What are the Biblical Feasts and why should I, as a Believer, keep them? Click here
Hello Friends and Readers! Good to be with you once again as I do a bit of sharing about the Fall Feasts. The Fall Feasts are the Appointed Times, mentioned in Leviticus 23:23-44, that take place in Autumn each year.
I want to be transparent in telling you that I am not an expert or authority on any of YHVH’s Appointed Times: Fall, Spring, or otherwise. But, I am someone who went from not knowing that Appointed Times even existed a few years ago, to someone who now celebrates them. As they are quickly approaching, would you like to learn and seek along with me? Let’s go!
Yom Teruah is the first of the Fall Appointed Times. In English, it is often called the Feast of Trumpets. If you read Leviticus 23:23-25 you will see why. You may have noticed that Yom Teruah is celebrated in the 7th month (the others also). However, the reference here is the Hebrew calendar 7th month, which falls in September/October and not our month of July.
Yom Kippur is the second of the Fall Appointed Times. It is a solemn day, and in English called the Day of Atonement. You can read about it in Leviticus 23:27-32. It is the day that the high priest would go into the Holy of Holies and seek atonement for the corporate sins of Israel. Do you remember the two goats? One was sacrificed and the scapegoat that was to be “set free” in Leviticus 16:7-8? That happened on Yom Kippur each year.
Sukkot, or in English, the Feast of Tabernacles, is the third of the Fall Appointed Times. Leviticus 23:33-41 gives a bit of information about Sukkot, which is the most joyful of all the Feasts of YHVH. As a matter of fact, YHVH commands that Israel be joyful in her celebration in Leviticus 23:40 and Deuteronomy 16:14!
I hope you have been checking out the scripture links and gleaning a bit of information about these important appointments with The Father. As believers contemplate whether or not to celebrate, a few common thoughts come to mind. Let’s just face them head on, shall we?
But Debbie, we aren’t Jewish…
Did you see that they were listed as Jewish in the scriptures? We have heard them called Jewish, but scripture tells us that these appointed times belong to YHVH. As they are His, and I follow Him through a relationship with Yeshua, who is directly involved in their fulfillment, I am very interested in them.
But Debbie, what about all those sacrifices…
Yes, there are sacrifices listed in the scriptures that tell us of these feasts. The sacrifices would have been carried out by Levite priests in the place of YHVH’s choosing, i.e. the tabernacle or temple. We have no ability to carry out the sacrifices today.
But Debbie, why are you even talking about sacrifices? Yeshua was the ultimate sacrifice…
Amen! But, scripture does speak of a future time when the temple will once again be open and operational…including animal sacrifices. Check out Ezekiel 46:1-3 for one example.
But Debbie, if we can’t sacrifice now, should we even be trying to celebrate the Appointed Times?
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, The knowledge of God and not burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6
Yeshua Himself quoted the prophets Hosea (Hosea 6:6) and Micah (Micah 6:7-8) in stating that “Mercy I desire, and not sacrifice” Matthew 9:13. Now, I think we have to be careful to take His words in their full context, but I most definitely believe that we are living in a time when we will be given much mercy as we strive to honor YHVH by learning to celebrate His Appointed Times.
I have found in my own walk, that keeping a memorial of the Appointed Times has been the best way for me to learn about them. It is true that we cannot celebrate them to perfection. However, isn’t that also true of our entire walk while still living on this earth? I think Paul said it best…
For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.
Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
So for now, we can only keep the Appointed Times “dimly,” but the day is coming, Friends, when we will fully know and be fully known!
Don’t you want to be ready for that?!!! Me too!!!!
I plan to be back soon with a bit more about Yom Teruah, or the Feast of Trumpets. I hope you will be back to…
Come Seek With Me!
See all of our articles on the Fall Feast Season by clicking here.