s ways because “we want to”; because we want to please our Father. We cannot really “keep” the Feasts because the Temple is no longer in existence. Thus, we are inclined to “honor” the Feasts in “spirit and truth.” Blindly keeping the Feasts as many have unfortunately fallen subject to, devoid of spirit and truth only serves to upset Yehovah as mentioned in Isaiah:

11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.112 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts? 113 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. 1 14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.116 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.1 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: 20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. (Isa 1:11-20 KJV)

Having our families and ourselves in a prepared state of mind or mindset that is focused to accept the arrival of the season and Feasts with joy and reverence is key to gaining the tremendous spiritual blessings inherent and available to every Believer in Messiah Yeshua.

I would encourage you to re-read Exo 34 and Lev 23 and parallel the command Yehovah gave His people regarding the keeping of Passover and the Crucifixion story.

We will run into those who insist that the Feasts of the Lord do not belong to those of us who proclaim Yeshua HaMaschiyach as our Redeemer. We must be ready to defend our actions of honoring the Feasts and stand firm in our hearts and minds that the Feasts of Yehovah are for us to honor and celebrate with all joy. One way we can respond to allegations that the Feasts were abolished is that the Feasts were “shadow pictures” of Messiah and His work among His chosen people (Col 2:17; Heb 10:1; 1 Pet 1:1; 2:9,10). Thus, Yeshua is the substance to which the feasts all point. Indeed the Spring Feasts have objectively been “fulfilled” in Yeshua. But then so has Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, etc. Thus as a race, we do not stop celebrating an event or person per se because the event being commemorated has already occurred. We celebrate because “it occurred.”

Many with righteous zeal will say–the Feasts of Yehovah must become a part of every true believer’ s life. I say no, but stand on a firm conviction that the Feasts of Yehovah must become the true believer’ s life. Only then will compromise be a non-existent option. Only then will we be truly prepared for Passover.

Because you are Obedient Part 3–Forgetting Yehovah

by | Mar 18, 2015 | Blog

Picking up in Chapter 8, verse 11, we find that we are commanded not to forget Yehovah our Elohim.  The passage reads:
 11″Beware lest you aforget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; (Deu 8:11 NAS)
The word “forget” actually translates in the Hebrew as “shakach.” The English term “forget,” is suggestive of a lapse in memory about Yehovah in some way. The term “shakach” to me takes us in a slightly different direction that the English term forget would naturally lead a casual Western reader of the Bible. This is one of the many great advantages of having a Hebraic Roots mindset and why we in the HRM value the Word of God so much more than others in various denominations of churchianity.
We find that “shakach” as used in this passage of Torah denotes, not a lapse in memory about Yehovah (as one my reasonably garner from a casual read of the passage through Western glasses so to speak), but to ignore Yehovah’s commandments; to follow other gods (Deut 8:19); to stand in fear of harm and danger such as one having a failure Faith that Yehovah will deliver; to live fretfully and timidly (Isa 51:13); to challenge Yehovah (Psa 106:13).
At this point in Torah, we find Yisra’el preparing to cross the Yarden (aka Jordon) to begin the process of possessing the land that Yehovah had promised His people. The land was rich in natural resources and would be a veritable paradise for the weary Children of Promise who spent a generation wandering in the Sinai wilderness. The nations that would be overcome by the power and might of Yehovah through the onslaught of the Israeli people would leave behind remnants of their culture which could potentially lead the Children of Promise astray. This is why in the previous passage (7:21-26) Yehovah commanded that Yisra’el utterly destroy the nations as He would direct. Canaan was filled to the brim with idol worship and the remnants of such evil could be picked up by the Israeli’s, destroying all that had been accomplished in the Israeli during their years of wandering and preparation. This is why Yehovah pounded into the peoples’ minds over and over that they stay focused on His Torah.
 
The take away for me in this passage is that it is imperative that I not “forget” Yehovah in my day-to-day interactions with the world. There are so many things throughout the day that could potentially lead me astray and cause me to “shakach” Yehovah: pointless conversations with individuals that could cause me to speak evil about someone; allow situations to upset me and lead me to react or act contrary to my chosen status; lust of the eyes, envying, anger, hatred, etc. These things, although seemingly nebulous in the whole scheme of day-to-day life, would certainly lead one (lead me) to “shakach” Yehovah. That’s why each day I seek to study Yehovah’s Word and fill my mind with His Torah; follow the example of Yeshua who lived Torah perfectly; wear tzit tzits as a visible and tactile reminder of Yehovah; and heavily rely upon the leading of the Ruach Kodesh throughout my daily journey. It’s so easy to “shakach” Yehovah and despite what our carnal mind and nature might say otherwise, we often “shakach” Yehovah. Thus I keep a mental journal about my day-to-day activities and thus identify those incidents where I “forgot” Yehovah. Upon identifying them, I repent and seek Yehovah’s forgiveness. This practice helps keep me centered on Yehovah’s Torah as I grow in grace and live in truth. 
 
