Do you know what God’s holy days are?

God’s Holy Days are called “Moedim” in Hebrew. They are sometimes called “appointed times” and are scheduled times throughout the year to draw close to our Creator, worship Him, and separate from this crazy world for a time. These are times to reset and focus on what really matters.

Weekly Sabbath

The weekly seventh day sabbath established at the time of creation is the first of God’s appointed times.

So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. – Genesis 2:3 ESV

“Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts. “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places. – Leviticus 23:2-3 ESV

The weekly Sabbath is a time for us to rest and reset from our week of work. How does the Sabbath relate to Yeshua (Jesus)? He says he provides us rest.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” – Matthew 11:28-30 ESV

Passover

Passover, “Pesach” in Hebrew, is a celebration of freedom. Freedom from physical slavery in Egypt, but also spiritual slavery to sin. All who have trusted in Messiah Jesus’ redemption have been freed from the power of sin, which is death.

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. – Leviticus 23:5 ESV

Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. – 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 ESV

Feast of Unleavened Bread

The feast of unleavened bread, referred to as “Matzah” in Hebrew, recalls the speed with which Israel fled Egypt. They didn’t have time to let their dough rise. This flat unleavened bread is called Matzah and became a remembrance commanded by God for the Exodus from Egypt. Jesus used this Matzah to represent the symbolic sacrifice of his body.

And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. – Leviticus 23:6 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” – Matthew 26:26 ESV

First Fruits

First fruits, called “Bikkurim” in Hebrew, is an agricultural celebration thanking God for provision. It’s timing is during the Passover week. Jesus was risen back to life on this day. He is the first fruits of the resurrection.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest, and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, so that you may be accepted. On the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. – Leviticus 23:9-11 ESV

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15:21-23 ESV

Feast of Weeks

The feast of Weeks, called “Shavuot” in Hebrew, and more widely known as Pentecost, is a second agricultural celebration of provision, but it is also the day Moses gave God’s Law to the people of Israel. In the book of Acts, this is the day when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in his followers.

“You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the LORD. You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as firstfruits to the LORD. – Leviticus 23:15-17 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. – Acts 2:1-4 ESV

Day of Trumpets

The day of Trumpets is called “Yom Terruah” or “Rosh Hoshannah” in Hebrew. It is a day for blowing the Shofar (a ram’s horn trumpet) and shouting for joy. Rosh Hoshannah means head of the new year. It marks the beginning of the civil calendar. The blowing of the shofar marked an assembly of the people and also was used to give soldiers direction in war battles. Here it’s used also for the purpose of announcing the arrival of the King.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the LORD.” – Leviticus 23:23-25 ESV

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, – Revelation 11:15-16 ESV

Day of Atonement

The day of Atonement, “Yom Kippur” in Hebrew, is the most holy day of the year. It is a day to return to God. On this day we confess our sins of the year and seek God and our neighbors for forgiveness.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves and present a food offering to the LORD. And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. – Leviticus 23:26-28 ESV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. – Revelation 20:11-15 ESV

Feast of Booths

The feast of Booths is a week long celebration, called “Sukkot” in Hebrew. It is an agricultural celebration of the fall harvest. This corresponds to the marriage supper of the Lamb, which is a celebration of all who were harvested from the earth, as ripe fruits of God’s work.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work. – Leviticus 23:33-36 ESV

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”– for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” – Revelation 19:6-9 ESV

Other Celebrations

Purim is a celebration of the Persian Jew’s victory over ~~Haman~~ (BOO) who tried to get the king to eradicate them all. ~~Haman~~ (BOO) was hanged on the very gallows he built for Mordecai (YAY).

Hanukkah is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabean revolt. Without this victory there wouldn’t have been a Jewish population for the Messiah to be born into. It celebrates the re-dedication of God’s Temple and the miracle of lights.

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