## Bible Study: The Seven Feasts of Israel

## Leviticus 23:1-44

God's primary focus is the salvation of people and their worship of Him. The Bible tells us that God created man to live with Him, and that God's desire is to reveal the riches of His grace to man throughout all eternity.

(Eph 2:7) "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

To get this point across to the people of Israel, God set aside several religious holidays. Note some important points about the annual feasts or festivals:

- These holidays focused upon the salvation and redemption of man and the worship of God
- The holidays painted the prophetic picture of salvation, the salvation that God was to bring to man through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
- God used the annual festivals to show a believer how he was to walk day by day throughout life.

I. Introduction to the Feasts of the LORD. v1-2

A. Sacred Assemblies-Holidays-Festivals of the LORD:

1. The festivals were appointed or set by God; they were sacred or holy assemblies that were held on very special holidays.

2. The festivals were a time when the people came together for worship and the celebration of significant events.

3. They were religious holidays that celebrated holy events. Consequently, the holidays included a time for worship as well as a time for great joy and festivity.

4. Only one festival involved mourning; that was the Day of Atonement.

B. Man may set aside a day for celebration, but only God can make a day holy.

1. Note the term "my feast" or "my appointed feast."

2. These were feasts that were appointed or set by God.

3. They were God's feasts, the appointed and set feasts of the LORD.

4. Again, only God can make a time truly holy, for God is the sovereign LORD of time.

5. God alone can take a period of time and make it holy, a time set aside for true worship and joyful celebration in the Spirit of God.

6. This is what God did with the annual feast or festivals of worship.

7. He appointed a time for special worship and joyful celebration of significant events (Acts 17:24-27).

(Acts 17:24-27) "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; {25} Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; {26} And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; {27} That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:"

II. The Sabbath v3

A. There was the Sabbath day of rest, the very first day appointed and set aside by God.

1. The Sabbath day of rest is actually the most important day set aside by God.

2. It is pre-Mosaic, stretching all the way back to the beginning of creation.

3. Right after creating the universe, God blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart for rest and worship (Gen.2:3).

B. Note this Scripture: God tells man to work six days, then he is to rest on the seventh day.

1. The seventh day is the Lord's Day, a day that God has set aside to be His day, a day in which man is to focus entirely upon the LORD.

2. The Sabbath day is to be a day of rest.

a. The Sabbath day is for complete rest.

b. It is to be a day of physical restoration, a day when the human body is allowed to restore itself.

c. Man's mind and body need to relax and rest; to be free from the duties, responsibilities, pressure and tensions of day to day work.

d. For this purpose, God set aside the Sabbath day for complete rest and relaxation.

3. The Sabbath rest is a symbol of the spiritual rest that God promises to those who believe and follow Him.

a. The Sabbath rest is a symbol of redemption, of God's deliverance from the heavy burdens and trials of this life.

(Heb 4:9-11) "There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. {10} For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. {11} Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

(Mat 11:28) "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

(Exo 20:8) "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

(Exo 20:11) "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

4. The Sabbath day is a day set aside for worship.

a. Note exactly what this verse says: the Sabbath day is a day of holy convocation, a day of sacred assembly, a day when God's people are to come together and assemble for worship.

b. In Deuteronomy 5:15, God told His people what the focus of their worship was to be: they were to focus upon their redemption from Egypt.

c. Remember: for the Christian believer, Egypt is a symbol of the world.

d. Therefore, the focus of worship is to be upon God's redemption, His salvation and deliverance from the world and its enslavements.

"Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" (2 Cor.1:10).

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage" (Heb.2:14-15).

III. The Three Spring Feasts: Passover; Feast of Unleavened Bread, and Feast of Firstfruits.

These three feasts were closely connected, taking place during an eight day holiday period.

- The Passover took place on the first day (the fourteenth day of the first month).
- Then on the very next day the Festival of Unleavened Bread began and lasted for seven days.
- The Festival of Firstfruits was celebrated on the day after the Sabbath, which is Sunday.

A. The Festival of the Passover (v.5).

1. The Passover celebrated God's great deliverance of His people from Egyptian slavery.

a. God had told His people that He was going to execute severe judgment upon the Egyptians.

b. He was going to send the angel of death throughout the land and execute the firstborn son of every Egyptian family.

c. Then and only then would Pharaoh release God's people from their four hundred years of enslavement.

d. But God's people could escape the judgments.

e. How? By believing God and trusting the blood of the sacrificial substitute.

f. God did just that: Note: Ex. 12:23-27

2. The Passover is a symbol of Jesus Christ our Passover who was sacrificed for us.

3. Jesus Christ is the perfect fulfillment of the Passover Lamb that was slain in behalf of God's people.

4. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, a person escapes the judgment of God. God accepts the blood of the substitute sacrifice as full payment for the sins committed by a person.