Have a non-forgetful day dear Saints. Be blessed in Yeshua Messiah.

Because you are Obedient to Torah Part 2

by | Mar 17, 2015 | Blog

Picking up from the previous section of Deuteronomy 7:12-8:10:

7:12–there is a 3-part requirement related to Torah observance: (1) listen (i.e., to shama or to hear); (2) keep (i.e., to watch and preserve); and (3) obey (i.e., to do them). What we have here is a causal clause–because a, b, c…then d, e, f… Thus, as it is implied here, because the Children of Promise listen, keep and obey Torah, then the covenant that was made with Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya’akov will carry on with them.

I’ve been struggling, as many of you know, with the naysayers who rail against our Faith, labelling us as heretics, liars and everything other than Children of the Most High. Their issue is deeper than just a disregard for Torah; their anger and disdain for those of us who embrace Torah as our own is really against Yehovah. To me, taking such a vociferous position against believers in Messiah who’ve elected to keep Torah is  not unlike the Islamist who takes and interprets portions of his/her Koran, insisting that one is commanded to murder all who refuse to adopt Islam as their Faith, when in reality no such command is contained in the Koran. The fundamentalist, like the radical Islamist, reads and understands their Scriptures from an entirely extra-contextual perspective (that is, understanding their Bibles without proper context). Both groups have come to accept a form of their respective Faiths that best fits in with their chosen perspectives on the world around them. For the Christian, the onus can never be on one’s world view as the foundation for determining whether or not Torah remains a viable or required thing for every believer. It’s actually the other way around. The believer must develop a world view through the lenses of Torah, imitating Yeshua HaMaschiyach’s example of how to live Torah.
Recall that old saying if you will, that “the proof is in the pudding.” If Torah is (as the fundamentalists contend it is) a curse, why would a loving God foist upon His chosen people such a thing? Why would Shaul suggest such a thing–if in fact he actually wrote it or meant it as many in churchianity have come to accept and teach. Fast forward to today: for those of us who have kept Torah for any length of time, have we personally realized the blessings promised to the Children of Israel as sort of a proof positive that Torah is for us as it was and remains for the nation of Israel and the Jew? I for one have realized such blessings, although not in as powerful a manifestation as I would have liked to be honest. I still struggle, not so much in the living Torah each day, for I love Torah beyond my capacity to describe, but more so it is the faith aspect of living Torah that I’m working hard to correct. The one aspect of living Torah that I believe many of us struggle with is that faith aspect that is inconspicuously tied to obedience to Torah. The Children of Promise did not require a lot of proof that Yehovah would and could do  all the things that He promised them in His Torah. Many of the individuals who were listening to Moshe in this passage had first hand knowledge of the power and might of Yehovah as He protected and guided them throughout their 40-year jaunt through the Sinai desert. For us living in the 21st-century (or in the year 6015 F.C. per the Creator’s Calendar), to read these same promises requires us to have true faith. This passage requires us to make a conscious decision whether or not to obey Torah–all the applicable portions–and if we chose to obey Torah, believe that by us remaining resolute and obedient (even in the midst of persecution and ridicule from the fundamentalists) we will realize the same blessings that were afforded and enjoyed and realized by the Children of promise over 3,200-years prior (by some estimations).
I guess it comes down to each of us asking the question of ourselves: why do I; why should I; why must I observe and obey Torah? Today dear brother and sister of the True Faith once delivered, ask yourself, as I ask myself, why obey Torah. And if we come up with a true answer, determine whether or not we believe in the blessings to follow us as we obey Torah.

