Greetings!

Grace and Peace!  From Pesach (Passover) to Shavuot (Pentecost) there is a season of transition.  It is called the Counting of the Omer or Sefirat Ha'omer, or The Day of Waving, or Waving the 'Omer.  The omer is a sacrifice containing an omer-measure of barley, was offered in the Temple in Jerusalem, up until the day before an offering of wheat was brought to the Temple on Shavuot.

Lev. 23:15  'And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the LORD.

Counting is an anticipation of an exciting event that is coming.  According to this Scripture we understand that the counting of 50 days from Pesach to Shavuot was to be done by the Israelites.  Not only is Pesach a critically important feast of the Lord but the days leading up to Shavuot were days of anticipation for the next great feast of the Lord.    

FEASTS

Two important Hebrew words appear in Leviticus 23, and each word is translated as feast in English. In verse 2, the word for feast is the Hebrew word mo'ed, as it is written, "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, concerning the feasts [mo'ed] of the Lord...."   The word mo'ed means "an appointment, a fixed time or season, a cycle or year, an assembly, an appointed time, a set time or exact time".   

By understanding the Hebrew meaning of the English word feast, we can see that God is telling us that He is ordaining a "set time or exact time or an appointed time" when He has an appointment with humanity to fulfill certain events in the redemption. In fact, Yeshua (Jesus) came to earth at the exact time ordained by God (Galatians 4:2,4), and God has an exact time or set appointment when, in the future, He will judge the world (Acts 17:31).

In verse 6 is another Hebrew word translated as feast, as it is written, "And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast [chag] of unleavened bread...."  The Hebrew word chag, which means a "festival," is derived from the Hebrew root word chagag, which means "to move in a circle, to march in a sacred procession, to celebrate, dance, to hold a solemn feast or holiday."  

By this we can see that God gave the festivals as cycles to be observed yearly so that, by doing them, we can understand His redemptive plan for the world; the role that Messiah would play in that redemption; and our personal relationship to Him concerning how we grow from a baby Bible believer to a mature Bible believer.  Although the Lord gave us the festivals to observe, He never gave the festivals so we would obtain salvation from Him by observing them because salvation only comes by faith; however, He did give the festivals for the purpose of teaching and instructing His people concerning His plan of redemption and our personal relationship to Him!

THREE TIMES A YEAR 

Although there are a total of seven feasts (the divine number for perfection or completeness in the Bible), God divided the seven festivals into three major festival seasons. The feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits are in the Hebrew month of Aviv or Nisan, which is the first month of God's religious calendar in the spring of the year.  The Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, is observed 50 days after Pesach. The Feast of Trumpets or Yom Teruah, Atonement or Yom Kippur, and Tabernacles or Sukkot are observed in the seventh month of Tishrei, which is in the fall of the year (Ex 23:14-17; 34:22-23: Deut 16:16-17). Three is the number of complete and perfect testimony and witness (Deut 17:6; 19:15; Matt 18:19-20; Luke 24:44-45; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; 1 John 5:8). So the feasts are a witness to God's divine plan and the role of Jesus fulfilling that plan. This is the message being communicated to Bible believers concerning the three major festival periods in the year.

Traditionally, non-Jewish Bible believers understand the festivals to be exclusively Jewish feasts. However, Leviticus 23:1-2,4 tells us very clearly that these are festivals or feasts of the Lord. In reality, God in His divine wisdom instructed us that these festivals are for both Jew and non-Jew, and are to be celebrated jointly with each other (Deut 16:10-11, 14-16). In Deut 16:11, 14, the word translated in English as stranger is the Hebrew word ger, which means the non-Jew (Bible-believing Gentile) who has joined himself to the Jewish people. Therefore, the Lord is the Host of the festivals and all Bible believers are His invited guests. 

COUNTING THE OMER

Beginning on the day that the first omer of barley was harvested and brought to the Temple (Feast of First Fruits), a countdown to the next Biblical Festival began. The Israelites were commanded to count off 49 days and then celebrate the festival of Shavuot on the 50th day.

Traditionally, the period of the Omer count is to be a time of spiritual introspection as the counters prepare themselves for Shavuot.  Because it begins during Passover and concludes at Shavuot, it is a remembrance of the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai.  Consider Exodus 12 to 19.  This journey is full of revelation for us today.  We have the entire Pesach experience where we are sanctified by the blood of the lamb over the doorposts and then the deliverance from Egypt (world) and Pharaoh (devil) and we continue on a journey to Mt. Sinai where God speaks.  There are a number of tests along the way that we each have to pass.  Let's consider a few of them.  

Ex 13:14 So it shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall say to him, 'By strength of hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.    

FIRST TEST:  HE LEADS US THE WRONG WAY!

