7 Feasts of the Lord by Erin Davis
There are seven feasts of the Lord that are found in Scripture, and they give us a beautiful picture of God’s plan for our redemption. The first four feasts (Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost) all point to Christ’s first coming. The last three feasts (Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles) look ahead to His second coming.
Though they were originally given to Israel as part of their covenant with God, we can see how these feasts also apply to us as New Testament believers. Here is a brief overview of each feast and what it teaches us about Jesus:
The Feast of Passover commemorates the night when the Lord “passed over” the homes of the Israelites who had applied the blood of a lamb to their doorposts (Exodus 12:1-14).
This act of obedience resulted in the sparing of their firstborn sons from death. In a similar way, when we apply the blood of Christ to our hearts through faith, we are spared from eternal death. Just as those who were covered by the blood were saved from physical death, we are saved from spiritual death.
The Old Testament is full of feasts and festivals that God ordained for His people. Some were yearly, some were monthly, and some were one-time events. But each one was designed to point the people of Israel to their need for a Savior and to the hope of His coming.
Today, we don’t celebrate most of those feasts (with the exception of Passover), but that doesn’t mean they are no longer relevant to us. In fact, I would argue that understanding these feasts can help us better understand God’s character and plan for redemption.
Here are 7 Feasts of the Lord and what they teach us about God:
1. The Feast of Passover – This feast commemorated the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It pointed forward to the ultimate deliverance that would come through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we partake in communion, we are remembering how Christ sacrificed Himself for our freedom from sin and death.
2. The Feast of Unleavened Bread – This feast immediately followed Passover and lasted for seven days. During this time, the Israelites were to eat only bread without yeast, which represented purity and holiness. This feast points us to Christ, who is our perfect example of holiness.
Just as leavening makes bread rise and become puffy, sin makes us proud and self-righteous. But when we humble ourselves before God and ask for His forgiveness, He cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
3 The Feast of Firstfruits – This was a one-time event that occurred during the barley harvest in early springtime.
It represented thankfulness for God’s provision as well as looking ahead in hope to the coming wheat harvest later in the year. For Christians, this feast points forward to Jesus Christ as “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). As such, He guarantees our own resurrection from death someday too!
What a hope-filled promise!
4 The Feast of Pentecost – Also known as “theFeastofWeeks” or “Shavuot” in Hebrew, this festival markedthe endofthewheatharvestandwascelebratedwithafiftydaycountdown starting onFirstfruits(Leviticus23:15–21).Duringthisfeast ,twoloavesoffineflourwerebaked withleaveningandwaveofferingsweremadebytheprieststotheLORD(Leviticus23:17).PentecostalsomemoratesthedaywhenGodgaveHislawtoMosesonthesinaiDesert– anotherreminderofourneedforaSaviorwhocankeepusfromsinning againstGod.(Exodus19–24)JustasIsraelturnedawayfromGoddespitereceivingHis law ,wetoooftenchoosetoignoreorbreakGodslaws .Butpraise beGoddespiteoursinfulness ,Heisstillfaithfultoforgiveusandcleansethe slatecleanwhenwedealhonestlywithHiminconfessionandrepentance !
Credit: www.reviveourhearts.com
What are the 7 Feasts of the Lord
The 7 Feasts of the Lord are a sacred, annual event that happens in Israel. It is a time when families and friends come together to celebrate their heritage and culture. The feasts are:
1) Passover – This feast commemorates the Exodus from Egypt. Families gather together for a special meal and to read from the Torah.
2) Feast of Unleavened Bread – This feast lasts for seven days and celebrates the escape from Pharaoh’s army.
During this time, no leavened bread is eaten as a reminder of how quickly the Jews had to leave Egypt.
3) Feast of Firstfruits – This feast occurs on the first day of the harvest season. It is a time to give thanks for the bounty of nature and to ask for God’s blessings for the rest of the harvest.
4) Pentecost – Also known as the Feast of Weeks, this festival occurs 50 days after Passover. It commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai. On this day, Jews all over the world gather together in synagogues to pray and read from Scripture.
When are These Feasts Celebrated
The feasts celebrated in the Bible are generally divided into two categories: those that commemorate specific events in salvation history and those that celebrate the annual cycle of the agricultural year. The former would include feasts like Passover and Pentecost, while the latter would include feasts like Tabernacles and First Fruits. There are also a few hybrid feasts, like Purim, which falls during the agricultural season but commemorates a specific event.
What is the Significance of Each Feast
There are twelve feasts throughout the year that commemorate different aspects of God’s plan of salvation. Each feast has a specific meaning and purpose.
The first four feasts, which occur in the springtime, celebrate God’s deliverance of His people from slavery in Egypt.
They are: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost.
Passover commemorates the night when God “passed over” the homes of the Israelites as He destroyed the Egyptian firstborn. It points to Christ as our Passover Lamb whose blood protects us from God’s wrath.
Unleavened Bread celebrates the haste with which the Israelites left Egypt – they didn’t have time to let their bread rise. It reminds us that we must live holy lives, free from sin (which is like leaven).
Firstfruits celebrates the beginning of the harvest season and looks forward to Christ as our ultimate Firstfruit – He is the “firstborn from among the dead” (Colossians 1:18).
Pentecost celebrates God giving His Law at Mount Sinai fifty days after He brought His people out of Egypt. It also marks the day when Jesus sent His Spirit to His disciples, empowering them for ministry (Acts 2:1-4). This feast looks forward to when all believers will be fully sanctified – when we will receive new bodies and dwell with God forever (1 Corinthians 15:50-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
How Can These Feasts Be Used to Glorify God
The feasts of the Lord are special celebrations that commemorate specific events in salvation history. They also point to future events, when Christ will return and establish his kingdom on earth. In the meantime, these feasts provide us with a foretaste of the joy and glory that will be ours in the age to come.
Each of the feasts has a particular meaning and significance. For example, Passover commemorates God’s deliverance of his people from slavery in Egypt. The Feast of Pentecost celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.
And the Feast of Tabernacles celebrates God’s dwelling among his people in the wilderness.
As Christians, we can use these feasts as opportunities to give thanks to God for his many blessings. We can also use them as opportunities to reflect on our own spiritual journey and to recommit ourselves to following Christ more closely.
By doing so, we can glorify God in our lives and help make this world a little bit more like heaven.
What is the Order of the Feasts
There are seven major feasts in the Orthodox Church year. They are, in order:
The Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Christmas)
The Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (Epiphany)
The Annunciation to the Most-holy Theotokos (Annunciation)
Pascha (Easter)
Ascension
Pentecost
Is There Anything Else We Should Know About These Feasts
There are a few things to keep in mind when celebrating the feasts of Mardi Gras and Lent. First, while Mardi Gras is considered a time of revelry and excess before the fasting of Lent, it is important to remember that Lent is a somber religious season. This means that while you can still have fun during Mardi Gras, be sure to respect the religious aspects of Lent by refraining from excessive drinking and partying.
Secondly, be sure to stay safe during both celebrations. While Mardi Gras is known for its drunken debauchery, be sure to keep an eye on your drinks and don’t leave them unattended. And finally, if you’re attending any parades or other events during Mardi Gras, be respectful of those around you and clean up after yourself.
7 Feasts: The Feast of Firstfruits (Episode 4)
Conclusion
The Lord’s feasts are a way for us to remember and celebrate what He has done for us. There are seven of them: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles. Each one has its own meaning and significance.
As we celebrate these feasts, we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and His great love for us.