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29 July 2010 | 18 Av 5770 | Ekev

3 Articles / May 2007

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Dear Brethren,

We often receive notes and letters of thanks from many of you. Sometimes, they include comments on past or recent articles in Yavoh. I always take note of those in particular. It is important to me how the feedback is going on our written material. It is easy to criticize but it takes real thought and energy to praise or say “thank you.” The articles in this issue are reprinted (updated) from past issues. Each of them have received positive comments in the past. Because many of you have never seen them before, I decided to republish them since they are still timely.

Monte


Shabbat: Ring of Remembrance
Originally Published in March 2000

A wedding ring is a special symbol of the covenant relationship between the bridegroom and the bride. Its circular construction speaks of a never ending relationship, the precious metal speaks of the vows that formed the marriage, and the ring is worn as a reminder. The Messiah is our Bridegroom; we are His Bride. But do you know about the wedding ring He has given us? Do you know what He has given us as a reminder?

Very gently, it moves from house to house at the invitation of its occupants each Friday evening. It is a covenant sign between God and His people and it dates back to the very creation of heaven and earth. It is one of the ten commandments. It is the Sabbath.

The Torah calls Sabbath the commandment of remembrance. Sabbath was known to man prior to the giving of the Torah; therefore, the Torah's instruction is “Remember to keep the Sabbath holy.” Further, the Torah gives the word Sabbath (Shabbat) the female gender. Within the Jewish community, Sabbath is called, “the Queen of Days.” It has the female gender because it symbolizes the bride of the Messiah.

In our days, Sabbath has become an embarkation point for the messianic movement. Many have joined the messianic movement by first keeping the Sabbath with a local congregation or within a small group. The observance of Sabbath serves as a stepping stone to a new awakening of God. Instead of always going to God's house to visit Him; keeping Sabbath shows people how to invite God to their home and He comes to visit them.

And He was saying to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”
Mark 2:27

Sabbath is a day of rest and refreshment. According to God, the very labeling of days is based on Sabbath. There is the first day after Sabbath, the second day after, the third day after, the third day before, the second day before, the day of preparation, and finally the Sabbath. Yeshua also says that He is the Lord of the Sabbath—He is the Bridegroom. The whole concept of the millennial kingdom is based on the Sabbath. It is the seventh one thousand year day in the history of the earth. For with the Lord, one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The millennial Kingdom begins with the wedding of the Lamb. Having said all this, and there is no dispute over these facts, how is it that we as a believing community of God do not observe such a weekly event with diligence, deep conviction, and overwhelming joy?

It is because we don't believe. We don't believe the Lord or His instructions. Some have even gone so far as to say, “Sabbath can be any day you want. It is really the concept of resting one day in seven.” This is true for your own personal Sabbath. But the Sabbath we are speaking of is the Lord's Sabbath. It is the day that He rested from His labors. Some say that it was changed. They say that the Lord's day of the New Testament is Sunday. In fact, they even change the Old Testament as well. The ten commandments for the Catholic Bible simply changes the fourth commandment to “keeping Sunday.” The Catholics are not bashful about explaining that the “church fathers” made this change; they believe they had the authority to do so. Protestants may think they are different from Catholics, but the fact is that they agree with, and submit themselves to, this same authority of the “church fathers.” Protestants are just “protesting Catholics.” But on the matter of Sabbath they don't change the Bible text, but they agree with the teaching. They believe Sabbath has changed.

What is it about the observance of the Sabbath ordained by God that causes such a negative reaction for the traditional Christian community? I sincerely believe it has to do with misunderstandings of what Moses taught. One of the complaints against Sabbath is that it is Jewish. Actually, it isn't; traditional Jews do observe it, but Sabbath began before there were any Hebrews or Jewish people. Sabbath is explained in Genesis chapter two. Adam kept Sabbath, as did Noah before Abraham, the first Hebrew. But maybe the greatest misunderstanding of Sabbath seems to be the nature of the commandment itself. Many people, coming from a church attendance mentality, think that Sabbath is a commandment of assembly. That is, they think Sabbath is a commandment of assembly on the seventh day rather than the first day of the week. The commandment of Sabbath is not “Thou shalt assemble and hold church on Saturday.” So then what is the commandment of Sabbath and how are we to observe it?

