Overview to Pentecost
by Todd Elder
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In the Scriptures, there is little that compares with the the day
known as Pentecost (Shavu'ot). In it we can historically see the
One Most High acting in two different ways to make a group of
people His own.
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This festival goes by many names and each one shows a different
aspect of it. It can be called the Feast of Weeks which represents
the 50 day count (7 weeks plus a day) from the wave sheaf offering
that helps one arrive at this day on the calendar. It is also known
as a Feast of Harvest because it represents the beginning of the
wheat harvest for Israel. It is also known in Jewish tradition as
the Festival of the Giving of the Torah because on this day the 10
commandments were spoken on Mt. Sinai.
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In the Old Testament Scriptures we read of the Israelites who were
recently taken from Egypt and whom have been led to Mt. Sinai. In
the scriptural celebration of the day there are not many things to
be done. It is considered to be a day of rest when no work should
be done. This is also a pilgrimage festival where the men are to go
to Jerusalem and offer a freewill offering. A special event of the
day is the two loaves of wheat bread that are to be waved before
the altar. Many possible explanations exist for what these loaves
represent (Jew and gentile, the two witnesses, sinners with leaven
in their lives, etc). It is interesting to note that these two
loaves were huge. I do not know the exact shape, but they were
approximately 12 x 21 x 3 inches in size. In Jewish tradition, it
is customary to eat a dairy meal on this day as a reminder of their
journey to a land flowing with milk and honey.
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Perhaps the most important event of this day was the first time it
was observed there at Mt. Sinai. It was at this time that YHVH came
to the people of Israel (in the smoke on the mountain) and made a
covenant with the Nation of Israel thereby making them His people.
The importance of this covenant is witnessed throughout the
Scriptures as the history of the Nation of Israel unfolds even into
our very age. On a side note, about 3000 people died at Mt. Sinai
due to disobedience ... YHVH is a jealous Mighty One and does not
take His covenant lightly.
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Yet this day has another great significance. About 1500 years
later, the Spirit was sent down and a new age began. It is
important to realize that it was Messiah Yahshua Himself who sent
the Spirit as our Guide and Comforter. What a job the Spirit has
done. We are helped continually by the Spirit in our prayeers and
in our works and in our lives. The greatest work of all is
summarized in the little statement that those who have the Spirit
within them are Sons of Elohim. If you don't mind a suggestion,
take some time to pray and reflect on that. Going back to the side
note from above, is it any coincidence that on the day of Pentecost
about 3,000 people were saved?
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This day has had great meaning in our lives. On it we first
received the covenant which makes us a people that belong to YHVH.
Later, on this same day, we received His Spirit which makes us Sons
of YHVH. We should be thanking Him for all He has done for us, not
just on this day but throughout the year. But as this particular
day approaches, it would be good for each of us to ask what we are
willing to do or give back in return. It is time for a freewill
offering, what shall we give?
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