Jubilation

Finding Significance by Relating with God through the Lord’s Feast of Pentecost

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

Shavuot—the Feast of Weeks or Harvest (Pentecost) is unique in that it has double significance:  

• It marked the end of the barley harvest, and beginning of the wheat harvest—or “fullness” of the harvest;

• It marked the day the Torah, or covenant law was given to Moses.

Celebrated 50 days after Passover, this feast has special significance.  This time served to link the deliverance from the bondage of Egypt to the giving of the Torah, or God’s covenant law. It, therefore, serves as a reminder that the redemption from bondage was not fully complete until God’s people had received the fullness of God’s covenant word and order, or law.

RELEVANCE

Since 50 also signifies a time of jubilee according to the covenant (legal cancellation of debts, indentured relationships and restoration of land), this feast represents the shadow of a special time of jubilee.

Following the LORD’s resurrection, the disciples had been spending time with one another in prayers and devotion. While they were celebrating this feast, a sound from the sky like the roar of a violent wind came and filled the whole house where they were. The disciples were “filled with the Spirit,” as recorded in Acts 2. 

On Shavuot—Pentecost—their lives were transformed by the Holy Spirit! In their devotions and celebration, God’s Word connected with His Spirit and brought completion—or fullness—to the revelation of God’s covenant. It therefore, brought fulfillment to Isaiah’s prophecy expressing the fullness of God’s covenant.  (Isaiah 59:21)

They also understood more clearly the reality of what the LORD meant by “a fountain of water” that would spring up within and bring refreshing new life.

Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13-14)

Our understanding of our significance in life becomes magnified once the reality of the Holy Spirit’s infilling becomes real to us. In fact, it will change your life! It’s a matter of growing into the fullness of this revelation as you continue to receive refreshment and truth from the Holy Spirit.

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

In what ways do you celebrate—and express gratefulness—for the covenant gifts God has given you—His Word and Spirit?

REFERENCES

Leviticus 23:15-22; Exodus 23:16; 34:22; Exodus 19; Acts 2; Acts 19:1-7

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.