Want to offer up a Happy Holiday to all that celebrate one of the Greatest Feasts (Moedim) that the G-D of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob(Israel) has given the world! This celebration is often overlooked by many. But there is so much meaning behind this often forgotten Feast of the L-RD.
The name in Hebrew "Shavuot" means "Weeks", for we count 7 Sabbaths or Weeks after celebrating "Passover", as commanded to do in the Torah(Teaching) given to us by G-D, through Moses. The day after the 7th Sabbath is "Shavuot. Now we cannot keep the Feast like it was originally given due to no Temple in Jerusalem, but we can learn so much of how the G-D of the Bible is dealing with HIS people in these latter days by observing this Feast.
This Feast was originally an agricultural celebration, bringing in the First Fruits of the Wheat harvest. I will not get into the how's of how this was kept at the time of Y'shua(Jesus), but I will mention that we were commanded to bring in two loaves of bread to the High Priest at the Temple, then the High Priest would present these two loaves as a wave offering before YHWH. Now these two loaves, unlike Passover Bread which was without leaven, these two loaves of wheat bread were to be leavened, or with yeast. Biblically yeast is a symbol for "sin". In Mat 13:30 Y'shua teaches in this parable that the wheat is symbolic of HIS people." Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
Now the two loaves of wheat have many applications, but I want to focus on the idea that the two loaves represent the two type of people that will make up G-D's people at the end of the age. The two types are (1) Jewish people, and (2) Gentile people. Through Y'shua these two types of people, though they are with sin, (i.e. loaves of wheat with leaven) they are a "One New Man". Rav Shaul(Apostle Paul) speaks of it in this way, Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without G-D in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Messiah Y'shua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto G-D in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of G-D;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Y'shua the Messiah himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the L-RD:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of G-D through the Spirit.
On the Feast of Shavuot we celebrate the giving of Torah also. Now it is appropriate to celebrate the giving of Torah twice. Yes, that is right, the giving of Torah has been given twice in a sense of thinking. Let me explain:
G-D through Moses gave the children of Israel the Torah on Mount Sinai, Torah can be summarized as the giving of the "Ten Commandments". This was engraved on tablets of stone. This is where the children of Israel became a Covenant People of G-D, they were symbolically married to G-D through this covenant. In a nutshell, G-D asked will you obey all that I command you, Israel said yes, G-D on HIS part promised to be faithful, thus entering into Holy Matrimony.
The Torah was prophesied by the Prophet Jeremiah to be given a second time if you will through a renewing of the original Covenant. Not a new covenant but a renewing. It is very important that we understand this idea of a renewing covenant, not a new covenant. Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the L-RD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the L-RD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the L-RD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the L-RD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the L-RD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
So this happened on the day commonly referred as "Pentecost" by the Christian church. When the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost(Shavuot), the Torah was written on our hearts. The sign of this being "tongues of fire" that descended on the believers at the Temple in Jerusalem. When fire comes down from heaven that is a sign that G-D is present! The Covenant between G-D and HIS people was renewed at the "Last Supper" when Y'shua established it with HIS disciples(Talmidim).
One last note on Shavuot. Traditionally the Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot. This is very interesting indeed! The Book of Ruth is one of the shortest Books in the Bible, but it has profound teaching in it. I will touch on a couple. Books could be written on all the lessons that we learn from the book of Ruth! If you haven't yet, please do a study on the Book of Ruth. You will learn so much on how G-D is reconciling HIS people to HIMSELF through this book.
The Book of Ruth is a story of a Jewish woman named Naomi (pleasant), and how she is redeemed back to her original inheritance, through her daughter-in-law Ruth(friend), Ruth is a Moabitess. The story starts in Moab, Naomi's husband(Elimelech, "God of the King") dies, her sons die, and she is left with two daughters-in-law. Orpah and Ruth. Orpah decides to return to her people, Moab. Ruth makes the decision to leave her people(Moab), and return to Bethlehem with Naomi. What is significant in the early parts of the story is that when Naomi and her Husband leave Bethlehem(house of bread) to go to Moab, disaster strikes them, after losing everything, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. The word Return in Hebrew is "Shoov", meaning to turn back, repent. Ruth makes the decision to leave her pagan lifestyle, country and follow Naomi back to her inheritance. When they return to Bethlehem Naomi needs a Kinsman Redeemer(Hebrew,"Goel"), Boaz(shadow picture of G-D our Redeemer) is introduced to our story as the Kinsmen Redeemer. He ends up showing grace to Ruth, while she gleans in His fields. And He marries Ruth the Moabitess, through Ruth Naomi is brought to Boaz so that she can be redeemed back to her inheritance. Through the lineage of Boaz and Ruth we get King David, and eventually we get Mashiach Y'shua, our ultimate Redeemer!
I would like to finish on the thought from this Book of Ruth, it is through Ruth (Gentile Believers) that Naomi (Jewish people) are brought back into her inheritance with Boaz(G-D, Y'shua). Ruth has been shown grace by Boaz(G-D) in turn Grace is shown to Naomi through Ruth by Boaz. But before Ruth is shown Grace by Boaz she must first make the decision to follow Naomi, her customs, her people, her G-D. Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Naomi(Jewish people) learns of her redemption through Ruth(Gentile people)
This is just skimming the top of how much can be gleaned from The Book of Ruth, profound understanding on how G-D is reconciling the world back to HIMSELF. This story takes place during the Barley and Wheat harvest in the land of Israel.
AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING!!!
So this is very appropriate to be read on the Feast of Shavuot!
MUCH SHALOM AND BLESSINGS AS WE OBSERVE THE FEAST OF SHAVUOT!
