Text: Leviticus 23
There were several appointed holy convocations: The first is the sabbath of complete rest. The sons of Israel could work for six days but were commanded by the Lord to rest on the seventh day. In addition to the sabbath, there were appointed holy convocations throughout the year beginning with the passover, followed by the feast of unleavened bread for seven days. Next came the first fruits of the harvest. Before the sons of Israel could eat of the harvest the first fruits are presented before the Lord. From that sabbath, they were to count seven complete sabbaths and bring two loaves of bread to the Lord as a wave offering. Both of these are thanksgiving for the Lord’s provision. They were also commanded to not harvest to the edges of their fields but to leave these for the poor. The next holy convocation is the day of atonement on the tenth day of the seventh month. The day on which the priest atones for his sins and the sins of the people at the mercy seat of the Lord. On the fifteenth day of the seventh month they were to live in booths for seven days, presenting an offering on each day.
The Lord created all things in six days, then he rested on the seventh day. Doing likewise was a constant reminder, which put the sons of Israel in place to give thanksgiving to the Lord. The passover and the feast of unleavened bread was a reminder of how the Lord redeemed the sons of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. The feasts at the beginning and end of the harvest was for thanksgiving. The day of atonement was needed because the Lord is holy and no man is without sin. The feast of booths was to remind the sons of Israel that their fathers lived in booths while the wandered in the wilderness for forty years.
All of these holy convocations were reminders of what the Lord had done for them. He redeemed them from slavery in Egypt, provided for their needs, forgave their sin and brought them into the promised land. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I have much to be thankful. I was given life through my parents. I was justified as a gift, by the grace of God, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Rom. 3:24-25) I deserved the eternal death but have been given the free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23) I have not yet come into the promised land but the Lord is providing for my needs while I journey to the Celestial City.
