Shavuot (literally - Weeks) is discussed in these
passages.
Leviticus 23:15-16 and 21 (Shavuot description) Deuteronomy 16:10-12 (Shavuot
description of the feast) Numbers 28:26 (description of Shavuot) Leviticus 23
(outline of the feasts), Exodus 19 (YHWH preparing to meet the people at Mount
Sinai), Acts 2 (new covenant experience of Shavuot), and Deuteronomy 9 (memorial
statement regarding Moses getting the ten commandments and the people rebelling
while he was gone, reference to the golden calf incident.)
Ideas
Why leavened loaves to be offered?
Answers possible - When the offering is taken from the
field, it represents both the benevolence of the Almighty in that HE has
provided the wheat, but also the stewardship of mankind who has taken the action
of cutting it down. Scythe in one hand, wheat in the other.
The duality of man doing something and the Almighty’s provision may explain
the notion of leaven in the wheat. This is spoken of in Hebrews about the
Messiah being a “little lower than the angels” such that the great divine
plan is fulfilled using the human, lower, earthly element.
Human endeavor vs.- YHWH' goodness/benevolence
Bring up the Mary and Martha connection in order to get the people to understand the full message of this teaching. Bring up the monks of the middle ages that would perch on a mountain in order to spend their lives devoted to thinking of “higher spiritual things,” yet they did very little of anything practical with their hands to make the world better. On the other hand of people forget the benevolence of the CREATOR and continue on their merry way focusing all energy on creating comfort for themselves they become selfish and ungrateful.
“Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?” Ecclesiastes 7:16
Mother used to say “so heavenly minded that that person is no earthly good.” The idea that we just think of holy things and let the world go from bad to worse.
2nd reason. Distance at Sinai/no intimacy leading to golden calf
incident. Why is are the wheat loaves leavened? Mt Sinai incident - golden calf
preceded by removing themselves from the mountain - no real intimacy, This
occasion is found in Exodus 20 And all the people saw the thunderings,
and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and
when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto
Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not YHWH speak with us,
lest we die.
Other intersecting elements, bring up the Messiah Himself, both man and Divine, made a “little lower than the angels” yet put up in glory to the highest place.
Waving of the Omer
The day after the Passover Seder is called Waving Day, and it is the first
day of Counting the Omer (tithe). On that day a lamb is waved, with cakes made
from the first omer of barley - the first grain crop to ripen.
Shavuot in temple times –
An Israelite man would bring his produce to the priest -
Traditional recitation for Israelites during temple
times-
You shall then make the following declaration before the YHWH your Elohim: 'My
ancestor was a homeless Aramaean. He went down to Egypt and sojourned there with
a small number of men, but there he became a great, mighty, and populous nation.
The Egyptians were cruel to us and caused us to suffer; they placed harsh
slavery upon us. We cried out to the L-rd, the G-d of our fathers, and He heard
our voice and saw our suffering, our harsh labor, and our distress.' 'The L-rd
brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, with great
visions, signs and miracles. He brought us to this place, giving us this land
flowing with milk and honey. I am now bringing the first fruit of the land that
the L-rd has given me.'
Tongues of Fire ACTS and Sinai –0 70 languages
dispersion at Babel (Shavuot) --) Sinai where the little fire is rumored to have
gone around and asked each person there if they accepted or not each person
hearing the fire in their own language
Historical References of Shavuot
Exodus 15:27 encamped at Elim (70 palm trees and 12
oasis)
Languages divided
(3750+ years ago)
"Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because Yahweh did there
confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Yahweh scatter them
abroad upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 11:8).
Torah given in languages of all
nations (3300+ years ago)
"And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because Yahweh descended upon
it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the
whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the shofar sounded long, and
grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice"
(Exodus 19:18-19)."And God spoke all these words, saying, I am Yahweh your
God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
You shall have no other gods before me" (Exodus 20:1-3).
Gospel given in languages of all
nations (1900+ years ago)
"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, . . . every man heard them
speak in his own language. . .'we do hear them speak in our own languages the
wonderful works of God.' . . and the same day there were added unto them about
three thousand souls" (Act 2:1-41).
Noah’s family left the Ark, and grew to 70 families. God told them to cover the Earth. But they went east to a land we call Iran, and built a city. They had one language, and were of one purpose - to make a name for themselves, and they started building a tower. But one day God gave each family a different language, so that they could not understand each other and would disperse throughout the Earth. This is that day!
Centuries later, the children of Israel - a mixed multitude from the 70 nations, were delivered from Egyptian slavery on Passover. Fifty days later, they were encamped around Mt. Sinai. Hear what the Hebrew people have been taught and believed about this for 3300 years.
God spoke to them His commandments in Hebrew and in the 70 languages of the nations. A tongue as of fire came to each of them and said, "Do you accept?" They answered, "Whatever our Lord says, we will obey, and we will learn."
This is that day!
1900 years ago, Yeshua was sacrificed on Passover. When the 50 days were fully counted, that is on Pentecost, people from all the nations were gathered at Jerusalem to rehearse this according to God’s commandment. Amazingly, they saw centuries old teaching unfold before their eyes! Everyone heard the Hebrew apostles speaking - in their own language - about Yeshua being their Passover sacrifice; and tongues as of fire appeared, and they had a decision to make: would they accept? The Holy Spirit was given as "earnest" - the promise of the future marriage.
This is that day!
- Bring up Ruth as relevant to Shavuot, she being a Moabitess and moving up the
ladder to become the grandmother of King David who both was born and who died on
Shavuot. Progression of Israelites being slaves in Egypt and then at Mount Sinai
being made an independent nation, intended to be priests of YHWH to the world.
Spirit and the Torah 2 representations of both Shavuot
in the scriptures.
Spirit and the Truth
Traditional Jewish methods of keeping the Shavuot.
1) Dairy
2) All night torah study 3) Flowers and greens on the synagogue
Dairy eating customs -
It is customary to eat a dairy meal at least once during Shavu'ot. There are
varying opinions as to why this is done. Some say it is a reminder of the
promise regarding the land of Israel, a land flowing with "milk and
honey." According to another view, it is because our ancestors had just
received the Torah (and the dietary laws therein), and did not have both meat
and dairy dishes available
Ephesians 5:18 "filled with
the Spirit"
Practical Aspects – How should we keep Shavuot today? How many of the
traditions of the Jewish sages should we implement if any? Which ones?
We count off 49 (7x7) days to Shavuot. 49 is the gematria
of the Aramaic word KHAILA meaning “power” or “miracles”. We count of 49
days because we are getting ready to receive the KHAILA of YHWH with the
outpouring of the Ruach and the renewal of the Covenant
Seven traditional fruits and offerings for first fruits
The
seven species of agricultural produce that symbolize the fertility of Israel
celebrated at Shavuot are wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and
dates (which they made into honey)
Related scriptures
1 Revelation 12:14 (eagles wings)
Isaiah / Yesha'yahu 42:5, "This is what YHWH Elohim says- he who
created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all
that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk
on it: "I, YHWH, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your
hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a
light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from
prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness