Emor
Speak
“Timing is Everything”
Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Ezekiel 44:15-31
excerpted from TorahScope, Volume I
As you consider Emor this week, more commandments are listed which carry on the theme of holiness we have been considering in the past few Torah portions. Called into a priestly service for the Most High, the people of Israel continued to receive more instructions about how to maintain a state of separateness before the Creator. The Lord gave His people more details on what it meant to be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests. He really did want them to be “holy ones,” which we reviewed last week in Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1-20:27), in all that they did.
When you look at the four chapters of Scripture composing Emor, as the Book of Leviticus prepares to wind down, one detects three distinct Hebrew verbs—which indicate to me how God was trying to communicate some important concepts to His people. The Hebrew verb amar is seen throughout this portion.[1] Amar “is translated in various ways depending on the context…In addition to vocal speech, the word refers to thought as internal speech” (AMG).[2] A similar Hebrew term used in our parashah is the verb davar.[3] Davar has a variance of meanings, including: “to speak, to say,” “to promise,” “to sing or chant,” “think,” “pronounce judgment” (AMG),[4] obviously each contingent on context. A final Hebrew verb which stands out is qara, used various times,[5] and means “to call, to declare, to summon, to invite, to read, to be called, to be invoked, to be named” (AMG).[6] When seeing this, the issue witnessed is not that God was speaking—but actually whether His people were even hearing, listening, and most of all, heeding His instructions. Leviticus 23:2 is one significant place where these three terms are all used together:
“Speak [davar] to the children of Israel, and tell [amar] them, ‘The set feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim [qara] to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts’” (Leviticus 23:2, WMB).
The Appointed Times
The most striking feature you will encounter, seen in reading Emor, is the list given of the moedim or appointed times. Leviticus 23 includes a summary of the appointed times and the significance which they have for God’s people. This chapter begins with the word,
“The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, “The set feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings. These are the set feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season”’” (Leviticus 23:1-4, WMB).
The appointed times of the Lord are things to be taken very seriously, as they have been labeled by Him to be miqra’ei qodesh or “sacred occasions” (NJPS). These special seasons would help to establish the yearly cycles for Ancient Israel, as they would continue to be formed and molded as God’s special people throughout the rest of the Torah. These appointed times will notably tell a story not only of God’s dealings in delivering His people in times past, but also of how He will deliver His people in the future via mighty acts of salvation. The appointed times will serve to not only give structure to each new year, but will teach future generations of God’s people about what it means to come together and join in a very special and reverent time of communion with Him.
It is notable that the first of the appointed times listed in Leviticus 23, is the weekly Sabbath or Shabbat:
“Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings” (Leviticus 23:3, WMB).
There is disagreement among Jewish interpreters as to whether or not the Sabbath can really be considered among the appointed times. One view, indicated in the Soncino Chumash, is that “The Sabbath is not included among the appointed seasons of the Lord…[because] The reason is that the Sabbath is a day fixed by God, whereas the actual date for the observance of the festivals had to await the proclamation of the Sanhedrin.”[7] Contrary to this, the ArtScroll Chumash thinks, “The Sabbath is mentioned with the festivals to teach that anyone who desecrates the festivals is regarded as if he had desecrated the Sabbath, and anyone who observes the festivals is regarded as if he had observed the Sabbath.”[8] Regardless of which position one takes, a person, who remembers the appointed times in Leviticus 23:5ff, is automatically expected to be remembering Shabbat every week. The Prophet Ezekiel declared that by sanctifying Shabbat, it would be a sign between God and His people:
“I am the LORD your God. Walk in my statutes, keep my ordinances, and do them. Make my Sabbaths holy. They shall be a sign between me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:19-20, WMB).
The willingness to take one day out of seven, in order to spend time with the Creator, is recognized to be a sign between God and His people. It is a time not only to rest and be refreshed, but also consider God’s goodness and provision.
The Spring and Fall Feasts
With God’s people considering His goodness and blessing every week with Shabbat, the significance of the other appointed times seen in Leviticus 23—remembered throughout the year—can only be highlighted. Jewish interpreters of Leviticus 23 are agreed that seven specific holidays are listed:
- Pesach or Passover (Leviticus 23:5)
- Chag HaMatzah or the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:6-8)
- Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:9-21)[9]
- Yom Teruah or the Day of Blowing (Leviticus 23:23-25)[10]
- Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32)
- Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-44)
- Shemini Atzeret or the Eighth Day Assembly (Leviticus 23:39b)
Why do these seven appointed times, observed throughout the year, bear significance for God’s people? What do they teach about important things in the past history of God’s people, but also important things to come in the future?
- Passover or Pesach is to specifically teach of God’s past and future dealings in salvation history. Deliverance from Ancient Israel’s bondage to slavery in Egypt and from the clutches of Pharaoh is recalled, and for Believers today the reality of their freedom in Yeshua from the condemnation of sin, are all to be remembered at this time of great celebration.
