“Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel."

 Leviticus 23

“Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel." Isaiah 44:21-23

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter twenty - Celebrating Our Relationship with the Sovereign Lord of Time  - covering Leviticus 23:1-44, looking specifically at the introduction and first theme for the chapter - Look at the Old Covenant Celebrations God Established.  In the introduction, the commentary states that, upon a reading of Leviticus 23, we are to observe and understand how God is sovereign over time, "and He calls us to order our time around Him, and go into His presence to regularly worship Him, thank Him, commit to Him, and seek His forgiveness....God's Word compels us to build all of life around Him and direct all of life to Him"; this includes work, family, free time, good times and bad times - all our time should center around and revolve around Him as we demonstrate spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, service, and love of God and others.  Looking specifically at the theme for today, the commentary then describes the Old Covenant celebrations found in Leviticus 23:

• Passover v4-5: celebrates how God rescued Israelites infant boys from the final plague sent from God as He demonstrated His wrath against Egypt in preparation for delivering the Israelites from bondage
• Festival of Unleavened Bread v6-8: celebrates how the Israelites rushed out of Egypt and were rescued from bondage and in their hasted could only bring unleavened bread
• Festival of Firstfruits v8-14: celebrates the beginning of the harvest
  
• Festival of Weeks v15: celebrates the harvest
• Festival of trumpets v23-25: celebrates the coming of the new year
• Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)
• Festival of Booths (Tabernacles - Succoth) v33-43: celebrates how Israel survived the wilderness on their journey from Egypt to the promised land (see also Nehemiah 8:14-16)  

The commentary wraps but asking why believers should learn about these festivals.  It states that "[f]irst this information is important because it is in the Bible.  Second, the old covenant festivals are important because of what God did in salvation history during those festivals and how that salvation history relates to us." 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You an amazing God who loves me and who is full of mercy and grace for me - I am not deserving of such grace.  I have sin...daily...of worry and other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.