Questions from the Scripture text: What must they do with the increase of their grain (Deuteronomy 14:22)? When? Before Whom shall they enjoy it (Deuteronomy 14:23)? Where? What if it is too far (Deuteronomy 14:24-26)? Whom should they not forget (Deuteronomy 14:27)? How often must they do what in Deuteronomy 14:28? For whom (Deuteronomy 14:29)? How often are they to do what else in Deuteronomy 15:1? What details govern this (Deuteronomy 15:2-3)? What extraordinary circumstance might alter this (Deuteronomy 15:4)? When/how (Deuteronomy 15:5-6)? What mustn’t they do with the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-9)? What must they do (Deuteronomy 15:10)? Why (Deuteronomy 15:11, cf. Deuteronomy 15:4)? What must be done every seventh year (Deuteronomy 15:12)? In what manner (Deuteronomy 15:13-14)? Why (Deuteronomy 15:15)? How might things be between them and their slaves (Deuteronomy 15:6-18)? What must they do with the firstborn males of their animals (Deuteronomy 15:19)? Before Whom (Deuteronomy 15:20)? Where? When mustn’t they do this (Deuteronomy 15:21)? What may they do with the defective firstborn (Deuteronomy 15:22)? With what additional requirement (Deuteronomy 15:23)? What month are they to keep (Proverbs 16:1)? To keep what? Unto Whom? Why? From what (Proverbs 16:2a)? Where (verse 2b, cf. Proverbs 16:5-7)? How (Proverbs 16:3)? Why? For how long (Proverbs 16:4, Proverbs 16:8)? What must they hold on the last day? What shall they count (Proverbs 16:9) until when (Proverbs 16:10)? What is the essence of this feast (Proverbs 16:11)? With whom are they to do this rejoicing? What are they to remember (Proverbs 16:12)? What other feast are thy to observe (Proverbs 16:13)? For how long? At what time? What are they to do (Proverbs 16:14)? With whom? How long (Proverbs 16:15)? Unto Whom? Where? Why? How does Proverbs 16:16 summarize this chapter so far? Before Whom must they appear? Where? With what (Proverbs 16:16-17)?
How was Israel to keep God’s prescribed holy time? Deuteronomy 14:22–16:17 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word read in the public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these forty-eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we are to keep divinely consecrated time by worship that rejoices in the Lord, before the Lord, for His goodness to us in creation and redemption.
This passage presents framework for Israel to consecrate time unto gathering unto YHWH and rejoicing in Him, rooted in gratitude for creation and redemption. This follows the logic of the fourth commandment, the celebration of which is grounded in creation in Exodus 20, and then additionally grounded in redemption in Deuteronomy 5.
Israel’s calendar is shaped by joyful worship and generosity, embodied in annual tithing, the release of debts, the liberation of slaves, and the celebration of three annual feasts—all designed to cultivate a heart of thankfulness and mercy. The recurring emphasis on remembering Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and the inclusion of the vulnerable—Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans—reveals that holy time is both a celebration of divine grace, and an imitation and expression of it unto others.
For Israel, this was prescribed to be experienced very concretely in the “year by year” of the tithing in Deuteronomy 14:22–27, and then at the end of every third year, the special tithe for the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). And then there is the debt-release year (Deuteronomy 15:1–11), which also a slave-release year (Deuteronomy 15:12-18), in the literal Sabbath (seventh) year. They were also to observe “year by year” (Deuteronomy 15:20) consecration of the firstborn (Deuteronomy 15:19-23). Finally, Deuteronomy 16:1–17 reviews the three feasts at which times all of the males of Israel are to appear before YHWH in the place which He chooses.
There are three important things to point out about all of these holy times. First, is that there is a delighting in YHWH Himself by means of what he has given (e.g., Deuteronomy 14:26). The consecrated time was a time of rejoicing, being glad in YHWH, strengthened in YHWH, and refreshed in YHWH, in the place where YHWH had put His Name. It was not so much the good thing that is enjoyed as YHWH Himself.
The other two things to notice about these holy times are connected to the Scriptural grounds of the fourth commandment. Israel are to tithe in recognition that YHWH has created everything, corresponding to Exodus 20:11. And, corresponding to Deuteronomy 5:15, Israel are to remember their own deliverance from Egypt as they show kindness to the foreigner, the slave, the fatherless, and the widow.
Though the specific rituals have been fulfilled in Christ, the principles endure: the Lord’s Day is to be a sacred time of worship, rest, and practical kindness, where believers gather to delight in God and extend His mercy to those in need. The entire system points to a deeper reality—resting in Christ, rejoicing in His provision, and reflecting His redemptive love.
Though the priesthood of Christ eliminated the Israelite calendar (cf. Hebrews 7:12), but we still continue with the Adamic calendar, the one day in seven (cf. Matthew 24:20, Hebrews 4:9), now appropriated by the last Adam, the Lord Jesus (cf. Revelation 1:10). All that God gave to Israel to celebrate (and more!) over the course of their calendar year, is now subsumed into each Lord's Day. The Lord's Day is especially a time for enjoying the Lord Himself with His people. And the place where He has chosen to put His Name is not geography so much, now, as it is anthropology: His people. Lord's Day is not a day for gathering with the neighborhood. It's not a day for gathering with extended, unbelieving family. His church is now the “place” in this world where He “has put His Name.”
And then the Lord's Day is especially a day for kindness among his people. This happens especially in the Lord's Day assembly, as Isaiah 56 further opens up; among God’s Sabbath-keeping people, the circumstances of the eunuch or the foreigner are mitigated. It’s a very appropriate use of the Lord's Day for it to be the time that the poor among the congregation receive that which has been given by the rest of the congregation and portioned out to them by the diaconate.
And so you see the regulation of holy time by the Lord has been much simplified, but the principles of thankfulness to Him, from whom all things have come; and, the purpose of imitating the mercy of Him, Who has delivered us from our bondage. Doing those things, especially on the Lord's day, those principles continue.
How do you spend the Lord’s Day in joyful worship? How do you spend it in the place (among the people!) where He has put His Name? How do you specifically imitate His kindness to the poor on that day?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how we have neglected Your day of rest, or taken a fleshly and worldly rest, rather than resting in You and rejoicing in You by the worship that You have prescribed for Your day. Grant that we would always rejoice in You, and imitate Your kindness. But grant that we would especially do so on Your day, in the worship that You have prescribed, in Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP92 “It’s Good to Thank the Lord” or TPH174 “The Ten Commandments”
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