Discover how Biblical feasts create an ancient rhythm for life.
God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: There are special times that you must celebrate as sacred holidays to God. The following are my special times.
—Leviticus 23:1–2
A God who wants us to flourish
How many times have you heard a pastor preach from the book of Leviticus and get excited? We’ve been conditioned from childhood to view the Old Testament as an old boring collection of books filled with stifling rules from an angry God who is never quite pleased with his people who are always getting things wrong.
But stick around for a little while and really dig in—I promise you’ll find the same God of the New Testament who’s filled with compassion, loving-kindness, and a desire for the humans made in His image to live a flourishing life, reminiscent of the Garden of Eden.
A God who wants to meet with us
It’s in this book of Leviticus we find a surprising chapter: 23 where God outlines seven events that the children of Israel are to recognize, observe, and celebrate. The word used in the Hebrew Bible is “moed” which translates to “appointed time,” or “moadim” to refer to all seven. In our English translations, you’ll often see the word feast or festival used, because that’s the spirit in which many of these days (some last weeks!) are celebrated.
We’re used to our modern calendar with all of the holidays that come with it: Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and more. Yet here, centered around the Hebrew calendar, we find a God who cares about his people so much that he designates seven events throughout the year so they can rest, remember Him, and enjoy the good life.
Don’t miss that—God, the creator of the universe, has declared days as set apart from the other days of the so that we can meet with Him. He did this because he wants us to rest in His provision, to give us intentional moments to remember how he’s delivered us and redeemed us, and to help us continually look forward to a coming day when He will return to restore all things.
You’ve got this!
Perhaps you’re reading about this for the first time and it feel foreigns, or maybe you’ve heard about God’s appointed times, but are wanting to attempt to celebrate one. Keep reading and we’ll help you uncover a rich heritage that connects directly to Jesus, the Messiah and practical tips on how to introduce and keep these feasts with your family and friends.
The Feasts & Appointed Times
Before we dive in, here’s an overview of the 7 biblical appointed times outlined in Leviticus 23. Expand an item to learn more. We’ll go into more detail as you read on.
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The first of all of the biblical feasts, God declared this day as set apart and holy within the first pages of Genesis. It’s celebrated every week on the seventh day.
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In the Exodus story, God spared the ancient Israelites from the death of the first born through the blood of a sacrificial lamb. We remember how God delivered and continues to redeem us.
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What began as a feast to celebrate the first fruits of the spring harvest, foreshadowed the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah—the first fruits of our redemption.
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For 49 days an omer of flour is measured out daily, culminating in the feast of Shavuot on the 50th day. Today we remember and celebrate that God’s Spirit was poured out on all people as the disciples gathered in the upper room on the 50th day, also known as Pentecost.
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A day for blowing trumpets and shouting, we remember God’s goodness over the last year of the Hebrew Calendar and anticipate how God will soon return to set the world right.
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The Day of Atonement is a somber day of fasting and praying as we remember the sacrifice of Yeshua as our Messiah who has given us salvation through his shed blood. We repent of our sins and renew our focus on Him.
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The last of the fall fests, is a seven day, joyful celebration of the goodness of the life God has given us. We rest, we eat delicious food, and spend time outside in nature. We remember how God provided for all of our needs in the wilderness seasons and we expectantly look forward to the return of our King.
1. The Sabbath
“You may do work during the six weekdays, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Sabbaths. It is a sacred holiday to God, when you shall do no work. Wherever you may live, it is God’s Sabbath.”
—Leviticus 23:3
The first of all of God’s special appointed times is the Sabbath. On the seventh day, following in the footsteps of God after the creation of the world, we pause for a day and rest from all of our work. We remember that we’re not slaves in Egypt, beholden to the machine of modern life. We’re not cogs in the system. We’re sons and daughters of the living God who gives us everything we need. So out of this trusting faith, we rest in a day and enjoy all that our hands have made.
Depending on your background, you may think of Sunday as the day of rest, but did you know that the ancient Israelites and modern Jewish people have always kept the Sabbath from sundown on Friday to after sundown on Saturday? Stemming from the first chapter of Genesis that marks evening and morning as the first day, a new day is seen as starting in the evening at Sundown.
Following in this ancient tradition, we have found this rhythm to be life giving amidst our modern culture. Regardless of if you go to church on Sunday or Saturday, we invite you to join us as we intentionally Sabbath on Saturday. If you don’t know where to start, check out our Free Sabbath Guide for our story as well as some practical tips on how to Sabbath.
2. Passover (Pesach)
“These are God’s festivals that you must celebrate as sacred holidays at their appropriate times: The afternoon of the 14th day of the first month is God’s Passover offering.
Then, on the 15th of that month, it is God’s festival of matzahs, when you eat matzahs for seven days.
