So, the annual festival days are over. That was the best Feast ever. You're back at home from the Feast of Tabernacles. You're probably dealing with that post-Feast depression that grips you once your normal schedule resumes and the bitter disappointment in the modern world sets in. But at least you can know you obeyed God by observing the things He commanded in the law.
To help you fight that post-Feast depression, I've created this handy checklist of the laws regarding the holy days so you can check off the ones you obeyed and recapture that sense of accomplishment you might not be seeing right now due to the general malaise and disenchantment. Just print this out and check off 100% the boxes.
OK, not 100%. I've made this list inclusive so that if you happen to be a Levitical/Aaronic priest, you too can use this list to make sure you've performed your parts. Since all 613 laws don't apply to all people, most people can just skip these ones. Just check off 100% of the non-priestly boxes.
Next year in Jerusalem!
Biblical Days Success Checklist
Before the Feasts
☐ Take caution that you complete any necessary rituals to become an Israelite so you may participate.
☐ Take caution that you observe cleanliness rituals so you may participate.
☐ Have the appropriate calendar, with new moons and etc. (Not the modern Jewish calendar.)
For the priests:
☐ Have the Levitical priesthood available.
☐ Have the Aaronic High Priest available.
☐ Have the Temple in Jerusalem (the place where God chose to place His name).
☐ Have the Holy Place in the Temple.
☐ Have the Most Holy Place in the Holy Place in the Temple.
☐ Have the altar.
☐ Have all the prescribed items necessary for the sacrificial system.
☐ Have a shofar.
☐ Have the priestly silver trumpets.
Passover
☐ Select the prescribed Passover animal.
☐ Select it at the prescribed time.
☐ Keep it until the appointed day.
☐ Bring it to Jerusalem (the place where God chose to place His name).
☐ Have it slaughtered according to the prescribed procedure.
☐ Roast the Passover animal. Do not boil it.
☐ Wait until the appropriate evening on the 14th day of the 1st month.
☐ Eat it at the place God chose.
☐ Eat it with unleavened bread.
☐ Eat it with bitter herbs.
☐ Do not break its bones.
☐ Do not leave any of it until morning.
☐ Return to your dwelling place after the Passover meal.
☐ Observe the restrictions governing who may eat it (hint: not Gentiles).
For the priests:
☐ Slaughter lambs according to the prescribed procedure.
Unleavened Bread
☐ Remove leaven as commanded.
☐ Eat unleavened bread for seven days.
☐ Observe the first day as a holy convocation.
☐ Do no ordinary work on the first day.
☐ Observe the seventh day as a holy convocation.
☐ Do no ordinary work on the seventh day.
For the priests:
☐ Proclaim the first day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Proclaim the last day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Present the prescribed offerings throughout the seven days.
Firstfruits
☐ Decide whether to follow the Pharisees or the Sadducees in determining when to count the Omer.
☐ Cut the first sheaf of the wheat harvest.
☐ Bring it to the priest.
☐ Give the prescribed portion to the poor, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.
☐ Do not eat the new grain before the prescribed offering is made.
For the priests:
☐ Have the priest wave the sheaf before God.
☐ Present the prescribed lamb.
☐ Present the prescribed grain offering.
☐ Present the prescribed drink offering.
Weeks / Pentecost
☐ Travel to Jerusalem (the place where God chose to place His name).
☐ Count seven complete weeks / seven Sabbaths / fifty days.
☐ Observe the day as a holy convocation.
☐ Do no ordinary work/activities.
☐ Rejoice before God at the place He chose.
☐ Bring the prescribed new-grain offering.
For the Priests:
☐ Proclaim the day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Priests bake the two prescribed loaves with leaven.
☐ Have the priest wave the two loaves.
☐ Have the priest wave the prescribed lambs.
☐ Present the prescribed burnt offerings.
☐ Present the prescribed sin offering.
☐ Present the prescribed peace offerings.
☐ Make the required freewill offering.
Trumpets
☐ Observe the first day of the seventh month as a holy convocation.
☐ Do no ordinary work/activities.
For the priests:
☐ Proclaim the day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Have the Aaronic priests perform the prescribed shofar blowing (remember, it doesn't say 'trumpet').
☐ Have the Aaronic priests blow the two silver trumpets when required for the appointed assembly.
☐ Present the prescribed burnt offerings.
☐ Present the prescribed sin offering.
☐ Present the prescribed grain offerings.
☐ Present the prescribed drink offerings.
☐ Perform the regular daily offering.
☐ Perform the prescribed new-moon offering.
Day of Atonement
☐ Observe a holy convocation.
☐ Do no ordinary work/activities.
☐ Afflict yourself.
☐ Observe the day as a Sabbath rest.
