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Yahuwah's Feasts: Perpetually Binding

Scripture closes with a clarion call to everyone living on earth

“Fear [Yahuwah] and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”  (Revelation 14:7, NKJV)

As the Giver and Sustainer of all life, it is Yahuwah’s right to receive worship from His created beings.  As the receiver of that worship, it is also His right to set apart certain days as holy days.

Scripture calls these times for worship “feasts” and “holy convocations.”  They are all listed in Leviticus 23, beginning with the weekly feast, the seventh-day Sabbath.

And Yahuwah spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of Yahuwah, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.  Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation.  You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of Yahuwah in all your dwellings.’ ”  (See Leviticus 23:1-3.) 

The weekly Sabbath is not the only time appointed to worship the Creator.  In addition to the seventh-day Sabbath, there are other worship days which are also called “holy convocations.”  Leviticus 23 lists them all:

“These are the feasts of [Yahuwah], holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.”  (Leviticus 23:4)

No difference is made in Scripture between the weekly feast, and the yearly feasts.  All are Yahuwah’s appointed times for worship.

The word translated “feast” comes from the Hebrew word mo’ed.

Mo’ed or Mo’ada; congregation, festive gathering; appointment, signal.  . . . Since the Jewish festivals occurred at regular intervals, this word becomes closely identified with them.  . . . Mo’ed is used in a broad sense for all religious assemblies.  It was closely associated with the tabernacle itself.  God met Israel there at specific times for the purpose of revealing His will.  It is a common term for the worshiping assembly of God’s people.  (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, “Lexical Aids to the Old Testament,” #4150.)

Many people believe that it is wrong for Christians to keep the feasts after Yahushua’s death.  They argue that keeping the feasts dishonors and nullifies His death.

lamb and the tabernacle of meetingThe entire Hebrew economy taught the grand truths of salvation.  The blood sacrifices pointed forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Yahushua as:

The Lamb of Yah which taketh away the sins of the world.  (See John 1:29.)

Yahushua was the great Anti-type of which the types had been foreshadowing. 

Yahushua “was once offered to bear the sins of many.”  (Hebrews 9:28, KJV)

The sacrificial system, the ceremony requiring blood, was fulfilled at the cross.  Thus, the blood sacrifices pointing forward to it were no longer necessary as all the types had met their great Anti-type.  The annual feasts, however, are much more than types.  They are anniversaries both commemorating as well as looking forward to important events in salvation history. 

The feasts, as annual worship days, are to be observed throughout time and eternity.  Like the weekly Sabbath, the yearly festivals are times appointed for worship.  Yahuwah stated that the observance of the feasts is to “be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.”  (See Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31 and 41.)  Obedience to Yahuwah’s direct command does not nullify anything.  Yahushua said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  (John 14:15, NKJV)  Obedience to the divine law is the greatest way one can honor the Creator.

Obedience establishes the law as something of value!

“Do we then make void the law through faith?  Certainly not!  On the contrary, we establish the law.”  (Romans 3:31, NKJV)

Multitudes of Christians, who desire to worship Yahuwah, break the divine law by ignoring the divinely appointed yearly feasts all of which are divine statutes.  The confusion over statute law arises from the fact that Yahuwah communicated it in private to Moses.  The assumption is that since the statutes were not spoken aloud to the entire encampment when the 10 Commandments were spoken, they were “just for the Jews.”  Statute law, however, is still part of the divine law.  At Sinai, the Israelites heard the voice of Yahuwah speak the 10 Commandment law.  The sound was so overwhelming that, in terror, they begged Moses to ask Yahuwah to speak to him, and then he could tell them what they needed to know.

Behold, Yahuwah our Elohim has showed us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice out of the midst of the fire . . . Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Yahuwah our Elohim any more, then we shall die.  For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living Elohim speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?  You go near, and hear all that Yahuwah our Elohim shall say: and you speak unto us all that Yahuwah our Elohim shall speak unto you; and we will hear it, and do it.  (See Deuteronomy 5:24-27.)

Moses and the children of Israel at Mt. SinaiYahuwah agreed to the proposal.  His response to the people’s request ties the laws He spoke through Moses with the law He spoke directly to the people:

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!  Go say to them, Get you into your tents again.  But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak unto you all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which you shall teach them, that they may do them . . . You shall observe to do therefore as Yahuwah your Elohim has commanded you: you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.  (See Deuteronomy 5:29-32.)

Yahuwah gave unto Moses the statutes which Moses, in turn, repeated to the people.  However, Yahuwah’s intent was that the statutes be always kept as part of the divine law.

Commandments, statutes and judgments are frequently linked in Scripture with the admonishment to keep and obey them. 

The LAW of Yahuwah is perfect, converting the soul;
The TESTIMONY of Yahuwah is sure, making wise the simple;
The STATUTES of Yahuwah are right, rejoicing the heart;
The COMMANDMENT of Yahuwah is pure, enlightening the eyes; . . .
The JUDGMENTS of Yahuwah are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; . . .
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
  (See Psalm 19:7-11.)

The divine law was given for the good of all peoples.  In Scripture, Yahuwah commands everyone to keep all of His law:

“I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which, if a man does, he shall live by them.  Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am [Yahuwah] who sanctifies them.

“I am [Yahuwah your Elohim]: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am [Yahuwah your Elohim].’ ” (Ezekiel 20:11-13, 18-20, NKJV)

The sign between Yahuwah and His people is the keeping of all of the divine law, which includes the annual festivals.  There can be no separating the 10 Commandments from the statutes that explain them.  They are all the divine Law.  The belief that observing the annual feasts dishonors and nullifies Yahushua’s death on the cross contradicts the clear testimony of Scripture which repeatedly states that they are to be forever.  Moses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, forcefully stated:

“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of [Yahuwah your Elohim] which I command you.”  (Deuteronomy 4:2, NKJV)

Dividing worship days, saying that the weekly Sabbath must be kept, but not the yearly feasts, is taking from the divine law.  Scripture clearly combines statute law and the commandments:  both are integral parts of the divine law which is perpetually binding on all peoples throughout all time.

“I know that, whatsoever [Elohim] doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and [Elohim] doeth it, that men should fear before Him.”  (Ecclesiastes 3:14, KJV)

silhouette of people jumping with joyThe happiness of all created beings is bound up with the keeping of the divine Law.  As a loving Father, Yahuwah gave His law so that His children would be healthy and happy. 

“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which [Yahuwah your Elohim] has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them . . . that you may fear [Yahuwah your Elohim], to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.  Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you.”  (Deuteronomy 6:1-3, NKJV)

As the Creator, Yahuwah has laid down laws that are for the good and happiness of all His creatures.  Statutory law, which expounds upon the 10 Commandment law, is still to be observed.  Honor your Creator by worshipping Him on ALL of His appointed times: weekly and annual worship days.  Stand for the truth and, by your example of obedience, show forth the praises of your Redeemer. 

“It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”  (Proverbs 3:6, KJV)

“I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”  (Psalm 119:47, 48, KJV)

 


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