2012-06-22
Good Morning Dear Ones,
The Holy Spirit has had me writing about what the youthful David and Jonathan learned from Israel’s past while they were in their tents with their fathers or acted out while passing the time watching their flocks of sheep. They certainly knew the stories of Abraham’s coming from his home in Mesopotamia, later when he interacted with the Philistine king, Abimelech, and when Sarah gave birth to Isaac, Abraham’s son of the promise. They also learned about Jacob and his difficult experiences, first with his twin brother Esau, and later with his uncle and father-in-law, Laban [GN 31: 44-54]. They learned about the covenant sealed with a meal that was made at a place later called Mizpah, which means “Place for Watching,” or “Watchtower.”
Moreover, it should be understood that the Jews remember the story of their exodus from Egyptian slavery, a story both David and Jonathan knew well from the annual reminders of it at the Passover [Pesach] seder [ritual dinner]. Traditional and Messianic Jews and people well-versed in the Bible like those at Woodbury Lutheran Church (for example) have a seder every year. The purpose is to remember the story of how God remembered His covenant with Abrahamic, Isaac, and Jacob [EX 2: 24; EX 6: 4-5]. It is also for Christians to see the Jewish roots of their religious beliefs and practices.
It’s helpful at this time to have a parenthetical break in this train of thought for some basic information on how the Jewish and the one we use differ. We are used to the calendar established during the Roman empire, which has 365 days a year, except every 4 years, 366 [the leap year added to make corrections for time]. We all know the months of our year from Jan-Dec. with some months having 31 days, others having 30 days, and the one exception, which is Feb., which has 28 days. One exception for Feb. is on leap year when it has 29. The Jewish calendar has 360 days a year, is based on the rising and setting of the moon, and has a strong correlation with the seasons in Israel. See the table:
Hebrew name Our Equivalent Agriculture Feasts Bible Ref.
|
Abib; Nisan |
March – April |
Barley, flax; harvest begins |
Passover, Unleavened Bread, & Firstfruits |
EX 12: 2, 13: 4, 23:15; 34: 18; DT 16: 1; NE 2: 1; ES 3: 7 |
|
Ziv (Iyyar) |
April-May |
Barley harvest-dry season begins |
1 K 6: 1, 37 |
|
|
Sivan |
May-June |
Wheat harvest |
Weeks-Pentecost |
ES 8: 9 |
|
Tammuz |
June-July |
Tending vines |
||
|
Ab |
July-Aug |
Ripening grapes, figs, and olives |
||
|
Elul |
Aug-Sept |
Processing grapes, figs, and olives |
NE 6: 15 |
|
|
Tishri (Ethanim) |
Sept-Oct |
Early rains begin-plowing |
Trumpets, Atonement, and Shelters (booths) |
1 K 8: 2; LV 16 and 23 |
|
Bul (Marcheshivan) |
Oct-Nov |
Sowing of wheat and barley |
I K 6:38 |
|
|
Kislev |
Nov-Dec |
Winter begins-rain or snow |
Chanukah-Lights or Dedication |
NE 1: 1; ZECH 7: 1 |
|
Tebeth |
Dec-Jan |
ES 2: 16 |
||
|
Shebat |
Jan-Feb |
ZECH 1: 7 |
||
|
Adar |
Feb-Mar |
Almond trees bloom-citrus fruit harvest |
Purim |
EZRA 6: 15; ES 3: 7,13; 8: 12; 9: 1, 15, 17, 19-21 |
As one can see, this calendar is based on an agrarian economy. This year on the Jewish calendar is 5772, rather than 2012, and Mar 8th, the day Purim was celebrated this year was 15 Adar 5772. That gives you some idea how the Jewish calendar is laid out. Some further information is that there are seven major holidays, and lots of minor ones. The spring major holidays are Passover (to remember the exodus from Egypt), Unleavened Bread (to remember the exodus was in haste), Firstfruits (to recognize the Lord’s bounty in the land), and the Feast of Weeks (to show thanks and joy for the blessing of the harvest). The other three major holidays are in the fall. They are: Feast of Trumpets (the Jewish New Year), Day of Atonement (to present Israel before the Lord for His favor), and the Feast of Shelters (to give thanks for the harvest). Other notable holidays are Shavuot (the giving of the Law), Chanukah (the Feast of the Lights), and Purim (to commemorate Esther’s bravery in saving the Jews in Persia). There are others too, like the HaShoah (memorial of the Holocaust), and the Israel’s Independence Day (May 14th). It’s important to note that the main holidays of Passover, Weeks, and Shavuot particularly foreshadow, Easter (Christ’s resurrection-LK 20: 1-31) and Pentecost (the giving of the Holy Spirit –AC 2: 1-11).
PRAYER: O Lord, You have preserved the information we need to know to understand the Jewish calendar in the OT, and the significant stories from Israel’s past through word of mouth and Your written word, the Torah (including all 39 books in this context). Moreover, You have given us the NT, the story of our Lord Jesus, the epistles (letters) of Paul and others, and the book of REV, which is the consummation of all prophecy, events that will happen in the future. We offer you thanks and praise for doing this, and acknowledge the importance of conveying Your word from generation to generation [PS 103: 17-18; 2 TIM 3: 16-17]. We understand that we have the same responsibility that Saul did to Jonathan and Jesse did to David, to teach our children to love the Lord in accordance with the Shema [DT 6: 4-5], and what followed [DT 6: 6-13]. Jews post a small, hollow device called a mezuzah with DT 6: 4-8 and 11: 13-21 printed in Hebrew on parchment and rolled up in it on the door posts of their homes. This is to remind them (and now us) that You are Lord, supreme in every way, and our sovereign Ruler. We acknowledge Your right to have our attention in all matters You teach and our praise and thanks forever. This prayer is said in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Yeshua. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: The heart of the Passover is discussed in EX 12: 21-30, but for a real understanding of this important holiday, read verses 1-42. Once the Holy Spirit gives me what to say about that, we will go on (in accordance with Him) to the significance of the story of David and Goliath-what it meant to Israel. It’s a no-brainer that David would have discussed this series of events with his pal, Jonathan. As for covenants, we will pick up with writing about those made along the way, that were truly covenant-worthy agreements. One might ask: why is this important to us today? God’s will is the most important thing in our lives. It’s His will that we are in committed on-going covenant relationship with Him. He wants us to live in purity and fidelity when we marry, working out problems together with our spouse, and not just figuring that “if we run into problems, we’ll just get a divorce.” We need to understand the great sacrifice that our Lord Jesus made on the cross so that those who embrace Him as their Savior can be blessed in the Covenant of Grace [JN 3: 16; RO 3: 24-25]. We also know that for God’s reasons, some people are set apart to be single; they are also expected to live according to God’s teaching too, just as married people are. Let me end with a spiritual gem, PR 9:10, “To be wise you must first have reverence for the Lord. If you know the Holy One, you have understanding.” We were created to have this, if we allow our will to conform to the Lord’s. His will is in our best eternal interests. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15