FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS

PENTECOST

GIVING OF THE LAW

Part two. 

An EASILY UNDERSTOOD  Scripture Study for Christians

FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS / PENTECOST Part 2  Exodus 19:9-15.

Last time we spoke of the meaning of Covenant.  In the times of Abraham, a covenant was sealed by the parties coming together face-to-face, making the agreement, then as a sign and remembrance, walking between the pieces of valuable animals.  The important thing is that a _____________ was not made by distant parties, but face to face sealed with a sign.

Remember this passage?

Exodus 19:7. So Moses went and summoned the people's elders and acquainted them with everything that Yahweh had bidden him, 8. and the people all replied with one accord, "Whatever Yahweh has said, we will do." Moses then reported to Yahweh what the people had said.

When Israel with one voice said that whatever Yahweh wanted them to do they would do, Yahweh set the terms of his personal appearance and sign.  He would “come down” and, though they would not see him, they would hear his voice as a sign of the covenant.  But before this could happen, there were certain conditions that the Israelites had to meet beforehand.

First, they had to be perfectly clean.  They had to sanctify themselves.  They had to become “qidosh” – an important Hebrew root meaning “set apart” from the rest, or “shining forth” from the rest. 

The usual English translation is “holy” (qadosh / qadosh / qodesh / kodesh)  We understand from the root what is required to hear the voice of Yahweh – cleanliness and brightness – as exemplified also in Yahweh’s command that the Israelites wash their clothes. 

Almost as an afterthought, the men are reminded “not to touch a woman.”  This was meant to prohibit the men from any pollution of bodies or clothing with BLOOD.  “A woman” is not dirty; neither is the business of man and wife.  However, fornication (immorality) of any kind, a major activity in that (and any) society, was going to be named as a mortal sin (in the next chapter); and any kind of intimacy, legal or not, “clean” or not, is a mingling of blood and therefore unsuitable for Yahweh’s presence here. 

Aside:  Is it always wrong to be unclean?  Is it always a sin to be unclean?  Is it always a sin to be dirty?  Answer: NO.  It is impossible to be clean all the time.  What do I mean when I say, “Those who have bathed need only to wash their hands”?  [This would be a good time to discuss John 15 – “The Vine” or John 13 - “The Foot Washing,” especially verse 10  Yahshua said to [Kefa], "He who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but he is clean all over; and you are clean, but not every one of you." ]

In this case, for Yahweh to make his appearance, everyone had to be completely clean.

Second, the Israelites were to be ready on the third day.  This has to do with not only a physical presence, but a mental state of expectancy.  One person with a great expectancy can bring forth the miraculous, but a group of people expectantly awaiting the presence of the Set-apart Spirit (the spirit ha qadosh) will certainly accomplish what they expect.

Thirdly, there were grave penalties for going beyond the limits set by Yahweh (that is, up) unless one was fully prepared.  Moses had know Yahweh for years and had been up the mountain several times – maybe hundreds of times.  He had to ascend step by step.  What this means:

      1) a person cannot follow the ordinances of Yahweh unless he/she learns them, and he/she can’t learn them unless they are introduced.  Yahweh will introduce Torah (instruction) in the next chapter.  In the New Testament, those experienced in Torah observance didn’t expect new believers to fully practice the sayings of Yahweh until they had learned them (Acts 15:19-21).  However, Yahweh expects that a covenant believer will learn and eventually go up.  (Ascending and descending are very important themes for believers and biblical literature.)

       2) the implication is that a new or inexperienced believer needs a teacher.  (Paul said, “How would I know sin if the Ordinances of Yahweh had not taught me?”)  The Torah is a teacher, but the believer MUST seek out the presence of Yahweh in time, else there will be no way to know who is a valid teacher and when a teacher is no longer necessary.  Scriptures takes up the theme of false teachers all throughout because there are false teachers everywhere. 

   (There are three good logical measures of a valid teacher.  1. He/she teaches the Torah of Yahweh; 2. He/she teaches that Yahshua is the son and counterpart of Yahweh; 3. He/she teaches that the baptism, gifts and powers of the Set-apart (Holy) Spirit are available to us today.   Notice: 1. is the Father; 2. is the Son; 3. is the Holy Spirit.)

   Eventually, the trumpet will sound and all those who are clean and expectant will ascend the mountain.

        3) desiring, expecting or seeking spiritual, mountaintop experiences from any other source but Yahweh is mortal (unto death) sin.  In the context of the Feast of First fruits, Yahweh strongly advises us with the words in Deuteronomy 18:9-12.

What are some other names you have learned for the Shavuot and what does each signify?

Where can Yahweh’s holidays be found in the Bible?

Where can the Ten Words (Commandments) be found?