FESTIVALS OF RENEWAL

A CELEBRATION OF RELEASE

In this modern age of space travel, scientific advances and the exchange of information via the airwaves at incredible speed, mankind believes that they can find the solution to all of this worlds problems, food shortages, illness, pollution, crime, and all the rest of this worlds troubles.

Little do they know that the true solution is thousands of years old and has been put in writing.

One might think that this kind of information would cost a great deal and be very difficult to obtain. Wrong on both counts. It is one of the least expensive books one can buy. It is often free of charge. It has been translated into more languages than any other book. It is the most accessible book that has ever been written. I am talking about the word of Yahweh, the Holy Scriptures.

Our Designer and Creator has not left us to fend for ourselves, and stumble about blindly searching for the answer to this life’s problems. He gave us a handbook, an instruction manual.

The Author of this instruction manual tells us that there is a way that seems right to man but the end thereof is death. PROVERBS 14:12. How long will it take mankind to realize that when all else fails, read the instructions?

Such a statement will seem foolish to most in this age of self reliance where the bible is considered to be outmoded and full of pretty platitudes. To actually look into this book of books and begin to live by its precepts would be scoffed at. However, in the future this instruction manual will be required reading by all.

We are not in this world by accident. There is a purpose to our existence. Yahweh has a master plan for the future and we are included. He foresaw the problems that would arise and has provided the solution through His Son Yahshua. It is this part of the solution that we are going to study in this article.

Yahweh’s plan is prefigured by the Sabbath, the Holy Days, the seventh year land Sabbath, and the year of Jubilee. We will discover that all of these commanded observances interconnect with each other and our Messiah Yahshua. They Tell us what He has done, is doing, and will do in the future. Let us first examine each of these days individually and as we do, the interconnection will begin to surface.

SABBATH A Day of Renewal

We will begin with the weekly Sabbath as it was the first Holy time that Yahweh commanded us to observe. GEN.2:1-3 Yahweh set apart the seventh day and hallowed it as His work of physical creation was finished and He rested from all His work. Yahweh was not tired. He was setting us an example. He knew that after six days of work we would be tired and would need rest and rejuvenation so He made a day especially for that. MARK 2:27 Anyone who keeps the Sabbath day as a holy day of rest knows what a blessing it is.

A REMINDER The Sabbath day is a week by week reminder that Elohim is the creator of all things.

EX.20:11 EX.31:17 It is a day of commanded rest when one becomes rejuvenated or renewed physically and also because of keeping it Holy, EX.20:8, by bible study and fellowship with Yahweh and our brethren in the faith, we become spiritually refreshed and renewed as well. It prepares us for the new week coming up.

A SIGN

The Sabbath day is also a very important sign between Yahweh and us. EX.31:13

EZEK.20:12 Yahweh tells us that it is a sign and a reminder to us, His people, that it is He that sanctifies us. To be sanctified is to be set apart for Holy purpose. More on this Holy purpose later in this study.

IDENTIFICATION

The Sabbath day is also something else that is very important. It identifies our Elohim. One cannot keep the Sabbath day every week without coming to know Yahweh and Yahshua on very intimate terms. EZEK.20:20 Yahweh is the one that created the Sabbath day of rest and one can identify it with no other being. This worlds religions have declared other days holy, Friday to some, Sunday to others. You can declare a lion is a rabbit but it will still bite your arm off. Only Yahweh can make something Holy. Mankind cannot no matter what he declares.

A TEST

The Sabbath day is also a test of obedience. EX.16:4-30 The Israelites were to gather manna every morning. They were to take as much as they needed for that day. They were to leave nothing until the next morning. Some did and it became foul. On the sixth day however they were to gather enough for two days. This was to have enough for the Sabbath day when there would be none in the field. Some did not believe Yahweh and went to gather on the Sabbath anyway and they found none. Yahweh said this was to test them, whether they would obey Him or not. This was Yahweh giving them food directly from Heaven. He gave them enough on the sixth day to last until the eighth day or the first day of the week. Keep this in mind.

