DBG - February 11 - Leviticus 22-23

This chapter contains various directions for the priesthood.

vs. 1-3 – The penalty for a priest ministering while ceremonially unclean was death.

vs. 4-7 – Various situations are dealt with the render the priest unclean temporarily but can be made clean.

vs. 8-9 – Again the sanctity of the priesthood is emphasized.

vs. 10-16 – Regulations concerning who could eat of the priest’s portion taken from the sacrifices. 

vs. 17-20 – Acceptable sacrifices for the freewill offerings, see 7:16.

vs. 21-25 – Acceptable sacrifices for the freewill offering made after a vow.

vs. 26-30 – Acceptable sacrifices for the peace offering and the eating of the portion given to the offerer.

vs. 31-33 – Again God exhorts His people to be holy.

In this chapter the major feast days are outlined.

vs. 1-2 – Introduces the subject of the chapter.

vs. 3 – Israel was to observe the weekly sabbath rest on the seventh day of the week.

vs. 5 – The Feast of Passover.  It was observed on the 14^th day of the first month (called Abib in Exodus and later called Nisan).  For more details on this feast, see Exodus 12; Numbers 9, 28:16-25

vs. 6-8 – The Feast of Unleavened Bread.  It was observed for seven days following Passover (the 15^th-21^st of Abib/Nisan).  For more details on this feast, see Exodus 12:15-20, Exodus 13:3-10, Exodus 34:18, Numbers 28:17-18, Deuteronomy 16:8.

vs. 9-14 – The Feast of Firstfruits.  This is the least studied of all the feasts and this passage is the most information we have on it.  It occurs “on the morrow after the sabbath”, which is usually thought to be the day following the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (16^th of Abib/Nisan)  It is a celebration of the beginning of harvest.  The main feature is the waving of a sheaf made of the Seven Species (see Deuteronomy 8:8 and 26:1-11). 

vs. 15-22 – The Feast of Pentecost.  This occurs on the 50^th day after the Feast of Firstfruits.  The modern Jewish calendar has it on  the 6^th of Sivan.  It has many names: Pentecost (Greek for “fifty”), Shavuot (Hebrew for “weeks”), feast of weeks, feast of harvest, and day of firstfruits.  It is associated with the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law.  For more details on this feast, see Numbers 28:26-31.

vs. 23-25 – The Feast of Trumpets.  This is on the 1^st day of the seventh month, Tishri.  It is the New Years Day in the Jewish calendar.  Today it is called Rosh Hashanah.  It is marked by sounding trumpets throughout the land to announce the new year.   For more details on this feast, see Numbers 29:1-6.

vs. 26-32 – The Day of Atonement. It occurs on the 10^th day of the seventh month, Tishri.  It is marked by special sacrifices in the Tabernacle/Temple to atone for the sins of the priesthood and nation.  For more details on this feast, see Leviticus 16, Numbers 29:7-11.

vs. 33-43 – The Feast of Tabernacles.  Called Sukkot today.  It lasted for seven days, beginning on the 15^th day of Tishri.  It is a celebration of the end of harvest.  There are special offerings, but the most notable feature is that the Jews would dwell in temporary “booths” during the feast.  For more details on this feast, see Numbers 29:12-40, Deuteronomy 17:13-17.

For deeper study on the feast days, see my notes in the Tabernacle series at https://www.baptistbasics.org/notes/#tabernacle

I believe there is a prophetic outline in the order and meaning of the feast days.  It starts with Passover, which corresponds with the Crucifixion and death of Christ.  The Feasts of Unleavened Bread and of Firstfruits typify the results of Christ’s resurrection, the removal of sin (pictured in the leaven) and the promise of life beyond death.  The Feast of Weeks represents the current era, from Pentecost to the return of Christ.    The Feast of Trumpets is the closing of the present era with Rapture of believers and the regathering of Israel.  The Day of Atonement pictures the restoration of Israel at the end of the Tribulation.  The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the glory of the Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.

Our hymn today, “To Thee, O Lord”, was written by W. Chatterton Dix in 1864.  It is written a song of thanksgiving for God’s provision in harvest with any eye toward Heaven were all the saints will be gathered in.  I think it is a suitable hymn for today’s reading because of the various feast days we covered that are associated with the harvest and God’s blessing.

To thee, O Lord, our hearts we raise
in hymns of adoration,
to thee bring sacrifice of praise
with shouts of exultation:
bright robes of gold the fields adorn,
the hills with joy are ringing,
the valleys stand so thick with corn
that even they are singing.

And now, on this our festal day,
thy bounteous hand confessing,
upon thine altar, Lord, we lay
the first-fruits of thy blessing:
by thee the hungry soul is fed
with gifts of grace supernal;
thou who dost give us earthly bread,
give us the bread eternal.

We bear the burden of the day,
and often toil seems dreary;
but labour ends with sunset ray,
and rest comes for the weary:
may we, the angel-reaping o'er,
stand at the last accepted,
Christ's golden sheaves for evermore
to garners bright elected.

O blessed is that land of God,
where saints abide for ever;
where golden fields spread far and broad,
where flows the crystal river:
the strains of all its holy throng
with ours today are blending;
thrice blessed is that harvest-song
which never hath an ending.