Actually, there are six commandments concerning Sabbath according to Moses. If you follow the oral tradition of Judaism, there are 1,583 commandments about Sabbath, but we will confine ourselves to what Moses taught.

Travel on the Sabbath

See, the Lord has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you bread for two days on the sixth day. Remain every man in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.
Exodus 16:29

When the children of Israel departed Egypt, God provided manna for bread. His instructions called for its gathering to be only on six days with no gathering on Sabbath. Instead, speaking of Sabbath, he instructed that every man remain in his place. Therefore, this instruction has to do with what is called a “Sabbath's day journey.” So, how far is it and how is it determined? Since the Scripture does not specify the exact distance, we are required to make a judgment. Many believe that the restriction of travel has to do with ceasing (resting) from laborious work. To travel on foot a great distance in a single day is without question a laborious task. If you ride a horse, then you are laboring the horse, also prohibited on Sabbath; but what about a car? Judgment and discernment are required. In Yeshua's day, there was a common understanding about a Sabbath's day journey.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away.
Acts 1:12

According to the sages and teachers of Torah in Yeshua's day, travel on the Sabbath was limited to not greater than 2,000 cubits. A cubit is the distance of man from the elbow to his finger tips (about 18 inches). Therefore, that measurement is about 3,000 feet, or 3/5 of a mile. It is approximately 3/5 of a mile from the mount of Olives to Jerusalem.

In latter times, Jews in Europe used to travel from place to place limited by where meals were eaten. For example, a Sabbath's day journey was limited to having breakfast and traveling to the next inn where lunch was eaten. Or, they would travel until the next meal was served. In a typical Sabbath day one journey was permitted (breakfast to lunch or lunch to dinner).

In our day, a person could travel quite a distance in a car for four hours (meal to meal). Or, if the travel was by plane, the distance could be quite long. Is this an appropriate distance for Sabbath? It is a judgment call. It seems to me that if the person was fatigued in whatever travel was done, by walking, car, or plane, that it would be more than it should have been. The fact is that we do not know the exact permitted distance and we should not be specifying to others what they should or should not do. In fact, we are also taught by Paul that we are not to let anyone act as our judge concerning a Sabbath.

Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day…
Colossians 2:16

How far we travel or how we remain in our place must be answered by the person doing the travel. Walking three-fifths of a mile is about my speed for developing fatigue, but others may not be able to go even a hundred yards. Maybe they should remain a little closer in their place. In any case, the Scripture says that travel on Sabbath is an activity to refrain from if it causes fatigue (work) for you or others. Doesn't that mean flying in the plane requires the pilot to work? If you purchase gas for your car while traveling, aren't you requiring the gas station attendant to work?

Remembering to keep the Sabbath holy

In traditional observant homes, a simple ceremony called “Kiddush” (to make holy) is performed on Friday evenings at the beginning of Sabbath. Keeping the Sabbath holy is initiated by recognizing the beginning of Sabbath and blessing the name of God and the Sabbath. The lady of the home prepares her home for the Sabbath and completes her preparation with the lighting of Sabbath candles. This is considered the last act of the sixth day as it is kindling a flame. She gathers in the light of the candles and offers her blessing and welcomes in the Sabbath. Her husband or leader of the home pronounces a blessing with the Kiddush cup (a special cup set apart for Sabbath and holidays). Then he breaks the Sabbath bread (two loaves of challah) and blesses God for the daily bread. Traditionally, two loaves are used to remember the double portion of manna given on the sixth day. The bread loaves are usually made from three pieces of dough each braided to form a pattern of hills. Sesame or poppy seeds adorn the top to appear as manna on the hills. Kiddush is different from Christian communion. The Last Supper ceremony requires the bread of Passover — unleavened bread. Challah used with Kiddush is leavened bread. Then the father and husband blesses his wife and children as part of the Sabbath blessings. This entire ceremony, called Kiddush, is a way to remember and keep Sabbath separate (holy) from other days of the week in the home. But is this the only way to remember to keep the Sabbath holy? Probably not. Again, judgment and discernment are required to fulfill this commandment.

