February 20th - Feasts and Favor

Feasts and Favor

(Exodus 23:14-17; 28:16-17, 26-31; 34:18, 22-24)

(Leviticus 16:1-34; 23:4-21, 23-32, 33-44)

(Numbers 9:13-14; 28:18-15; 29:1-40)

(Deuteronomy 16:1-17)

The Scapegoat

By William Holman Hunt

1854

Rituals of Remembrance

Today’s Bible readings outline the high feasts and holy days of Israel, which the Lord instructed His people to observe annually:

The Feast of Unleavened Bread – celebrated in the 1^st Jewish month (March to April in the Roman calendar)

The Feast of Weeks (Harvest, Firstfruits or Pentecost) – celebrated in the 3^rd Jewish month (May to June in the Roman calendar)

The Feast of Trumpets – celebrated in the 7^th Jewish month (September to October in the Roman calendar)

The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) – celebrated on the 10^th day of the 7^th Jewish month (September to October in the Roman calendar)

The Feast of Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering) – celebrated in the 7^th Jewish month (September to October in the Roman calendar)

For each occasion, along with the specific instructions for ritual cleansing, sacrifices and other practices, the Lord clearly dictates that the people “hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work” (see Leviticus 23:7-8, Numbers 28:18, Numbers 28:25-26, Numbers 29:1 and Numbers 29:12).

Clearly, God takes these occasions quite seriously, even the joyful celebrations. The Lord counts these events spiritually significant, requiring His people to refrain from participating in work and other activities that may distract them from their devotion to Him.

Although most Christian churches do not mark these occasions officially, we may take many important lessons from these Old Testament practices. In particular, perhaps we might find our personal devotion and commitment to the Lord greatly enhanced, if we were to remove any practices or endeavors that may distract us or detract from our worship of the Lord.

For example, on any given Sunday, what do we do immediately after the worship service has ended? Do we find our minds racing ahead to concentrate on our afternoon activities, even before the last “Amen” has been uttered in church?

The Scapegoat of Atonement

What is a scapegoat? Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines a scapegoat this way:

1: a goat upon whose head are symbolically placed the sins of the people after which he is sent into the wilderness in the biblical ceremony for Yom Kippur

2: one that bears the blame for others b: one that is the object of irrational hostility

The concept of a scapegoat originated with the Hebrews. The actual word may have been derived from the name of a demon, who represented sin. Historically, we have come to refer to any blame-bearer as a scapegoat. The term is often used in political, social or criminal justice applications.

Essentially, in Old Testament times, the scapegoat was a pure sacrificial animal. The high priest placed his hands on the scapegoat, ceremonially declaring the people’s sins over the beast. The scapegoat was then led out into the wilderness, to carry away the transgressions and guilt of the people. The Israelites practiced the scapegoat ritual annually on the Day of Atonement.

What a lovely prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, who bore in His own body the sins of all people for all time. Although the scapegoat symbolically carried the people’s sins for one year, the Son of God resolved the sin issue for eternity.

Thanks be to God, who saved us from ourselves, now and forever.

Will you pray with me?

Great God and Maker,

Shepherd and Savior,

How we thank You

For bearing our sin.

We need no more scapegoats.

The spotless Lamb of God

Has paid for the sins of man

For all time.

How grateful we are.

Teach us to honor You

Throughout the year.

Reveal to us

Anything that distracts our devotion

To You.

We live to honor You.

Amen.