6
1 1. Background Shavuot is celebrated on the 50 th day after the first normal Sabbath within the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was the time where Israel travelled in the Wilderness, where they have left Egypt and were on their way to Mount Sinai where they would receive the Ten Commandments. The people camped at the foot of the mountain where they washed themselves for two days before they heard the Voice of YHVH from the Mountain. The Feast is to Celebrated by honouring it as a Sabbath and shall do no work on it or make it profane (as a normal day doing your own pleasures). Lev_23:15-17, 21 2. Travelling through the Wilderness and counting of the Omer Elohim commanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest (Leviticus 23:10). The Hebrew word for "sheaf" is omer. An omer is defined as "a measure of dry things, containing a tenth part of an ephah." The omer represents a person or a group of persons and the counting of the Omer represents “Spiritual growth” within the time they travelled through the Wilderness to meet with YHVH at the Mountain. They travelled for three months [Ex 19:1] and three days from the first day of Nissan within Egypt [Ex 12:2], when YHVH spoke to Moses, unto the 50 th day of the Omer when they experienced Shavuot at the foot of Mount Sinai. Shavuot is the Feat that occurs in the time of the grain harvest and this is a very painful, perplexing and difficult time. The seed experiences painful separation. It has had a sword cut between the soul and spirit, it has had the scythe cut it off from its roots in the earth, from the plant that it had been part of and had grown from, it has been separated from all that it has known and been comfortable with. The stalk has been cut off from the natural life source it had relied and depended upon and is now dead and is nothing in itself except for the precious grain, the Seed of Life which it carries. The rest of the plant can be burned, for only the Seed is what is important. This season of harvest is about dying to Self and being transformed through YHVH’s wisdom into a Spiritual mature state that are separated from the Physical state (the flesh). This 3-month journey through the wilderness is seen as a preparation process of spiritual growth and can be compared with the literal preparation process of the Omer that was brought as an offering. 1. Submission and Humility: The Omer was first beaten with a rod to break it loose from its branch. This is a symbol of humiliation and the process of becoming humble. We see this in raising children that the rod is used to humble the child into submission to the word of the parents. 2. Separated form the Flesh: The Omer is then placed in a tube with holes in it and parched (dried) in the fire. This is a picture of YHVH’s judgement within trials and tribulations in your life and leads to your purification and separation from the works in the flesh. ! "#$ ! % !

The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

  • Upload
    philip

  • View
    219

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Shavuot (Pentecost) is celebrated on the 50th day after the first normal Sabbath within the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was the time where Israel travelled in the Wilderness, where they have left Egypt and were on their way to Mount Sinai where they would receive the Ten Commandments. The people camped at the foot of the mountain where they washed themselves for two days before they heard the Voice of YHVH from the Mountain. The Feast is to Celebrated by honouring it as a Sabbath and shall do no work on it or make it profane (as a normal day doing your own pleasures). Lev_23:15-17, 21

Citation preview

Page 1: The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

1

��������������� �������������

�1. Background

Shavuot is celebrated on the 50th day after the first normal Sabbath within the seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was the time where Israel travelled in the Wilderness, where they have left Egypt and were on their way to Mount Sinai where they would receive the Ten Commandments. The people camped at the foot of the mountain where they washed themselves for two days before they heard the Voice of YHVH from the Mountain. The Feast is to Celebrated by honouring it as a Sabbath and shall do no work on it or make it profane (as a normal day doing your own pleasures). Lev_23:15-17, 21