At the close of Sabbath, Saturday evening, another simple ceremony is convened to end Sabbath. It is called Havdalah (separation) of Sabbath. Traditionally, twisted candles (two or more wicks) are lit forming one flame. It symbolizes while there are two different days and two different weeks at that very moment, only God can distinguish and separate them. Only God can separate the flame that belongs to the different candle wicks. A Kiddush cup is filled to overflowing into a saucer. Sabbath has given us overflowing joy. Or, some of the cup is simply poured out into the saucer representing a loss of joy because the Sabbath is going away. The candle is extinguished in the liquid of the saucer. The flame crackles and resists extinguishment; this represents Sabbath's resistance to leave. Sweet spices are sniffed to keep the memory as long as possible of the sweetness of Sabbath. This Havdalah ceremony is the reason for Paul gathering with his brethren in Acts 20:7. The combination of Kiddush at the beginning and Havdalah at the end are the traditional ways of remembering to keep the Sabbath holy.

Many people who begin keeping Sabbath in their home want to join in completely with the Kiddush and Havdalah ceremony. This is wonderful. A number of helps are available for you to do so. In any case, you should be confident in your observance and leading your family or guests. The traditional blessings are generally known and Sabbath guests are able to join in fully.

Ceasing (resting) from any laborious work on the Sabbath

I have never met a man who didn't want to rest from work. But I have met a lot of men who were not free to obey the Lord. Their jobs required them to work when they wanted to observe Sabbath. This seems to be the first quandary for people turning to the Sabbath. The observance of Sabbath for them becomes a test of faith. Will the Lord provide for me and my family if I don't work on the Sabbath? This was the very issue for the children of Israel in the wilderness. They thought that they needed to gather manna every day. They weren't sure that the Lord would provide enough on the sixth day for two days. Until this test was passed, until they believed the Lord would provide, it was not possible to make the Sabbath a delight to truly rest.

Most people at the first observance of Sabbath are overwhelmed by the word “cease.” The first couple weeks will be met with family complaints like, “We can't do anything. What can we do on Sabbath?” One of the greatest misconceptions of Sabbath is that we are not told to “cease from everything.” We are told to “cease” from laborious work. There are many “good” things to do and not be “work.” Again, judgment and discernment are required to determine exactly what that is. For me, I enjoy family time. I enjoying sleeping in, taking a nap, reading, and relaxing. I look for those things that are delightful. I also am prepared to rise and do good. It is on this point that the New Testament has much to say concerning Sabbath. Accusers of Yeshua said that He did not keep the Sabbath. He did good (healed and helped people) on Sabbath. He did not argue against Sabbath but against those who restricted any activity (including doing good) on Sabbath. In fact, Yeshua specifically healed certain men on Sabbath to illustrate this point. His logic was straightforward.

And He said to them, “What man shall there be among you, who shall have one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it, and lift it out? Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:11-12

Part of “ceasing” from laborious work is to be refreshed and renewed by good things. A friend of this ministry recently shared a story of their keeping Sabbath. Their pastor was not in favor of it. One day, the pastor came by on Sabbath and said he had some grain that he needed to have milled. They had a grain mill. The observant man took the pastor's grain and in short order milled it to flour. The pastor then announced that they had just broken the Sabbath by milling the grain for him. They were a little perplexed and wondered if they had done the right thing.

It was clear that the pastor was attempting to deceive the people. My friend just wanted to do good on Sabbath. I explained that I would have done the same thing they did and milled his grain. First, it didn't take that much effort; i.e., it wasn't that laborious. Secondly, the pastor had presented himself as an ox who had fallen into a pit and needed help. I am not permitted even for reason of Sabbath to not help. Third, a grain mill according to Torah is equivalent to life. It cannot be used as collateral for debt. Therefore, his request was of the highest order of life. I believe the pastor's little trick backfired. It illustrates why Sabbath is made for life, not to be used as an excuse for failing to do the right thing.

