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Seven Old Testament Feasts: A Study of the 23rd Chapter of the Book of Leviticus
Seven Old Testament Feasts: A Study of the 23rd Chapter of the Book of Leviticus
Seven Old Testament Feasts: A Study of the 23rd Chapter of the Book of Leviticus
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Seven Old Testament Feasts: A Study of the 23rd Chapter of the Book of Leviticus

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Forward
The exposition of the Feasts of Jehovah given in the following pages is an exceedingly fresh and helpful one. Such a subject is of very real importance to the Church in a day when the Old Testament is very largely a sealed book. Sealed because, alas! so few approach it in the right spirit.
An Apostle affirms that “the things written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Moreover they are the record of historical events; events fraught with typical significance and full of spiritual import.
There can be no doubt whatever that if the Types of the Old Testament were studied in real humility and readiness of mind to see in them pictures of Divine Truth they would be found a mighty weapon of defence against the attacks of Modernism, a weapon whose efficacy it is difficult to overestimate. Further, such study is essential to the right understanding of a great proportion of the New Testament.
This contribution to the unfolding of the types of Leviticus 23 by my beloved friend Mr. A. McD. Redwood is, therefore, most heartily to be welcomed and prayerfully read. The very suggestive exposition of the “Firstborn” (pp. 19-30), though quite new, is one which merits careful consideration and will, I believe, commend itself to most. Such reading can only result for others, as for myself, in a fuller appreciation of what Dr. Pusey has so beautifully called the “hidden harmonies of Holy Writ.”
H. Yolland.
Bible Training Institute
Auckland, New Zealand.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 27, 2018
ISBN9788827595343
Seven Old Testament Feasts: A Study of the 23rd Chapter of the Book of Leviticus

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    Seven Old Testament Feasts - Alfred McDonald Redwood

    CrossReach

    FOREWORD

    The exposition of the Feasts of Jehovah given in the following pages is an exceedingly fresh and helpful one. Such a subject is of very real importance to the Church in a day when the Old Testament is very largely a sealed book. Sealed because, alas! so few approach it in the right spirit.

    An Apostle affirms that the things written aforetime were written for our learning that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Moreover they are the record of historical events; events fraught with typical significance and full of spiritual import.

    There can be no doubt whatever that if the Types of the Old Testament were studied in real humility and readiness of mind to see in them pictures of Divine Truth they would be found a mighty weapon of defence against the attacks of Modernism, a weapon whose efficacy it is difficult to overestimate. Further, such study is essential to the right understanding of a great proportion of the New Testament.

    This contribution to the unfolding of the types of Leviticus 23 by my beloved friend Mr. A. McD. Redwood is, therefore, most heartily to be welcomed and prayerfully read. The very suggestive exposition of the Firstborn (pp. 19-30), though quite new, is one which merits careful consideration and will, I believe, commend itself to most. Such reading can only result for others, as for myself, in a fuller appreciation of what Dr. Pusey has so beautifully called the hidden harmonies of Holy Writ.

    H. YOLLAND.

    BIBLE TRAINING INSTITUTE,

    AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND.

    AUTHOR’S PREFACE

    In keeping with the prevalent desire for something new characteristic of the age in which we live, there is observable amongst numbers of Christians a hankering for fresh light on almost every thing contained in the Bible. Whilst this may be very laudable if rightly controlled, it is evident that many are being led away by what after all is merely fanciful and sensational. In the attempt to shake themselves free from the rigidly-held ‘interpretations’ of this or that ‘school,’ and to bring forth something ‘original,’ they are in imminent danger of falling into—not truth; but disguised error. The result is confusion and—less light, if not actual darkness.

    The author yields to none in his earnest desire to make use of every ray of True Light that may yet come to rest upon the sacred pages of God’s Word, but he is conscious also of the danger alluded to, having watched its workings in different directions, in the foreign mission field and at home. The moving idea that has been uppermost in the writing of these pages, therefore, has been to re-assert (with whatever individuality in spiritual insight one happens to possess) things most surely believed among us, and which form the warp and woof of Christian experience and knowledge.

    Whilst the author makes no claim to originality, it is hoped that new lines of thought may be started in the minds of those who will read these pages with care and prayer. Other works on the subject have been consulted, but sparingly followed, except in matters where deviation would be a sign of weakness rather than strength. The presentation has been kept as far as possible out of traditional ‘ruts,’ so that the experienced student as well as the young initiate may be led to find in this subject a perennial spring of living waters—something to refresh the soul and enliven gratitude to the Giver of all good gifts.

    What possibly constitutes the distinctive feature of this presentation of an old subject is the exposition of the threefold classification of the seven Feasts—especially that which has been termed the Christological classification. But even here the sole aim has been to follow the light wherever it lead and not to create imaginative conceits. It is open to any and all those methods of testing truth which mature and spiritual minds understand. If it stands, it will but yield one more proof of the microscopic harmonies and beauties of the Word—equally marvellous as are its telescopic glories.

    * * * * * * *

    The first edition having been out of print for some time, this re-issue (under a more suitable title) is sent forth with the earnest hope it may still continue to fulfil a useful and perhaps even wider ministry. We thank God for any evidence that this expectation is probably not without reasonable foundation. It is earnestly hoped also that the Old Testament subject presented in these pages, though frequently heard in the addresses of a past generation of Bible lovers, may have a fresh appeal for those of to-day; and that many will be encouraged to go on to study the many other types in the Old Testament, equally wonderful and instructive.

    I would wish to express my grateful thanks to my brother, Mr. Walter J. McD. Redwood, for his very helpful cooperation, without which this edition might possibly not have appeared.

    May the Lord graciously add His own blessing both to the reading and study of His Word and its unfoldings.

    A. MCD. R.

    (All New Testament references are to the Revised Version except occasionally.)

    SEVEN OLD TESTAMENT FEASTS

    INTRODUCTION

    The twenty-third chapter of Leviticus is devoted to the subject The Feasts of the LORD. It has been named the chapter of The Sacred Calendar of the History of Redemption. How suitably this title fits the subject we shall see as we study.

    This is not the only passage where mention is made of these Feasts, but here they are all brought together by the inspired writer and set before us in an orderly and comprehensive manner. Neither were these the only Feasts that comprised the Sacred Calendar of Israel—others were added after the death of Moses, including several Fasts. But on closer study there appears an evident design, both in the manner of their setting and in their selection. Each Feast had its place and its meaning and from the Godward aspect these seven Feasts, including the weekly Sabbath, complete the Calendar which, as we shall see, represents the whole of God’s dealings with mankind in redemptive grace from the Garden of Eden to the Eternity to come.

    As we trace the teaching of each successive Feast we shall find a consecutive foreshadowing of God’s plan of Redemption from the Cross to the  Glory. To understand their meaning and scope, therefore, is to be furnished with a foreview of the History of Redemption, and thus to have further wonderful evidence of the Omniscience and Omnipotence of our Jehovah God, Who worketh all things according to the purpose of His own will.

    This is, indeed, a most wonderful chapter. Its study is of the highest profit to the Bible student. This is indicated in the fact that it involved a special communication from Jehovah to Moses: And Jehovah spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, (concerning) the feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts (vs. 1, 2) and as if to add emphasis to this, Jehovah characterizes these gatherings as My Feasts, and Holy convocations.

    1. The Method of Instruction.

    The subject before us affords a beautiful example of God’s method of imparting instruction by means of Types and Symbols.1 Probably most readers will understand what we mean by a type. For those who are not so well acquainted with this kind of instruction we would explain that a type is a material picture presented to the eye, which embodies in itself divine truth and teachings. The Tabernacle in the wilderness, with its priesthood and offerings, is a conspicuous example of a type, rather of a series of types. It was a material structure composed of wood, gold, silver, etc., and in that respect was no different from any other ancient building. But as a whole, as well as in its several details, we find it embodies a mass of most wonderful teaching respecting Christ and the Christian. Hence we also find typical institutions, typical ceremonies, typical persons, typical offices, typical assemblies, etc.

    And yet we must guard against thinking every institution, ceremony, or person, as being a type. To constitute one thing the type of another, something more is wanted than mere resemblance. The former must not only resemble the latter, but must have been designed to resemble the latter. It must have been designed as something preparatory to the latter. It is this previous design and this preordained connection, (together, of course, with the resemblance), which constitute the relation of type and antitype.2 This teaching by pictures is characteristic of the Old Testament, and much of it is unintelligible apart from the study of the types, which is termed typology.

    Closely connected with typology is the study of prophecy. In fact, almost every type may be said to possess something of a prophetical character. The one images or prefigures, while the other foretells coming realities. The one uses representative acts and symbols, the other uses words. Both, therefore, have something of a common nature, though  they are distinct methods of imparting truth.3

    This is well illustrated by the study of these Feasts, for in all the necessary features of prophetic evidence, the argument from these is remarkably clear and certain. Their antiquity, their priority in point of time to that which they pointed, is quite unmistakable. They were celebrated by successive generations uninterruptedly for centuries before those facts and events which they foreshadowed were fulfilled. And when we compare the fulfilled antitype with the prophetic type, we find them answer, the one to the other, in a large number and variety of details. It is utterly impossible, therefore, that this agreement should be the result of accident or chance; for the correspondence is altogether too obvious and abundant to be denied. That these Feasts were designed to this divine end, therefore, becomes self-evident.

    2. General Characteristics.

    It is essential at the start that we get a right idea of what these Feasts were. The A.V. rendering of the Hebrew word conveys a very inadequate idea of the true meaning, and the R.V. (set feasts)—is not much more enlightening. There are two Hebrew words both translated by feast—the one, haj (or hagh), being derived from a verb meaning to dance, or, to be joyous, and applied exclusively to the three festivals of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. But the term that most fitly designated, and that alone actually comprehended all the sacred feasts was moed; and in Lev. 23, this is the term applied to them all—they are the Mo’adei Yehovah.

    The root meaning of the word moed is, to meet by appointment.4 Edersheim beautifully suggests the rendering Trystings of Jehovah—and that is just what they were. It is the same word translated tabernacle (or tent) of the congregation.5 What was meant by this name, therefore, was the stated solemnities of the people—the occasions fixed by divine appointment for their being called and meeting together in holy fellowship; meeting, that is, for acts and purposes of sacred worship ... They were pre-eminently designed to maintain and promote the people’s fellowship with God. It was before Him, not simply with one another, that they were to meet; not in assemblies merely, but in holy assemblies that they were to congregate.

    They provided holy opportunities of remembering Jehovah their God, and all the wonderful exhibitions of His mercy and providential care, as Moses so repeatedly enjoined in his closing addresses.6 Each separate Feast had its own peculiar significance, they were not merely six repetitions of the first, with a few variations of ceremonial and ritual added. But all together would reveal vividly to their minds Jehovah’s love for them, His claims upon them, and their responsibility to respond in reverent worship and grateful obedience. Every Feast was, therefore, a fresh reminder of God their Lord, and a new appeal to heart and conscience.

    The leading characteristics of these trystings were joyousness7; rest from labour8: and the offering of special offerings detailed by God for His worship.

    Besides this, there was also the appearing of the male representatives before Jehovah, in the precincts of the temple at Jerusalem thrice yearly (at Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles); and these appearances were to be accompanied by their freewill offerings according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God which He hath given thee.9

    In all this we have some very suggestive teaching for believers in their worship of, and service for, God. How blessed to get into the presence of God with that holy joy and peace of conscience that flows from the knowledge of sins forgiven, and

    a heart at leisure from itself.

    On such occasions we are able to offer up spiritual sacrifices of praise and worship, and bring our baskets of first fruits for His glory.

    We may further note the significant recurrence of the numeral seven, throughout the Calendar. There were seven appointed Feasts, and they were all included in

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