2. Travelling through the Wilderness and counting of the Omer Elohim commanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest (Leviticus 23:10). The Hebrew word for "sheaf" is omer. An omer is defined as "a measure of dry things, containing a tenth part of an ephah." The omer represents a person or a group of persons and the counting of the Omer represents “Spiritual growth” within the time they travelled through the Wilderness to meet with YHVH at the Mountain. They travelled for three months [Ex 19:1] and three days from the first day of Nissan within Egypt [Ex 12:2], when YHVH spoke to Moses, unto the 50th day of the Omer when they experienced Shavuot at the foot of Mount Sinai. Shavuot is the Feat that occurs in the time of the grain harvest and this is a very painful, perplexing and difficult time. The seed experiences painful separation. It has had a sword cut between the soul and spirit, it has had the scythe cut it off from its roots in the earth, from the plant that it had been part of and had grown from, it has been separated from all that it has known and been comfortable with. The stalk has been cut off from the natural life source it had relied and depended upon and is now dead and is nothing in itself except for the precious grain, the Seed of Life which it carries. The rest of the plant can be burned, for only the Seed is what is important. This season of harvest is about dying to Self and being transformed through YHVH’s wisdom into a Spiritual mature state that are separated from the Physical state (the flesh). This 3-month journey through the wilderness is seen as a preparation process of spiritual growth and can be compared with the literal preparation process of the Omer that was brought as an offering.

1. Submission and Humility: The Omer was first beaten with a rod to break it loose from its branch. This is a symbol of humiliation and the process of becoming humble. We see this in raising children that the rod is used to humble the child into submission to the word of the parents.

�������������������������� ����������������������������������� ������������ ��������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������� �� ����������� ���

2. Separated form the Flesh: The Omer is then placed in a tube with holes in it and parched (dried) in the fire. This is a picture of YHVH’s judgement within trials and tribulations in your life and leads to your purification and separation from the works in the flesh.

!���"#��$���������!��� ��������������������������� %�!��� ��������������������������������������

Page 2: The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

2

�&��'�����(��)�������������������������������������� �������� ������������������������������������������������*�������������� �����+�����,����������������������������������� ������������������������������������*������������������������������������!�������*������������������������������������� ���������������!�������*���������������������������������������������������������� �������������������

3. Separated from False doctrines & lies: The grain is then spread out on the ground so that the Wind can blow away everything (false doctrines) that is not seed (form YHVH). The Spirit of Truth blows over you and cleanses you from everything that is part of the Babylonian system of mixing.

-���"��"���������������� �������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������

4. Living a Holy Life: The grain is then grinded fine into flower and it is a purification process that transforms you to be fine white flour. White represents righteousness.

-���(��.�������/��� ��������������/������������ �������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������

5. Unity in the Body of Messiah: The last step in the process is to sift the flour through

13 sifts. The Hebrew word “echad” ��� counts up to 13 and means oneness and

unity. YHVH wants to head us up under His authority in unity in faith as the Bride of Messiah. Each one of the sifts is a process where we must learn to have room for each other differences as we grow in unity in faith in the Messiah to represent His fullness on the earth.

-���"��'������������������������������������������������������������������ �������0������1�������������� �������������������������������������������������2�����%�

3. The wheat harvest Shavuot is the Wheat Harvest and the story of Ruth is normally read during the celebration of this Festival. Ruth was a Gentile who observed the Torah and benefitted form the Commandment of leaving the corners of the field to the strangers.

The Book of Ruth is a story of love between a Gentile woman and the Elohim of Israel. Ruth had been married to a Hebrew man. When he died, her mother-in-law Naomi encouraged her to go back to her Moabite family and heritage. Ruth refused, wanting to join herself to the Hebrew people and their Elohim. Her response to Naomi, "your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16), has become well known.

As Naomi and Ruth resettled in Israel a part of the Mosaic Law became incumbent upon Ruth. It was the law of the kinsman-redeemer, which was to redeem the name of her dead husband and provide a family for his inheritance. There were three requirements for a man to qualify as the kinsman-redeemer and take Ruth as his wife. He had to be the nearest kin (unmarried relative), be able to perform this duty, and be willing to do it (Dt. 25:5-10). The nearest relative who met these requirements was Boaz, who married Ruth, and a child was born to them. Ruth was to become blessed, as her son became the grandfather of David and was in the Messianic line.

