Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, June 16, 2024
Shavuah Tov *|FNAME|*,
Today is the 50th day. Shavuot is a day that is ordered of the Lord. Leviticus 23:16 Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat you are to count fifty days, and then present a new grain offering to Adonai. Jewish tradition has it that the Torah was given on Mount Sinai on the 50th day following the Exodus through the Red Sea.
Rabbi Trail: Ever heard it called “the Sea of Reeds?” This “theory” believes that the Lord didn’t divide the Red Sea, but that the Children of Israel left Egypt through the marshy “Sea of Reeds.” That theory works until you have to explain who Pharaoh drowned in a marsh. End RT.
The Book of Acts records the giving of the Holy Spirit on the 50th day following the resurrection of Yeshua. Acts 2:1 When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out.
So then, Shavuot (along with all the other Feasts of the Lord) has realities in both the Hebrew Scriptures and the Apostolic writings (ie. both Old and New Testaments).
Now, about the devotional for today. I’m traveling to the Tikkun Conference (three different sets of meetings for me) and am having difficulty allocating resources today to write something original. So forgive me for offering you a classic (ie. old) RR. I’ll indicate the date originally published and get back to new and original material ASAP, maybe tomorrow.
Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, May 20, 2018
Shavuah Tov *|FNAME|*,
Shavuah Tov on Shavuot? What is this, a GEICO commercial? No, today (Sunday) is Shavuot. The way I count (see Rabbi Trail below), we always start on a Sunday. This means we always end (with Day 49) on a Saturday, making Shavuot fall on a Sunday.
Rabbi Trail: While some would say there are many ways to count, there is actually only one right way to count. My way. Counting is not the problem. When you start counting is the issue.
The rabbis always start on the second day of Passover. Why? Because the Bible says to start counting not he day after the sabbath. Is that the sabbath of the first day of Passover, or the day after the first Saturday sabbath of Passover? They say the former, and I say the latter.
Why do I say to start the day after the first Saturday? Because only then can you fulfill the next verse that says, “Seven Sabbaths shall be complete.” No so if you start counting on any other day. End RT.
Now that we’ve got that cleared up, let’s address Shavuot at a deeper level. Two loaves baked with leaven are waived by the priest. We have reason to believe they represent the Jewish and non-Jewish parts of the kingdom of God.
Each of the feasts of the Lord has an Old Covenant reality and a New Covenant reality. For the spring feasts (all 3), their Old Covenant reality is connected to the Exodus from Egypt, while their New Covenant realities are all connected to Yeshua’s first coming. For the fall feasts (all 3), their Old Covenant realities are tied to Tabernacle (and later Temple) worship, Jewish observance, and with Sukkot, the desert wandering experience. And yes, you guessed it, it will take the second coming for the New Covenant realities to be fulfilled. This means the New Covenant realities of fall feasts are not yet fulfilled.
What happened to Shavuot? Why is it not well celebrated (especially in Conservative and Reform synagogues)? It tends to get swallowed up at the end of the school year. Many synagogues use it for a confirmation or graduation service.
The New Covenant reality of Shavuot is the giving of the Holy Spirit. Even though the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) is spoken of throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the trinity is not widely recognized in Judaism.
Rabbi Trail: Try out this verse from Isaiah 48 (which proves the trinity). Isaiah 48:16 Draw near to Me, hear this: Since the beginning, I have not spoken in secret. From the time it existed, I was there. So now Adonai Elohim has sent Me, and His Ruach.
Let me ask you. Who is “I” in “I was there?” You got it, Yeshua. Yeshua is the only one who is “since the beginning.” End RT.
Let’s continue to pursue the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Our worship service for Shavuot will begin at 10:30 on Sunday. We will have a joint service with Grace and Glory followed by both congregations sharing in an oneg meal.
Let’s all expect to see the Lord tomorrow as we lift up Yeshua and invite the Holy Spirit to come with power.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Shavuot I
10 Sivan Sunday 16-Jun-24
Numbers 8:1-14 Jeremiah 23 Job 32 Mark 9:1-29 1 Corinthians 11