Chapter 23

Leviticus 23 - GENERAL REMARKS - The following are the festivals the Lord instituted. I believe that there is a place for observance of these festivals. Messianic (or completed) Jewish believers can help us gentiles to understand how to apply them in our context. But I believe they should be integrated into our lives. Why do I think that? The times I feel very little motivation to attend church are: Memorial Day, Independence Day, and other secular holidays. They are all integrated into the life of the Church in the USA. Why? I believe it is because as humans, we want special days to give us a reason for pleasure and enjoyment. Special days belong in the church. I just don't think secular holidays belong there. If I were to say any holidays (or festivals) belong in the church it is the ones the God instituted here in Leviticus. (The book of Ester also has a holiday that the Jews began at that time and is continued today.)

This will go contrary to the modern beliefs about the place of Christianity and Judaism. But I am bound to believe the Bible when it says that gentiles, "grafted...into the cultivated olive tree," which is Judaism. Jesus' own words were, "Salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22). I know people will say, "Well, Jesus was a Jew talking to Jews and that was before Calvary. So it doesn't apply to us now." I would respond: You have just given yourself license to pick and choose what you will believe. I would not go there if I were you. You either believe Jesus' own words, or you throw the whole Bible away.

Someone else might say, "This sounds like religion and works based faith." I respond: No it isn't. You already celebrate holidays in church - and secular ones at that! I'm just saying, holidays are good and right. But we need to be careful what holidays we celebrate in our Christian gatherings. I think we should take the holidays God establish and apply them to our "church calendars" and get rid of all secular observances in church. What about that doesn't sound biblical?

Leviticus 23:2 - "These are *My* appointed times." That is significant. Labor Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, those are the United States of America's appointed times. But what follows are God's appointed times.

Leviticus 23:3 - What is the first of God's appointed times? The Sabbath Day. The first thing on God's mind when He was instructing them about religious observances was the Sabbath day. Do you see the significance? Not only was the Sabbath day the fourth commandment, but it is reiterated time and time again and in particular here under religious observances. People don't want to observe the Sabbath day because they think that it is too religious or works oriented. I say, "Why would you not want a full 24 hours off of work?" Some might say, "I'm too busy to get things done around the house during the week, so I have to work on Saturday and Sunday." Well, perhaps you are just too busy then. Maybe you need to buy a smaller house. Get rid of one of those cars. Cut up a few Credit Cards and live more humbly. Then you'll have more time. Maybe you need to tell your wife to stay home instead of working a job too (she'll probably thank you). You might even end up happier in the end for it!