Sermon Notes for: 5/11/2008
 “The Feast of Weeks” - Leviticus 23:9-22
-- Jeffrey C. Evans --

I. Introduction
a. The first Christian Pentecost has a history with which we must become more acquainted. Imagine if we wanted to understand what a “Christian” was without having some understanding of the history of Israel. So too, when we talk about Pentecost, it behooves us to know something about the Old Testament Feasts, especially the Feast of Weeks.
b. The bad news: few consider what the ceremonies of the Mosaic Covenant mean. And, to understand them, we need to mentally walk through their practice as they are not theologically explained in detail by the Scriptures.
c. Context: If someone says “Pentecost” what Old Testament story (not law) comes to mind?
i. Harvest time and Israel’s festivals coincide
ii. The Ten Commandments are a summary of all the laws in the Mosaic Covenant. So, what law does this fall under?

II. Precursor to the Feast (vv. 9-14)
a. The importance of remembering God with the land and harvest (cf. Deut 8:6-14)
b. The first thing done with the first of the harvest: waving of the sheaf
c. The offering of a lamb without blemish

III. Presenting the Harvest (vv. 15-21)
a. Understanding the bread, animals, and wine
b. Why the specific numbers: seven, two, and one?
c. The actions of the priest and the people

IV. Provision for the Poor at Harvest (v. 22)
a. Leave the corners
b. Do not glean

V. What does this mean for us and for the first Christian Pentecost?
a. “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women…” (Acts 1:14). In our prayers we are presenting the Lord with the little we have, asking Him to grant a full harvest. Watch Him wave it to the four corners of the earth and bring abundance to our days of small beginnings.
b. The gift of the Spirit at Pentecost fulfills Joel’s prophecy of a land renewed and abounding in harvest (Joel 2). As such, we are neither to forget the joy of harvest nor fall into mere external observance of God’s commands as Israel often did.
c. Sabbaths and feasts go together in the Scriptures and so also should in your practice. This does not mean a five course meal every Sunday but it does mean Sabbath joy in your homes (Isa 58:13-14).
d. It is good to find times to celebrate before the Lord in the abundance He has given us (cf. Deut 14:22-27), both with the tithe and with offerings. As we do this, we are to remember the destitute (cf. Acts 2:45).
e. Pentecost, like Passover, has been transfigured/transformed by the coming of Christ and the gift of the Spirit. But, just as the early Church continued to remember Pentecost, so too can we. We give thanks for what the Scriptures recount about the first Pentecost, remember God’s goodness to us in the land and harvest, and seek to celebrate this in such a way that we come to rest in God’s present and future provisions. Likewise, we should eye the entire world as a field for planting. Mothers, you are especially doing this with every verbal correction of your kids, swat on the rear, and honor paid to your husbands.

VI. Conclusion

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