Leviticus 23:4-5
“These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The word "appointed" (or "set" in some translations) for these feasts carries a deeper meaning than just scheduled; it signifies that these aren't random holidays, but divine appointments set by God Himself, like sacred meetings He ordained with His people. This highlights that observing them wasn't just about remembering history, but about actively participating in God’s ongoing relationship and covenant with them.
This verse serves as an introduction to a significant section of Leviticus detailing God's appointed times for Israel to gather and worship. Immediately preceding it, Moses has just been commanded by God to remind the people about the weekly Sabbath, but this passage expands the focus to a whole calendar of special feasts. What follows will be a description of each of these holy days, emphasizing that they are to be proclaimed and observed at their specific, divinely appointed times.
Did you know God set aside specific times for His people to meet with Him? These weren't just holidays; they were divine appointments.
Leviticus 23 introduces the feasts of the LORD, calling them 'holy convocations.' This phrase is key! 'Convocations' (Hebrew: miqra) literally means 'a calling out' or 'a rehearsal.' These weren't just days off; they were divinely orchestrated gatherings where God called His people to set aside ordinary life and meet with Him. The word miqra also carries the sense of 'rehearsal' or 'repetition,' suggesting these feasts were meant to rehearse God's redemptive acts and promises. They were sacred appointments, a divine invitation to gather and remember who God is and what He has done.
Why did God establish these feasts at specific times? It wasn't random – His timing is always perfect.
The verse states these feasts are to be proclaimed 'in their seasons.' This points to God's intentional and precise timing for these sacred gatherings. The original Hebrew emphasizes appointed times, much like the celestial bodies marking seasons (Genesis 1:14). These festivals were carefully placed throughout the agricultural year in Israel. For instance, some fell during harvest times when people would be busy, perhaps to prevent them from becoming overly focused on their work and forgetting God. Others were timed to coincide with periods of transition or preparation. This perfect timing served multiple purposes: it aligned with agricultural cycles, helped counteract pagan practices tied to seasons, and ensured that Israel would consistently remember God's faithfulness and provision at the right moments.
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Understand the original words
pecach · Hebrew Noun
The commemorative feast celebrating the Lord’s sparing of the firstborn of Israel during the final plague in Egypt. It serves as a profound typology of the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God, who delivers His people from judgment.
This verse introduces the Passover, the first of the appointed feasts, emphasizing its importance as a memorial and a holy observance.
Numbers 28:1-2This passage reiterates the importance of the appointed times and the specific offerings God commanded for His feasts, reinforcing the idea of 'holy convocations'.
Psalm 81:3This psalm calls for trumpets to be blown on the New Moon and on the day of the Feast of the New Moon, directly linking sound and proclamation to a specific feast day.
Nehemiah 8:2This verse shows the priests proclaiming the Law and its appointed feasts to the gathered people, demonstrating the practice of 'holy convocations' and public proclamation.
1 Corinthians 5:7-8Paul uses the imagery of Passover and the removal of leaven to explain how believers should live, showing the New Testament continuation of the spirit of these appointed feasts.
calvinLeviticus 23:1-44: "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
Alloquere filios Israel, et dic eis, Quum ingressi fueritis terrain quam ego do vobis, et messueritis messem ejus, tunc offeretis omnes primitias messis vestrae ad sacerdotem.
And he shall wave the shea…
pooleLeviticus 23:4: "These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons."
In their appointed and proper times, as the word is used Genesis 1:14 Psalm 104:19 .
The word "appointed" (or "set" in some translations) for these feasts carries a deeper meaning than just scheduled; it signifies that these aren't random holidays, but divine appointments set by God Himself, like sacred meetings He ordained with His people. This highlights that observing them wasn't just about remembering history, but about actively participating in God’s ongoing relationship and covenant with them.
This verse serves as an introduction to a significant section of Leviticus detailing God's appointed times for Israel to gather and worship. Immediately preceding it, Moses has just been commanded by God to remind the people about the weekly Sabbath, but this passage expands the focus to a whole calendar of special feasts. What follows will be a description of each of these holy days, emphasizing that they are to be proclaimed and observed at their specific, divinely appointed times.
This verse serves as an introduction to a significant section of Leviticus detailing God's appointed times for Israel to gather and worship. Immediately preceding it, Moses has just been commanded by God to remind the people about the weekly Sabbath, but this passage expands the focus to a whole calendar of special feasts. What follows will be a description of each of these holy days, emphasizing that they are to be proclaimed and observed at their specific, divinely appointed times.
"“These are the appointed feasts of the LORD, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover." — The word "appointed" (or "set" in some translations) for these feasts carries a deeper meaning than just scheduled; it signifies that these aren't random holidays, but divine appointments set by God…
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