Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
For the ancient Israelites, the first and seventh months were particularly important.
As agrarian people, their existence was closely tied to their crops.
Their major celebrations revolved around gratitude to God for what he had done for them in the past and how he was sustaining them in the present.
Today’s lesson focuses on one such celebration.
The beginning of the Jewish year is called Rosh Hashanah.
This phrase appears in the Hebrew Bible only in , and scholars debate what exactly it is referring to in that passage.
The Jews ultimately ended up with two calendars.
The religious calendar began with the month of Aviv (), also called Nisan ().
On the civil calendar, the month called Ethanim (), later know as Tishri, serves that purpose; that is six months after the beginning of the religious new year.
Rosh Hashanah begins the civil new year.
Most important on either calendar were the three annual pilgrimage events: the Festival of Unleavened Bread (combined with Passover), celebrated in May or June; and the Festival of Ingathering (also called Tabernacles or Booths), celebrated in September or October ().
The first and third of these week long observances.
Between them is the single-day Festival of Harvest, which is also called the Festival of Weeks or the day of firstfruits.
This is the subject of today’s lesson.
The Festival of Weeks designation points to seven weeks of grain harvest.
On day 50, the day that is seen to conclude this harvest, the Israelites celebrate Pentecost, a later designation that reflects the number 50.
The correspondence between agrarian-based holidays and God’s saving acts on behalf of his people were not mere coincidence.
God acted powerfully to create a people and settle them in the promised land.
The Israelites were to recognize that their presence in the land was a gift.
The land really belonged to God, and he allowed the people to dwell there by his gracious provision.
But as today’s text opens, the people were not there yet.
The setting of today’s text is, rather, the encampment at Mount Sinai, where the Lord gave his law to Moses for the people ().
The
Preparing Firstfruits -
There are many kinds of firstfruits that can be offered to the Lord.
The offering described here is a grain offering.
Grains cannot be ground into flour suitable for baking until the moisture is removed; hence the need for the grain’s being roasted in the fire.9-
There are many kinds of firstfruits that can be offered to the Lord.
The offering described here is a grain offering.
Grains cannot be ground into flour suitable for baking until the moisture is removed; hence the need for the grain’s being roasted in the fire.
Having left Egypt by God’s design and protection, they need instructions regarding how to conduct themselves in the land he is going to give them.
Since the land is ultimately his, it must be cared for according to those instructions.
To bring a sheaf of the first grain of the harvest is a requirement, not an option or a guideline.
The very first portion of the crop to be harvested is known as the firstfruits.
It is the part that the farmer is most excited about because it serves as a sort of sign or down payment of the full crop to come.
It assures the farmer that all his hard work of tilling, planting, and watering is beginning to pay off.
Most likely the crop harvested in view is barely, which ripens before wheat.
But here some additional details are provided about the offering that are not found in our earlier passage.
A sheaf is a small bundle or armful.
Of that portion, only a small amount is offered directly to God by being burned up.
The majority of it goes to the priests to be eaten.
Th Aaronic priests depend on the offerings of the people for their livelihood since their devotion to working in the tabernacle keeps them from being able to reap regular harvests like everyone else ().
Providing for the priests is important, but it is not the primary reason for the firstfruits offering.
It is more vital that the Israelites take time to recognize that it is God who is blessing them by his grace; they have not earned it ().
They must never forget that he, not fictitious fertility gods such as Baal, is the source of all they will enjoy in the promised land.
After a firstfruits offering is made, the Israelites will be free to enjoy the remainder of the harvest.
After receiving a firstfruits offering, the priest elevates it above his head to make clear that it is dedicated to God.
The people believe that God’s blessing will result.
After receiving a firstfruits offering, the priest elevates it above his head to make clear that it is dedicated to God.
The people believe that God’s blessing will result.
What visual aids can you build into routines to remind you to be grateful for God’s provision?
Regarding regular, daily routines (meals, etc.); regarding irregular, occasional routines (holidays, etc.), other.
Verse 12 reveals that Israel’s offerings often involve a series of steps.
The second step of this offering is that of a lamb a year old.
It is important that this lamb be without defect because the one giving the offering is identifying with the offering.
It is a way of saying to God that the worshiper is giving his best to him, not just the best of the flock but also the best of himself.
In contrast with the Passover observance, which looks to the past in celebration of God’s deliverance, the day of firstfruits looks to the future.
Firstfruits are offered on the first day of the week (v.
11), the beginning of the workweek after the Sabbath day of rest.
The very idea of firstfruits implies there’s more fruit to follow, and that includes not only the grain offering just discussed, but also an abundance of livestock.
Thus the worshipper need not fear giving the “best fruit” of his livestock - God always has more to provide!
Burnt offerings are unique in that they are turned completely into smoke.
They are not cooked for human consumption, but burned up so that the smoke ascends to God.
Though God sometimes acknowledges the pleasing aroma of offerings, he does not need the food (, ).
These offerings are about what Israel needs: the people need to keep God first by returning to him the first of the blessings that they have received from him.
They owe their abundance to their gracious heavenly provider.
Should they forget that, they will begin to drift from the life God has called them to live.
How do you ensure that you’re offering God your best?
In preparing your heart for worship; in preparing to participate in a Bible class, other.
Verse 13 reveals that the third step was to mix the grain offering with the finest flour and olive oil.
Two tenths of an ephah computes to about 6.2 quart; this amount of flour weighs about 6.6 pounds.
This is twice the normal amount of flour used for grain offerings.
Olive oil is produced by the hard work of crushing and grinding.
The drink offering is step four.
This signifies a joyous occasion.
A quarter of a hin computes to 41.4 fluid ounces or 1.22 liters.
Drink offerings are also described in .
Verse 14 reveals that for the offering to fulfill its intended function, the Israelites must not eat of any produce of the promised land until the firstfruits offering is given to God.
To eat of the produce before offering the firstfruits to God is to indicate that the food is theirs to do with as they wish.
But since the whole purpose of the offering is to focus on God as the provider, it is more than appropriate that the Israelites acknowledge him properly before they begin to indulge themselves.
And so it is with Christians.
Regular giving is not optional (), and that is a good thing because each gift requires us to focus on the one who ultimately receives the gift: God.
But the primary firstfruit he desires is us ourselves.
().
How will you apply the fristfruits principle today?
Regarding fristfruits of your time; regarding firstfruits of your talents (abilities and spiritual gifts; regarding firstfruits of your treasure (money and other tangible resources).
Sharing Blessings -
God does not generously give to the Israelites so they can stingily hoard his gifts and focus on themselves.
The firstfruits offering is one way to keep them from doing so.
Sharing takes various forms for the Israelites.
Here, God requires his people to underharvest their fields intentionally.
They must leave a portion of the harvest in the fields for the poor.
This command may be difficult for many Israelites to obey.
Some will want to harvest every bit of grain and store all they can for the future.
This seems the smart and responsible thing to do.
Yet God disapproves of this.
He wants his people to share selflessly.
So he requires those who have been blessed to leave some of the blessing behind for others to reap and enjoy.
God promises to bless those who share with the needy as he commands ().
So the Israelites face a choice.
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