Journal Through the Bible: Week 28 Thursday

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Deuteronomy 15:12-16:22

Does God issue any commands in this passage?

• A Hebrew man or woman was not to be enslaved by a Hebrew owner longer than 7 years. And when the time of servitude had elapsed the person was to be given flocks and provisions in order to establish himself in the land. (This response was to be a memorial to their slavery in Egypt and their redemption by LORD Who brought them out with adequate provisions.)
• If the Hebrew man or woman servant did not want to be freed s/he was to have his/her ear pierced.
• The firstlings of the flocks and herds were not to be beasts of burden nor shorn but were to be set apart for the LORD to be offered and eaten in the designated place of worship. (The blood was not to be eaten.)
• They were to observe the ceremonies in the month Abib as a remembrance of the exodus from Egypt.
• After the corn harvest came Pentecost. This was to be a celebration of the harvest.
• They were to remember to observe the Feast of Tabernacles to commemorate their days of living in tents in the wilderness on the journey between Egypt and Canaan.
• The males were to appear before the LORD three times a year at His appointed place (this place would later be the Temple in Jerusalem): The Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost or the Feast of Firstfruits), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Ingathering). No man was to go to the appointed place without an offering.
• Judges and courts were to be appointed in every city. Judgment was to be just.
• No trees were to be planted near God's altar nor was there to be any image or idol near it.

Does God make any promises?

• The LORD realized that it might be hard for owners to allow their Hebrew slaves to leave so He promised that He would bless the man who freed his brother from service.
• Maintaining proper justice and judgment would bring blessings upon the people.

Does this passage teach anything about Jesus?

• We were enslaved by sin but we have been bought with a price. Now we belong to Jesus! We do not seek to be freed from His ownership (His yoke is easy and His burden is light) so the Holy Spirit seals us. (See Ephesians 1:7-14)
• Jesus observed the required feasts and presented Himself at the Temple. 
• The feasts represented Jesus. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was part of Passover and represented the sinless Messiah offered for sinful people; The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost or Firstfruits) took place during the harvest which represented the redeemed being thankful for the resurrection of the Messiah (the early church meeting in Jerusalem experienced ordaining by the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost following Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension); and the Feast of Tabernacles which represented the temporary dwelling being replaced with a permanent one. (For the Messiah it would mean the resurrection of His body and for us it means our future resurrection with the giving up of this temporary tabernacle in which we dwell, the mortal body, for the perfect immortal one.)
• Jesus told His followers that the fields were white unto harvest and that we are the laborers He sends into the field. (John 4:35)

Does this passage teach anything about yet-future events?

• The Feast of Weeks is a picture of the resurrection. Jesus conquered death, hell, and the grave for us so we will also be resurrected!
• The Feast of Tabernacles will be celebrated in eternity (see Zechariah 14:16) by the redeemed because WE ARE THE HARVEST!