PART IV . HOLY DAYS AND SEASONS : WEEKLY , MONTHLY , ANNUAL , SEPTENNIAL , AND EVERY HALF - CENTURY . Every religion must have its round of holy days and seasons: 1 . To give occasion for manifesting joyous thankfulness to the Giver of all good things. 2 . To keep alive the memory of past events around which religious associations cling. 3 . To impress upon the hearts of the worshippers those sacred mysteries which are regarded as essential... read more
The festivals. Leviticus 23:1-3 , the sabbath. The three features of it are: the convocation; the rest from all work; the sabbath of the Lord in their dwellings. I. THE PUBLIC WORSHIP of God is the main reason for the sabbath. "Holy convocation.'' Necessity that one day should be appointed. Importance of preserving that day of worship from distraction and disturbance. Influence of public worship on the general interests of religion, and therefore on the individual,... read more
The seventh day is the sabbath of rest. This is a very strong expression, literally, the sabbath of sabbatism, which doubles the force of the single word. Ye shall do no work therein. The sabbath and the Day of Atonement were the only days in which no work might be done, whereas on the other festivals it was only no servile work that might be done. It is not to be observed solely where the tabernacle is pitched or the temple is built, but in every town and village of Canaan— in all your... read more
Aspects of the sabbath. We are reminded of— I. ITS ORIGIN IN EARLIEST HUMAN HISTORY . "The seventh day is the sabbath of rest" (see Genesis 2:2 , Genesis 2:3 ). II. THE SPECIAL OBLIGATION RESTING ON ISRAEL , AS A REDEEMED PEOPLE , TO OBSERVE IT . "The Lord thy God brought thee out thence … therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" ( Deuteronomy 5:15 ). We, also, as those redeemed at far greater cost, may feel... read more
Aspects of the sabbath. We are reminded of— I. ITS ORIGIN IN EARLIEST HUMAN HISTORY . "The seventh day is the sabbath of rest" (see Genesis 2:2 , Genesis 2:3 ). II. THE SPECIAL OBLIGATION RESTING ON ISRAEL , AS A REDEEMED PEOPLE , TO OBSERVE IT . "The Lord thy God brought thee out thence … therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day" ( Deuteronomy 5:15 ). We, also, as those redeemed at far greater cost, may feel... read more
This verse repeats the statement or heading contained in Leviticus 23:2 , with reference to the annual holy day, the sabbath having been disposed of in Leviticus 23:3 . read more
Religious festivals. This chapter has been termed, from its contents, the Calendar of Feasts. Underneath much that has been abolished by the gospel, we can trace principles and truths of permanent application, invested with interest for the Christian as well as the Jewish Church. Surface views are of little worth; if not misleading, they are at best transitory in nature. I. TRUE RELIGION HAS ITS FESTIVALS . The word rendered "feasts" in the text means "fixed times;" but in ... read more
The Passover. cf. Exodus 12:1-51 ; also 1 Corinthians 5:7 , 1 Corinthians 5:8 . In addition to the weekly "offering of rest," there were emphasized offerings of a similar character at select seasons throughout the Jewish year. These were to bring to remembrance great national deliverances, or to celebrate the blessings with which Jehovah crowned the year. The first of these feasts was the Passover. It was to celebrate the deliverance preceding the Exodus. It began with a holy... read more
The influence of sacred recollections. The great festival of the Passover derived all its meaning from one memorable historic scene. It annually recalled one event of surpassing interest, and, by so doing, it impressed all susceptible souls with those leading truths to which God called Israel to bear its living testimony. We look at— I. THE SPECIAL SCENE WHICH THIS FEAST COMMEMORATED , AND THE INFLUENCE IT WAS FITTED TO EXERT . What a night in Hebrew... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Leviticus 23:1-3
The sabbath. This is here classed amongst the "feasts of the Lord." The greater number of these were first observed after the settlement of the Israelites in Canaan; but the Passover was an exception, which was held at the time of the Exodus, forty years earlier. The sabbath also was an exception. We have to consider— I. THE OBLIGATION OF THE SABBATH . 1 . It is not altogether a Mosaic institution. 2 . It was incorporated in the Sinai code. 3 . The Levitical... read more