This study has been very eye-opening. More than anything, I learned that these days, which many of us reject and most of us do not understand, were practical observances in the text that we base our faith on. By understanding the practical application of the set-apart days, it’s easier to recognize, accept, and understand the spiritual significance they symbolize, and even foretell. It also takes off the pressure we can sometimes feel to do these days “just right”.
Throughout this study I came face to face with my own ignorance. When I first started the study my sole purpose was to understand how to properly observe the biblical holy days but I leanred so much more. I learned that there is no specific “how to”. Rather, each generation likely observed these days in a slightly different manner because these were practical instructions neccessary for a community of people to survive and to thrive. At the same time, the substance of each day has always been in what they represent.
Perhaps, we must keep them because in all times they are part of a life and death decision to obey God or reject His protections and salvation that we can receive through His instruction.
Maybe, the days must be kept simply because we cannot forget the past and must remember it to know its relevance to the future.
Whatever the case, these days, which were given to Israel and its sojourners as a statute, are not in vain. They have a purpose, but ignoring them as many have, says that God’s ordination of certain days, times, and seasons, serve no purpose at all.
We have extreme views on every side of this matter. There are those who think these days are about ritual sacrifice and these exact sacrifices must be done in honor of the creator at the appointed times. For them, salvation is a matter of doing exactly what our ancestors did. This, of course, makes no sense, because that would indicate that the result will also be exactly that of our ancestors, which we know lead to failure.
Additionally, in the Hebrew culture of biblical times, the people did not waste resources. Hebrews and most other cultures of those days utilized the meat, ash, bones, teeth, horns, fat, blood, and skins of cattle in all sorts of ways. For example, Israel used these byproducts of food preparation for food, hygiene, safety, ground fertalization, and shelter. So, common sense tells us that the amount and types of animals being eaten or “sacrificed” would correspond to the number of people eating them, as well as the need for the byproducts they produced.
The problem is that most people don’t realize that these chosen people were being personally taught by God to survive and to flourish as a member of and an example to the human race. This is true, first from a physical, then from a spiritual perspective.
There are others who believe that these observances were done away with when Constantine declared Rome the authority on Christ. (Ha!) In other words, some people believe (without realizing it) that God’s everlasting command to keep these days were undone by the Catholic version of the Messiah and salvation based on the lie that Rome is or was the sole authority on Christ and God.
Still, there are those oblivious to God’s observances and only know pagan replacements called “holidays”. Otherwise, they have heard of the Jewish semblance of biblical observances and erroneously view them as distinctly “Jewish” and distinctly biblical. Both false assumptions.
All extremist views are flawed. The truth is that, as Paul says, “these days are a foreshadowing of things to come.” Which, contrary to popular belief, is not a condoning of ignorance of the holy days, but proof that keeping them have its purpose.
If these are foreshadowing’s of things to come, not things that came but things that will in all times come, then wouldn’t you want to partake in such things? Don’t you want to know when to run for the hills, as Yahushua says? Wouldn’t you want to recognize your Passover and the end of your oppression? Don’t you think it’s important to understand the times you’re in when everyone else is reaping the harvest, while you stand by clueless of what reaping really looks like?
All these things are signs and seasons. Keeping them is how Yah keeps you! Not that we should “sacrifice” 10 bulls and 14 sheep, but that we should remember, honor, and guard what each holy day represents, that when the time comes we know what’s happening and how to respond! It’s also important simply to show regard for the commands of our creator over that of man.
The battle has already been won, we just need to get on the winning team!
Love you Israel!