|
Page 1 of 3
The moed of the first fruits of the harvest occurs the day after the Sabbath during the week of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This moed provides a picture of putting G-d first in our lives and honoring Him as we are set free from bondage in Egypt. In this moed we can see the resurrection of Messiah as the "first fruit" of those who are asleep.
As we examine this moed and consider the lifting up and waving of the sheaf from the crops, we should think of the "lifting up" of Messiah as He arose from the dead. What does Scripture says about this festival and what commandments are given? What are we to do and when are we to do it? We will also note the millennia-old traditions associated with this moed and see how those traditions can enhance our celebration of and understanding of it. It is often the fashion among some believers to dismiss "traditions of men" as non-Biblical and therefore worthless but before we reject these or any traditions we should consider what Scripture says about tradition.
Oh, Lord please "open our eyes" to see our Messiah in the moedim. Scripture was given to speak of Him and we should listen and hear its voice... His voice... during these times.
What Scripture Says About First Fruits
Who: All the sons of Isra'el. (Leviticus 23:10)
What:
Special commands
- The sheaf [עמר, omer, plural omerim, Strong's #6016] of the beginning of the harvest shall be brought in to the priest (Leviticus 23:10).
- The priest shall wave the sheaf before the LORD on behalf of the person who brings it so it is accepted (Leviticus 23:11).
- Until this day (the day of the waving of the first fruit offering) you shall eat neither bread nor roasted grain nor new growth (Leviticus 23:14)
- This is a perpetual statute throughout all generations in all dwelling places (Leviticus 23:14)
- Begin counting the omer (Leviticus 23:15)
Offerings
- A male lamb one year old without defect is given as a burnt offering to the LORD (Leviticus 23:12).
- Its grain offering shall be two-tenths [of an ephah] of fine flour mixed with oil as an offering by fire to the LORD for a soothing aroma (Leviticus 23:13).
- Its drink offering shall be a fourth of a hin of wine (Leviticus 23:13)
When: on the day after the Sabbath that falls during the week of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:11)
- When you enter the Land which G-d is going to give to you (Leviticus 23:10)
- When you reap the harvest of the Land (Leviticus 23:10)
- On the day after the sabbath (Leviticus 23:11)
Where: in the Land of Israel (Leviticus 23:10)
Other Observations
Pictures
The moed of the first fruits of the harvest provides a picture of the physical need for a mediator between man and G-d. A man cannot just take the first fruits of the harvest and bring it and wave it before G-d. It must be brought to the priest and the priest must wave it (Leviticus 23:10-11). If the priest does not wave it then it is not accepted.
This festival is also a picture of the spiritual mediator required between G-d and man. How can we, sinful creatures that we are, ever hope to even thank G-d for His blessing and bounty apart from some intercessor or connector between G-d and man? We have such a mediator (1 Timothy 2:5), intercessor (Romans 8:34), and connector (Romans 7:4)... Messiah Yeshua. Even in our simplest act of thanksgiving it is not us who goes before the throne of the Most High but our Redeemer and Savior Who does so on our behalf.
Since He is first and foremost in our mind, let's examine the festival for pictures of the Messiah...
|
