Shavuot (Feast of Weeks aka Pentecost)

Did you know that Feast of Weeks is mentioned 5 times in the Tanakh (Old Testament), and Pentecost, 3 times in the Brit Hadashah (NT)?your action show

Shavuot (aka Pentecost or Feast of Weeks): “You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.” (Exodus 34:22; NASB also Deut 16:10,16; 2 Chronicles 8:13; Num 28:26; Acts 2:1; etc.)

Fifty days after Passover, we celebrate another of the festivals on God’s calendar: Shavuot (aka Pentecost or Feast of Weeks). This is one of the three annual pilgrimage festivals (meaning it is to be celebrated in Jerusalem). Shavuot commemorates God’s giving the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai. Pentecost, memorializes God’s pouring out of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).

The emphasis of this holy day is not strictly on God’s “giving” the Law but also on the people’s “receiving” the Torah. We are not only to receive His Word but also to commit to obeying it. As Believers, we should not read the Torah as mere history but we should view it as a teacher of ongoing life-lessons. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope,” Romans 15:4.

Should we approach Shavuot as just another “thing” to add to our already over-stuffed personal calendars or do we anticipate it with appropriate vigor and excitement for the opportunity to partake in His holy day? Yes, Shavuot (aka the Festival of Weeks or Pentecost) memorializes Moses’ receiving the Ten Commandments from the LORD and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But is there more for us to learn?

The LORD said to Moses: “… if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples…”, Ex 19:5. It is interesting to note the people’s immediate response — even before knowing all God would require in His covenant: was “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” Exodus 19:8.

Many times we find ourselves resisting what the LORD is asking us to do. Often we rationalize” I can’t do this or that because…” Instead, we ought to follow the example of the Hebrew children in Exodus 19:8, “All the LORD has spoken, we WILL DO!” Let us put aside our own agendas and follow His commands with vigor. Trust Him with our emotions, finances, health, etc.

What are the benefits of obeying and trusting? He gives us His promise of peace and joy. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit,” Romans 15:15. We can stand on this promise because “You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in his ways, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws, and that you will obey him,” Deut 26:17.

Let us anticipate each of our LORD’s holy days. Let the uniqueness and message of each penetrate our hearts and lives! — Let us receive with excitement His Word daily — Let us learn to say ‘LORD, we will do all You have spoken’, even before we know all that may entail:-) .

How great is our God!

CHALLENGE: Daily allow His Word to become fresh in our lives.

Prayer:

“LORD, what an amazing God You Are! Thank You for constantly surrounding us with Your calendar – with Your festivals and festivities. We pray that with each Holy Day, we will become more focused on Your calendar. With anticipation, we look forward to Shavuot. We pray that You will totally heal Jim and those who have had surgery! Bless and heal each one of our loved ones who is struggling physically or emotionally. Bring Your peace to our precious land and to Israel. In the holy Name of our soon-coming messiah, Yeshua.”

IMMEDIATE Prayer Requests:  

  1. Pray for Israel!
  2. Protection of the persecuted church.
  3. Pray for America.
  4. Jim: recovery knee replacement surgery. Please pray flexibility will increase, pain will subside, and all other parts of his back, etc will operate pain-free..
  5. Shar: overcoming and sense of purpose
  6. Tere: healing and wisdom
  7. Sister-in-law (Les’a): to be able to live/function independently
  8. Carla: continued healing.
  9. Deb: victory over overwhelming circumstances. Encouragement!! God will provide; prayer for wisdom and favor with all those involved in the decision-making. Protection from false accusations and that truth, victory, and peace will reign. That Deb’s spirit will be lifted up: that she will have the words and clarity of mind to accomplish what needs to be done. That there will be a miraculously successful outcome of fairness and provision for her future.
  10. Connie: healing.
  11. Marita (Israel): health and renewed vitality. Revitalization.