The Feast of Weeks

The Feast of Weeks appears in several places in the Old Testament including Exodus 34:22, Leviticus 23:15-22, and Deuteronomy 16:9-10. It is given to the Israelites as a command from God to celebrate the harvest. Deuteronomy 16:9-10 says, “You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.” The Old Testament is where the command for the Feast of Weeks originated. It has since been given many names including the Feast of Pentecost, Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest, and the Latter Firstfruits. 

Shavuot, in Jewish tradition, was also the time when God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. There is no biblical reference for this and is believed to have started after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. However, modern Jews celebrate by studying the Torah, reciting the Ten Commandments, reading the Book of Ruth, and decorating their synagogues and homes with roses or aromatic spices. The Book of Ruth is read because it takes place during the harvest season and because Ruth’s conversion is thought to reflect the acceptance of the Torah on Shavuot.

Pentecost is a name familiar to believers and is celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover. The name comes from the Greek word pentekoste which means fiftieth. It was on this day, recorded in Acts 2, that the Holy Spirit was given to believers. Acts 2:1-4 says, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

This event drew a very large crowd that had already been gathering to celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and gave Peter the chance to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ. After Peter’s sermon in Acts 2, about three thousand were baptized and received the Holy Spirit. This is significant as it marks the coming of the Holy Spirit to dwell within the followers of Jesus and the beginning of the church to do His work on earth as recorded in Acts 1:8.

John Gill expressed in his commentary: “Through this baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire, the apostles became more knowing, and had a greater understanding of the mysteries of the Gospel, and were more qualified to preach it to people of all nations and languages.” This year Pentecost will fall on Sunday, May 28th occurring seven weeks after Easter Sunday. In these coming weeks take time to reflect on what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin (John 16:8), guides us into all the truth (John 16:13), helps us in our weakness (Romans 8:26), and gives us power (Acts 1:8) – the power to do His work and witness to the end of the earth.

It is important to ask ourselves: are we walking with the Spirit? Are there times when we quench the Spirit? Are we letting the Spirit guide us in truth by being in His Word every day? Are we doing His Work in the power of the Spirit?

In Christ,

Bob Scaia, Elder