The Seven Feasts Summarized: Leviticus 23:44-24:4

Leviticus 23:44‑24:4  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 10
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We have been noticing that the seven feasts of the Lord, given to us in our chapter, present a beautiful picture of the ways of God; they all point to Christ, the Man of God’s counsels. A little outline in brief might help us to see this more clearly.
The Passover — Christ is the true Passover, by whose blood we have been sheltered from judgment (1 Corinthians 5:7), and Israel too (Revelation 7:4-144And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. 5Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. 9After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. 13And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:4‑14)).
Unleavened Bread — Christ was the only sinless One, and now we have Christ as our life, producing holiness in our walk (Colossians 3:4-144When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. (Colossians 3:4‑14)). Israel, too, “shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness” (Psalm 110:33Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. (Psalm 110:3)).
through Christ.
Tabernacles — After the judgments of the tribulation period, then Christ will set up His kingdom in righteousness and peace (Isaiah 32:11Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. (Isaiah 32:1)). The church’s blessing is heavenly, and at that time we will reign with Him over the earth (Colossians 1:55For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (Colossians 1:5)). Israel will then be blessed on the earth (Hosea 2:2323And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God. (Hosea 2:23)). The eighth day of this, the last feast, points on to the fullness of times when all will be gathered together in one in Christ, both in heaven and in earth (Ephesians 1:1010That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:10)). This is the fulfillment of all God’s counsels.
For Israel to hold these feasts only as a form, and at the same time remain indifferent to Jehovah’s claims over them, was vain and empty. Ordinances in themselves have no value when the heart is indifferent to Christ. How blessed in this present church period to have learned the secret of the Lord and to see Christ in all these types.
Grace
After outlining figuratively the ways of God with Israel in these feasts, we find in what follows, the grace that maintains them before God, as beloved for the fathers’ sakes (Romans 11:2828As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. (Romans 11:28)). The lamp was to be kept burning continually from morning to evening by Aaron the priest, and so we know that now, during “the night” of Israel’s history, they are maintained in the light before God, through Christ’s priesthood, by the power of the Spirit. It will truly be “the morning” for them when they own their guilt in crucifying their Messiah, and then the Spirit will be poured upon them (Ezekiel 39:2929Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 39:29)). No blessing comes to man, either Israel or the church, on the ground of his own faithfulness, but because God is faithful and He is the Source of all blessing. All glory must be to God, for no flesh can glory in His presence.
For Further Meditation
1. When will “the morning” come for Israel?
2. The Lord’s grace in caring for His people is a huge and profitable study presented from Genesis to Revelation. How does He show His grace to Israel, to Christians today, and to you personally?
3. A very in-depth explanation of each of these feasts can be found for the diligent student in The Feasts of Jehovah: Leviticus 23 by G. C. Willis.