For those of you who want to keep Sabbath but are facing an employment situation which conflicts with its observance, my counsel is simple. Ask the Lord to solve that problem by giving you a new job, a different work schedule, or a promotion. Many can give their testimony of how God helped in this matter. In my example, I was working a normal 8 to 5 job, five days a week, when I was called to work on a special company proposal. They wanted me to work on Saturday. I didn't want to; I wanted to obey the Lord. Proposals are important; it is how the company gets new work. My future was on the line. I prayed and asked God to help me; I went to my boss with my problem; I explained how God had blessed me by keeping Sabbath and that I wanted that same blessing on my boss and his company; and I shared my belief that my working on Sabbath on his proposal would bring a curse on us all (at least block God's best blessing). I offered to work different hours. My boss made a decision. He wrote a memo restricting all work for the proposal on Saturday (he wanted God's blessing also). Guess what happened!?! We lost the proposal. But, I was promoted three times (director, assistant vice president, then vice president) within the next year. Because I honored the Sabbath, the Lord blessed me. The Scripture teaches that if we will obey His voice, He will bless and make us successful.

If because of the Sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure, and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Isaiah 58:13-14

This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Joshua 1:8

Not requiring others to labor on the Sabbath

As I have already mentioned, some activities on a Sabbath can cause others to have to work. The commandment says that we should not cause others to serve us. This even includes family members, paid servants, and animals (other living creatures). My children have come to appreciate and consider Sabbath as a delight. It is the one day that they don't have to clean their room or do certain chores. They have come to appreciate that they are free from the working day responsibilities and tasks hanging over them. We have also discovered that they are more willing to complete their responsibilities apart from Sabbath.

…but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.
Deuteronomy 5:14

Psychologists tell us that stress is the number one affliction for the average worker. Actually, it is the inability of the worker to get relief from the constant pressure of work. Stress relief prescriptions have been recommended which include exercise and changes in non-work activities. I love golf, but it is no substitute for Sabbath. Modern man would benefit greatly from the Sabbath as it is the best remedy for stress. Too bad that those workers who believe in God don't believe in Him enough to get the blessing of life by obeying this simple commandment.

Not seeking a bargain (buying and selling) on Sabbath

The pursuit of money or the pleasure in spending it is a very powerful force in most people's lives. Like a job that requires working on Sabbath, the pursuit of money is the real cause of conflict. Many believe that God simply will not provide adequately. “God helps those who help themselves,” is not in the Bible but it is believed by many. Money is the only form of security for some. To suggest that all financial transactions should wait until after Sabbath is completely contrary to what most believe.

In Israel there is a known ploy concerning buying and selling on Sabbath. There is a person called a Sabbath Goy — a Sabbath Gentile. This person is given the money and he purchases the item desired for the Jew without the Jew having to actually make the purchase on Sabbath. It doesn't fool the Lord, but it does show you how people will attempt to manipulate the commandment. It also shows a lack of understanding; Sabbath is for the Goyim (Gentiles) also.

I once had a person tell me that “window shopping” at the mall was her way of observing Sabbath and relaxing. She didn't actually buy anything or make anyone labor in the shops. I am not the Sabbath police, but my view of this is the same for the man who avoided adultery by viewing pornography. Obeying begins with the heart. Window shopping and viewing pornography are both lustful behaviors of the eyes and heart. Disobeying also begins with the heart.

Yeshua had something to say about this as well. Do you remember what Yeshua did in the temple one particular day with the money changers and venders?

And they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers' den.”
Mark 11:15-17

This has been a perplexing passage for some Bible teachers. The clue to understanding it is Sabbath. Yeshua had been in the temple many times, but why did He react so strongly to the vendors this time? It was Sabbath. How do we know this? Look at the whole verse He quoted.

Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.
Isaiah 56:6-7

It was Sabbath and no laborious work (carrying a load) or business was to be done. This is what the Lord was taking issue with.

Not kindling a fire on Sabbath

In ancient times, gathering fuel and preparing the fire was serious business. This fire would serve as heat in the cold, as necessary for food preparation, and as light at night. While these are all important things in every home and family, they are to be completed before Sabbath. As a result, the day before Sabbath, the day of preparation became an important ingredient in the culture. The wise prepared; the foolish suffered without.

