The Feast of Pesach i.e. Passover has been completed for this year. The ordinance was presented to the Children of Israel, firstly in Exodus Chapter 12. This was the celebration of the barley harvest, celebrated in the Hebrew month "Abib" meaning "ripening ears" (i.e. of barley). Later, due to the Babylonian captivity it was called Nisan see Neh. 2:1, Esther 3:7, Ruth 1:22, 2:23 (April 1 to 8, 1999 this year). Lev. 23:11 describes the Sefirat Ha Omer (Counting the Omer) when a sheaf of the new barley harvest was wave-offered in the Tabernacle, then later in the Temple, on the second day of Pesach, the day after Shabbat/Sabbath. The new crop of barley cereal could now be eaten - the first fruits tithe complete.

The next seven weeks would begin the "Counting of the Omer" (omer being two pint measure approximate). The count continues for 49 days. This is called septeniary feast i.e. 7x7=49. The counting is carefully monitored until the fiftieth day, which called Shavuot in Hebrew - Pentecost in the Greek/English; beginning this year May 21, 1999.

Jewish tradition holds that the 49 preceding days represent 49 steps of aliyah or ascent away from the hametz (impurity) of Egypt. This eventually culminates at the level of Purity of Torah as received at the top of Mount Sinai. This happened on Shavuot/Pentecost. In the middle of the counting is Lag b’Omer. On the thirty-third day, the 18th Iyar, a tradition from the middle ages, it became common practice to remember some sad events of Jewish history and to mourn their memory. It also became occasion for rejoicing, especially favored for weddings, and other celebrations. This fell on May 4, 1999 this year.

On the fiftieth day Shavuot/Pentecost has arrived. In Biblical times, this is one of the three "Pilgrim Festivals." It fell on the 6th Sivan (also the 7th in the Diaspora - outside of Israel) on May 21, 1999 this year.

Exodus 34:21-23 describes this ingathering celebration of the FIRST FRUITS of the wheat harvest. It is also the day of celebration of the giving of the Decalogue/Ten Commandments - Torah, on Mount Sinai. In synagogues, the "Aseret ha Dibberot" i.e. "Ten Sayings or Commandments" are read. Jewish tradition, especially from the Mishnah states that the Decalogue was given in the desert, showing that it was for all Nations, and was proclaimed in the (then) seventy languages of the world (Gen. Ch. 11). This implies grace NOT legalism. The Mishnah records that when Joshua crossed over the Jordan (Josh 8:30-32) that they wrote upon the altar stones, "All the words of the Torah/Law, in the SEVENTY languages, very PLAINLY." See also Deut. 27:8.

Numbers 11:25 describes the incident in the month Iyar (Pentecost) how seventy elders were anointed with the Holy Spirit, the same as rested upon Moshe/Moses. As the Spirit came upon the seventy elders "they began to PROPHESY." The Hebrew word here is Nawbah i.e. to make ecstatic utterance, bubbling forth as a strongly flowing watercourse. The Rabbis hold that they "spoke in the seventy languages of the (then known) world!"

So, we may ask - "What does this all have to do with the New Covenant/Testament?"

Interestingly it has MUCH to do with it. Romans 8:23 compares the first Jewish believers with the FIRST FRUITS. But especially Messiah, risen from the dead, has BECOME the First Fruits of all who have ever hoped for the RESURRECTION! I Cor. 15:20-23. The Scripture which is read at this feast of Shavuot in the synagogues is of special interest. It is Ezekiel’s vision, Ezek. 3:12. The prophet describes a vision accompanied by a VOICE OF A GREAT RUSHING! Acts 3:1-2 describes another parallel, when the upper room, holding 120 men and women is FILLED with a MIGHTY RUSHING WIND. Verse 4 says, they were supernaturally able to speak with languages they had never learned! The "languages or tongues" are described as both GLOSSALALIA - languages and DIALEKTOS - dialects! It is interesting to note that the 120 "Believer-priests" were not Levitical, but after the order of Melchizidek. Gen. 14:18, Ps. 110:4, Heb. 5:6-10; 6:20; 7:11, 17, 21.

I Kings. 8:10-11 and II Chronicles 5:12 describes the Levitical musicians as being 120 just as were gathered Believer-priests at Pentecost. At Solomon’s dedication of the first Temple at Jerusalem, we see that the priests could NOT STAND to MINISTER BECAUSE OF THE SHEKINAH CLOUD - for the Glory of the Lord had FILLED the House of the Lord!" Acts 2:13 says some were mocking, accusing these astonished believers of being DRUNK! Verse 14 and 15 says, "But Peter, STANDING UP with the eleven, 'these are NOT DRUNK AS YOU suppose, it’s only 9 a.m.!'"

Ex 19:17 It was, and is now customary to STAND to receive the reading of Torah at this memorial of receiving it at Sinai. Don’t we need such revelation of God’s glory today?

As we approach the Feast of Shavuot/Pentecost, when ALL manner of harvested fruit was presented in the Temple, we can see the fulfillment of the giving of the Law at Sinai to a nation - Israel, to be given to ALL nations. After Yeshua became our Passover, the disciples tarried at Jerusalem as Messiah told them to. Acts 1:8 they were informed by the resurrected Lord that they would RECEIVE, not tablets or ritual scrolls, but the RUACH HA KODESH = the Spirit of Holiness. Literally. Then they would be empowered to be His witnesses in a dynamic way to the whole world.

We of Jewish heritage, call the Living Word, by the words "Torat Chayim" i.e. The Living Torah or TORAH MADE LIFE (ALIVE) John 1:1-4, 1 John 1:1-2.

Proverbs 3:3, 7:3 encourages us to keep this TORAT CHAYIM the Living Word in our heart. Ezek 11:19 "And I will give them ONE heart and I will put a new spirit within you, and I will take the STONY HEART OUT of their flesh and will give them a heart of flesh." Ezek 18:31 admonishes my Jewish MISHPOCHAH/family to turn away from wrong attitudes and to have CHAI/Life - i.e. ETERNAL! See also Ezek 36:26.

Only YESHUA can accomplish this spiritual heart transplant. He is MOSHIACH.

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