Names/Themes for Pentecost Jun 4, 2017
A. Introduction Names are important to God. God and sometimes people frequently name individuals & places according to their destiny or to point out some aspect of their character.
Eg - God changed Abram s name to Abraham (Gen 17:5) to reflect God s promise to make him the father of many nations. Sarai was renamed Sarah (princess) to reflect her character as a mother of nations (Gen 17:15-16)
When Jacob encountered God, he called that place Bethel (House of God) instead of its previous name Luz.
The Feasts of the Lord have meaningful names often reflecting significant themes.
Illustration imagine getting a team of 50 people ready for Jakarta!! Change planes & hotels Now imagine not only you & your immediate family, but all your neighbours & friends are planning to journey with you, in a giant caravan of people heading off to worship!! This experience would set that worship service apart from the ordinary ones throughout the year. God called His people to do so 3 times a year!!!
B. Different Names/Themes for Feast of Pentecost 1. Hag Ha-Shavout Hebrew word Hag translated in English Feast or Festival is related to the Arabic word Haj implying pilgrimage!!
Pentecost is 1 of three festivals that required such a pilgrimage!! (Exo 34:23)
Exodus 34:23 (NKJV) 23 Three times in the year all your men shall appear before the Lord, the LORD God of Israel. 23 出埃及 34:23 (CNVS) 你所有的男子, 都要一年三次去见主耶和华以色列的神 Hebrew word Shavout means periods of sevens/weeks though this Feast is only celebrated for 1 day only!!
Hag Ha-Shavout is a chronological reference, pointing to the duration of time between Passover to Pentecost! Leviticus 23:15-16 (NKJV) The Feast of Weeks 15 And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord. 利未记 23:15-16 (CNVS) 七七节 15 你们要从安息日的次日, 把禾捆带来作摇祭那日起, 计算整整七个星期 ; 16 到第七个星期的次日, 共计五十天 ; 那天你们要献新的素祭给耶和华
Deuteronomy 16:9 (NKJV) The Feast of Weeks Reviewed 9 You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain. 申命记 16:9 (CNVS) 七七节 9 你要计算七个七日, 从开镰收割禾稼的时候算起, 共计七个七日
This festival arrives as the climax of a season. The countdown begins 16 Nisan and lasts for 7 weeks till 6 Sivan It emphasizes the theme of godly anticipation unique to this Festival!! Counting the Omer God built into this Feast a quality of expectation!!
2. Hag-Ha-Bikkurim Hag means festival or pilgrimage! Ha Bikkurim is Hebrew for Firstfruits!!
Num 28:26 (NKJV) Offerings at the Feast of Weeks 26 Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the Lord at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. 民数记 28:26(CNVS) 七七节献的祭 26 在初熟日, 即七七节那一天, 你们把新素祭献给耶和华的时候, 要有圣会, 甚么劳碌的工都不可作,
This Hebrew word Bikkurim is related to the root word Bekhor meaning Firstborn!! The idea of Firstfruits is connected to the principle of the Firstborn in Scripture! Exo 13:2 tells us the firstborn of man & firstborn of animals belong to God.
Exodus 13:2 (NKJV) 2 Consecrate to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine. 出埃及 13:2 (Simplified) (CNVS) 2 在以色列人中, 你要把所有头生的都分别为圣归我 ; 无论是人或是牲畜, 凡是头生的都是我的
This feast of Hag Ha-Bikkurim (Festival of Firstfruits), emphasizes the importance of dedicating our first & our best to the glory of God! Note God s promise below : Proverbs 3:9-10 (NKJV) 9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine. 箴言 3:9-10 (CNVS) 9 你要把你的财物, 和一切初熟的农作物, 敬奉耶和华 10 这样, 你的仓库必充满有余, 你的榨酒池也必盈溢新酒
Key honor the Lord! When we recognize all we have belongs to God, we honor Him, dedicating ourselves & our firstfruits for His glory.
3. Hag Ha-Katzir Festival of the Harvest Exodus 23:14-16 (NKJV) Three Annual Feasts 14 Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); 16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.
3. Hag Ha-Katzir Festival of the Harvest Exodus 23:14-16 (NKJV) Three Annual Feasts 14 Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year: 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread (you shall eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt; none shall appear before Me empty); 16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.
出埃及 23:14-16 (CNVS) 当守的三个节期 14 每年三次, 你要为我守节 15 你要守无酵节, 要照我吩咐的, 在亚笔月内所定的日期, 吃无酵饼七天, 因为你是在这个月从埃及出来的 你们不可空手朝见我 16 又要守收割节, 就是收在田间你劳碌耕种所得初熟之物的节 ; 也要在年底守收藏节, 就是在田间收集你劳碌所得之物的时候
This feast commemorates the ending of the Barley harvest & the beginning of the wheat harvest. Themes of God s Provision, our gratitude to Him for His Covenant faithfulness Gratitude & joy & rejoicing go hand in hand!!
4. Pentecost Greek meaning 50 th!! This name again emphasizes the idea of counting!! Pentecost is used in the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures. So it became the common reference in both the Jewish & Christian communities. This feast was important to the Early Church because the Early Church was Jewish in nature.
Paul indicates this importance in : Acts 20:16 (NKJV) 16 For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost. 使徒行传 20:16 (Simplified) (CNVS) 16 原来保罗决定越过以弗所, 免得在亚西亚耽搁时间, 因为他希望能在五旬节赶到耶路撒冷
1 Corinthians 16:8 (NKJV) 8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 哥林多前书 16:8 (CNVS) 8 不过我要在以弗所住到五旬节, More significant was what happened in Acts 2 when God poured out His Holy Spirit on His disciples. The Early Church was started with 3,000 coming to know the Messiah!!
C. Review of Names/ Themes of Pentecost Even though it is celebrated for 1 day only, this Feast is rich in God-given themes! 1. Hebrew word Hag is related to Arabic word Haj meaning pilgrimage! Interesting God is moving us from place to place to celebrate His Feasts!!
2. Heb Shavout (meaning Weeks) & Greek Pentecost meaning 50 both have idea of counting from Passover A sense of expectation & anticipation for what God is saying & doing..
3. This festival carries a Firstfruits (Bikkurim) emphasis- dedicating our best & first to God!! 4. It culminates with a Harvest (Katzir) theme!! We believe it s time for Harvests to come in!!
5. Pentecost in Acts 2 signifies God pouring out His power via the fullness of His Holy Spirit plus His Gifts in operation!! The Early Church was birthed out!!