Read Numbers 28:11–29:40
Questions from the Scripture text: Which ascension and tribute is commanded in Numbers 28:11-15? How much is to be offered? What does this imply about the importance of the beginning of each month? When is the Passover (Numbers 28:16, cf. Leviticus 23:5–8)? When is unleavened bread, and how long (Numbers 28:17)? What is the first day (Numbers 28:18)? What ascension (Numbers 28:19), tribute (Numbers 28:20-21), and sin offering (Numbers 28:22) are to be offered? In addition to what (Numbers 28:23-24)? What is the seventh day (Numbers 28:25)? What is the first day of the Feast of Weeks called here (Numbers 28:26)? What is this day to be? What is to be offered (Numbers 28:27-31)? What month begins with what kind of day for them (Numbers 29:1)? What offerings are to be made, in addition to what else (Numbers 29:2-6)? What is the second celebration day of the seventh month (Numbers 29:7)? What sort of day is it? What ascension (Numbers 29:8), tribute (Numbers 29:9-10), and sin offering (Numbers 29:11) are to be brought? What is the third major celebration of the seventh month (Numbers 29:12-38, cf. Leviticus 23:33–36)? What is it to be (Numbers 29:12)? For how long? What sort of ascension (Numbers 29:13), tribute (Numbers 29:14-15), and sin offering (Numbers 29:16) are to be made on the first day? How does the number change on subsequent days (Numbers 29:17, Numbers 29:20, Numbers 29:23, Numbers 29:26, Numbers 29:29), culminating with how many on which day (Numbers 29:32)? What is the eighth day called (Numbers 29:35)? What ascension (Numbers 29:36), tribute (Numbers 29:37), and sin offering (Numbers 29:38) are to be made? To what are all these feasts to be added (Numbers 29:39)? What does Moses do (Numbers 29:40)?
What was the annual Israelite calendar? Numbers 28:11–29:40 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these sixty-one verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the annual Israelite calendar was a series of feasts that reminded them of the faithfulness, salvation, provision, and atonement of their God.
God’s steady faithfulness. In addition to the creational calendar of Numbers 28:1-10, Israel are to offer a significant number of extra sacrifices on the first day of every month (Numbers 28:11-15). Each new month is a testament to God’s persisting faithfulness.
The God Who delivered from death. The beginning of months for them was measured from when God delivered them from Egypt. But we mustn’t forget that the Passover was actually a much greater deliverance than that from Egypt. He delivered them from death at His own hand! The fourteenth day of the first month was reserved for celebrating this (Numbers 28:16, and would immediately begin an observance of unleavened bread (Numbers 28:17), focusing more upon the Exodus itself. Again, God’s people were to observe these days by holy assemblies (Numbers 28:18, Numbers 28:25), marked especially by drawing near to God in His provided sacrifices (Numbers 28:19-24).
The God Who provides the land, and makes the land provide. Only here is the Feast of Weeks described as beginning with “the day of the firstfruits” (Numbers 28:26). This feast commemorated the ingathering of the wheat harvest (cf. Exodus 34:22), and is one of the reasons for listing these feasts here in the book of Numbers, as the people of Israel are about to go from wandering in the wilderness to gathering an annual harvest in the promised land.
The God Who atones for His people’s sin. The entirety of chapter 29 is given to celebrations in the seventh month. Just as the seventh day was a holy day, the seventh month was a holy month for Israel. It began with a day of blasting trumpets (Numbers 29:1–6), a holy convocation with trumpeting to announce the arrival of the holy month. This trumpeting day is what Jews later considered to be their new year (Rosh Hashanah), in contradiction of God’s own designation.
The tenth day of the month, the day of atonement (Numbers 29:7-11), is called here a day to “afflict your souls” (Numbers 29:7). Leviticus 16 prescribes this day in much greater detail, coming out of the necessity for cleansing and atoning after the sin of Nadab and Abihu and their tabernacle-defiling deaths.
The last great event in the holy month was the seven-day feast that began on the fifteenth day of the month. This feast demanded a huge amount of sacrifices, counting down to seven bulls on the seventh day (Numbers 29:32), so beginning with thirteen(!) bulls on the first day (Numbers 29:13). Again, this is a celebration that provides some of the reason for this calendar appearing at this point in the book of Numbers. The wandering in the wilderness, which is about to end, was commemorated during this feast by the use of tents/booths throughout the month (cf. Leviticus 23:33–36). By the time this feast is complete, they have offered seventy bulls, fourteen rams, ninety-eight lambs, and seven goats! The eighth day is its own separate feast, a solemn assembly (Numbers 29:35). God had patiently endured, forgiven, and overruled their sin in the wilderness. He would continue to do so for centuries in the land!
All of these were especially covenantal celebrations between covenant God and covenant people. But they were in addition to the daily offerings (Numbers 28:15, Numbers 28:24, Numbers 28:31; Numbers 29:6, Numbers 29:11, Numbers 29:16, Numbers 29:19, Numbers 29:22, Numbers 29:25, Numbers 29:28, Numbers 29:31, Numbers 29:38) and all of the personal offerings that Israelites brought near (Numbers 29:39).
By this calendar, God repeatedly reminded them that He is their faithful God, Who delivers them from death, keeps His promises, and atones for their sin. Now, we have all of these things not in a calendar, but in the person and work of Jesus Christ! In Him, all of the promises of God have their yes and amen.
How does Jesus Himself affirm to you God’s persistent faithfulness? God’s delivering you from death? God’s keeping all covenant promises to you, and making provision for you? God’s atoning for your sin? How does the daily and weekly “calendar” bring you to God through Christ? How does the absence of an annual church calendar emphasize to you that Christ has fulfilled all of these?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for giving to Israel an annual calendar that kept reminding them of Your faithfulness, salvation, and atonement. And thank You, even more, for giving Your own Son to us as that reminder, now. Grant unto us to come to You through Him, day by day, and week by week, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP92 “It’s Good to Thank the Lord” or TPH151 “Lord of the Sabbath, Hear Us Pray”
No comments:
Post a Comment