Appointed Feasts מוֹעֵד

We are in chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today. מוֹעֵד place for meeting, assembly point, appointed time, place, appointed festival. It is used 223 times in the Old Testament, 6 times in our chapter. Our word is used most of the time in the sense of the tent of meeting, the mobile sanctuary of the Lord that existed before the Israelites conquered the Promised Land. Exodus 30:36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in מוֹעֵ֔ד the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. Leviticus 1:1 The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the מוֹעֵ֖ד tent of meeting, saying. Our word is also used in the sense of a festival that occurs at an appointed time. This is how our word is used 6 times in our chapter. Leviticus 23:1-2, 4, 37, 44 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are מוֹעֲדֵ֣י the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are מוֹעֲדָֽי my appointed feasts … These are מוֹעֲדֵ֣י the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim בְּמוֹעֲדָֽם at the time appointed for them … These are מוֹעֲדֵ֣י the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day … Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel מֹעֲדֵ֖י the appointed feasts of the Lord. Why would God set up these feasts? We tend to work too much instead of rely on God and celebrate what he has and will be doing. Our relationship with God is designed by Him to be positive celebration. Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Our relationship with God is a positive celebration if we are in Christ. This is because God has taken away our sin, guilt, and shame by Christ death in our place. This is why I think Jesus’ first miracle was in the context of a celebration. Jesus turned water into wine so the celebration could continue. Jesus points ahead looking forward to when we are all together with him when he comes back. During the Passover when he institutes the Lord's supper Jesus says this. Matthew 26:29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. I’ll close with these great reminders of our relationship with God being a positive celebration even in this fallen messed up world. Ecclesiastes 3:22; 9:7, 9 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? ... Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do ... Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.