THE THREE FESTIVALS

Passage: Deuteronomy 16:1~17  

Key verse: 16

The three festivals were central to Israel’s worship practice and in establishing their identity as people of God. On these festivals, they were to present themselves before God at the tabernacle and later the temple. They were to bring freewill offerings and to rejoice before God. The first festival is the Passover which subsumed the seven days of the Festival of Unleavened Bread; it was celebrated to remind the Israelites that God had delivered them from slavery in Egypt with his mighty hand. The Festival of Weeks was a feast of thanksgiving to God for the harvest of wheat. The Festival of Tabernacles was celebrated at the end of the harvest, and they were to live in booths for a week. They were to celebrate these festivals appearing before God three times a year; They were to reflect on God’s saving grace and faithful provision, to give thanks to God, and to have joyful feasts.

Christians are to come together each week to pay honor and give thanks to Christ for His saving grace and provision. We are also to have joyful feasts together with fellow believers before God. Moreover, we are holy pilgrims traveling together to the heavenly kingdom to celebrate the eternal feast with Christ. Let each of us bring a gift of praise and worship His name and rejoice before the Lord.



Prayer: Lord, help me to remember what you have done and offer thanks to you.

One Word: Remember and celebrate