5. Note that the Passover is His sign or prophetic picture of the coming Savior, of His salvation and redemption.

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" Jn.1:29).

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor.5:7).

"Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Gal.1:4).

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Eph.5:2).

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Tit.2:14).

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Pt.1:18-19).

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth" (Is.53:5-7).

B. There was the Festival of Unleavened Bread (v.6-8).

1. This festival recalled the need and urgency of God's people to leave Egypt.

a. After God's hand of judgment fell, events moved rapidly.

b. The Egyptians were desperate for Pharaoh to release the Israelites and get rid of them.

c. In fact, the Israelites were forced to leave so quickly that they had no time to adequately prepare.

d. They did not even have time to let their dough rise; they had no time to put yeast or leaven in their bread.

e. They were forced to take unleavened bread.

f. There was the need and the urgency to get out of Egypt immediately.

g. This is a symbol of a believer's need and urgency to be freed from the world.

2. Note the facts given in this passage concerning the Feast or Festival of Unleavened Bread.

a. The festival was to begin on the day after Passover.

b. For seven days the people were to eat unleavened bread, bread made without any yeast whatsoever (v.6).

c. They were to assemble or gather together on the first day of worship.

d. They were to do no regular work on that day (v. 7).

e. The people were to approach God for atonement on each of the seven days, for reconciliation and forgiveness of sins (v.8).

f. Scripture tells us elsewhere that the offerings were to be a Burnt Offering and a Sin Offering.

g. Note: Numbers 28:16-25 h. The people were to assemble on the seventh day for worship.

3. The Feast or Festival of Unleavened Bread paints a clear picture for the believer.

a. It symbolizes the need and urgency for the believer to be freed from the world and its enslavement to sin and death.

b. There is a need ? an urgent, desperate need ? to be delivered from all the oppressions and pollutions of this world, from all the sin and evil, immorality and lawlessness, corruption and death of this world.

c. There is a need and urgency to be set free and liberated to live for God.

d. There is a desperate need and urgency to begin the march to the promised land of heaven.

e. Note the prophetic picture:

1) The Passover pictures salvation, deliverance, and redemption.

2) The Festival of Unleavened Bread pictures the immediate need and urgency to begin the march to the Promised Land.

3) Several Scriptures speak of the urgency for deliverance.

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near" (1s.55:6).

"... Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2).

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short" (1 Cor.7:29).

"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph.5:15?16).

"For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Ph.3:20).

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the LORD, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto A them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim. 4:8).

C. There was the Festival of Firstfruits (v.9?14).

1. This festival was to thank God for the crops, for the harvest of food that gave people life.

2. This was a symbol of Christ's resurrection: He is the first of the harvest, the first to arise from the dead.

3. Note some specifics concerning this feast.

a. This festival could not begin until the people had entered the Promised Land (v. 10).

b. They, of course, could not plant crops out in the desert while they were marching to the Promised Land.

c. Once they arrived and began planting crops, they were to give the first of their harvest to the LORD during this festival.

d. They were to take a sheaf, that is, a stalk, here and there, bundle it together, and bring it to the priest.

e. He was then to take the sheaf and wave it as an offering before the LORD.

f. This was to be done on the day after the Sabbath, which would be Sunday.

g. After giving the wave offering to the LORD, the priest was to approach God for atonement through a special Burnt Offering.

h. Note also that a special Grain Offering was to be offered to the LORD, a Grain Offering two times larger than usual.

4. The result:

a. The aroma of the burning sacrifice and Grain Offering ascended up, symbolizing God's acceptance.

b. He was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice, the obedience of the people.

c. But, there was one clear prohibition: the people had to put God first.

d. They were not to eat any of the harvest until the Firstfruit Offering was given to God.

e. This was to be a permanent law for all the generations to come, no matter where the Israelites lived.