Page 3: The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

3

The Book of Ruth paints a beautiful portrait of the truth of Shavuot. Yeshua is our Kinsman-Redeemer. We-- Jew and Gentile--are condemned and separated from Elohim by our sin (Isa. 59:1-2). Yeshua was willing and able to save us, being Elohim. But He had to become our Kinsman to meet all three requirements. That He did when He became a man. Through His redemption we--Jew and Gentile--are placed together in the body of Israel, partakers of the covenants by the Atonement or covering of the blood of Yeshua the Messiah (Eph. 2). Ruth (a Gentile) and Boaz (a Jew) became one in marriage (Gen. 2:24). Jew and Gentile become one in Israel by our commitment to Yeshua, With the Book of Ruth being required reading on Shavuot, what better picture could be given of Messianic Believers?

4. The Mountain Experience In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt (Mitzrayim - bondage), they arrived in the Sinai desert and camped opposite Mount Sinai. Moses was then told by Elohim to gather the Israelites together to receive the Torah (Exodus 19:1-8). The Israelites answered, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do!" In Hebrew, it is Na'aseh V'Nishmah, which means, "We agree to do even before we have listened."

Moses then gave the Israelites two days to cleanse themselves, wash their clothes, and prepare to receive the Torah on the third day. At the same time, Moses told them not to come too near Mount Sinai, because you have to be cleansed to come into the presence of the king (Story of Ester). From early morning, dense clouds covered the peak of the mountain. Thunder and lightning were frequently seen and heard. The sound of the shofar (ram's horn) came very strong, and the top of the mountain was enveloped in fire and smoke. The Israelites at the foot of Mount Sinai stood in great awe (Exodus 19:9-19). Moses then went up alone on the mountain, and as he neared the top, a mighty voice announced the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19:20-25; 20:1-21). The Ten Commandments or Ten Words are the Contractual words that Israel agreed to so that they could become the Wife of Elohim. The Covenant made with their father Abraham was the agreement to establish the promise and this agreement is the first step of fulfilment of that Covenant. We will later see further fulfilment of the Covenant promises YHVH made to Abraham until ALL has been fulfilled and His Plan comes into completion. 5. The Marriage between YHVH and Israel One of the most beautiful images of Shavuot (Pentecost) is that of the marriage between Elohim (the groom) and Israel (the bride). We know this is true if you read the Prophets where YHVH said that He was a Husband to them [Jer 31:32], and they got married at Sinai.

A Hebrew Marriage is one of the most beautiful prophetic pictures revealing YHVH’s Plan to His people. The marriage consisted of two parts; the First part is where the Covenant that is drawn up between the Groom and the Bride, called the betrothal, and the Second stage is when He comes to fetch His Bride to live with him, after He has prepared a house for them [John 14:2].

You enter this first stage of marriage as soon as a betrothal contract (a shitre erusin) is made between the two parties. The written contract is called a ketubah. During betrothal, you are legally married, but do not physically dwell with your mate. Betrothal is so legally binding that you cannot get out of it without a divorce.

Marriage is associated with a Contract or Covenant between a man and a woman and has conditions to protect this relationship and to spell out how this relationship will be expressed successfully. In our modern times we know this as Marriage vows, and in the time of Moses it was the Ten Words or Ten Commandments. The Contract was set up, and Israel committed to it at Mount Sinai where they agree to the Ten Conditions of their oath to YHVH. The Second Stage came into being when David ruled as King in Jerusalem after they have possessed the Promised Land where the Temple was build, the house where YHVH lived among His people.