In modern times, the observant Jewish community has struggled with how to observe this commandment. Kindling a fire is changing the nature of an object (matter) into another form (energy). This logic then follows that pushing an elevator button is changing the level of the elevator and is thus prohibited. Driving a car is even worse. Not only are you moving about, but the internal combustion engine kindles fire with every spark and changes the fuel into burned gases. What about flipping a light switch? As the electricity surges through the light bulb, the energy of light is emitted. If you travel in Israel and are in an observant hotel on Sabbath, you may enter an elevator. It will stop at every floor no matter what button is pushed. It will continue to rise up and come down in a cycle to permit riders access to the various floors without pushing buttons. I don't think this is what God intended concerning this commandment. I don't think “ceasing” means nothing can change from one state to another. However, I see no need to correct their observance.

No matter what the commandment may be, men will always come up with hypothetical scenarios for rules of observance and other men will come up with ways to manipulate the effort and get around them. Sabbath is not difficult to enjoy and does not need to be made more difficult to prove observance. The fact is that God's instructions concerning Sabbath have a measure of freedom and are adjusted accordingly. For example, a policeman, a doctor, a soldier, or any person doing good for the life of another person is permitted to perform their work and duties even if it is Sabbath. The issue is life—to promote life, to sustain life, and to enjoy life. This is why Sabbath was made for us. What better way to enjoy life than for you to invite guests to your home and assemble with your brethren of like faith to encourage one another. Or better yet, how about opening your Scriptures and letting God share the words of life with you and your brethren. This is why brethren sometimes assemble on Sabbath together—to enjoy the Sabbath together while being instructed.

The Observance of Sabbath in the Home

As you begin to keep the Sabbath in your home, I would offer this basic instruction. Sabbath is the day that the Lord takes off from His work. It is also the day He is available to be invited to your home. You like being to His House; maybe, you should be on record as having invited the Lord to your house. This simple understanding will answer most of your questions about what to do and what not to do in your home. For example, if you have a special guest at your house, would you make the beds? Sure, that's reasonable. Would you fix a nice dinner and set the table? Sure, your guest would enjoy your table. Would you do laundry? I don't think so. Your guest would receive no pleasure in that. Again judgment and discernment are required.

To illustrate this simple approach, a man once asked me about watching a football game on TV. I asked Him if the Lord would enjoy that. He didn't know whether the Lord liked his team or not. It might be that the Lord would just like to spend a little time with you and be a friend. Watching the game might be a way for that friendship to grow. The bottom line on this matter is specific though. The observance of Sabbath in the home is to be a delight, enjoyable, and restful. It is to be refreshing and something desired with anticipation as the week comes to a close. It is not to be a hassle, something you have to do, or more stress. Quite simply, if Sabbath is not a delight and a joy to your soul, then you have not yet begun to keep it as intended. Keep trying.

Let's address a deeper understanding for Sabbath in the home. The wedding ring worn by your spouse is supposed to be a special symbol. It is a reminder of a covenant between your spouse and you. If your spouse doesn't wear it, you might wonder where his/her heart is really at. Wearing it continually would be a confident reminder of a relationship with no end. Sabbath is a sign between God and God's people, like a wedding ring. It represents something special that sets us apart from others, just as the wedding ring sets your spouse apart in your relationship. Consider what the Lord says about Sabbath.

But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, “You shall surely observe My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.”
Exodus 31:13
So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.
Exodus 31:16-17
It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute.
Leviticus 16:31
Every Sabbath day he shall set it in order before the Lord continually; it is an everlasting covenant for the sons of Israel.
Leviticus 24:8

The Bible says that Sabbath sanctifies us to God and it is perpetual, permanent, continual, and everlasting. What husband would tolerate another man telling the husband's wife that her marriage covenant was only temporary and she should take off her wedding ring and never wear it again? I dare say that the husband would take issue with that man. Yet, many men today say that God's marriage covenant has ended and the sign of that covenant is no longer valid for believers of God. I think they are very mistaken and should seriously rethink the very character of God. I think they should consider the counsel of Isaiah as he prepares us for the second coming of Messiah Yeshua.

Thus says the Lord, “Preserve justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed. How blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who takes hold of it; who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
Isaiah 56:1-2

Sabbath represents many important things to us. It was made for us. It is how we are refreshed. But maybe most of all; it is God's gift to us—a wedding ring if you will—a sign of the covenant given by God. Surely, we can see the wisdom in keeping and observing this simple commandment. It is traditional to greet everyone with “Shalom.” But on Sabbath, we greet each other with something special. We say, “Shabbat Shalom.” I hope you are enjoying the gift of peace, rest and refreshment from the Lord. I hope you are enjoying it every Sabbath.

