Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-06-12

Oommsmorataon Of "Shebuoth ''-Penteeost
II DR.. sAx'L n. LASH.
The feast of Shebuoth has peculiar and
beautiful teachings for the Jew. 1t
commemorates the grand fact of the giving
of the law by the hands of Moses, and is
also remembered as the second feast OF
Weeks from the circumstance of the
Israelites being commanded to determine
the day of its observance, by reckoning
seven weeks from the day when they
began to put the sickel to the corn in
Palestine.
That day of beginning to put the sickel
to the corn is called the day that ye
brought the sheaf of the wave Offering" I"
Yet another name is given to the observ-
ance-as we have already remarked-"th
feast of the first fruits of wheat harvest.
They were then to offer q new meat
Offering unto the Lord. 1t was brought,
not from the fields, but from tho habita
tions it was two-fold and of an appointed
measure {; it was not in the condition in
which the fertility of the earth produced
it, but advanced by human industry and
art !; it was not taken as it came, but out
of the finest flour and it was baked with
leaven. The law concerning it was this !:
eye shall bring out of your habitations
two wave loaves of two -tenths deals they
shall be of fine -four, they shall be baked
with leaven I; they are the first fruits unto
tho Lord"
By this feast our forefathers did annual.
ly worship God with tho best produce of
the earth, after it had been brought in
and threshed out, and separated from the
chaff, and purified and made most per-
fectly fit for the food of man. The histOri-
cal fact which they commemorated there
in, was the giving Of the law from Mount
Sinai, which took place when fifty days
were accomplished from their departure
out Of Egypt the act by which God sepa
rated them unto Himself, and constituted
them into apolisy, making them not only
peculiar treasure unto Himself above all
people, ''but kingdom Of priests and
holy nation"
We have spoken at some length of de-
tail in regard to the history and eculiali
ties of this festival, because 1t has lessons
which we should never forget and at this
season should specially lay to heart.
Times have changed somewhat since the
law was given by Moses, but human
nature remains the same, and Gods Or
dinances are evermOre realities. 1t is i
high privilege to belong to the nation
through which God was pleased to make
known His Interchangeable law Of morality.
1t is a high privilege. too, thas We are
allowed to present to Him at this time the
first fruits of our househOlds-th children
whom we are commanded to train up in
the path Of His commandments and for
tho perpetuation of the faith Of one God.
1t is high privilege. too, to present at
this time before the Lord in our prayers,
the first fruits of the great harvest of
souIs-the long line of Israel's dead, whom
at this season We commemorate in our
prayers. These are lessons which are well
worth tho remembering, and they mark
this great feast as one of practical, rs we'll
as historical importance.
Many century has passed since the
festival of "Shebuoth was first kept,
and yet its celebration has never once
been intermitted. As inhabitants of
Palestine, rs dwellers in heather lands, as
prosecuted refugees from Christian coun-
tries, as citizens of kingdoms and repub
lies of liberal civilization, the Jews have
always been mindful of the old covenant
with God, and have kept His feasts and
facts with vigilan faith. To day, not less
than in tho time of Moses, their hearts are
open to the grave import of these Pente-
costal lessons.