The idea of these feasts is the gathering of the people around Jehovah for some cause, a “holy convocation.” The first holy gathering is the Sabbath, and it will be so when the true rest comes. Then follows the Passover, with the unleavened bread, together but still distinct, that is, along with the sacrifice of Christ, you have sin taken away practically. After this we come to the Firstfruits. It is not said exactly when this was to be, but it was when the wheat was ripe. On the morrow after the Sabbath it was to be waved. This is Christ’s resurrection, and here notably there is no sin offering. Then they were to count fifty days, seven Sabbaths complete, and to offer a new meat offering unto Jehovah, “two wave loaves . . . baken with leaven.” In this we have the church offered to God, but with leaven in the offering, so that it could not be burnt upon the altar for a sweet savor. The two loaves are an adequate witness. For the blowing of the trumpets we leap on to the seventh month, and then comes the first day of that holy month as the next appointed time. First, the trumpets are blown and gather Israel; then, on the tenth day of the same month, Israel enters into the Day of Atonement. And, finally, there follows the feast of tabernacles, seven days unto Jehovah. The first day is a holy convocation, and the eighth day a holy convocation, that is, an additional day. When the feast of tabernacles on earth is come, we shall get the heavenly things too.
J. N. Darby
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