5. The application for us today.

a. The believer is to give God the first of his harvest, the first of his income.

b. He is to tithe, for the tithe belongs to the LORD.

c. The tithe should be an expression of appreciation and thanksgiving to God, for God is the One who has given us all that we have.

d. Our crops and jobs are due to Him; so is our health that enables us to work and earn a living.

e. We are to honor God by giving Him the firstfruits to support the local church and the work of God around the world.

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come" (1 Cor.16:2).

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor.9:6?7).

"And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD's: it is holy unto the LORD" (Lev.27:30).

"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee" (Dt.16:17).

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Mal.3:10).

6. The Festival of Firstfruits is also a symbol of the LORD's resurrection.

a. Christ is the first of the harvest, the first to arise from the dead.

b. It is Jesus Christ and His resurrection that give the believer hope of arising from the dead to live eternally with God.

c. The prophetic picture of salvation is this:

1) The Passover symbolized the believer's deliverance or redemption from the world.

2) The Festival of Unleavened Bread symbolized the urgency of the believer to leave the world to begin his march to the promised land.

3) The Festival of Firstfruits symbolizes the glorious hope the believer has as he marches toward the promise land, the hope of being raised from the dead to live eternally with God?all because of the resurrection of Christ.

"That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:23).

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Cor.15:20?23).

"Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you" (2 Cor.4:14).

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1 Pt.1:3?4).

IV. The Feast of Pentecost or Harvest (v15-22)

- The purpose of this festival was to give thanksgiving to God for the harvest and to dedicate one's life anew to God.
- The Festival of Harvest (Ex.23:16) is sometimes called "The Feast of Weeks" or "The Firstfruits of the Wheat Harvest" (Ex.34:22).
- The festival is also a prophetic symbol of the great harvest of souls that took place when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples in the upper room (Acts 2:1).
- It was a joyful occasion celebrating the end of the harvest season and dedicating one's life anew to God.

A. Historic observation.

1. The people were to give a wave offering of Firstfruits to the LORD, using two fresh loaves of bread (v. 17).

2. In this particular offering, leavened bread (bread with yeast) had to be brought (Lev. 2: 11; cp. 7:13).

3. The people were to approach God for atonement, seeking God's reconciliation and acceptance through the Burnt Offering (v. 18).

a. Note that they were to sacrifice seven male lambs, one young bull and two rams - all with no defect.

b. Remember that the number seven symbolizes completion, fulfillment, and perfection.

c. This was a symbol of Christ, His perfect and sinless sacrifice.

4. The people had to approach God through the sacrifice of the Sin Offering and another sacrifice for the Fellowship and Peace Offering (v. 19).

5. The people were to have the priest take the animal sacrifices and wave them before the LORD as a wave offering, together with the bread of the Firstfruits.

6. Note that these were holy offerings belonging to the priest (v.20).

7. The people were to declare a sacred assembly on that day: they were to take a day of rest and gather together for worship (v.21).

8. The people were to make this a permanent, lasting law for all generations (v.21).

9. The people were to help and to protect the poor.

10. How? When they reaped the harvest, they were to leave enough for the poor to enter the fields to gather food for survival (v.22).

B. The Prophetic Application.

1. Remember, the Festival of Firstfruits symbolized the resurrection of Jesus Christ; now the Festival of Harvest symbolizes the events of the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

2. These two festivals were celebrated fifty days apart. v16

3. In God's sovereignty, centuries before Christ ever came, God appointed these festivals to paint the prophetic picture of salvation for men.

4. What strong evidence for the sovereignty and the truthfulness of Holy Scripture!

5. The Festival of Harvest or Pentecost symbolized the great harvest of souls, of people giving their lives to God on the great Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was to come upon men.

C. In looking at the prophetic picture of salvation, this is what we have seen this far:

1. The Passover symbolized God's salvation, the deliverance and redemption from the world by God.

2. The Festival of Unleavened Bread symbolized the need and urgency of the believer to be freed from the world, freed from the enslavement of sin and death.

3. The Festival of Firstfruits symbolized the great hope for the believer as he marched toward the promised land, the great hope of being raised from the dead by the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

As the believer marches to the promised land, he is to be filled with God's Spirit and bear strong testimony, seeking a great harvest of souls.

V. The Feast of Trumpets (v23-25)

- The first four feasts that are given in Leviticus 23 describe for us the past work that God has done.

- The Passover = Christ died for our sins.
- The Feast of Unleavened Bread = Cleansing our lives and beginning our journey with Him.
- The Feast of Firstfruits = the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the hope of our resurrection.
- The Feast of Pentecost = the empowerment of the Holy Spirit for us to be a part of the great harvest of souls.

