A Testimony Of YAHWEH: Faithfulness Regarding His Feasts And Sabbath Days.
By Brother Sean
I just knew it would be difficult getting the day of Pentecost off from work this year. Having only worked my new job for six months (most companies generally don't give you any paid vacation time until you have given them a years worth of service) also, I am one of only four people working in my department. "Who will take my place?” I thought to myself. Also, it would mean the loss of a day's pay. So, as the day grew closer, I asked the manager how far of an advance notice do I need in order to get a day or days off. He very jokingly said, "Six months." Then he laughed and told me to just write it on the calendar and he would be sure to take care of it.
Now, before I go any farther, just let me say this: Once you come to the knowledge of YAHWEH'S Feast Days, they are no longer optional. They must be observed. "You shall do no manner of work. It shall be a statue forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings." Leviticus 23:31. We can clearly see how blessed and delighted YAHWEH will be by simply going to 2 Chronicles and visiting the account of the beautiful, joyous Passover revival service commanded to be observed by King Hezekiah. It starts out by telling how King Hezekiah repented deeply (chap. 29:5-11) for the evil that had been done in Israel over the years. And then it says in 2 Chronicles 30:1 that Hezekiah sent letters to all Israel and Judah, to Ephraim and Manassah, that they should come to the house of YAHWEH at Jerusalem to keep the Passover unto YAHWEH. Now, they didn't keep it at the right time as it tells us in verses 2 and 3. The people didn't come and gather themselves together at Jerusalem. Neither had the Kohen sanctified themselves sufficiently. So Hezekiah proclaimed all throughout Israel that they should keep the Passover unto YAHWEH, for they had not done it for such a long time as it was written in verse 5. After the King had admonished the people for faithlessness and the trespasses of their ancestors (2 Chronicles 30:7-9), the Passover service got under way. (2 Chron. 30:13) They got rid of all the idols and graven images that were in Jerusalem and cast them into the brook of Kidron ( vs.14) Then in vs.15 it tells us they killed the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second (not the first) month and the Levites sanctified themselves. In verse 17 and 18 it tells us that there were many in the congregation that were not sanctified. Many people that were of the tribes of Ephraim, Manassah, Issachar, and Zebulan had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate of the Passover anyway. However, King Hezekiah prayed for then saying, "The good YAHWEH pardon everyone that has prepared his heart to seek HIM though he has not been cleansed properly." And in vs. 20 it says that YAHWEH actually heard Hezekiah's prayer and healed the people.
So, they observed the Passover and the Feast of Unleaven afterward, with much joy and happiness, with praising and singing, and playing loud instruments unto YAHWEH. (2 Chron. 30:21) Immediately after the Passover, they kept the feast of unleavened bread for seven days (vs.21, 22) offering peace offerings and making confessions unto YAHWEH. Going on down to vs. 25 it says that all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers that came out of the land of Judah, rejoiced greatly. So, there was great joy in Jerusalem such as was not seen in Israel since the days of Solomon, son of David. (vs.26) Then, in vs. 27, it says that the Levites arose and blessed the people and their voice was heard, and their prayer came all the way up to YAHWEH'S dwelling place, even unto heaven. Do you see that? YAHWEH was blessed just to see HIS Passover kept even if it wasn't done at the right time! This corresponds with Num. 9:10-12 where YAHWEH told the children of Israel if for any legitimate reason they are unable to keep Passover in the first month, they are then to keep it in the second month on the fourteenth day between the evenings.
So praise be to HIS NAME. Now, let me turn the corner for a minute during this testimony to testify of something else. Earlier this year, we had a beautiful Passover service here at Victory Community. As I was sitting at the table eating the Passover lamb meal, a wonderful understanding came to my heart as exactly what I was doing. I tried to imagine and remember what it was like for the children of Israel to flee Egypt in haste the way they did in the dark of night so long ago. They had no time to bake bread and add the leaven to it. They had to get up and get out as YAHWEH had commanded them. YAHWEH says in Exodus 12:14 "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; (you remember it) and you shall keep it a feast to YAHWEH throughout your generations, you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever." The feast of unleavened bread that we had afterward was a blessing, too. It was not a taxing or burdensome thing not to be able to have the kinds of foods I like that have leaven in them. Because I understood what I was doing and why I was doing it, it was a tremendous blessing.
Now, let me turn the corner again to make another point. Let's look at the world's holidays and how faithful they are at keeping them. Take the worldly holiday of Christmas, for example. It looks pretty, doesn't it? The lights, the trees, the gifts. Yet, it just isn't Scriptural. And, yet, the world goes to great lengths to observe this false Sabbath. Just think: If any one of us were to go to our workplaces on December 25, we wouldn't be able to get in there to work. The place would be shut up and locked with no one around. (99% of all places would be, anyway) We would be forced to turn around and go back home with the world preaching at us to keep their false Sabbath. So, if the world is that faithful and devoted to their holidays, should not we be the same way for YAHWEH'S Feast Days?
In concluding this testimony, I'll go back to the day of Pentecost. The day of Pentecost 2005 came and went. I returned to work the next day, of course. When I saw my manager he asked me if I enjoyed my vacation day. I told him that it wasn't a vacation day; it was the day of Pentecost that I took off. He asked me to explain. I told him that Pentecost was a Feast Day on the calendar and was, therefore, a rest day or Sabbath. He sounded intrigued by what I had told him. Then, he got on the phone, called the secretary who does the payroll, and told her to write me in for eight hours on the day before. I couldn't believe it. I was going to get paid for taking a day off that the world doesn't even consider a holiday! I also overheard him tell the secretary " Sean has not missed a day since he started and his pay is worthy of his performance." So, praise be to HIS NAME. Just be honest and truthful about HIS Feast Days and you will be sure to get the victory!
HALLELUYAHWEH!
Bro. Sean