In today's devotional, we read about appointed festivals and special days of assembly for the people of Israel. Each day was special and was often a ceremonial acknowledgement of a special day in the life of the nation. There were specific laws guiding the nation on exactly what to do and how to mark each. We class these laws as ceremonial laws, they are on the large part, not applicable to Christians today, however, their spiritual significance is noteworthy.
The sabbath were a day each week where the nation took out time to wait on and reverence God.
The Passover and the festivals of unleavened bread. On these days, the entire nation recall how the Lord brought them out of a Egypt suddenly.
The celebration of the first harvest and the marking of the festivas of Harvest. Here, the people mark the first harvest they received when they came into Canaan, they also bring the first portion of their harvest to God.
The festivals of trumpets. On these day, trumpets are blown and the people take out the day to rest from work, take part in holy assemblies and hallowed the Lord.
The day of atonement. Usually 9 days after the festival of trumpets, the day of atonement is the one special day when the high priest enters the holy of holies and makes sacrifices to atone for the sins of the entire nation.
The festival of shelters. This festival held 5 days after the day of atonement. During this festival, the people cut down palm fronds and made tents to live in for 7 days. The festival was a reminder of how the Lord led the entire nation, while living in tents, through the wilderness.
As you'd expect, each of these days held a spiritual significance for the nation of Israel, for Christians however, Christ is not only our sabbath, but his sacrifice fulfilled all of the intentions of the festivals.