Page 4: The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

4

This marriage Covenant cycle was repeated when Yeshua came to the earth as a Prophet like Moses [Act 7:37] and He re-established the Marriage Contract in Blood with His Bride and cleansed it from the perversions of the Pharisees. He gave us His Spirit as the Engagement Ring and Seal (Sign) that we are promised to Him, that we belong to Him and that we are Married to Him. [2 Cor 1:22]

The Second Stage will happen at His Second Coming where He will come and fetch us (His Bride) to live with Him forever in the House He prepared for us, The New Jerusalem. [John 14:2, 1 John 3:2]

!���("�(�.��+������2����������/������%�3/4/����/��������/������%���������5���������/����6�����!�������������������������������������� ��!��"�����#���$7��+��3/4/������������������������������������� � ������������������������������������������8��������������-�����#���%���+����������������!��� ��������%���������� ��������!������ ���������

Israel is legally married to YHVH and She whored after other lovers (idols) and YHVH scattered Her into the nations. He will take Her back if She repents and will come to fetch Her to live with Him forever. Repentance is associated with the re-establishment of this Marriage Covenant in the Blood of Yeshua and everybody that takes part in this Blood Covenant can be part of the Bride of YHVH.

6. Yeshua’s Fulfilment of Shavuot Yeshua is a prophet like Moses Whom the Father sent to the House of Israel to lead them out of sin back in under His initial Covenant oath (vows) so that they can live with Him in the Promised Land (His House). He did not come to destroy what Moses received from YHVH [Mat 5:17], but came to establish it and renew it in His Blood to make it an everlasting Covenant. Shavuot is the Feast that celebrates the receiving of the Ten Commandments from Mt Sinai. Just after they heard the Voice of YHVH from the Mountain, they build a image of gold which they worshiped in the glory of YHVH and three thousand men died because of this sin. [Ex. 32:28]. On Pentecost (Shavuot) Peter preached and about three thousand people gladly received the message and believed in the Messiah [Acts 2:41] and the curse was reversed and about three thousand people received life.

The Torah is holy and good, but it cannot secure life without the testimony of Yeshua and the receiving of His Spirit Who writes it in your heart.

��'��'��''��&������������'��"�������'��( ) �����!������������9��&� ���������������������!�������������������������������������������""����� ������"����������*�"�������������������������'�*���+�����!'�����������!��� ���������������������� '������"��"����������,������'�!��+������� ��*���������!�������������'��( ) ������7������������������������ ����������!��������������������������!�����)�������������������3/4/��!����������2��:���������������������������������������������%�����!������������-�����������������������2��������

The Spirit did not replace the Torah but WROTE THE TORAH IN THE HEARTS of YHVH’s people, those who accepted Yeshua as Savior, so that they cal WALK IN HIS WAYS, as stipulated in the Torah. [Heb 8:10, Heb 10:16]. The outpouring of the Spirit on Shavuot (Pentecost) confirmed and fulfilled this prophecy and prophetic meaning of this Festival and concluded the Work of the Messiah during His First Coming.� 6.1 Restoration of the Spiritual side of fallen man. 1�;��.�#��(��%�������( ) �������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������!������������#������������!�"����������� ���������������#�

Page 5: The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

5

YHVH breathed ‘Himself’ into man by breathing or creating “nashamah” , the ‘spiritual soul’ of man, and man became a living “nephesh”, or physical soul. This means that man was made with a double soul or a soul with a spiritual side and a physical side. When man sinned, death came into the world. When death entered, man lost His ‘spiritual’ abilities and was chased out of the garden. In other words, man’s ‘spiritual’ side died and he lost his “nashamah” and was left with only his “nephesh”. This made man to be on the same level of animals because the word describing animals is also “nephesh”. To be saved is also to be restored back to the original state YHVH created man in. This restoration is part of the work of the Messiah, where YHVH bring man back to the Garden state and back to His ‘design specifications’. To restore man, he needs to receive or revive his “nashamah” or “spiritual soul” or “spiritual connection” again. This can only be done through YHVH breathing His breath or “Ruagh” or Spirit back into man again. Y’shua showed us the ‘pattern’ of Salvation or Restoration where He was baptized and received YHVH’s Ruach HaCodesh or Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove. He later breathed on His Decipels so that they could receive His Spirit and be restored back to their “spiritual state” (not being separated from YHVH anymore). He will restore us physically at the event of His Second Coming where we will receive “glorified bodies” without the fleshly desires. This event will happen at the appearing of the Messiah in the clouds and where we will be gathered with Him (rapture). 6.2. Why do we need the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh is the Spirit of Yeshua, [Rom 8:9, 1 Pet 1:11] and Yeshua is our Great Shepherd and this makes the Holy Spirit our Shepherd in the absence of Yeshua in the flesh. If we say we follow Yeshua we should follow His Spirit and listen to His Voice. What does His Voice say? The same things His Voice said on the Mountain; The Commandments of YHVH, which are written in our hearts. To be able to walk in Holiness – to become Like Him: The spirit is known as the Holy Spirit. This means that He is the Spirit that makes us Holy. To be Holy is to be Set Apart and to build His People up in unity so that His fullness can be in them. This relates to the Hebrew Name for Son, which is “Ben” and it means, “to build”. Yeshua is the Son of YHVH who came to build up His people in unity to make His Bride complete. Unity comes through “set-apartness”. To be set apart means not to be like the world but to be like the Messiah. His Spirit anoints us and gives gifts to His Body (Bride) so that we can produce the same works Yeshua did and even greater works. �����"�����(�����'����'��*���'���'���/�������� �����2���������������!������������������������� �����������������������������������!� �����2��+������������)������� ����������������2������������!���������������������+���������� �������������0��#��������!����������������� ����2�������!��������������������!�������� �2�����2��&������������

