Announcements
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Transcript of Announcements
Announcements Previous exam recall – the “Assyrian
question” – by today Exam Wednesday
You may start as early as 8:45 and/or stay later if necessary
The essay question will address the Sabbath
Ritual Torah:Sabbath, Festivals, Vows
Review Questions What are the categories of Torah? What were the key symbols involved in
Israel’s worship activities? What did they teach?
Sabbath Observance The Sabbath principle
Rest every seventh period Affected both humans and the land Set God’s people apart
Categories of Sabbath observance Every seventh day (the sign of the covenant) – based on…
God’s rest after creation God’s mighty redemptive act The death penalty applied if Sabbath was desecrated
Every seventh year – note environmental and social implications The Jubilee – return to family property, rest for the land, slaves
set free (paradigm of redemption from Egypt) – a reminder of God’s ownership
What did Jesus have to say about the Sabbath? (Mark 2:23-3:6; see also Matt 12:1-14)
Keep in mind the concern of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day
The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humans for the Sabbath
The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath
Is Sabbath observance “binding” for New Testament believers? Some reflections
It is one of the Ten Commandments and the penalty for infraction was death
It was the sign of the Sinai covenant One of the bases for its establishment lies in
creation itself The other lies in redemption and with the Sabbath
we look forward to our ultimate rest and redemption (cf. Hebrews 4)
Suggestion: The principle of rest and keeping holy one day in seven is binding; the specific practices are not rigid. Note Colossians 2:16.
Purposes of Festival Observance Worship – sacrifices were central – they
were not to come empty-handed Reminder of God’s nature and activities on
behalf of His people (educational tools) Demonstration of obedience (commanded
to appear before the Lord – Exodus 23:14-17)
The Three Major Festivals (Ex 23, Dt16; also Lev 23 and Num 28,29)
Passover and Unleavened Bread Provision of “second Passover” – Numbers 9
Weeks (also called Harvest and later Pentecost)
Tabernacles (also called Ingathering)
Two Additional Major Festivals [see Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28-29]
Trumpets
Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) “atonements” for high priest, sanctuary, people “transgressions” implies deliberate rebellion Two goats – one for the LORD was slaughtered;
one “for Azazel” was sent to the wilderness Possible connection with John 1:29
Other Ritual Observances Vows:
Nazirite vow (Numbers 6) – purpose, conditions, symbol, interruption, conclusion
Nature of vows in general
Tithes (Deut 14:22-29) Dedication and Redemption (Lev 27:1-29) Water of purification (Numbers 19) – provision for
purification from contact with death