Leviticus 23:23-44
Feast of the Blowing of Trumpets
Here begins a new speaking of the LORD, a new section. The feasts that follow now take place in the seventh month, which used to be the first month. It is a new beginning that heralds the end – in Exodus 23 we read of “the Feast of the Ingathering at the end of the year” (Exo 23:16). The last three feasts follow each other in quick succession. They are celebrated on the first day, the tenth day, and the fifteenth to the twenty-second day.With Israel, the month always begins with the new moon and the trumpet must be blown: “Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day” (Psa 81:3). The moon receives its light from the sun and reflects that. The testimony of Israel is obscured. But there comes a time when it will start to shine again. That is when the church is raptured. God will first deliver His people from the distress of their enemies. Then the people will pass on again the light that comes from God.The day starts with rest, to come to reflection. That is always the start of something new. The starting signal is given by the trumpet (Num 10:3; 10; Isa 27:13). The trumpet is a picture of the Word of God. When God’s Word enters into the heart and conscience, it first works humiliation, stopping one’s own efforts, coming to rest. The first signs of the restoration that Israel will experience will be that they humble themselves before the LORD (Zec 12:10-14). We see that in the next feast.The Day of Atonement
The day of atonement is discussed in detail in Leviticus 16. Here it is about the prophetic connection with the other feasts. The sacrifices for Aaron and his house are not mentioned here. There is only a fire offering. The emphasis here is on humiliation and renunciation of any work. The thought of atonement must work humility with us. Atonement is necessary because of our sins. We have not been able to bring about this atonement. To reconcile us with God, it was necessary that the Lord Jesus was made sin and poured out His blood, that is, He died, for the wages of sin is death. Through His blood He has worked atonement. It is not possible in any other way. The joy of the Feast of Booths – the next and concluding feast – must necessarily be preceded by humiliation. Only after the confession, which the people will pronounce with the words of Isaiah 53 (Isa 53:1-12), it can become a feast. On the day of atonement the High Priest will come from the sanctuary. Then they will see the One Whom they have pierced, and He will forgive them.The Feast of Booths
The harvest of wine and olives are the reason for the Feast of Booths. Wine is a picture of joy (Psa 104:15a), (ointment-)oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit (1Jn 2:20; 27). Both are connected to the kingdom of peace. The Holy Spirit will bring joy to all who live in the kingdom of peace. This is the purpose of God’s ways for the earth in general and Israel in particular.The offerings brought on this feast are described in detail in Numbers 29 (see the explanation there). Israel will understand in the future that the blessing of the kingdom of peace is based solely on the work of the Lord Jesus on the cross.To the Feast of Booths an eighth day is linked (Lev 23:36). It looks forward to eternity. In John 7 the Lord Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit on this eighth day (Jn 7:37-39). He says the Spirit will come when He is glorified in heaven. This was on Pentecost, which caused the birth of the church. The church is not a subject of prophecy. Prophecy always has to do with the earth, and the church does not belong to the earth, but to heaven, to eternity.The Offerings at the Feasts
Before a further description of the Feast of Booths takes place, a reminder of the most important elements of the feasts takes place as a kind of summary: 1. The feasts must be proclaimed as “holy convocations”. The people must come together to approach God and have fellowship with Him. 2. This fellowship is expressed in a special way in the bringing of offerings. 3. The priests and the whole people are reminded that all other offerings will also be brought, which is reflected by the word “besides”.Continuation of the Feast of Booths
Here the LORD continues the description of the Feast of Booths. The entire harvest of the land has been gathered in. Can it be anything else, but that the whole people, full of gratitude to the LORD, celebrate for Him? If we look at all the blessings that God has blessed us with, can it be anything else, but that our hearts flow over with gratitude and joy?The feast begins with a sabbath’s rest – which does not mean that the first day of the feast also is on a sabbath – and it ends with it. This feast represents the time called “the administration suitable to the fullness of the times” (Eph 1:10a). This is the time when God’s purpose is fulfilled of “the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Eph 1:10b). Christ will then reign over creation as the true Adam together with His church as His wife.From the different fruits and branches of trees, booths have to be made. It is all symbolic for knowing oneself placed in the blessings of the promised land. The foliage of beautiful trees speaks of enjoyment for tongue and eye. Everything that is tasted and seen is a benefit for the senses of man. There is nothing that disturbs. The palm branches speak of victory and refreshment (Jn 12:13; Rev 7:9; Exo 15:27). The continuous green of the boughs of leafy trees speaks of permanent youthfulness, while the boughs of willows of the brook show that where once was weeping, there joyous cheers have replaced it.The whole scene of booths is one great song of praise for God’s great deeds. He has done everything for the people to bring it into the blessing promised by Him. He led them out of the slavery of Egypt and finally brought them into eternal peace through His ways. Just as He once freed His people from the power of the enemy and brought them into the promised land, so in the near future He will save His people from distress and bring them into the promised blessing. They have lost the blessing of the land through unfaithfulness. That will not happen again in the future. He will give His laws into their hearts, and His people will serve Him. He is worthy of eternal praise for this – and it will happen.The joy which will soon be the portion of Israel and of creation may now already be the portion of the believer every day (Jn 15:11; Jn 16:24; Jn 17:13; 1Jn 1:4). They may and can enjoy that joy because they have new life, life from God, eternal life. They will soon enjoy this life in perfection when the Lord Jesus comes to take the church to Himself.
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