Each Moed on Its Proper Day

I believe that every follower of Yeshua (aka Jesus) should be keeping God's appointed times. Passover, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, etc. I believe that doing so honors God and teaches valuable lessons.

I also believe it's important that we try to do it the way God said to as much as possible, including the timing. Of course, very few people can go to Jerusalem, and there's no altar or priesthood, so there's a lot we can't do, but we can keep the spirit of the Feasts.

We have a pretty good idea of the correct timing, though. If you believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, then you must believe that he kept all the commandments correctly. We know that he kept the weekly Sabbath and the other appointed times on the same day that the Pharisees and Sadducees did. They were wrong about some things, but clearly not about everything. With a few minor exceptions, we know when the first century Jews kept the weekly Sabbath and all of the other appointed times and therefore when Yeshua kept them. They counted the months according the new moon and the weeks according to a continuous cycle of 7 days with no connection to the new moon, and so did Yeshua.

Whether you follow the sighting of the new moon or the calculated new moon, you can get the timing of the annual holy days right within a day or two, even if you've chosen the wrong method...whichever that is. Maybe you count the start of the year by the sighting of ripe barley or maybe you count it by the calculated agricultural cycles. Either method is reasonable, and I don't think we have sufficient information about first century practices.

However, if you're trying to keep the appointed times on a day that's radically different than most other people--counting the Sabbath by the new moon or calculating the months without reference to the new moon, for example--I have to wonder what makes you think you know better than Yeshua.

If you don't think keeping the feasts is important to God, this probably seems like a petty disagreement. I'll simply refer you back to the Scriptures, which plainly say that the timing of the feasts is important to him. If the King summoned you to court on Tuesday and you showed up on Wednesday because it was more convenient for you, don't you think he would care?

These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the LORD food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day...

Leviticus 23:37

The Blessing of Isaac and Yom Kippur

Connections between Isaac's blessing and Yom Kippur:

• Isaac sent Esau to hunt the game "that he loved." In preparation for a future Yom Kippur, God will send fishers and hunters to bring his people back from exile. (Gen 27:3-4 & Jer 16:16)
• Rebekah told Jacob to bring two goats. Two goats are required for Yom Kippur. (Gen 27:9 & Lev 16:5)
• Isaac chose blindly between his two sons. The High Priest cast lots (choosing blindly) on the two goats. (Gen 27:1 & Lev 16:8)
• Jacob and Esau were twin brothers. The goats of Yom Kippur are to be alike in appearance. (Gen 25:24 & Yoma 62a)
• Jacob was a man of the tents and Esau was a man of the field. Jacob was accepted, while Esau was rejected. One goat was taken into the Tabernacle, while the other was driven into the wilderness. (Gen 25:27 & Lev 16:8-10, Mal 1:2-3)

Do you see any others? I'm sure there must be more.

Scriptures Related to Yom Kippur

As always, expect this list to change over time.

• Genesis 27
• Exodus 30:1-10
• Exodus 34:28-33
• Leviticus 16
• Leviticus 23:26-32
• Leviticus 25:8-12
• Numbers 26:52-56
• Numbers 29:7-11
• Numbers 33:54-34:15
• Numbers 36:1-12
• Joshua 2:17-21
• Proverbs 16:33
• Proverbs 18:18
• Isaiah 1:18-20
• Isaiah 58
• Ezekiel 40:1
• Joel 1:13-15
• Joel 2:12-18
• Luke 4:16-30
• Acts 27:9
• Hebrews 9:6-28
• Hebrews 13:11-15

L'shana Tova! (or not...)

Messianics need to quit obsessing over obscure conspiracy theories. No mortal on earth knows the real origin of 99% of all of the extra-biblical traditions surrounding Biblical holidays (like Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot). Maybe this or that ancient prayer was influenced by some old rabbi getting too cozy with a shaman or maybe not. Maybe the date got shifted a bit so the Jews could blend in with the Romans or Babylonians a little better. But really, there's no way that you or anyone else will ever know.

So stop getting so crazy about it. Say "Shana tova!" or don't say it. Build a sukka of reeds and fronds or put up a tent or don't do either, whichever you and your community believes honors the commandment.

You're not a cohen serving in the Tabernacle, so keeping the commandment is far more important than keeping it perfectly. Unity in the Kingdom is far more important than baseless witch hunts for anything that might somehow, somewhen have been remotely connected to someone's pagan uncle's nickname.

Relax. Do the best you can and let God worry about details that are hopelessly outside of your scope of knowledge and power. Enjoy God's appointed times. Be at peace.

L'shana Tova!

Yom Kippur 5770

May your eyes be opened and your heart softened.
May your prayers be heard and your sins forgiven.
May your days be blessed and your name written in the Book of Life.

Days of Seeking

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of ten days of reflection and repentance culminating in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur is also a day of resolution, much as New Year's Day is on the Gregorian calendar. The similarities end there, however. New Year's is festive. Yom Kippur is somber. There are no real consequences to New Year's resolutions. If we fail, then we are disappointed with ourselves, but little else happens. Yom Kippur, on the other hand, is about getting your life aligned with God's plan. Someday the Messiah will return on Rosh Hashanah and will take his throne in judgment on the following Yom Kippur. In that year, the days between will take on a much more sober tone as we contemplate answering for our lives to the True King. Each year that he delays is an opportunity to set things right, to make up for past wrongs, and to grow another step closer to perfection.

In my own life, this past year has been marked by some dramatic upswings, but then some harsh downturns as well. Right now, I'm backed into several corners at once, and I have no idea what the future holds or what I'm supposed to do next.  This has all come to a head in just the last few days. I have an unprecedented opportunity that isn't likely to come my way again, but it consistently remains just beyond my reach. I keep saying to myself, "Do what's right; let God worry about the consequences. Do what's right; let God worry about the consequences." But it's little help. How can I do what's right when I don't know what that is? I have no wisdom or divine revelation. It seems that God has conspired with the heavens to place the Ten Days exactly where I needed them this year. I have just over a week to spend in prayer and fasting until Yom Kippur. I hope I'll have some answers by then.

I wish I didn't have to be so cryptic, but I'm asking for your prayers anyway.