N O chapter in the Bible is more doctrinally and pro phetically profound, nor fraught with more o f the weight of God’s plan for our lives, than the twen ty-third chapter of Lev iticus. Here within a few short but pithy sentences is an orderly unfolding o f the prophetic panorama that is withheld from the average casual reader. It is reserved in all of its beauty for only those who will take the time to study it and to compare diligently Scripture with Scripture. To such a student the prophetic import unfolds in harmonious array. More than mere historical nar rative is to be gleaned from this chapter. Under the principles of biblical interpretation, it is both dispensations! and typical. In speaking of the two Testar ments, someone has said that the New is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed. Typology is the nexus that brings the two together in proper per spective, and w ith in this one chapter is a series o f types serv ing to give an outline of God’s dealings with His earthly people Israel. Here too is to be seen the long est range of God’s program of sal vation to be found in any single chapter in the Old Testament. It stretches from Calvary to Eter nity future. Recall that God made an un conditional covenant with Abra ham. This, which must of neces sity stand forever, He later con firmed to Isaac and to Jacob. When He brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, He taught them in types in order that His plan for them might jut out in bold outline far beyond the imme diate generations to whom Moses wrote. Leviticus twenty-three pro jects more prophecy and presents more of the divine plan for Israel than any other chapter we can call to mind. Step by step, from commencement to consummation, the divine purpose graphically un folds. The seven feasts instituted in this chapter God claims as “ the
TwthoducfcoiAjtb L E V IT IC U
year, all seven of the Feasts be ing held during the three assem blings. These conferences brought Jew ish believers together who otherwise would not be able to fellowship with one another at any other time. What happy oc casions and what times o f re freshing! It was the season to encourage and comfort one an other. Even today it delights the heart of God to have His people come together to express their delights in Him and His Word. Our fellowship is with the Fa ther (I John 1 :3 ), and with His Son (I Cor. 1 :9 ), and with the Holy Spirit (Phil. 2 :1 ), and with one another (I John 1 :7). We have fellowship with God only in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit. Sweet fellowship with Him is fundamental to pleasant fellow ship with one another. More than fundamental, it is the only ground for fellowship with others of like precious faith. Christian fellow ship is not the fellowship of one denomination, assembly, sect, or one group with another o f that denomination, assembly, sect, or group, but of any or all true be lievers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not mere companionship, but a communion of thought, in terest, and affection. Cogently, the New Testament sets forth the degeneration of these Feasts from the holy, sol emn occasions God intended them to be to the cold, formal religious festivals of hypocrisy that man made them to become. Particular ly during the lifetime o f our Lord Jesus Christ was this true. While crowds journeyed from diverse parts of Palestine to Jerusalem to keep the Feasts, the references are not to “ the Feasts o f the Lord” but to “ the Jews’ pass- over” (John 2:13), and “ a feast of the Jews” (John 5:1) and “ the Jews’ feast of tabernacles”
feasts o f the Lord . . . My feasts” (vs. 1). The Revised Version apt ly terms them as “ appointed sea sons.” Having been appointed by Jehovah, ceremoniously they were set apart by Him to keep the peo ple in close-linked fellowship with Him as well as to encourage af fectionate, willing service unto Him. Jehovah was the Host; His people, His guests. To have His own, whom He redeemed, come together and rejoice in Him was the de lecta tion of His loving heart. It staggers one to ponder upon that thought that we worth less creatures afford the great God of eternity His complete delight. John Ritchie has well said, “ How poor and miserable are the sub jects that occasion m irth and gladness among the sons o f men compared with these! And how soon they fade away, and are for gotten! But Heaven’s enjoyments last; they do not lose their charm.” Although these were not the only feasts that comprised Israel’s sacred calendar, and this is not the only passage where these par ticular ones are mentioned, they are unique in a two-fold sense. First, they do voice a special com munication from Jehovah to Moses, and second , they are brought together in an orderly and comprehensive fashion. Each separate Feast had a distinctive import all its own; yet when the Seven are arranged in their chronological order, we can see how they were divinely pre-or dained to typify future events. An expressive word to observe is convocation. It appears no less than ten times in this chapter. The word means “ a calling to gether” or “ an assembly.” The feasts were regular annual “get- togethers.” Actually the Seven Feasts brought the people togeth er to Jerusalem three times each
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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