|
|
Shavuot / Pentacost - Feast of Weeks
Started by LovingNeighbor at 10-15-2006 10:36 PM. Topic has 1 replies.
  
|
|
Sort Posts:
|
|
|
|
 10-15-2006, 10:36 PM
|
LovingNeighbor
 
Joined on 02-10-2006
Washington
Posts 397
|
Shavuot Reading Thoughts, Studies, and Comments
|
|
|
|
|
The goal of this section is to get everybody's studies, thoughts, and opinions on anything in the weeks parasha. This includes, word studies, thoughts on verses, history, related subjects, and anything that may help us to understand this Torah Portion. Even if it's just an observation on the smallest part, it can help others who may not have seen it that way. The goal is then as we visit the parasha (Torah Portion) each year we will create a collection of studies and thoughts on this portion and everyone will benefit by having a broader view of the portion. Shalom!
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
05-28-2007, 5:26 PM
|
LovingNeighbor
Joined on 02-10-2006
Washington
Posts 397
|
Shavuot 2006-7 Message Lovingneighbor
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return of the Flesh and Spirit
By Lovingneighbor
5-25-07
Shavuot ,Bikkurim, and Harvest are all names for the fourth Holy Day on the Biblical calendar. What do these names center around? Weeks ( shavuot) is tied to the counting of 7 weeks from the time of the first firstfruit offering. This name speaks to the time and distance between the firstfruits of the first harvest and the firstfruits of the second harvest. The firstfruits are a sign of the coming crop. They are the first sign of the blessings of the later harvest. They are the first ones to be ready and are presented to the priests to be presented to YHWH. Shavuot is about what is coming. It is about the promise of Elohim and blessing of the seed (word of Elohim). The first ones are offered to YHWH because he redeemed Yisra'el with the lives of Egypt's firstborn. By destroying the firstborn of Yisra'el Egypt thought it would stop the coming harvest of Yisra'el and yet it was their harvest that would be stopped. Destroying the firstborn is like someone at a bank robbery speaking out and getting shot. It discurouges future rebellion. This tactic is used by groups and powers all throughout history. It is usually effective to stop something before it gets going to well. But the crop of YHWH cannot be stopped nor cut off. Even by their own wickedness there is always a remnant left to sprout forth and bring new life and hope. So Shavuot is about counting and watching the first firstfruit as a start of time that will later bring the rest of the harvest. There are two harvests. The funny thing is many people don't see the fact that ther are two harvests. People think Messiah came and did his work and now it's done. But He will come again and there shall be another harvest. Jews also missed it in many ways by receiving the torah but not recognizing Messiah as the shavuot firstfruits. They received the letter firstfruits but not the spirit firstfruits. It reminds me of John the baptist, he was like the firstfruits of Passover. He was a type of firstfruit of the letter of the law that also pointed to another firstfruit a greater firstfruit coming and another harvest. This pattern is repeating over and over again in the text. So in this name Shavuot I see the message to look for the next harvest. This is much like Judah and Efrayim. Judah always went first and yet they were not the only ones. When either side looks at the oher thinking they are the deal they are mistaken, there are two harvests. Christians and Jews have been arguing over who is right instead of looking at how each fulfills a certain harvest and are part of the whole harvest of the year.
next is Bikkurim, the firstfruits. These promise more is coming, they are a shadow of the future harvest, they are like prophecy. Firstfruits are much like a tithe. The tithe proves in measure how much YHWH has blessed you with. When you bring 10 dollars it means Elohim has given you 100 dollars. The firstfruits is similar in that it both foretells of future crops but it also is proof that YHWH will bless you even more. The firstfruit acts as a first witness to the increase or blessing of Elohim. The second witness is then the harvest. First things have always been important and the first ripe fruits are really the signs of the harvest. This is likened to the first people returning to Torah. We see this in the giving of the law which was really a return to Elohim. The second time was then when Messiah came it was a return of scattered Yisra'el and a return to the spirit of Torah for those who already had the letter. This pattern follows again in the coming of Messiah and the return of Messiah. It happens in the letter of the law and spirit of the law. It happens with Moshe and Messiah, with John the baptist and Messiah. This pattern repeats so many times that it's amazing. There are two kinds of first fruits the natural and spiritual and they are not always one in the same. This is modeled bthe younger or one that comes later being greater than the first. This is simply the pattern of spiritual coming later and natural coming first . The spiritual is greater than the physical. Though there is promises and blessings to the natural the spiritual has greater promises. Yet in some ways they are one in the same on different levels. This is where many get confused with the concepts of the new covenant and the better promises, the are a sense the same yet better as one is physical and one is spiritual. The first born do what others haven't and are able to stand alone and go against the norm, they pave the way to the future path for others to follow. These are like the prophets who came before and instead of being rewarded by men they were usually outcast by men yet accepted by Elohim. They have had a solitary life of dedication. Elohim has used the minority to speak to the masses and to the world and it is ussualy not that generation just like Yisra'el who apprecited the prophets of their time but future generations who weren't the ones being challenged. As it says a prophet is not welcome in his own town. As firstfruits to YHWH we will be rejected by many who say they are our brothers and sisters and yet we don't seek the approval of men but of Elohim.
What I have seen in my study this year of Shavuot is the life of a prophet and the two harvests that is the message of them. Like Leah and Rachel they bore the house of Yisra'el and when Ya'akov received the first one in the morning his eyes were opened and what he thought he had was not all there was. He realized that Leah was not the one he wanted. in many ways this realization is the spiritual path one needs to realize because if you only accept the literal torah there would be no Yisra'el It was the fact that Ya'akov desired more than the physical firstborn but continued to work until he received the spiritual firstborn. A second harvest and this second harvest is likened to studying the torah one starts looking for something and joins itself to the letter of the law and yet should be awoken by the light of truth and realize that there is more to be desired from the word than what you had in darkness, that was just a shadow of the greater thing and with more work you will receive the one of great value. Yisra'el is like this and our search for truth is this way. When will Torah students wake up out of their slumber and open their eyes and start working for more from torah, working for the spirit of torah and be established so all Yisra'el can return to YHWH and take that good land that YHWH promised. That good land is spiritual and those who have awoke seek it and work for it and wait for the firstfruits of the good land. Shalom!
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
|
|
|
|
|
Report
|
|
|
|
|
LoveOfTorah.com... » Holy Days » Shavuot / Penta... » Shavuot Reading Thoughts, Studies, and Comments
|
|
|
|