For the priests:
☐ Proclaim the first day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Have the High Priest perform the prescribed atonement ritual.
☐ Have the High Priest enter the Most Holy Place.
☐ Have the High Priest wear the prescribed sacred garments.
☐ Make atonement for the sanctuary.
☐ Make atonement for the altar.
☐ Make atonement for the priesthood.
☐ Make atonement for the people.
☐ Provide the two prescribed goats.
☐ Sacrifice the prescribed goat.
☐ Confess Israel's sins over the live goat.
☐ Send the other goat away according to the prescribed ritual.
☐ Perform the prescribed annual sacrifices.
Tabernacles / Booths
☐ Go to Jerusalem (the place where God chose to place His name).
☐ Bring the prescribed offerings, the firstfruits of the fall harvest.
☐ Observe the first day as a holy convocation.
☐ Do no ordinary work/activities on the first day.
☐ Take the prescribed branches.
☐ Rejoice before God for seven days.
☐ Dwell in booths for seven days.
☐ Observe the prescribed memorial of Israel's wilderness dwelling.
☐ Include the household in the rejoicing.
☐ Include the Levites.
☐ Include the resident foreigner.
☐ Include the fatherless and widow.
☐ Bring the required offerings.
For the priests:
☐ Proclaim the first day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Offer thirteen bulls on the first day.
☐ Offer twelve bulls on the second day.
☐ Offer eleven bulls on the third day.
☐ Offer ten bulls on the fourth day.
☐ Offer nine bulls on the fifth day.
☐ Offer eight bulls on the sixth day.
☐ Offer seven bulls on the seventh day.
☐ Offer the prescribed rams each day.
☐ Offer the prescribed lambs each day.
☐ Offer the prescribed goat each day.
☐ Offer the prescribed grain offerings.
☐ Offer the prescribed drink offerings.
☐ Perform the regular daily offerings.
Eighth Day
☐ Observe the eighth day as a solemn assembly in Jerusalem.
☐ Do no ordinary work/activities.
☐ Do not leave until the day is completely over.
For the priests:
☐ Proclaim the day to be holy. If it's not consecrated, then it's not holy.
☐ Present the prescribed burnt offerings.
☐ Present the prescribed sin offering.
☐ Present the prescribed grain offerings.
☐ Present the prescribed drink offerings.
☐ Perform the regular daily offering.
Did you keep 100% of the laws that apply to you?
People say, "God commands and we must obey." OK. Then obey.
But they can't.
People say, "We have to keep the parts we can keep." OK. Then do it.
But they don't.
People say, "The ceremonial law is not necessary in the New Covenant." OK. Then don't do it.
But they still try.
But more importantly, 'keep some, skip some, change some' is not how the law worked.
(DEU. 12:32) Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
(JAS. 2:10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.
Keep all the law or you're not keeping the law at all.
I will concede this: if attempting to keep some of the law helps you develop a closer relationship with God, then hey, I wish you the best. Even though it might not seem like it, As Bereans Did has always made the distinction that we are free to do what our conscience dictates. So, if you feel you must do what you do, then do so. (But must you?) Or, if you feel it's a benefit to your faith, then we have no quarrel with this. Our two main concerns in all of this are really: 1) the gravely dangerous mistake that we must earn something or qualify for something through [partial] law-keeping, and 2) the judgment and condemnation that so frequently goes along with such things. We recommend Paul's advice:
(ROM. 14:6,12-13) 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.
12 So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.
It's the judgment and condemnation Paul is against. We know from experience that what starts as, "Keep the law," tends to end in, "...like I do, and you're a sinner if you don't." The elephant in this room is: you're not actually keeping the law that you say you keep. So, since neither of us keep the law, let's not beat each other up over it, eh?
But! There is an even better solution available to you. I invite you to investigate it. See, "For Paul, Jesus Is The Answer".
(DEU.12:8-11a) 8 “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes— 9 for as yet you have not come to the rest and the inheritance which the Lord your God is giving you. 10 But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety, 11 then there will be the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the Lord. 12 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 13 Take heed to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which the Lord chooses, in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you.
For more, I suggest:
Why Not Keep Biblical Days?
What Do You Mean... 'Holy Convocation'?
You SHOULD Keep the Feast of Tabernacles
Shadows, Nails and the Fall Holy Days
Three Times in the Year part1
The God’s Law Controversy
Common Legalist Arguments - Part II
Temple of God / Law of God
The Sabbath Rest of Isaiah 66
Confusing the Covenants
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It is important that you understand; Everything on this blog is based on the current understanding of each author. Never take anyone's word for it, always prove it for yourself, it is your responsibility. You cannot ride someone else's coattail into the Kingdom. ; )
Acts 17:11
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