We are offering an excellent small booklet that you may order that supplies additional explanation and the traditional blessings for Kiddush and Havdalah to make your Sabbath more enjoyable.


Tap Tap Tap
Originally Published in March 1997
For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.
Habakkuk 2:3

You enter the auditorium and find your seat. Muffled sounds stir all about as coats are removed and people take their seats. The air yields the occasional fragrance of sweet perfume, and the lambent lighting softens your surroundings. The stage is set for the orchestra members to sit in semicircle fashion. You nestle into your seat and begin to survey each musician as he walks onto the stage to take his place. Each player enters in a reverent manner. Instruments soon appear, and everyone seems to be in a prepared mood. Amidst the whispers of the audience, the tuning of instruments echos around the room. A cord is sounded in one part and answered by several others. The drummer exercises a pattern like distant thunder of a storm. The cacophony of sounds can only be appreciated individually as they lack synchronization.

Entering the stage, the conductor steps to the podium. A different sound is heard. It is not very loud. You notice it primarily because every musician ceases his tuning practice and silence replaces the chaos. The conductor takes his baton and makes a series of sharp taps on his music stand. All is quiet and still. Even the audience seems to obey the taps as every eye turns toward him. The conductor motions, and the next sound is in sharp contrast to all that has been heard before. Every instrument sounds with bold volume and in consonant union with each other. Your spirit is lifted as the conductor's plan and the musicians' performances are made one. You lose all sense of individuals playing, and the orchestra becomes the splash and surging surf of a rising tide. You are awash in the harmony of sound of all the instruments playing together.

This word picture was supplied to me recently to illustrate our present array of prophetic voices and messages. We are like a group of musicians waiting for the conductor to take the podium before a planned performance. Each prophetic voice has a part and an instrument to play. Some sound the warning, some practice the melody of repentance, but all are tuned to the Gospel. We are not very synchronized, nor are we all in precise step with one another, but we are all in agreement that the Conductor is in charge. Very soon, everyone will hear the tap-tap-tap and then we will all await His motion of command.

World events and a yearning to know God's plan brings us to the auditorium. Some prefer the sound of a particular instrument over another, some dispute the value of various compositions, and some discredit the skill of individual musicians, but when the Conductor makes His distinct sound with the baton, all will be brought to attention.

I am beginning to hear the tap – tap – tap sound of the Conductor. Jerusalem is beginning to make that sound. That which follows is the planned performance of God. There will be movements and melodies, the trumpets will be featured in this performance, and the crescendo will sound with claps of thunder and choirs of angels. It will be a stirring performance unlike any orchestra has ever before played. It will be the climax of the ages, and the standing ovation will last for a thousand years.

Therefore say to them, thus says the Lord God, “None of My words will be delayed any longer. Whatever word I speak will be performed,” declares the Lord God.
Ezekiel 12:28

Counting the Omer
Originally Published in May 2000

Each year, according to the Hebrew calendar, a set of days are counted after the Passover to the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot. Not only is there mystery in this fifty day count, but there is also controversy as to how it is counted. What exactly is the purpose in this activity? And, what is the dispute concerning its counting?

Before we attempt to answer those questions, maybe we should define what an omer is. An omer is a measure of grain. Specifically, an omer is one tenth of an ephah. I'm sure that is very helpful to you. Obviously, an omer is part of the Biblical weights and measures. It is how an omer was used that will reveal its meaning to us, and on this account, it is the measure used for the gathering of manna. Manna, as you know, was the bread from heaven gathered in the wilderness by the children of Israel.

This is what the Lord has commanded, “Gather of it every man as much as he should eat; you shall take an omer apiece according to the number of persons each of you has in his tent.” And the sons of Israel did so, and some gathered much and some little. When they measured it with an omer, he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.
Exodus 16:16-18

An omer was the amount of flour to make daily bread. The children of Israel would gather an omer of manna for each person. Part of the miracle of that bread was that it was exactly what was needed. There was no excess nor lack.