ANOTHER SABBATH

With the above scripture in mind let us turn to a command to observe and obey another Sabbath. EX.23:10-11 Here Yahweh tells the people to plant and gather for six years but to let the land rest in the seventh year. What grows of itself may be eaten by the poor and the traveller and also by the native of the land but it must not be cultivated and harvested or sold for gain. The people could gather what they could use for the day but they were not to store it up. As an aside here, I was raised on a farm and my father would summer fallow every seven years. He didn’t know why but his father had done it and he said it was good for the land. He didn’t summer fallow the whole farm at the same time. He would grow crops on certain fields and every seven years he would leave that field to rest for the seventh. Some things would come up on their own but it was never very much. One could not survive on what came up on its own. More on this shortly.

To verify that the seventh year is indeed a Sabbath of rest turn to, LEV.25:1-7 This seventh year is called by Yahweh, a Sabbath of rest for the land. There was to be no cultivating, planting or harvesting that year. Yahweh is wise beyond our understanding and He anticipated as question that would come up concerning this year of rest for the land.

LEV.25:20-22 Yahweh promised to bless the land in the sixth year and it would bear crops sufficient to last until harvest time in the eighth year. Is this not what happened on the Sabbath when Yahweh was sending manna from Heaven. He provided enough on the sixth day to last for two days. Yahweh is telling them not to worry, He will provide if they would only obey Him. There is a spiritual lesson here concerning faith.

Yahshua told us this same thing MATT.6:25-34 He said not to worry about food, clothes and all the things that the gentiles worry about because Yahweh knows we need them and He will provide if we obey Him and seek His righteousness. Yahweh knew that the Israelites would need food in the seventh year and He said He would provide it in the sixth. Will we believe and trust Yahweh and Yahshua?

A SABBATH OF RELEASE

There is another aspect of this seventh year Sabbath that we must understand. Turn to, EX.21:2-6 This scripture tells us about the commanded release of slaves in the seventh year. They were to serve for six years and the seventh they were to be released and set free.

Another release that was to take place in the seventh year Sabbath was a release of debts. DEUT.15:1-6 All debts were cancelled, written off as paid. Yahweh said this commanded release was to prevent poverty among His people. This would restore equality among the people. All would be alike. All would have the same chance at a new beginning.

We must stop here for a moment and ask a very important question. In this modern industrial age, should we as Yahweh’s people still observe the seventh year land Sabbath? To begin to understand the answer lets encapsulate what we have learned from the scriptures about this Sabbatical year. It is a year of rest for the land. It is a time of the release of slaves, those in bondage to someone for various reasons. It is a time to release debts. It is a Sabbath. This is a very serious time to Yahweh. The people of Israel were sent into captivity at the hands of the Babylonians because they profaned the Sabbaths. This was not just the weekly Sabbath and the holy day Sabbaths, it was also because they profaned and brought to nothing the land Sabbath.

To verify this, lets read, EZ.22:8 22:26 23:38. Also 2 CHRON. 36:21 Yahweh said their captivity would not end until the land had enjoyed seventy years of Sabbath. Notice that when Yahweh said they had profaned His Sabbaths, he made no distinction. All are Sabbaths to be observed and kept Holy. These times are special to Yahweh and He wants them to be special to us as well. IS.58:13 He wants us to think of them as a delight.

Yahweh has not changed His mind. He says, MAL.3:6 HEB.13:8 that He does not change. The same is said of Yahshua. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If this is true, and scripture cannot be broken, JOHN 10:35 then He must expect the same from us yesterday, today, and forever. If one Sabbath applies today, so do they all. With these things established lets move on and understand what is so special and important about this particular time.

First lets look at the similarity to the weekly Sabbath and the land Sabbath. Both have a preparation time. On the sixth day of the week we are to prepare for the Sabbath by ensuring that the food that can be prepared in advance is done on that day. It is to be a holy day of rest. We should have enough done to last until the eighth day or the first day of the week. This will give us the free time we need to worship our Great Elohim and His Holy Son. It will give us time to attend services and fellowship with those of like mind who delight in Yahweh’s special times.