- These four feasts picture events of the past.
- We are living between the Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Trumpets.

- There is a three-month gap between the two feasts.
- What were the Jewish people doing during this three-month interval?
- They were working the harvest field.
- This is what you and I need to be doing today.

A. Historical Observation

1. The Israelites had two silver trumpets that were used to call the people together and to signal directions as they journeyed to the Promised Land.

2. Trumpeters were apparently stationed at regular intervals to pass the signal through the entire camp.

3. Remember, there were two to four million Israelites camped around the Tabernacle.

(Num 10:1-2) "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, {2} Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.

4. The Feast of Trumpets took place on the first day of the seventh month.

5. This is also called Rosh Hashanah: the beginning of the Jewish New Year.

6. All the information we are given here is that they were to gather together for a memorial.

B. Prophetic Application

1. For the nation of Israel.

a. God established the use of trumpets to communicate with the entire nation.

b. It would seem that this memorial would be to remind the nation that God would call them together and would fulfill all of His covenants with His chosen people.

c. This is prophesied in the Scriptures.

(Joel 2:1) "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;"

(Joel 2:15) "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:"

(Mat 24:29) "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"

(Mat 24:31) "And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."

d. The nation of Israel is a scattered people and this memorial speaks of a time when the God will gather His people together.

2. For the believers today.

a. The application for us today is that one day there will be a sound of a trumpet that will gather all believers unto the Lord.

b. We refer to this event as the Rapture.

c. Paul describes it for us in the N.T.

(1 Th 4:16) "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:"

(1 Cor 15:52) "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

- We are waiting for the sound of the trumpet to call us out of this world.
- As we work and wait we are to be involved in the harvest.
- Jesus is coming soon!
- Let's be faithful to serve Him now until He comes.
- Read: Leviticus 23:26-32

VI. Day of Atonement: 'Yom Kippur'

- On the tenth day of the seventh month everything in the camp of Israel ceased.
- Only one man was busy, and that man was the high priest.
- In Leviticus 16 we have a more detailed account of this observance. Note seven appointments.

A. An Appointed Purpose

1. What was the reason behind all that took place on the Day of Atonement?

(Lev 16:30) For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.

2. The word "atonement" is used 15 times in Leviticus 16.

3. Among other things the Hebrew word means "to cover."

4. Under the Old Testament economy, the blood of the sacrifices could not put away sin; it could only cover sin.

5. The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin; it could only cover sin. Only Jesus Christ's blood can take away sin.

(John 1:29) The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

6. Atonement was needed to deal with the problem of sin.

7. God is holy and man is sinful.

8. Everything in the camp of Israel had been defiled by sin.

(Lev 16:33) And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar, and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation.

9. Even the holy tabernacle of God and the priesthood had been defiled by sin.

10. Of course, the people were also defiled by their sins.

(Lev 16:21) And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness:

a. "Iniquity" means crookedness-we are twisted out of shape and do not measure up to God's standard.

b. "Transgression" means rebellion-to cross over the line and go too far.

c. The word " sin" means to miss the mark-to err from our appointed goal.

d. The appointed purpose was to deal with the problem of sin.

e. The heart of every problem is the problem in the heart, and the problem in the heart is sin.

B. An Appointed Time

1. The priest did not do this every day of the week; he did this once a year.

(Lev 16:2) And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

2. Once a year the high priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies.

3. Every year this ceremony had to be repeated because the sacrifices could not take away sin.

4. Only the Lamb of God can take away sin.

(Heb 9:24-26) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: {25} Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; {26} For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

C. An Appointed Place

1. God had appointed only one place of sacrifice.

2. The tabernacle (and later on the temple) was God's appointed place.

3. There is only one appointed place of sacrifice as far as salvation is concerned-the cross where Jesus died.

(1 Pet 2:24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

4. Our Lord did not bear our sins in the Jordan River when he was baptized, because baptism is not the way of salvation.

5. Our Lord did not bear our sins in the temple as He was teaching, because education, as good as it is, is not God's way of salvation.

6. Christ bore our sins at the appointed place-the cross.

D. An Appointed Person

1. Not everyone was permitted to offer this sacrifice-only the high priest.

(Lev 16:17) And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel.

2. In other words, the high priest had to fulfill this responsibility alone.

a. First, he put off his beautiful garments.

b. Then he washed his flesh in water (v. 4) and put on the plain linen garments of a lowly servant.