The counting of the omer is to teach us and illustrate the great work of the bread from heaven. Yeshua is the bread from heaven and He is to be our daily bread. During the celebration of Passover, Yeshua shows us that He is the Afikomen (the bread broken for us), the best part of the Passover. He also taught that He was the true bread from heaven.

The omer, the measure of daily bread, is the teaching from Passover to the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). Shavuot is not the same date each year on the calendar. It is because there is a unique way of counting the omer. Shavuot is the 50th day after the counting of seven weeks.

What exactly is an omer? An ephah was the measure of a person, that is, a person could fit into a vessel called an ephah. Since the omer was one tenth of an ephah, it is also understood that an omer was a tithe of the ephah. I'm sure that a “tithe” evokes much spiritual instruction from your past. A tithe is a spiritual measure; an omer is the same measure. This information begins to shed some light on why God calls us to measure these particular days, but let us try to explain the counting method first.

The ancient Sadducees and Pharisees were not always in agreement with the instruction of Moses. The counting of the omer is one of the classic areas of their disagreement. Simply put, the Pharisees treated Passover as a Sabbath and counted directly 50 days after the Passover. To them, 50 days after the Passover was Shavuot. Consider the instruction of Moses on this point.

Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord. Its grain offering shall then be two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the Lord for a soothing aroma, with its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine. Until this same day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord.”
Leviticus 23:10-16

The dispute between the Sadducees and Pharisees was concerning the “sabbath” that the barley is waved after. Was it the day after Passover (is Passover a Sabbath)? Or was it the first day of the Feast of Unleaven, which is a High Sabbath? Or, was Moses referring to the day after the weekly sabbath? The Pharisees argued that it was Passover, and counted the Feast of Weeks as fifty days later. This is the present method of counting in Rabbinical Judaism today. The Sadducees argued that the “sabbath” in question was the weekly sabbath that fell somewhere in the Feast of Unleavened and that the day following was the first day of the counting. They argued that the counting of weeks was seven complete sabbatical weeks resulting in Shavuot. This always caused a Sunday, the first day after the seventh sabbath, to be Shavuot.

Are you confused yet? Don't be concerned. Israel has been confused about this whole matter for millennia. I believe the Sadducees, who weren't correct about many things, were in fact correct in counting the omer. So, how does that counting method affect us in our counting of the omer this year 2007? Let's review the Mosaic instruction and then do the count.

Passover was on the 14th of Nisan. The Feast of Unleavened bread began on the 15th of Nisan and extended for seven days. On the first day after the first weekly sabbath after Passover is the Feast of First Fruits. This is the day that the priest waves the barley sheaves. This is the first day of the counting of the omer. You then count seven sabbaths (seven complete weeks) from that point. On the day after the seventh sabbath, it is Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks).

This year, April 1st at the evening was the start of the eve of the 14th of Nisan. Passover began; Passover day was April 2nd. On Monday evening, April 3rd, the Feast of Unleavened Bread began and extended for seven days to April 9th in the evening. The days of Unleavened Bread were April 2nd to April 9th. The weekly sabbath of that week was April 7th. Therefore the first day of the omer count was April 8th–Sunday, the day after the weekly sabbath. Counting seven full sabbaths and fifty days brings us to Sunday, May 27. This is Shavuot according the instruction of Moses. If you check a traditional Hebrew calendar, it will show that Tuesday, May 22nd is Shavuot. This is the difference between Moses and the Pharisaic (present Rabbinical) tradition.

The New Testament account of these holidays and the counting lines up only with the Mosaic instruction. Why? Because, the Sadducees had the upper hand on this issue during the New Testament period. The day of Pentecost was on a first day after a weekly sabbath. It was on the day of Pentecost that the disciples came out proclaiming Yeshua as Messiah. Look at the instruction of Moses for the Feast of Weeks and the call for proclamation.

On this same day you shall make a proclamation as well; you are to have a holy convocation. You shall do no laborious work. It is to be a perpetual statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.
Leviticus 23:21

I trust that having enjoyed the Unleavened Bread of the Messiah at the Passover, that you are now enjoying the daily bread from heaven and preparing to join with all Israel in proclaiming that the Lord—the Lord our God—the Lord is One. And, there is no one like the Lord! Amen.

Monte

YAVOH - He is Coming is a monthly newsletter published as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries.
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Editor - Monte Judah
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