The seventh year Sabbath is very similar. There is also a time of preparation for it. Yahweh promised to provide plentiful crops in the sixth year, enough to last until harvest in the ninth year. The sixth year, one would have to make sure they would have the space to store the extra provisions. Barns and granaries would have to be in good condition to store these things in a dry, clean environment. Extra large crops would mean extra help would be needed and one should arrange that ahead of time. Implements and equipment that would be needed should be in good repair. It would be a busy year just as the sixth day is.

SABBATICAL A YEAR OF RENEWAL

There is an aspect of this sabbatical year that is never mentioned. That is, the free time that one would have. There would be no land preparation, no planting, no crop tending, and no harvesting. What should one do with that free time? Remember, it is a Sabbath. Sabbath is to be kept Holy. Sabbath is a time to draw closer to Yahweh. The Israelites could do this by visiting the temple more often. They would have more time to hear the word of Yahweh expounded by the priest. It could be a time of reflection as to just who they were as Yahweh’s chosen people.

It could be a time of the renewing of the commitment they had made to Yahweh when they had agreed to the covenant. These things they did not do, as history proves. Because of their disrespect of Yahweh’s appointed holy times they were sent into captivity as punishment.

The Israelites lived in an agrarian society. Their living came from the land. We are not an agrarian society. Most of our livings come from many areas of industry and business. These areas are not affected by a Sabbath of rest for the land. Industry and business continue as before. Our jobs continue as before. How can we, in this age, prepare for and observe this seventh year land Sabbath in a way that pleases Yahweh.

Lets compare our lives with those of the ancient Israelites. Their work days would begin at sunup and continue until darkness in the evening. Anyone familiar with farm life knows that even in this age, farm days begin early and end late. Their work week, as were the Israelites, are six days long. Many go seven days a week. We, who are in the business and industry fields don’t have these kind of days and weeks. Most have five day work weeks and eight hour work days. We have much free time on our hands for recreation and relaxation. It is time we could all put to more profitable use.

Before we explore this use of time, lets examine the deeper, spiritual meaning of this special year that the Israelites knew nothing about. As there is about everything that Yahweh does, there is something much more far reaching and important about this time than the physical aspect of freeing literal slaves, the removal of financial debts, and the laying dormant of land for a year.

As with all things in Yahweh’s plan for mankind’s ultimate, eternal salvation, this time also points to Yahshua’s loving sacrifice on our behalf and the reconciliation to our Heavenly Father that He brought about. ROM.5:10 2 COR.5:18-19 COLL.1:20-21 Yahweh is in the Spirit realm and Yahshua said if we are to worship Him properly we must do it in Spirit. JOHN 4:24 Our minds are now to operate on a spiritual level rather than physical. We must tap into the Holy Spirit within us to understand the deep things of Yahweh’s plan.

Turn to, LUKE 4:16-20 Yahshua is reading from the scroll of Isaiah. IS. 61:1-2 There is something important to notice here. Yahshua read only the first half of verse 2. This is because He was sent for a certain purpose at that time and the rest of the prophesy was for a later time.

The day of Yahweh’s vengeance is yet to come.

Just what did Yahshua read and how does it tie in with this study? Before we get into that we need to know exactly when Yahshua appeared on the scene to begin His ministry and just when there was a sabbatical year close to the time of His appearance. Can we do this reliably? Yes we can from Yahweh’s word with some absolutely fixed dates to begin from.

THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL

DAN. 9:20-27 is a prophesy concerning the time from the release of the Israelites from Babylon until the second coming of Yahshua. Included in this prophesy is the exact time of Yahshua’s first appearance as a preacher of the evangel of the Kingdom of Yahweh. This can be computed two different ways.

This prophesy is made in weeks of years. One week being seven years. Seventy weeks of years are decreed or four hundred and ninety years. They are divided in this way, 7 weeks, 62 weeks and 1 week.

The pivotal year to begin from is 457 BCE when Ezra was sent from Babylon by Artaxerxes

with the decree to restore the temple and Jerusalem. EZRA 7:1-10 From this time until the coming of the Messiah was to be 7 weeks and 62 weeks. That totals 69 weeks, or weeks of years = 483 years. It is 483 years from 457 BCE until 27 CE, the year of Yahshua’s baptism by John at the beginning of His 30^th year.