- The Festival of Unleavened Bread or Chag HaMatzah and the eight days of avoiding leaven, is an important time to not only reflect upon the Ancient Israelites having to eat the bread of haste, but also for Believers to reflect and deal with some of the sin which can often creep into their lives. Purification from the stains of transgression, and turning ourselves toward the Bread of Life, Messiah Yeshua, is a beneficial exercise.
- Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks honors two wonderful events. On this day during Moses’ era, the Decalogue was given from the heights of Mount Sinai. Some 1,500/1,300 years later, after the ascension of Yeshua into Heaven, the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the Believers assembled in Jerusalem. Each year on this special day, Messianic Believers can remember these two powerful events, and pray for additional power and revelation.
- In Jewish tradition, Yom Teruah is observed as Rosh HaShanah or the Civil New Year, with the blowing of the shofar or ram’s horn. Historically, this has been a season for the Jewish community to do teshuvah,[11] or perform a return to God for His faithfulness and blessing. But it is also a time to mark the beginning of the ten days which lead up to the Day of Atonement. Rosh HaShanah initiates the Ten Days of Awe, a season of special reflection on the previous year.
- Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement is considered the holiest day on the Hebrew calendar. Originally, the high priest of Israel bore the sins of the people and presented himself in the Holy of Holies for forgiveness. On this unique day God’s people are instructed to deny themselves, or afflict their souls. Fasting and prayer are the major parts of this day. Today Believers in Yeshua can reflect upon His finished work, as not only the required sacrifice for sins, but also His unique service as our High Priest. Believers can also use Yom Kippur as a specific time to offer up prayers and intercession for the lost of Planet Earth—especially Jewish people who do not yet know the Messiah.
- The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot is an eight-day celebration where God’s people build a temporary sukkah, and reflect on Him dwelling among His people. Here, thankfulness, praise, and special consideration for the provisions made for Him should be the focus. It is also beneficial to look forward to the coming days when the Messiah Himself will come to tabernacle in His Kingdom on Earth.
If you are a Jewish Believer in Yeshua, have the appointed times at all taken on new significance and depth, as you now remember them every year? What are the similarities and differences between a traditional Jewish observance, and your new Messianic Jewish observance? If you are a non-Jewish Believer from an evangelical Protestant background, how have the appointed times added richness to your understanding of the gospel and your faith in Jesus? Do you think that today’s Christians can learn much more about the Messiah from the moedim?
Today’s Messianic movement has been uniquely positioned to help all of God’s people learn to appreciate both the Sabbath and appointed times. We get to show others that these were not ordinances exclusively for His people in the past, but can have continuing relevance and value for His people right now. They are “a shadow of the things to come…the substance [of which] belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:17, ESV).
Concluding Thoughts
As you consider Emor this week, it is my hope and prayer that the Holy One of Israel is speaking directly to you. How do you approach the Lord’s appointed times? Do you truly bask in His presence on Shabbat? Do you glory in the accomplishments of Yeshua at each one of the feasts? Are you truly interested in allowing the appointed times of the Lord to instruct you in His ways and His ongoing progress of salvation history? What do the appointed times teach you about the future?
God’s people get to visibly demonstrate how they are His by remembering the appointed times. Each one of us composes His Kingdom of priests, serving as His representatives among the masses of sinful humanity (cf. 1 Peter 2:9). Does your Messianic congregation or fellowship make Shabbat and the appointed feasts a time for reaching out to others, and in demonstrating the goodness of our Heavenly Father to others? Are they used as times to bless others with what He has done for us? Or, are the appointed times used to condemn and harass those who presently do not keep them, or think that they are unimportant? If timing is everything, then position yourself to be a beacon of His light and salvation to all you encounter—not only during the appointed times—but during all times!
NOTES
[1] Leviticus 21:1, 16-17; 22:1, 3, 17-18, 26; 23:1-2, 9-10, 23-24, 26, 33-34; 24:1, 13, 15.
[2] Baker and Carpenter, 72.
[3] Leviticus 23:1-2, 9-10, 23-24, 26, 33-34, 37, 44; 24:1, 13, 15, 23.
[4] Baker and Carpenter, 223.
[5] Leviticus 23:2, 4, 21, 37.
[6] Baker and Carpenter, 1009.
[7] Rev. Dr. A. Cohen, ed., The Soncino Chumash (London: Soncino Press, 1983), 749.
[8] Nosson Scherman, ed., et al., The ArtScroll Chumash, Stone Edition, 5th ed. (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 2000), 683.
[9] Also commonly known by the Greek-derived term Pentecost.
[10] Yom Teruah is observed in the Jewish tradition, of both the First Century C.E. and today, as Rosh HaShanah or the Civil New Year (m.Rosh HaShanah 1:1).
[11] The term teshuvah, itself based on the verb shuv, means “return to God, repentance” (Marcus Jastrow, Dictionary of the Targumim, Talmud Bavli, Talmud Yerushalmi, and Midrashic Literature [New York: Judaica Treasury, 2004], 1703).