3. This is a picture, of course, of our Lord Jesus.

a. There came a time when He laid aside His beautiful garments of glory.

b. He took upon Himself form of a servant.

c. He set Himself apart to do the will of God.

d. He came to earth and was obedient unto death.

4. God's appointed person for today is the Lord Jesus Christ, our glorified High Priest in heaven.

a. The Old Testament high priest had to offer sacrifices first for himself before he could offer sacrifices for the people.

b. Jesus needed no sacrifices for Himself, for He was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.

c. Instead, He offered Himself as the sinless sacrifice.

E. An Appointed Price

1. Eighty-six times in the Book of Leviticus the blood is mentioned.

2. It was not living animals that paid the price; it was dead animals offered as sacrifices.

3. The blood had to be shed.

4. Some people reject this teaching about blood.

(Lev 17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.

5. This is God's plan, and we must accept it.

6. We are not saved by imitating Christ's example or by admiring His teaching.

7. We are not saved by His character.

8. We are saved by His shed blood.

9. His precious blood was the price of atonement..

F. An Appointed Procedure

1. The first thing the priest had to do was to kill the bullock for a sin offering for himself (Lev. 16:11).

2. Then he took the incense into the Holy of Holies.

a. This burning cloud of incense speaks of the glory of God.

b. Salvation is for the glory of God, not just for the good of man.

3. Then the high priest returned to the altar for the blood; he took it into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled it on the mercy seat, which was the ark of the covenant.

a. The two tables of the Law were in the ark, and Israel had broken that Law.

b. But the blood covered the broken Law.

c. It was the blood that made atonement.

4. Then the high priest came back to the altar where two goats were waiting.

a. He would kill one goat and take the blood into the Holy of Holies.

b. That blood he sprinkled on the mercy seat.

c. He then applied some of that blood to the brazen altar (Lev. 16:18).

d. The priest put his hands on the head of the living goat and confessed the sins of the people of Israel.

e. Then that goat was taken out and turned loose in the wilderness, never to be seen again, "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us" (Ps. 103:12).

f. These two goats together were called a sin-offering. One died; the other (called the scapegoat) was turned loose.

g. Jesus Christ died, He arose again, He went back to heaven.

h. Christ's sacrifice does not just cover sin-He takes our sins away.

i. The release of the scapegoat pictured the truth that the sins of the people had been taken away.

5. The high priest would then wash and clothe himself again in his garments, a picture of the fact that when our Lord finished His sacrificial work, He returned to heaven and took His throne of glory.

G. An Appointed Response

1. Finally, there was an appointed response on the part of the people.

2. What was this response?

(Lev 23:27-28) Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. {28} And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.

3. Salvation is not by our works.

a. The people did nothing.

b. The priest did it all.

c. They were not allowed to work.

d. Instead, they were to show sorrow for their sin and, by faith, to accept what God had provided for them.

e. The annual Day of Atonement speaks to us of God's love and God's grace.

f. There is nothing we can do. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5).

H. The Prophetic Symbols of the Day of Atonement.

1. Spoke of the future atonement of Jesus Christ on Calvary.

2. Speaks of the future cleansing of Israel

a. We learned in our study of the Feast of Trumpets that one day God will call His elect people Israel back to the land of Palestine.

b. At the second coming of Christ, there will be a cleansing for the nation.

c. When the Lord Jesus Christ shall return, Israel shall look upon Him whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn because of their sin. Cf Zech. 12:10

d. As a result of this, there shall be a time of cleansing and purification, and the fountain shall be opened for sin and for uncleanness.

(Zec 13:1) In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.

e. Paul reminds us of this in Romans.

(Rom 11:25-27) For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. {26} And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: {27} For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

3. The Future Cleansing of all Believers

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:25-27).

a. We must be honest and admit that we are far from glorious and far from being free of spots, wrinkles and blemishes.

b. But one of these days, we will be a glorious Church without spot and wrinkle and without blemish when we stand before the Lord.

c. This will take place after the Judgment Seat of Christ.

VII. The Feast of Tabernacles. v33-44

A. Historic Observation

1. The people were to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles on the fifteenth day of the seventh month (v.34).

2. It was to last for seven days, a full week of festivities and worship.

3. The people were to begin with a sacred assembly on the first day, doing no work whatsoever (v.35).

4. They were to approach God for atonement (reconciliation) during each of the seven days, approach God through the Burnt Offering (v.36).