The reason the time is divided 7 and 62 is because of another important date that comes 62 weeks of years from the time Ezra was sent to Jerusalem by Artaxerxes in 457 BCE. 62 weeks of years is 434 years. It was 434 years from 457 BCE until the rebuilding of the Temple by Herod the Great in 23 BCE. From that time it was 7 weeks of years or 49 years until the appearing of the Messiah in 27 CE. ( remember to add one year in your computations because there is no year zero.)

This only taps a very small amount of information that Daniel 9 holds for the future. It foretells the exact day of the week that He died for us, Wednesday Abib 14, 31 CE. However, with this first part we can establish that Yahshua appeared on the scene to begin preaching the evangel of the Kingdom of Yahweh in 27 CE. Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the early fall of 457. This would make Yahshua’s appearance in the early fall of 27 CE shortly before the Day of Atonement. The Sabbatical year begins on the day of Atonement There is much evidence that Yahshua was born in 4 BCE. From 4 BCE to 27 CE is 30 years. LUKE 3:23 tells us that when Yahshua began to preach, He was beginning His thirtieth year.

We will now connect the land Sabbath with the ministry of Yahshua. There are some fixed dates for the Sabbatical year that can be verified. Remember, the Sabbatical year begins on the day of Atonement. LEV.25:9 The earliest date that I could verify is 37-36 BCE. Computing from that time we can easily establish that starting on the day of Atonement in 27 CE was the Sabbath of rest for the land. It would continue until the day of Atonement in 28 CE. Beginning on that same day of Atonement 28 CE was the year of Jubilee. We will explore it’s importance shortly.

Let us return now to Yahshua in the synagogue reading from the scroll of Isaiah.

LUKE 4:16-20 Let us take what he read step by step and see how it applies. “The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor”. If one investigates the meaning of the word translated “poor” it becomes evident that Yahshua was not talking about the financially poor. It has the sense of lost, afraid, and fallen. It also has the sense of, in private or secretly. “to heal the broken hearted.” The intent of this word is, crushed or shattered in heart and mind.

This describes the condition of the people of this world when He began to preach. All were spiritually impoverished without hope. This poverty is within, private, spiritual and not openly obvious. We were all in debt to Yahweh because of sin and the penalty it demands as payment. Eternal death. ROM.6:23 This one tiny scripture tells of the problem and also the solution. This solution is what Yahshua was sent to preach, How to receive the gift eternal life in the kingdom of Yahweh. EPH.2:2-10 This was the good news. Everyone wants to have something better. Yahshua came to reveal and offer that something better. Will you accept His offer?

“He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives.” The word “captives”is from the Hebrew and the Greek for prisoners of war. How interesting that Paul tells us that we are at war. EPH.6:12 He says we are wrestling against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. We are at war with satan and his demons and without Yahshua’s intervention on our behalf we would be totally defeated. Before Yahshua, he held us captive and we were helpless with no way of escape. Yahshua is the escape route sent from Yahweh to free us. ROM.5:10-11

2 COR.5:18-19 COLL.1:20 This freedom and reconciliation is from Yahweh through Yahshua

“ Recovering of sight to the blind”. Is this not why the Israelites failed to please Yahweh?

They were blind to the spiritual intent of Yahweh’s word, His law which is spiritual. ROM.7:14

We must not fall into this category. We must be tuned into the Holy Spirit of Yahweh which will teach us the spiritual lessons in all that Yahweh says and does. JOHN 16:13 1 COR.2:6-16

All are in this blind state until Yahweh intervenes through Yahshua on our behalf. 2 COR.4:3-4

Prior to Yahshua all were blinded to the deep things of the Spirit. Some remain in this blind state through choice because it is easier so Yahweh allows it until such a time as He wills otherwise. JOHN 12:40 MATT.13:13-15

“To set at liberty those that are bruised”. The word bruised here has the meaning of being

in chains and totally crushed. It infers total incapacity to change ones circumstances. This is the state of mankind before Yahshua came on the scene. We could not change the spiral we were in toward eternal death and separation from Yahweh. We were hidden from Him because of our sins. IS.59:2 Yahweh is Holy and He can not be where unholiness is. We could do nothing about this situation.