—Leviticus 23:4–6
You may be familiar with the story of Passover. After the ancient Israelites have been slaves in Egypt for 400 years, God sends Moses as to deliver them from bondage and lead them into the Promised Land.
On the eve of their deliverance, they sacrificed a lamb and placed a swath of blood over the top of the doors to their homes as a symbol that caused God to passover them and save their first born from certain death. In a hurry, they eat the passover meal. There’s no time to let the bread rise, so they bake matzah—bread without yeast.
It’s with this context in our minds, we celebrate Passover which kicks off a seven day festival of unleavened bread (matzah). Outwardly we remove all bread with yeast in our homes, while inwardly we search our hearts for any sin that God wants us to deal with. We eat a traditional Passover seder meal with bitter herbs to remind us of the seasons of life that were difficult, and we celebrate how God will deliver us again in the future.
Yeshua, Our Passover Lamb
Did you know that on the night that Jesus died, he was having a Passover meal with his disciples? Known as the last supper, it was at this event that Jesus was lifting one of the four cups of wine traditionally had (The cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption, and the cup of praise), when Luke 22:20 tells us, “He did the same with the cup after the meal, saying, ‘This cup is the New Covenant, ratified by my blood, which is being poured out for you.’” Here, Jesus is referring to the third cup of redemption that he is about to take on our behalf through his death on Passover as the lamb that takes away the sins of the world. And this world changing event happened during one of God’s special appointed times.
3. Feast of Firstfruits
“God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you come to the land that I am going to give you, and reap its harvest, you must bring an omer of your first reaping to the priest.”
—Leviticus 23:9–10
Regardless of when Passover falls, the Sunday after Sabbath after Passover is the feast of Firstfruits. This is when people were to bring a sheaf of the first fruit from the harvest to wave as an offering before God as a way to bless and recognize Him for His goodness and provision.
But what’s even more interesting is the fact that it was on this day that the feast of firstfruits was fulfilled as Jesus was raised from the dead!
“After Shabbat, as the next day was dawning, Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam went to see the grave. Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of Adonai came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it.”
—Matthew 28:2 CJB
Jesus, the firstborn from the dead, is the firstfruit of God’s salvation as our deliverer from sin and death. And so we celebrate this feast with joy, remembering the resurrection of our Messiah who has gone before us.
4. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost)
“You shall then count seven complete weeks after the day following the Passover holiday when you brought the omer as a wave offering until the day after the seventh week, when there will be a total of 50 days.
On that 50th day you may present new grain as a meal offering to God.”
—Leviticus 23:15–16
Beginning the day after the feast of first fruits, scripture tells the Israelites to count out a measure of flour for 49 days, or seven sabbaths, and then once more on the 50th day, a new grain offering is presented to God.
This feast felt foreign at first, counting out flour into a jar for 50 days, but then we realized it was literally connected to Pentecost, mentioned in Acts 2 when the Holy Spirit was given to us.
“The festival of Shavu`ot arrived, and the believers all gathered together in one place. Suddenly there came a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which separated and came to rest on each one of them. They were all filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and began to talk in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.”
–Acts 2:1–4 CJB
There are two things amazing about this feast that relates to the traditions that have developed over the centuries.
The first is that many Jewish rabbis believe this day is when God gives the torah to Moses on top of Mount Sinai. Additionally, in Exodus 20:18, the original Hebrew literally reads, “And all the people saw the voices and the torches.” An ancient story says that flames of fire appeared on everyone of the Israelite people at the base of the mountain as they heard the roaring of a rushing wind. Can you imagine what it might have been like if the first disciples who were gathered in that upper room telling a story of when the Torah was given, then saw the same imagery of their story play out in real life before their eyes? As if God is saying, today, my Spirit that was talked about in Jeremiah 31:33 is now resting on you to give you power and enable you to live out my commands.
Secondly, it’s customary to read the entire book of Ruth. And this is mind-blowing, because Ruth was a non-Jew moabite woman, who out of love for her mother-in-law, Naomi, decided to believe in the God of Israel. She was later grafted in and redeemed by Boaz, where she is memorialized in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah.
And here, during the feast of Shavuot, when the Spirit comes, a monumental fulfillment of scripture is happening, where Gentiles in the pattern of Ruth are now considered part of God’s family as His spirit fills their hearts and enables them to walk in God’s ways.
5. Feast of Trumpets
(Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah)
“God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say; The first day of the seventh month shall be a day of rest. It is a sacred holiday for remembrance and sounding of the ram’s horn.”
—Leviticus 23:23-24
The feast of trumpets, most often referred to as Rosh Hashanah (literally, head of the year) is known as the start of the Jewish new year and the beginning of the civil Hebrew calendar, while biblically it’s the beginning of the seventh month. It is often considered a celebration of the creation of the world. And while there’s no guidance on how to celebrate this feast, there is no shortage of symbolism and tradition.