Y'shua ha Mashiach speaking:
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
The name in Hebrew "Shavuot" means "Weeks", for we count 7 Sabbaths or Weeks after celebrating "Passover", as commanded to do in the Torah(Teaching) given to us by G-D, through Moses. The day after the 7th Sabbath is "Shavuot. Now we cannot keep the Feast like it was originally given due to no Temple in Jerusalem, but we can learn so much of how the G-D of the Bible is dealing with HIS people in these latter days by observing this Feast.
This Feast was originally an agricultural celebration, bringing in the First Fruits of the Wheat harvest. I will not get into the how's of how this was kept at the time of Y'shua(Jesus), but I will mention that we were commanded to bring in two loaves of bread to the High Priest at the Temple, then the High Priest would present these two loaves as a wave offering before YHWH. Now these two loaves, unlike Passover Bread which was without leaven, these two loaves of wheat bread were to be leavened, or with yeast. Biblically yeast is a symbol for "sin". In Mat 13:30 Y'shua teaches in this parable that the wheat is symbolic of HIS people." Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."
Now the two loaves of wheat have many applications, but I want to focus on the idea that the two loaves represent the two type of people that will make up G-D's people at the end of the age. The two types are (1) Jewish people, and (2) Gentile people. Through Y'shua these two types of people, though they are with sin, (i.e. loaves of wheat with leaven) they are a "One New Man". Rav Shaul(Apostle Paul) speaks of it in this way, Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without G-D in the world:
Eph 2:13 But now in Messiah Y'shua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.
Eph 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
Eph 2:16 And that he might reconcile both unto G-D in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
Eph 2:17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of G-D;
Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Y'shua the Messiah himself being the chief corner stone;
Eph 2:21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the L-RD:
Eph 2:22 In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of G-D through the Spirit.
On the Feast of Shavuot we celebrate the giving of Torah also. Now it is appropriate to celebrate the giving of Torah twice. Yes, that is right, the giving of Torah has been given twice in a sense of thinking. Let me explain:
G-D through Moses gave the children of Israel the Torah on Mount Sinai, Torah can be summarized as the giving of the "Ten Commandments". This was engraved on tablets of stone. This is where the children of Israel became a Covenant People of G-D, they were symbolically married to G-D through this covenant. In a nutshell, G-D asked will you obey all that I command you, Israel said yes, G-D on HIS part promised to be faithful, thus entering into Holy Matrimony.
The Torah was prophesied by the Prophet Jeremiah to be given a second time if you will through a renewing of the original Covenant. Not a new covenant but a renewing. It is very important that we understand this idea of a renewing covenant, not a new covenant. Jer 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the L-RD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jer 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the L-RD:
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the L-RD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their G-D, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the L-RD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the L-RD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
So this happened on the day commonly referred as "Pentecost" by the Christian church. When the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Pentecost(Shavuot), the Torah was written on our hearts. The sign of this being "tongues of fire" that descended on the believers at the Temple in Jerusalem. When fire comes down from heaven that is a sign that G-D is present! The Covenant between G-D and HIS people was renewed at the "Last Supper" when Y'shua established it with HIS disciples(Talmidim).
One last note on Shavuot. Traditionally the Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot. This is very interesting indeed! The Book of Ruth is one of the shortest Books in the Bible, but it has profound teaching in it. I will touch on a couple. Books could be written on all the lessons that we learn from the book of Ruth! If you haven't yet, please do a study on the Book of Ruth. You will learn so much on how G-D is reconciling HIS people to HIMSELF through this book.
The Book of Ruth is a story of a Jewish woman named Naomi (pleasant), and how she is redeemed back to her original inheritance, through her daughter-in-law Ruth(friend), Ruth is a Moabitess. The story starts in Moab, Naomi's husband(Elimelech, "God of the King") dies, her sons die, and she is left with two daughters-in-law. Orpah and Ruth. Orpah decides to return to her people, Moab. Ruth makes the decision to leave her people(Moab), and return to Bethlehem with Naomi. What is significant in the early parts of the story is that when Naomi and her Husband leave Bethlehem(house of bread) to go to Moab, disaster strikes them, after losing everything, Naomi decides to return to Bethlehem. The word Return in Hebrew is "Shoov", meaning to turn back, repent. Ruth makes the decision to leave her pagan lifestyle, country and follow Naomi back to her inheritance. When they return to Bethlehem Naomi needs a Kinsman Redeemer(Hebrew,"Goel"), Boaz(shadow picture of G-D our Redeemer) is introduced to our story as the Kinsmen Redeemer. He ends up showing grace to Ruth, while she gleans in His fields. And He marries Ruth the Moabitess, through Ruth Naomi is brought to Boaz so that she can be redeemed back to her inheritance. Through the lineage of Boaz and Ruth we get King David, and eventually we get Mashiach Y'shua, our ultimate Redeemer!
I would like to finish on the thought from this Book of Ruth, it is through Ruth (Gentile Believers) that Naomi (Jewish people) are brought back into her inheritance with Boaz(G-D, Y'shua). Ruth has been shown grace by Boaz(G-D) in turn Grace is shown to Naomi through Ruth by Boaz. But before Ruth is shown Grace by Boaz she must first make the decision to follow Naomi, her customs, her people, her G-D. Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth 1:17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Naomi(Jewish people) learns of her redemption through Ruth(Gentile people)
This is just skimming the top of how much can be gleaned from The Book of Ruth, profound understanding on how G-D is reconciling the world back to HIMSELF. This story takes place during the Barley and Wheat harvest in the land of Israel.
AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING!!!
So this is very appropriate to be read on the Feast of Shavuot!
MUCH SHALOM AND BLESSINGS AS WE OBSERVE THE FEAST OF SHAVUOT!
Y'shua ha Mashiach speaking:
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.