Remembering and Celebrating

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Deuteronomy 16:1-4
The directions for the three pilgrimage festivals; Passover-Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles ( Booths, Lev 23:42-43 ); vary somewhat from those in Exodus 23:14-19, Leviticus 23, and Numbers 28:16-29:38.

But the variations are consonant with the character of the books.

Passover which began at the climax of their Egyptian lodgings and was at that time observed in the homes ( tents ) of the people ( Exod 12:1-28 ), soon, when they were settled in the land, was to be held in the place the Lord would “choose as a dwelling for his Name” ( v 2 ).

The historical occasion for the Passover now would have an added significance; that of the agricultural year, in conjunction with the other major festivals.

The yeast ( or leaven of any kind ) is said to be suggestive of decay and, consequently, not fitted for the symbolism of the Passover; but in this text bread without yeast, the bread of affliction, a reference to the affliction the people experienced in Egypt ( Exod 3:7 ), was to be eaten because they had left Egypt in apprehensive haste.

Unleavened bread can be made in less time than leavened bread ( and it keeps better ); so it is reminiscent of the consequence of their departure from Egypt after the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians ( v 3 ).

The statement “ so that all the days of your life you may remember the time of your departure from Egyp t” ( v 3 ) makes it clear that the date of the Passover Feast rests on a historical core rather than on the agricultural year.

“ Day ” or “ time ” is used in v.3 for the time of their departure from Egypt, while in v 6 a “ set ” or “ appointed time" is used, supported by “in the evening, when the sun goes down. ”

“ On the evening of the first day ” ( v 4 ) by Hebrew calculation, which counts the evening as the beginning of the day, would be the beginning of the fifteenth of Nisan ( March/April ) ( Lev 23:6 ).

Deuteronomy 16:5-8
After eating the main Passover meal, the people were to return to the places where they were staying during their visit to the place the Lord would choose ( v 6).

The Passover meal was complete in itself; none of the meat sacrificed in the evening was to remain until the morning.

“ To your tents ” ( v 7 ) as a Hebrew idiom for going to one’s dwelling (whether temporary or permanent) continued in use for many years after Israel had settled in towns and no longer used tents ( 2 Kings 8:21; 13:5; 14:12; the NIV renders each occurrence as “home[s]“ ).

The Passover-Unleavened Bread Festival ended with a special closing assembly (v.8).

In the NT the last Passover that Jesus ate with his disciples became the Lord’s Supper (Matt 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-22), and Christ’s death on the cross became the Passover sacrifice to take away sin (1 Cor 5:7-8; cf. John 1:29).

Recap

REMEMBER
So you may remember as long as you live ( Deuteronomy 16:3 )

Memory is a tricky thing, but there are some things we should never forget. Among these are the sacrifices others have made on our behalf.

CELEBRATE
There shall be a solemn meeting in honor of the Lord ( Deuteronomy 16:8 )
On the seventh day, God expected the Israelites to abstain from any sort of work and instead to remember and celebrate what God had done for them. We have to be able to remember so we can celebrate. People usually are excellent at celebrating their own accomplishments, victories, and successes. Celebrating what other people have accomplished is more difficult. The apostle Paul said we should “rejoice with those who rejoice” ( Romans 12:15 ). That is the idea; the Israelites should celebrate together with each other what God had done for them.

What God instructs his people to do in Deuteronomy 16; God wants them to recognize what he has done for them and be happy about it. Celebrate it!  

Are we happy with what God does for us?

Did you have a ‘ spiritual Egypt ‘?

Is it hurting you in your enjoyment of the promised land - Christ?

How did or do you correct it?

Prayer:
Dear Father in Heaven You want us to remember what You have done for us through Christ and I pray no one takes it lightly or sets it aside to follow the world. There is no greater gift given to mankind and I thank you for it. Thank You Lord.

In the name of Jesus. Amen

TGIF