Leviticus 23:1-22
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places. – Leviticus 23:3
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In Leviticus 23, God issued seven holy convocations or assemblies to the Israelites through Moses. They were festivals that would be observed throughout the year. These festivals began with the weekly Sabbath and included Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost, constituting the rhythm and rituals of God’s people and their faith life throughout the year. This not only commemorates God’s wonderful deeds in the past, but also reminds people to constantly turn to God in their daily lives and maintain their piety toward God.
For example, the Sabbath reminded the people to stop work every seven days and refocus on God. The Passover reminded them to remember God’s salvation. The Feast of Firstfruits taught them to offer their firstfruits to God, acknowledging that all things come from God. And the Feast of Weeks reminded them to count God’s grace and offer part of the produce with a grateful heart.
During these festivals, God required His people to hold “holy assemblies”, which meant that it wasn’t an individual thing, but it involved the entire faith community. God calls His people to come together to draw close to Him, listen to Him, and celebrate His faithfulness and salvation.
In our fast-paced modern life, we are often overwhelmed by the pressures of work, the pursuit of academic results, and the never-ending checklists. Many believers have gradually lost the rhythm and focus of faith. We may come to worship every Sunday, but we may not really rest in the Lord, let alone set aside a fixed time in the year to seek God.
However, this passage reminds us that God established festivals to help His people to continue to connect with Him in the busyness of life. We need a “spiritual rhythm” to help us stay sensitive to God, to worship Him, and to cultivate a heart of gratitude and trust in Him.
Reflection:
Is my life so full of busyness that I’m lacking the space to quieten down and listen for God’s voice? Do Sundays bring me closer to the Lord, renewing my relationship with Him? What does Christmas and Good Friday mean to me besides having another public holiday? Am I willing to offer my “first fruits” to God or to share them with others?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father God, I thank You for how You have established the sacred festivals and have taught us how to walk with You through the days of our lives. You know my busyness, my weaknesses, and how easy it is for me to ignore Your presence. Please help me to build a rhythm for my spiritual life, so that I may know how to rest, how to be grateful, how to give, and how to share what you have blessed me with. May I celebrate Your faithfulness and Your love each day and be able to see Your hand at work in every season. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Click to read
In Leviticus 23, God issued seven holy convocations or assemblies to the Israelites through Moses. They were festivals that would be observed throughout the year. These festivals began with the weekly Sabbath and included Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Pentecost, constituting the rhythm and rituals of God’s people and their faith life throughout the year. This not only commemorates God’s wonderful deeds in the past, but also reminds people to constantly turn to God in their daily lives and maintain their piety toward God.
For example, the Sabbath reminded the people to stop work every seven days and refocus on God. The Passover reminded them to remember God’s salvation. The Feast of Firstfruits taught them to offer their firstfruits to God, acknowledging that all things come from God. And the Feast of Weeks reminded them to count God’s grace and offer part of the produce with a grateful heart.
During these festivals, God required His people to hold “holy assemblies”, which meant that it wasn’t an individual thing, but it involved the entire faith community. God calls His people to come together to draw close to Him, listen to Him, and celebrate His faithfulness and salvation.
In our fast-paced modern life, we are often overwhelmed by the pressures of work, the pursuit of academic results, and the never-ending checklists. Many believers have gradually lost the rhythm and focus of faith. We may come to worship every Sunday, but we may not really rest in the Lord, let alone set aside a fixed time in the year to seek God.
However, this passage reminds us that God established festivals to help His people to continue to connect with Him in the busyness of life. We need a “spiritual rhythm” to help us stay sensitive to God, to worship Him, and to cultivate a heart of gratitude and trust in Him.
Reflection:
Is my life so full of busyness that I’m lacking the space to quieten down and listen for God’s voice? Do Sundays bring me closer to the Lord, renewing my relationship with Him? What does Christmas and Good Friday mean to me besides having another public holiday? Am I willing to offer my “first fruits” to God or to share them with others?
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father God, I thank You for how You have established the sacred festivals and have taught us how to walk with You through the days of our lives. You know my busyness, my weaknesses, and how easy it is for me to ignore Your presence. Please help me to build a rhythm for my spiritual life, so that I may know how to rest, how to be grateful, how to give, and how to share what you have blessed me with. May I celebrate Your faithfulness and Your love each day and be able to see Your hand at work in every season. In the name of the Lord Jesus, I pray, Amen.