Only the intervention of Yahshua could rectify this terrible condition. We were all dead in sin and trespasses. Yahshua did something on our behalf that is included in the Sabbatical year of release. We were in debt to Yahweh. He held the bond that demanded payment. The “cheirographon” which is a legal bond of indebtedness. This was paid on our behalf by Yahshua, releasing us from it. COLL.2:13-14 This was set aside and symbolically nailed to the stake with Yahshua. He released us from the debt we owed.

“To proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh.” This word acceptable means delight, pleasure, most enjoyable. This tells us that what was happening in this Sabbath year of rest and release is a great joy to Yahweh. Read the above scriptures again and add, LUKE 12:32 and

EPH.1:5 Yahweh is very happy that through His Son Yahshua, He will have many sons and daughters in His family. It is His great joy to give us His kingdom. When it is revealed to us through the Spirit of Yahweh , that we receive, what we have been offered it should cause us great joy and happiness as well. This coming year of land Sabbath should be a year of our great pleasure as well, as we commemorate the great meaning of Yahshua’s sojourn on this earth on our behalf. Looking at all of the above, should we in this modern age, observe and delight in this

Holy year of release and renewal? The answer should be evident to all who love Yahweh and Yahshua.

Previously we saw that this age of modern machinery and advances in technology has given us much free time for relaxation and recreation. It was mentioned that this time could be put to more profitable use. What better time for extra time spent in bible study, prayer and fasting. A time to meditate on the great love of Yahweh shed on us in that year so long ago and the love He and His Son Yahshua continue to engulf us with through the Holy Spirit. What better time to renew the covenant we have made with Yahweh. What better time for extra fellowship with brethren of like mind. There are many things that we can do to edify others in this time, as Yahweh and Yahshua edify us.

Some are still in need of release and renewal. Some are in the grip of serious illness. Some of the aged are alone and lonely. What a wonderful time to share the love of Yahweh and Yahshua

and to let Their light shine from us to those who are less fortunate than we are. That soft warm glow that attracted us can shine on them through us as we share time with them through volunteering. How delighted Yahweh would be to see us honouring His Holy year and seeking the good of others in His name. Every hospital has a children’s cancer ward where the little ones and their parents could use support and friendship.

Yahshua gave His time that we might have a better life and hope for the future. We should follow His example and give this time so others, less fortunate, might have comfort and hope as well.

YAHWEH’S GIFT OUR CHILDREN

This could also be a time of extra bible study with our children to prepare them for the life ahead. Yahweh has told us to do this very thing. DEUT.4:9-10 DEUT.6:7 DEUT.11:19

EPH.6:4 PS.78:5-6 PROV.22:6 When better to begin or devote extra time to these very special gifts of Yahweh, our children. Our children belong to Yahweh. He has given us charge of them until they can fend for themselves in this world. We have the responsibility to prepare them as Yahweh has planned in His great wisdom. We have the instruction manual. Let us use it to the

advantage of our little ones. They also have the hope of eternal life in Yahshua Messiah. Let us be sure that they understand this. Remember, Yahshua said little children are special to Him and we must be like them to enter the Kingdom of Yahweh. MATT.18:3 MARK 10:13-14 As we teach them, let us also learn from them.

JUBILEE FESTIVAL OF RESTORATION

Let us now confirm that the year following the 27-28 land Sabbath was followed by the year of jubilee in 28-29 The earliest date that I could definitely prove was a Jubilee year was 22-21

BCE, the year following the completion of the third temple by Herod the Great in 23 BCE One begins the count to the next jubilee on the Sabbatical year of 23-22 BCE. There would be 7 Sabbaticals which would bring one to 27-28 CE. (Remember, add one for no year zero.) The fiftieth year 28-29 CE would be the year of Jubilee. This would be during the second year of Yahshua’s ministry.

How then does this tie in with Yahshua’s purpose for coming to this earth? To begin to understand we must investigate just what this special year is all about. LEV.25:1-55 Read this chapter very carefully as it contains a wealth of information. As you do, think on the spiritual plane as Yahweh does and many connections will begin to come into focus.