5. On the eighth day, they were to hold another sacred assembly to close the festival.

6. The body of the whole nation was called together to approach God for atonement or reconciliation?through another Burnt Offering (v.36).

7. Note that the importance of the Feast of Tabernacles and the other feasts was stressed:

a. They were all annual sacred assemblies for worship, a time when the whole nation was to assemble together to approach God (v.37).

b. They were for the purpose of approaching God for atonement or reconciliation?through the sacrifices and offerings (v.37).

c. They were to be additional celebrations, not to replace a person's regular approach to God. They were to be in addition to all other approaches to God.

d. They were not to replace the freewill offerings, nor the regular Sabbath day worship, nor any other gift or offerings that the people brought to God.

e. They were, as stated, to be an additional period of worship or celebration of the LORD (v.38).

8. Note that the importance of the Feast of Tabernacles is reemphasized (v.39?40).

a. It was to be celebrated on the fifteenth day of the seventh month and last for seven days.

b. It was to be celebrated after the crops had been harvested.

c. Both the first day and the eighth day were to be days of rest.

9. Note that the people were to build booths or shelters from tree leaves on the first day.

a. They were to live in these booths or shelters for seven days (v.40, 42).

b. The festival was to be a celebration of great joy and rejoicing before the Lord (v.40?41).

c. The festival was to be a lasting, permanent law (v.41).

B. Historical Purpose for the Festival:

1. It was to teach all descendants that their ancestors had to live in booths when God delivered them out of Egypt.

2. Note that this was a symbol of how temporary this world is.

3. Also note the warning of God: "I am the Lord your God" (v.43).

4. God expected His people to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.

5. If they failed, His judgment would fall upon them.

6. He is the Lord their God, able to execute judgment.

C. Application for us Today

1. God Wants His People to Have Joy

a. God wanted to remind the people that He had led them out of Egypt, had led them through the wilderness, and had been good to them.

b. The Feast of Tabernacles was a reminder to the Jewish people that everything they had came from God.

c. We need to remember this also.

1) Sometimes folks in church take everything for granted ?the church building, the ministry.

2) But we need to remember that people sacrificed, worked and gave that the building and ministry might be here.

3) Look back and be grateful for God's past mercies.

d. God also wants us to be grateful for the present blessings.

1) The Feast of Tabernacles was a harvest festival.

2) So Israel could look back and be thankful for God's provision, protection and direction.

3) They once lived in booths?now they were living in houses.

4) They once had to wander?now they were settled down.

5) They once had to ask Him for water?now they had plenty of water.

6) They could rejoice over past and present mercies from the generous hand of God.

7) We need to be reminded to enjoy what God has given us, and use it for His glory and for the good of others.

2. Joy Always Follows Cleansing

a. The Day of Atonement was followed by the Feast of Tabernacles.

b. Nothing robs us of joy like sin.

(Psa 51:12) Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

c. Sin robs us of joy, but joy always follows cleansing.

d. This was true of the Prodigal Son; when he went home, and the father received him and forgave him, and there was great joy.

e. First the cleansing and then the joy.

f. The same is true for us today, first sin has to be taken care of, and then there can be joy and happiness.

g. God wants His people to have joy, and joy follows cleansing.

3. Joy Leads to Sacrifice

a. During the Feast of Tabernacles, nearly 200 different animals were sacrificed.

b. Numbers 29 gives you the details on this.

c. When we are joyfully thankful to God, sacrifice is no problem.

d. When we are happy in the Lord, rejoicing in His goodness, it is no problem at all to share what God gives us.

e. Jesus Christ became poor that we might be rich (cf. 2 Cor. 8:9).

4. The Greatest Joy Is Yet to Come

a. The Feast of Tabernacles is a picture of the future kingdom when Jesus shall reign.

(Zec 14:4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

(Zec 14:9) And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

(Zec 14:16) And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

b. The Feast of Tabernacles will be a time of great rejoicing.

c. The greatest joy is yet to come, when you and I will enter into the glory of the Lord, when His Kingdom is established.

d. Let's not fix our hearts on the joys of this world because they will not last.

e. And let's not get discouraged because we are going through some difficulty; it will not last either.

(Psa 30:5b) …Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

f. Jesus is coming soon; He will establish His Kingdom, and we shall reign with Him.

(Rev 20:6) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.