Exodus 23:1 4-1 8
“THREE times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year.” God has His joy in having His redeemed people gathered around Himself, and they have their joy in thus being assembled around Him. The sacrifices and offerings Israel were to bring all spoke of Christ; so now God and His people can rejoice together in thoughts of all that Christ is, and in the work He has done. Gathered in this way, as Christians, we are reminded that though we once belonged to this world, now we belong to God, and we owe all our blessings to Him.
The first feast Israel were to keep was “the feast of unleavened bread,” and this was always in connection with the Passover. Leaven in Scripture always speaks of evil. Thus the child of God is to remember he has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, that He is separated unto the Lord, and must therefore put away evil out of his life. “And none shall appear before Me empty.” As Christians, we ought not to come before the Lord empty-handed. One sacrifice we can bring is “praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Heb. 13:1515By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15).
Another sacrifice is “to do good and to communicate” to others. How good it is to see boys and girls showing kindness in helping others who are in need. “For with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Heb. 13:1616But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16).
The next feast was “the feast of weeks,” or Pentecost. Fifty days after the waving of the sheaf of first-fruits (Christ in resurrection,) they were to bring an offering of two loaves baked with leaven, along with other sacrifices. It was to be a day of rejoicing before the Lord, and was the beginning of the ingathering of the harvest. The two loaves speak of the Church, composed of Jews and Gentiles, and identified with Christ in resurrection: “Christ the first-fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at His coming.” 1 Cor. 15:2323But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23). This began, as it were, on the day of Pentecost, when the Church was first formed, but it goes on to take in all the redeemed — the vast multitude of redeemed from every age and dispensation. And the reaping time is still going on — “the fields are white unto harvest.” The harvest will soon be ended. May we, dear Christian reader, pray that the Lord of the harvest will thrust forth laborers into His harvest. May we be stirred up to proclaim the wonderful message of God’s love all around and seek to bring lost ones to the Saviour.
Then, last, we have the “feast of tabernacles,” or, “ingathering,” at the end of their harvest and vintage, when they enjoyed the fruits of God’s goodness. Israel dwelt in booths during this feast, in remembrance of their having lived in tents when brought out of Egypt. This feast pre-figures the millennium, (which will be the Sabbath for the earth), founded on Him who was the true Passover. God’s earthly people will then enter into God’s rest. It was a feast of gladness and joy, and looks on to the day when Israel shall be a rejoicing, and blessing shall flow out from the earthly Jerusalem to the whole earth. It will be a Wondrous scene of joy and blessing, not only for Israel, but for all the nations of the earth, and all creation as well.
We read about an eighth day in connection with this last feast. This brings before us another new beginning, without an end being mentioned. This is that blest eternal day when God will bring in a new and final scene of blessing. O how blest are those who, saved by grace, will have part in that “vast universe of bliss,” where Christ will be the center and the theme of all their worship and praise.
ML-03/22/1970