The first thing to understand is that the earth and everything on it belongs to Yahweh.

EX.19:5 PS.50:10-12 Yahweh, through a promise to Abraham and his progeny, has allotted

certain lands as their heritage throughout their generations. They do not own the land. Yahweh owns it and has entrusted it to them. They are to care for and tend the land according to the owner’s orders. He knows what is good for the land.

They were not to sell the land. They could sell the use of the land through crops. There was a limit to the number of years of crops they could sell. The outside limit would be 49 years.

If, through poverty, one was forced to sell the use of their land to another, in the year of Jubilee

it would return to its original owner. This year of jubilee was also a time Holy to Yahweh. Slaves were to be freed from bondage, families were to be reunited. These things all have deep spiritual meaning.

Lets begin to tie some things together. Just as there is six days of work during the week and the seventh day Sabbath rest, so there are six years of working the land and a seventh year Sabbath of rest.

Beginning during the days of unleavened Bread, on the morrow after the Sabbath, on the day of the Wave sheaf offering, one begins the count to another Holy Sabbath of rest, Pentecost or Feast of Firstfruits. One counts seven Sabbaths or 49 days and the day following, is the Feast of the fiftieth day. Beginning on the year of the land Sabbath one counts 49 years to the seventh land Sabbath and the year following is the year of Jubilee, the fiftieth year. All have the same thing in common. They foreshadow the plan and culmination of Yahweh’s first harvest of mankind at the return of Yahshua the Messiah.

HARVEST A TIME OF JUBILATION

The year of the land Sabbath and the year of jubilee both begin in the fall on the Day of Atonement. They are heralded with the blast of a trumpet. There is another trumpet blast that we all await that ties in directly with all of these Holy times. The seventh angel sounds the seventh trumpet that announces the return of Yahshua and calls us to meet Him as He descends from Heaven with great power and glory to begin the rule of this earth. MATT.24:31

1 COR.15:52 REV.19:1-16

It is this time that the feast of Firstfruits and the Jubilee year picture. Lets examine what Yahshua read once again in, LUKE 4:16-20 “The Spirit of Yahweh is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of Yahweh.” As we have covered the Sabbatical year as it ties in with the deliverance from the penalty of sin and being bound by satan and the release of our debt to Yahweh, let us go forward in time to Pentecost and year of Jubilee.

Pentecost is the time the Holy Spirit was given to Yahweh’s assembly. This would not have been possible without the intervention of Yahshua as our Sacrifice. It is a festival that is held at the end of the first harvest of early grains. As Yahshua is the Wave Sheaf offering of the

first sheaf of this harvest, ROM.8:29 1 COR.15:23, MATT.13:30 so we are the remainder of this first harvest. Pentecost pictures the fruit of this harvest of mankind presented to Yahweh by Yahshua. HEB.2:13

The year of Jubilee pictures this same event. It is the time that all were to return to their true heritage. MATT.5:5 Yahshua tells us that the meek shall inherit the earth. Yahweh’s kingdom shall be on this earth. REV.5:10 ZECH.14 ALL This is our true heritage, HEB.9:15

Eternal possession in Yahweh’s kingdom.

HEB.4:1-11 especially verse 9 This tells us that there yet remains a rest (Sabbaton, Sabbath)

for the people of Yahweh. At the return of Yahshua we shall enter that Sabbath rest pictured by the weekly Sabbath, the seven high day Sabbaths, the seventh year Sabbath and the fiftieth year Sabbath. That is our true heritage, to be joint heirs with Yahshua. ROM.8:17 GAL.3:29

When our great Messiah returns we shall return with Him to our true heritage and the final release from the bondage of decay will be complete in Him. ROM.8:21-23

Our awesomely wise and loving Elohim, the designer and creator of this vast, beautiful universe, has not left us in the dark. He said in the beginning, “Let there be light”. GEN.1:3

That light shines from his Holy Word, The bible, our instruction manual to eternal life. Will we follow the instructions within its covers and join in the magnificent reunion in Yahweh’s kingdom? I pray it will be so. HalleluYah May Yahweh bless your studies. Elder Dave Ganton