You cannot separate the Set-Apartness and His Commandments from His Power. Those who do His works must also follow His Instructions. There are a lot of people who do a lot of works in His Name but do not follow His Commandments. Can they perhaps fit Matt 7:21-23, Mar 13:22 and 2 Pet 2:1. 2���'�����+�������2����������������������������������������� � ������������� ���������������������������������������� ��������#

How do I know a false prophet from a true prophet? The false prophet does not keep His Commandments. His Commandments are the lights that shine in the dark world that attracts people to it and you have to put the light where everybody can see it [Mat 5:16, Luk 8:16] and know the difference between a follower of Yeshua and someone in the world.

Page 6: The Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost)

6

We make the mistake by becoming like the world in order to save them, how can a fisherman be effective if he is in the water with the fish? You should not be in the world (sea) but in Messiah (the boat). To be able to discern the Truth from a lie: The Holy Spirit is also known as the spirit of Truth [John 14:17, John 16:13], Who will guide you in all Truth. The Spirit of YHVH will help you to see the Messiah in the Word and He will reveal the Scripture to you and take away the confusion (Babylon) so that you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. [John 8:32]. The Spirit will set you free from the bondage of mixing and confusion and you will know YHVH. [Jer 31:34]. The other Hebrew word for Son is “Bar”, and it means, “cleansing”. Yeshua the Son of YHVH came to cleanse His Word from all human philosophy, interpretations, additions and lies. You need “clean water” to wash yourself clean. He gave His Spirit after His descended to complete the work He has started in the flesh so that it can be made complete in the Spirit. 7. End Time Perspective Ps 67 has 49 words and seven verses can be read during this time and is a prayer for the Messianic era. <���=.���.���������������������������!��������&����/����������������������#�-����#�������.���3��������������������������3������ �������� ������������#�������>����������������3����6�-�������>��������������������3����������>��������������� ����������� ����8��?�+��3���8�� ������������� ������)������������������������#�-����#�������>����������������3����6�-�����%�>��������������������3��#���$���:������������ � ��������%�-��������������-���������������?���%���-��������������?�)���������������������������/��?�

This is a Psalm that points to the times where YHVH will REVEAL HIS WAYS, DELIVER HIS PEOPLE among the nations (scattered), ALL PEOPLE will PRAISE HIM, YHVH will JUDGE ALL PEOPLE and He will LEAD ALL PEOPLE. This is obvious that these things will only happen at the Second Coming of the Messiah where He will come as the King on the Horse Who will come as the Judge everybody according to their works. Then He will live with His Bride in the House He has prepared in the New Jerusalem. With this He concludes the Marriage with His Bride and fulfil the Fall Festivals at His Second Coming.