The Hebrew word Teruah can be translated as “shouting” or “battle cry”, a blast for marching, or a shout of Joy. It’s most often equated with the blast of a shofar or trumpet.
Similar to the 7th day being holy, this seventh month often signifies a new spiritual year. It’s preceeded by the 30 days of the month of Elul, and it instantiates the beginning of 10 “High Holy Days” or Days of Awe that concludes with the Day of Atonement. It’s a time of self-reflection with a more somber mood as we reflect back on the past year and prepare our hearts as we remember his mercy and renew again our commitment to follow God.
In this mindset, there’s a traditional ceremony often observed called “Tashlich” (literally, ‘you will cast’) where each participant takes a stone and throws it into a lake or body of water, representing the sins from the past year they want to repent of.
Who is a God like You pardoning iniquity, overlooking transgression, for the remnant of His heritage? He will not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities, and You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
—Micah 7:18-19
It’s with this spirit of repentance, we remember what God has done in our lives.
We remember his provision and his faithfulness.
We remember how he has been with us in both good and bad times
We remember that His mercy that is new every morning
We remember that as we repent he doesn't give us what our sins deserve, but he is rich in loving kindness towards us.
His faithfulness is long-suffering and never fails. We can trust Him through everything. And we can celebrate that through the blood of Yeshua, we have a sacrifice who has atoned for us once and for all.
We look forward to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement with anticipation because we know that the King has redeemed us.
6. Day of Atonement
(Yom Kippur)
“God spoke to Moses, saying: the 10th of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement for you. It is a sacred holiday when you must fast and bring a fire offering to God.”
—Leviticus 23:26-27
As we end Yom Teruah / Rosh Hashanah, we begin to count 10 days until Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. It was on this day that the ancient Israelites would present themselves before the high priest who would make two offerings for the peoples sins: one for his household and a goat for the people.
The priest would lay his hands on the head of a second goat and confess the sins of the people over from the past year. After the sins were confessed on this “scapegoat,” the high priest would release the goat into the wilderness.
It’s on this most holy day of the year that we fast and pray. As believers in Yeshua, we turn our hearts toward Him and His sacrifice that has atoned once and for all for our sins and all of the times that we’ve missed the mark.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true. For we do not have a high priest unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin. Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.
—Hebrews 4:14–16 CJB
With intentionality, we remember the goodness of a God who would make a way to forgive our sins for all time. We confess that we have missed it and we turn away from our sin and torward our savior. With tearful prayers, we thank Him for his loving-kindness to provide a way to remove our sins as far as the east is from the west, and we look forward to the day when the King will come with His Kingdom to once and for all remove sin and death from our world.
7. Feast of Tabernacles/Booths
(Sukkot)
“God spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites, as follows: The 15th of this seventh month shall be a festival of Sukkoth to God, lasting seven days.”
—Leviticus 23:33-34
The last of the fall feasts is one that is filled with joy and celebration. A culmination of the cycle of fall feasts, yet to be fulfilled is reminiscent of the marriage supper of the lamb, where believers in Messiah will feast with Yeshua after he establishes his throne in Jerusalem.
A sukkah is a shaky impermanent structure, similar to a tent that housed the Israelites after their Exodus from Egypt. Another word for sukkah is tabernacle, which is the type of tent that housed the ark of the covenant where God’s presence dwelt.
During this feast, we remember the ways that God provided for the ancient Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness. We remember how we faithfully provided bread from heaven to sustain their lives and provided extra for Shabbat. We remember how their sandals never wore out and how his presence would show them where to go as they wandered in the dessert.
Sukkot is a reminder that God will always take care of us.
As a reminder we construct a shaky sukkah on our deck or pitch a tent in the yard. For seven days we prepare extravagant meals, open bottles of wine, and eat out under the exposed stars, remembering how God took care of His people in the dessert and how He still takes care of us today.
We travel and camp out, spending time in nature, connected to God’s good world. We spend time with friends and family and share stories of He has been there for us, what He’s teaching us, and what we’re looking forward to. We remember Yeshua’s words that he spoke on the last day of the festival of Sukkot:
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Yeshua stood up and cried out loudly, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture says, ‘out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’”
—John 7:37–38
We read the prophecy in Isaiah that tells of a future day
“Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the water, and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
Why do you spend money for what is not bread? Your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, so that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the trustworthy loyalty to David.
Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you will summon a nation you do not know, and a nation that did not know you will run to you, because of Adonai your God and the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.” Seek Adonai while He may be found, call on Him while He is near.
—Isaiah 55:1–6
As this week culminates, our hearts are full and our spirit overflows with the goodness of God. One day, Yeshua will return to set the world right, to bring justice and make all things new. So during this week we celebrate, looking forward to that glorious day. We raise our glass to the the king of the universe, the one who has come, and the one who will come again!
To the king!