The journey from Pesach to Shavuot is a journey of testing and building of faith to prepare us for war when we take the promise land.  The Lord never takes us by the most direct route but leads us in a way that we may think is the wrong way!    

Ex 13:17 Then it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." 18 So God led the people around by way of the wilderness of the Red Sea. And the children of Israel went up in orderly ranks out of the land of Egypt.

SECOND TEST:  BITTERNESS!

They were 3 days into the wilderness and came to Marah--bitter waters and were tested there! (Ex 15:22-27)  You will be tested by issues in your life that bring you bitterness.  It is a test to see if you will embrace the cross.  The cross is bitterness to the taste but sweetness to the stomach.  Moses through the wood (cross) into the waters and they became sweet.    

THIRD AND FOURTH TEST:  GOD'S PROVISION AND KEEPING THE SABBATH!

Then they were tested with the provision for food and for the Sabbath.  The Sabbath principle pre-dates the giving of the Law on Mt. Sinai.  It was foundational in the creation.   (Read Ex 16) 

Ex 16:15  So when the children of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: 'Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent.'"  17 Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. 18 So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need. 19 And Moses said, "Let no one leave any of it till morning." 20 Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted. 22 And so it was, on the sixth day, that they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each one. And all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. 23 Then he said to them, "This is what the LORD has said: 'Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.'" 24 So they laid it up till morning, as Moses commanded; and it did not stink, nor were there any worms in it. 25 Then Moses said, "Eat that today, for today is a Sabbath to the LORD; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will be none." 27 Now it happened that some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather, but they found none. 28 And the LORD said to Moses, "How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My laws? 29 See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.  31 And the house of Israel called its name Manna.  And it was like white coriander seed, and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey.  

THE JOURNEY 

This is a remembrance of our journey from the world to a life walking in the Spirit.  It is an expectation of a coming harvest and asking God to prepare us for it! The Counting of the Omer is a count up to Shavuot, the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit.  It is a journey which is begun with Pesach, the symbol of our Salvation, and completed at Shavuot, the promise of the Father and our completion through the Spirit. The distance of days between the two events should be a time of spiritual reflection, growth, purification and preparation.   

THE JOURNEY WITH JESUS 

The Master's resurrection makes the counting of the Omer a season of special significance and joy.  All of his post-resurrection appearances and ascension fell within the days of the Omer count.  On the first day of the Omer,  Jesus appeared to Miriam and to two of our number while they traveled to Emmaus then those gathered together.  Jn 20:18,19 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.  Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst,and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

On the ninth day of the Omer, he appeared to us again and Thomas was with us.   

Jn 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  

1 Cor 15:5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

During the counting, he appeared to seven of the disciples while they fished on the sea. (John 21:1-23) Then on the 40th day of counting the Omer He ascended.    

Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, 3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." 6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." 9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Then on the 50th day of counting the Omer:  

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Num 28:26 'Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you bring a new grain offering to the LORD at your Feast of Weeks, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work.

Remember that this was a time of harvesting the wheat and the barley in Israel.  It was a joyful time.  A time that they would get their paycheck--so to speak.  It was a time when they would bring in the harvest and it would be completed on Shavuot with great rejoicing and celebration and bringing in the offerings to the Lord in Jerusalem.   As it was appointed to them to come up three times a year to celebrate the feasts.   

1 Cor 5:7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.   

Shabbat shalom to all of you from the city of the great King,   Clint, Janet, Abbey, Jeri and Stevo....

Final Note Regarding the Day to Start Counting the Omer:

There was at one time a dispute as to when the counting should begin. The Pharisees believed that God gave Moses an oral Torahalong with the written Torah, and according to that oral Torah the word "Shabbat" in Lev. 23:15 referred to the first day of Passover, which is a "Shabbat" in the sense that no work is permitted on the day (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are both referred to as "Shabbat" in this sense, though they cannot both occur on a Saturday in the same year; see Lev. 23:24 and 23:32; see also Lev. 23:39 the first and eighth days of Sukkot are called "Shabbat"). In this view, held by most Jews today, the counting begins on the second night of Passover, that is, the day after the non-working day of Passover. The Tzedukim (Sadducees) rejected the idea of an oral Torah and believed that the word "Shabbat" in Lev. 23:15 referred to the Shabbat of the week when Pesach began, so counting would always begin on a Saturday night during Passover. The Sadducees no longer exist; today, only a small sect call the Karaites follow this view.   

I believe that it starts on the day after the actual Shabbat of the week of Pesach as the Karaite Jews do.  This will always be on the first day of the week or on Sunday which means that Shavuot will always fall on a Sunday.   This may not be the Sunday according to the church calendar but this year the church calendar and is on the correct day of Shavuot.   This year the Rabbinic Jews celebrate Shavuot on June 8, 2011.    

The primary reason that the Pharisees attempt to change the dates is to obscure the FACT that Jesus fulfilled the Spring Feasts!

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