Because you are Obedient to Torah-Part 1

by | Mar 16, 2015 | Blog

Because you are Obedient to Torah (Part 1)

Greetings Saints,
My Daily Torah studies took me to D’varim 7 (Deut 7). Beginning at verse 12, we find Moshe speaking to the nation of Israel from a reassuring perspective. He’d already established the need for them to keep Torah. Because Israel had been obedient to Torah, now it was time to speak to the benefits to be had with the keeping of Torah.
Tanakh
Fundamentalists Hate Torah
One of the prevailing admonishments the “fundamentalists” throw at us is this rule that believers in Jesus Christ (aka Christians) must not adhere to Torah. In fact, any Christian who finds themselves observing Torah in any form or fashion is considered back-slidden or completely a non-Christian. The irony in this situation is that those who choose to live without rules or laws  (i.e., Christians) are insisting that we (Messianic Believers in Messiah) live by a rule or law that says no Torah. The Christian contends authority to enforce this edict through a denominational understanding of the writings of the Apostle Paul. Sadly, the same Christian who stands by a biased interpretation of the Apostle Shaul on the subject of Torah-Keeping ignores the very teachings of The Living Torah–Yeshua Messiah–who said that He absolutely had not been sent to abolish Torah but to elevate Torah to its greatest potential and that Torah would remain in effect to the end of time (Matt. 5:17-20). The Christian who rails against believers keeping Torah will by default ignore this teaching or outright distort it as he/she has done with the teachings of Shaul.

We, the redeemed of the Most High choose to live Torah for a number of reasons: (1) we realize that we have been grafted in to the heritage of Israel (Romans 11); (2) Yehovah does not change (Mal. 3:6) and since the Creator does not change and has not signaled a termination of Torah in His Word, we have no license to toss it to the side or worse, no license to teach others to disobey or violate Torah; (3) we cannot effectively know sin without Torah; (4) we cannot effectively worship and have a true relationship without Torah, otherwise we presume that we are pleasing Yehovah when we have no true indication that we are. Yehovah has provided a prescription for how He is to be honored and worshiped and obeyed. There are many other reasons. But one other reason the believer in Yeshua Messiah keeps Torah is contained in this passage of Torah which reads:
13 He will love you, bless you and increase your numbers; he will also bless the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground – your grain, wine, olive oil and the young of your cattle and sheep – in the land he swore to your ancestors that he would give you.
 14 You will be blessed more than all other peoples; there will not be a sterile male or female among you, and the same with your livestock.
 15 ADONAI will remove all illness from you – he will not afflict you with any of Egypt’s dreadful diseases, which you have known; instead, he will lay them on those who hate you. (Deu 7:13-15 CJB)
 
Many a fundamentalist will say that this promise was specific to the nation of Israel as they wandered the Sinai, preparing to enter the promised land. Indeed, there is absolute credence to such a contention. The true believer in Yeshua Messiah, however, believes that being grafted in affords him/her the same benefits as the children of promise in the day. Shaul expounded upon this best in Romans 11– 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you – a wild olive – were grafted in among them and have become equal sharers in the rich root of the olive tree, (Rom 11:17 CJB) Thus the believer in Yeshua Messiah has become an equal sharer in the rich root of the olive tree and that richness naturally comes from the fertile ground that is Torah–the Word.
Let no one judge you in your walk with Yeshua Messiah nor feel shame, for by keeping Torah we have taken up the mantle that was to be Israel’s greatest purpose and potential–
5 Now if you will pay careful attention to what I say and keep my covenant, then you will be my own treasure from among all the peoples, for all the earth is mine;
 6 and you will be a kingdom of cohanim for me, a nation set apart.’  (Exo 19:5-6 CJB)
It’s Not About Being Saved 
Sadly, the fundamentalist has completely ignored this fundamental purpose of the Creator’s overall plan for mankind. Why? Because the focus has become that of an idealized Greek-philosophic form of the Faith that was once delivered, and that refocus and intent of the true Faith once delivered now promises eternal life in heaven. That focus is entirely self-serving. We’ve all heard the classic evangelical question posed to potentially new converts: if you were to die tonight, where will you spend eternity. Interestingly, this question was never asked by Yeshua during His earthly ministry. Yet it has become the essential “call to action” for anyone seeking redemption.
 
The focus of the Messianic on the other hand is indeed future-centric, but also focused on serving the Father and humanity–especially the brotherhood and sisterhood. A convert must always be cognizant as to how he or  she will serve the Creator in the here and now, as well as what one’s role will be in the coming Kingdom of Yehovah here on earth. It is not about being “saved” and gaining eternal life. Eternal life is a benefit to becoming His sons and daughters. It’s all about serving the King fellow Saints in Training. Shalom.