Celebrating the Harvest…
These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. (Leviticus 23:4)
THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF AMERICA were strongly influenced by Jewish law and tradition of the Old Testament. It was the moral compass and North Star for American life and values. Even Benjamin Franklin was forced to admit that the God of Heaven should be consulted in the forming of a new nation in the wilderness.
ALTHOUGH AMERICA DID NO ADOPT THE SEVEN JEWISH FEASTS, yet American law and tradition are greatly influenced by the Bible and its tradition. In America, we know deep-down that it is right to serve God and not the devil and that we should give praise and thanksgiving to the God of Heaven for the food we eat.
AMERICA'S LEGAL AND MORAL STRUCTURE ARE BASED UPON THE BIBLE, most heavily on the Old Testament and Jewish traditions, and to narrow it further: on the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses. In 1892, Supreme Court Justice David Brewer wrote that America “…is a Christian nation.” https://mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/724/church-of-the-holy-trinity-v-united-states .
IF WE WERE TO EXAMINE THE STRUCTURE OF THAT RULING, we would find that it depends heavily on the writings of Moses. The Christian faith is built solidly upon the Old Testament and could not exist without it.
AFTER THE NATION OF ISRAEL HAD CONQUERED THE LAND God appointed for them, Israel began observing the Spring and Fall celebrations in Jerusalem in obedience to God’s commands. The Spring and Fall celebrations were associated with the Spring and Fall harvests in Israel. It was a time to thank God for His giving them the early and latter rain and weather necessary for the growing of crops.
THESE CELEBRATIONS EFFECTIVELY TIED THE NATION TO JEHOVAH GOD and to His temple in Jerusalem. In the Spring and again in the Fall, all the adult males of adult age were directed to come to Jerusalem from all parts of the nation of Israel. Some of them walked 100-150 miles, one-way. During these two annual trips to Jerusalem, they observed a total of seven holidays: four in the Spring and three in the Fall. Both trips to Jerusalem were related to major harvests in Israel: spring harvest and the fall harvest.
“THESE SEVEN HOLIDAYS ARE DISCUSSED THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, in both he Old and New Testaments. However, only in one place, the twenty-third chapter of Leviticus, are all seven holidays listed in chronological sequence. These holidays are called “the feasts of the Lord.” That expression indicates that these holidays are God’s holidays---they belong to Him---in contrast to man’s holidays.” (The Feasts of the Lord by Kevin Howard and Marvin Rosenthal. ©1997)
IN SUMMARY, GOD APPOINTED ISRAEL SEVEN FEASTS (HOLIDAYS) to be observed annually. In the Springtime, (March-April) four feasts were observed: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and The Feast of Weeks. In the Fall, (September-October) three feasts were observed: Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles. These Holy Days (holidays) were not invented by man as our holidays are today. These Holy Days were ordained by God. They were HIS HOLY DAYS.
SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND SAY UNTO THEM, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. (Leviticus 23:10-11)
AMERICA DOES NOT OBSERVE ISRAEL'S "FEASTS OF THE LORD." We were never told to do so. It was a covenant between God and Israel on the land of the nation of Israel. We observe Thanksgiving Day, established in practice by the early pilgrims that came to America. In principle we DO observe a national day of Thanksgiving at which time those who wish to do so, may give special thanks to God for His blessings upon our nation and his blessing us with weather that could raise food for us to eat.
IN AMERICA, WE HAVE TWO HOLIDAYS THAT RELATE TO THE HARVESTING OF FOODat the end of the growing season. At the end of October, we have Halloween that calls attention to the dark, underworld and kingdom of Satan. It recognizes his presence and power by its decorations and ceremonies. It is a fun time and children are introduced to its mysterious fun practices by their parents. Some churches participate in Halloween.
FOR MANY YEARS, HALLOWEEN HAD BEEN CREEPING INTO CHURCH CELEBRATIONS because it was a “fun thing to do.” But, today, there is a strong trend away from including Halloween celebration and symbols in Bible-believing churches. The Bible says: Neither give place to the devil. (Ephesians 4:27)
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)
AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, WE HAVE THANKSGIVING. It relates to our harvesting season. Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. It has no root in the Bible. It is passed off as a “fun night.”
SINCE AMERICA WAS BORN IN THE SHADOW OF MOSES and NOT in the shadow of Satan, let’s think this thing over about who gets the credit for growing our pumpkins and vegetables and fruit and grain. The devil didn’t give you anything….but a hard time. When you fall down the devil is going to laugh at you. God has prepared a place for the devil and his angels. That being the case, I’m going to be careful who I buddy up with.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41) Ω
Read Through the Bible in a Year
October 29, 2019 – TUESDAY
A.M. Jeremiah 25-26 P.M. 2Timothy 3
(Bible Gateway will read this to you if you like. Look for the speaker icon.)
Great Verses to Memorize:
Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deuteronomy 4:9)
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Song for Today:
Give Me Jesus (3:05) (Calvary Mem. Church – Sou. Pines, NC)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h64X3dotG5A
Acapella Mixed Quartet: Plenty Good Room (4:22) (Breath of Life Quartet 1975)
(I learned this song from the Eureka Jubilee Singers at Highland Park Baptist Church about 1955.) They are no longer on the University of Iowa website. The best version of the song is by an SDA group, 45 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl-zATFGwm8
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