The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1946-02-01
FEAST DAYS OF A PEOPLE

permission.
FEAST DAYS OF A PEOPLE
LESSON TEXT-Leviticus 20:7, 8; 23:4-e.
49, 16. "a. 81, %, "a, 1914.
GOLDEN TEXT-The Lord hath done
great things for us; whereof we are glad
Psalm 1858.
God wants His people to enjoy
their religious life. Being in fellow
ship with Him is not something to
dampen ones spirits, but rather to
give joy and enthusiasm full lib
erty. Even with Israel in those ear
ly days when Christ had not come
and they had only the promises and
types of His coming, He arranged
for regular religious feasts or fes-
rivals which brought the people to-
gether to worship Him.
One can well imagine the delight
full fellowship as friends, acquaint-
ances and especially relatives from
various places went up to the feast
together. Personal joy was height
ened by the great spiritual joy which
they shared.
The obvious lesson for us is that
we who know Christ and have peace
and liberty in Him should enjoy
our Christian anniversaries to the
full in a manner well-pleasing to
Him. We need such occasions to
renew our faith, to quicken our joy,
and to cause us to remember Gods
grace and His blessings.
The first of the assigned Scrip
ture passages does not directly re-
late to the feasts of Gods people
but rather speaks of:
I. The Holiness of the Lord (Lev.
2O:7, 0.
God is holy and His people in their
earthly walk are to show that they
have been sanctified by Him. This
involves a separation from worldly
practices and an eagerness to do
the will of Goo.
Keeping the statutes Of God
should be the delight of His people,
not burden or a trial. There is
real liberty in conformity to law.
Holiness makes for freedom and
fruitfulness.
Now we turn to the consideration
Of the feasts of the Lord. In select
ing the verses, two of the feasts
were omitted, so we shall include
Leviticus 1873, 9-12 with the others
assigned.
ii. The Feasts of the Lord (Lev.
1886, 9-12, Is, 16. "a, II, 28. "a,
39-44).
This is one of the great chapters
of the book of Leviticus, presenting
both practical and prophetic teach
ing. The holy ''feasts" and the "set
times" of Israel (Which we shall
consider under the one heading OF
''feasts") were for their spiritual
instruction and edification, but they
also reveal Gods prophetic purpose
for both Israel and the Church.
/. The Sabbath ". 81. This is not
strictly considered one of the feasts
but a set time-a holy convoca-
ton to be held after six days OF la
Dor. 1t is the type of the rest that
God has in mind for His people.
(See Heb. ALLY
A word of admonition is in order
regarding Americas awful disre-
spect for and misuse Of our day
of rest-the Lords day. Is it not
time we did something about the
dissertation of Sunday?
2. The Passover and the Unleav-
ened Bread wv. 4-6). These could
be considered separately but they
are closely related. The Passover
spoke of the Lamb of God who was
to shed His blood on the cross, even
as it pointed back to redemption by
blood on that dark night in Egypt
(Exod. 1912, 1877.
The un,eavened bread speaks Of
holiness. This is not the result Of
"servile work" ". 81, but show
ing forth of faith in the offering by
fire.
8. The Firstfruits wv. 9-12). Just
as the one sheaf was waved before
the Lord as the earnest of the har-
vest, so Christ in His resurrection is
the firstfruits of them that sleep in
the grave. (See I Cor. 15:20-23.)
Note that it was waved ION the
morrow after the Sabbath" ". I'D
which is the resurrection morning
our Sunday. What blessed thought
4. Pentecost wv. IS, 16). Fifty
days after the feast of firstfruitS
came a new meal offering; two
wave loaves are presented before
the Lord. This new meal offering
speaks Of the believing people Of
Christ, and so it came to pass that
It was on Pentecost that the Holy
Spirit was poured out on the Church
(Acts ALA, just fifty days after
the resurrection Of Christ.
5. Trumpets ". 24). This looks
forward TO the day when God shall
call His people Israel in the latter
days. This will bring them togeth-
er for the great day of
6. Atonement wv. q, 28). On that
day Christ shall take away the sin
of His people Czech. 1870, and they
eholl ha nrenared for the crowning