I Spy God

H. The Special Festivals

THREE FESTIVALS APPOINTED   Exodus 23:14-17, 34:23

ALTERNATE NAMES FOR FESTIVALS   Deuteronomy 16:16,17

PROMISE FOR OBSERVANCE   Exodus 34:24

1. Passover and Festival of Unleavened Bread    1st Month, 14th-21st Days (March-April)

“Passover memorializes the freeing of the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage, when death passed over the land and killed the firstborn of all but the Israelites.  The weeklong Festival of Unleavened Bread which follows is a commemoration of the exodus itself  The Passover meal includes lamb, representing the passover lamb; unleavened bread, representing purity; and bitter herbs, representing the horrors of bondage.”

WHAT PASSOVER SIGNIFIES   Exodus 34:18/Deuteronomy 16:1-7

PENALTY FOR NOT OBSERVING   Numbers 9:13

APPLICATION TO GUESTS   Numbers 9:14

OBSERVING UNLEAVENED BREAD   Leviticus 23:4-8/Numbers 28:16,17/Deuteronomy 16:8

OFFERINGS   Numbers 28:18-25

2. Festival of Weeks (Harvest or Firstfruits)     3rd Month, 6th Day  (May-June)

“the second major festival takes place seven weeks following the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  Hence the name by which it is presently called, the Festival of Weeks, and the name by which it will one day be called, Pentecost (meaning 50).  Although closely associated with a time of agricultural harvest, it foreshadows various spiritual “firstfruits” in which believers in God will be “harvested.”

TIME FOR FESTIVAL   Deuteronomy 16:9-12

WAVE OFFERING   Exodus 34:22/Leviticus 23:9-14

OFFERINGS FROM LEVITICUS   Leviticus 23:15-21

OFFERINGS FROM NUMBERS   Numbers 28:26-31

3. Festival of Trumpets    7th Month, 1st Day  (September-October)

“Shortly before the third major festival, the Israelites are to celebrate one of less significance, known as the Festival of Trumpets.  It takes place on the first day of the seventh month according to the religious calendar.  And because that month is the first month on the civil calendar, it is a new year’s celebration as well, modernly called Rosh Hashanah.”

FESTIVAL AND OFFERINGS   Leviticus 23:23-25/Numbers 29:1-6

4. Day of Atonement    7th Month, 10th Day  (September-October)

“God called for an annual Day of Atonement, just before the Festival of Tabernacles or Ingathering.  The Day of Atonement was established when Aaron was the high priest, but will continue until even modern times, in which it is celebrated as Yom Kippur.  It is the only day upon which the Israelites are commanded to fast.  Its great significance lies in the confession of sins and the sending out of the scapegoat for atonement.”

PRIEST IN HOLY PLACE   Leviticus 16:1-5

TWO GOATS   Leviticus 16:6-10

SIN OFFERING FOR PRIEST   Leviticus 16:11-14

SIN OFFERING FOR PEOPLE   Leviticus 16:15-17

BLOOD OF BULL AND GOAT   Leviticus 16:18,19

CONFESSION OVER SCAPEGOAT   Leviticus 16:20-22

PURIFICATION FOLLOWING RITE   Leviticus 16:23-28

DAY TO BE ANNUAL   Leviticus 16:29-34

TO BE DAY OF FASTING   Leviticus 23:26-32

SPECIAL OFFERING   Numbers 29:7-11

5. Festival of Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering)    7th Month, 15th-21st Days  (September-October)

“The final festival is known as the Festival of Tabernacles (or Booths) as a solemn reminder of Israel’s wandering in the wilderness in punishment for its sin of disbelief.  During the week of celebration the Israelites are to live in tents or shelters made of tree branches.  This festival is associated with a time of harvest and thus is alternately known as the Festival of Ingathering.”

SEVEN-DAY FESTIVAL   Leviticus 23:33-36

TAKING OF BRANCHES   Leviticus 23:39-41

DWELLING IN SHELTERS   Leviticus 23:42,43

OFFERINGS FOR FESTIVAL   Numbers 29:12-38

FESTIVAL TO BE JOYFUL   Deuteronomy 16:13-15

CONCLUSION TO THE FESTIVALS   Leviticus 23:37,38,44/Numbers 29:39,40

All quotations taken from The Daily Bible.