"The Feasts of Yahweh"
We now know from the page on The Biblical Calender, how the times of the Feasts
of YHWH (Passover="ordinance, memorial, appointed statute") are to be calculated,
and we know that they are important to Him and therefore should be kept. But by
whom?
You may say to yourself, "They are Old Testament feasts"
or, "They are Jewish feasts" "...and therefore I am exempt?" If you
read Leviticus 23:1-5 you will find written there, that they are not 'Jewish' or
'only Old Testament'. On the contrary, they are "The Feasts of YHWH." Also, you
will read here and in many other scriptures that they are to be kept
perpetually. No, not only by Jewish believers, but by all the people of
Yahweh. Incidentally, and this will be dealt with as a separate subject, Who gave mankind the
permission to change the Sabbath day (one of the ten commandments) from Saturday to Sunday?
THE FAITHFUL TRIBE
The faithful Tribe of Judah have kept The Feasts throughout their generations, and are an example to us all.
IN THE WILDERNESS
Israel kept the Feasts in the wilderness, see Numbers Ch.9:3-5, they were also kept in the Promised Land when they arrived, and throughout their generations up to the times of the exiles. See Joshua Ch.5:10 &11.
DURING THE EXILE
The tribe of Judah kept the Feasts during the captivity, see Ezra Ch. 6:19.
During the times of the Kings Israel kept the Feasts periodically, and today Jewish people all over the world still observe them.
It is interesting that not only Israelites kept the Feast days.
KEPT BY STRANGERS
No, circumcised strangers and servants were also expected to do so. See Exodus Ch.12:44, & 48. (c.p. Colossians Ch. 2:10-11.
YAHSHUA KEPT THEM
Yahshua Himself and His disciples kept the Feast days, See John Ch.2:13, and Matthew Ch.26:17-19 and so also did the early "Church". (Incidentally, at that time and for quite a time after the Resurrection, the early believers were identified as just being another sect of Jews who followed the Rabbi, Yahshua) There are many other incidences recorded in the Gospels, Acts and also the Letters, to support this truth.
WHO SHOULD OBSERVE THEM?
These are Feasts of YHWH, and all His people are expected to observe them.
The three main Feasts are mentioned in Deut. Ch.16:2 and Ch.16:16, and in Zechariah Ch.14:1-3,12,16-19 we are all going to be making our journey to Jerusalem (if we are not already resident there) each year to keep them.
WHAT ABOUT GENTILE BELIEVERS?
In Ephesians Ch.2:4-6, the scriptures state clearly that YHWH has opened the door of the Commonwealth of Israel to believing Gentiles. They were strangers, who have been brought "nigh" Read v.13.
In 1.Corinthians Ch.5:7-8 Yahshua is mentioned as our Passover Lamb.
MADE ONE WITH ISRAEL
In Ephesians Ch.2:14,16-19 it is stated that Gentiles become one with believing Israel, so much so that 'one body' is mentioned in Ch.3:1-6, and v.29 mentions ourFather, Abraham.
PASSOVER, ONE OF THE THREE MAIN FEASTS
Here are scriptures which mention the time of
'green ears' as being the time of Passover.
Exodus 12:1&2 "This
month shall be the beginning of months for you.(Moses and Aaron, tribe of Levi,
i.e. not only Judah) It is to be the first month of the year to
you."
Deuteronomy 16:1 "Observe the month of ABIB" (AVIV)=green Abib (a'-bib)
see also Tal-Abib Strongs (abib) 24.
Exodus13:4 "...day you came out in the
month Abib..."
Exodus 23:15 "...time appointed of the month
Abib..."
Exodus 34:18 "...in the time of the month Abib..."
Deuteronomy
16:1 "...observe the month of Abib and keep..."
Strongs concordance
no. 24 Abiyb aw-beeb: from an unused root
meaning 'to be tender'
'green' i.e. a young ear of grain: hence the name of the
month
Abib. Abib=ear, green ears of corn or barley. Strongs no. 3 'eb'
from the same root, meaning 'green plant' 'green-ness'
Abib means a
green tender plant or green ear.
Exodus 12:1&2 We know from this
statement that the children of Israel
came out from Egypt when tender green
plants were coming forth from
the earth, i.e. Spring time.
On the
tenth day they were to take a lamb,
so if they knew when the tenth day was,
they would have known when the first day was. They had a calender.
Can we know today when the
first month of the year starts? (Rosh Hashana)
This month is the only month
YHWH gave a name to, Abib or the season of spring, or green ears.
This
season, being in spring, should be calculated after the Vernal Equinox, i.e. the
beginning of Spring time, after that moment (Equinox) when the day first begins
to become longer than night.
