KEEPING YEHOVAH’S FEASTS: REJOICING IN GOD’S WORD – 18 Oct 2003

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Lev 23:37-43   v.41temporary:  statute forever in your generations, but God with His people continuing everlasting

Last week we spoke about the fire offering to God, which speaks of the zeal for the purity of our lives which the LORD requires of His people.  Jesus baptizes us with fire to purify us and to make us suitable as His holy and pure bride.  This has been God’s heart – His thought and intention – from the day He created man in His image and likeness; in other words, for seven days, or throughout time.

“Forever” here in v. 41 means till the end of time, whether personally until one dies, or whether historically until time ends.  For it says here in these and other verses that we are to celebrate seven –even eight—days in the seventh –and other—months.  It all speaks of TIME and SEASONS, yet we know from the Word of God that in the New Heavens and New Earth time will be no more.  ETERNITY has no time:  no sun and moon; no day and night for those who will live in the Presence of God forever and ever!

But this brings us to that which does not pass away with time:  the very Word of God it(Him)self.  The Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself is the Word of God, says, “Till Heaven and Earth [this creation] pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled” (Mt 5:18); and again, “Heaven and Earth [this creation] will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (Mt 24:35)

The Scriptures speak briefly of what will be after time – in the New Creation:

1Cor 2:9; Is 64:3 (4 Eng) – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Rev 21:1-8  “Now I saw a new heavens and a new Earth, for the first heavens and the first Earth had passed away.  Also there was no more sea.  Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people.  God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’  Then He who sat on the Throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’  And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’  And He said to me, ‘It is done!  I am the Alpha (Aleph)and the Omega (Tav), the Beginning and the End.  I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.  He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.’ “

As believers in God through Jesus, we as children of God our Father are expected to uphold the truth of God’s Word (Jude 1-4).  Jewish people today in synagogues around the world are finishing and beginning anew the reading of the Torah.  Jesus says that He is the Beginning and the End.  Do we believe what God reveals through the Bible about the beginning of this creation?  If not, can we say that we really believe what He says about the end of this creation and of things afterwards?

The first appointed time given by YHVH God is the Sabbath (Lev 23:1-3).  Israel was commanded to keep the Sabbath holy as a reminder that YHVH God is Creator and Redeemer (Ex 20:11; Dt 5:15).  The Sabbath was given to Israel as a sign of the covenant with YHVH God (Ex 31:13,17).  A sign points somewhere or to something.  Every week Israel is to keep the seventh day as a testimony of who the one true God is and what He Himself says that He has done:  created the heavens and Earth in six days, and He rested on the seventh.  We are to deny ourselves, not to lean on our human understanding or knowledge, but humbly as children hear, believe, and obey what our God and Father says about any and all things.  WE ARE TO REJOICE IN GOD AND IN HIS WORD!  From beginning to end!  John says that those who are of the world do not hear Moses and the prophets, or the apostles.  Those who are of God do hear and speak what they have seen and heard (1Jn 1:3;  4:4-6).  There is a tremendous spiritual battle going on both without and within the household of God’s covenants –Israel and the Church – to deny the truth of the Bible and its authority.  We are to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered unto the saints.  God’s Word does not change; neither does He.  Therefore,Israel is not destroyed, nor the Church.  For those who overcome and rejoice in God and keep His commandments, we can KNOW that the same Jesus who ascended up into heaven will again return to fulfill all that is written regarding all things for all time.

Jesus died on the cross as a seal upon God’s Word to perform it.  Let us honor Him and His death by rejoicing in the Word of God our Father.  The truth sets us free to glorify God even as Jesus glorified Him.  He suffered and was rejected because He trusted in God and upheld His Father’s will and purposes.  As we rejoice in Him, He will rejoice in us.  The Feast of Booths speaks of God’s Kingdom – of God’s presence in the midst of a holy and purified people.  The Sabbath is the day which belongs to Him, and His Kingdom and His rest will continue throughout eternity, beyond time — beyond the Sabbath day — never to be relinquished again.  Come, Lord Jesus.

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