YOUTH STS LESSON 135 MAJOR FEASTS AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE

TEXT: Deuteronomy 16:1-22; 17:1-20.   

MEMORY VERSE: “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty” (Deuteronomy 16:16).

Israel as a blessed nation was guided by the laws of God. Their lives were regulated by God through His all- encompassing varied but purposeful commands. This was what made them different, special and peculiar before God and other nations of the world. The precepts of God given to Israel were not only meant to regulate their relationship with God and fellowship with men but contained ordinances of solemn feasts to be commemorated by them accordingly. They were also to observe the seventh day as a solemn assembly to the Lord In which they must not do any work. To the New Testament believers, the first day of the week (Sunday) is the Lord’s Day. We are to worship the Lord and not to do our own work (Revelation 1:10; Isaiah 58:13, 14). Some of the feasts were: the Feast of Passover (verses 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (verses 9-12) and the Feast of

Tabernacles (verses 13-17). The verses of this chapter also contain some laws given by God to the Israelites (verse 22). Furthermore, the Lord gave a list of those things that were abominations to Him. These include offering with blemish or evil-favoured (damaged) sacrifice, wickedness and worshipping of idols. These abominations attract great punishment on the doers. He also gave the principles for resolving difficult matters with its consequences (verse 12). The chapter ended with a prophetic declaration of what a king in Israel should not get involved with and what his responsibilities were towards God and the people (verses 14- 20). The main focus from chapter 17 is the need for the fear of the Lord.

1.THE COMMEMORATION OF FEASTS IN ISRAEL (Deuteronomy 16: 1-22; Exodus 12:8-20; 13:6, 7; Ezra 6:21,22; Ezekiel 45:21; Matthew 26:17-19, 26-29; Acts 20:6,7; 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8; 11:24-28)

The Passover was the first feast the Israelites were commanded to celebrate yearly. It is also called the Feast of Unleavened bread. It was to mark their deliverance and departure from slavery in Egypt – the house of bondage. It was to be kept in the month of Abib as a solemn feast to the Lord. “This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2).

Question 1: What are some of the ordinances performed on the Passover night?

“Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the Passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there” (Deuteronomy 16:2). The Passover was the night in which the firstborns in Egypt (men and beasts) were slain by the evil angel, while the firstborns in Israel were spared. It was a night to be remembered because of God’s ability to make a difference. The Passover celebration follows this order: first, it involved the slaying of the sacrificial lamb. It “shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats” (Exodus 12:5).

Question 2: What does the Passover represent for the New Testament believers?

In our day, the Passover symbolises Christ’s sacrificial death for the sin of humanity. Christ Jesus celebrated the last Passover in which He instituted the Lord’s Supper. Hence, the Lord’s Supper replaced the Passover. For the New Testament believers, this is God’s command: “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Lord’s Supper should be observed by all believers in Christ in remembrance of His death till He comes. Sinning youths are not to partake in it until they repent from their sins. This does not imply that youths should be afraid to take the Lord’s Supper because of the danger of taking it unlawfully. Doing so carries more severe punishment as the individual has judged himself unworthy of God’s Kingdom and faces the danger of missing the rapture.

Question 3: What should sinning youths do to benefit from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary?

To benefit from Christ’s sacrifice, sinning boys and girls must repent, accept and follow Him. “And thou shalt observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year’s end” (Exodus 34:22). The Feast of Weeks was to be observed to mark the beginning of harvest in Israel. “Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn” (Deuteronomy 16:9). Hitherto, God had promised to bless their land and make it fruitful (Deuteronomy 7:13). The Feast of Weeks was to show great appreciation and honour to God for His blessings. God’s command to Israel and believers today, is, “Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3:9). The Feast of Tabernacles (also called the Feast of Booth) was celebrated to remember how God made the Israelites to dwell in booths in the wilderness when they left Egypt. It was another period in which the children of Israel appeared before their God at an appointed place.

2.CONSEQUENCE OF ABOMINATIONS AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN ISRAEL

(Deuteronomy 17:1-13;  Leviticus 22:17-25; Malachi 1:6-8, 12-14; Romans 12:1; Malachi 2:5-9; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Kings 3:16-28)

“Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evil favouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 17:1). The call to worship the Lord is a sacred one. It must be in righteousness through His grace. It demands devotion, diligence and determination from the worshippers. In worshipping the Lord, we are commanded to offer our sacrificial offerings to Him. However, for our offerings to be acceptable, we must not offer anything that has blemish.

Question 4: In what ways can we offer unacceptable offerings to God?

There are ways we may offer to God and our offerings will not be acceptable to Him. Some of the ways are:

(a) giving with a wicked mind (Proverbs 21:27; 15:8);

(b) service rendered with sins (Psalm 50:16-23);

(c) prayer offered by the wicked (Isaiah 1:11-15; Proverbs 28:9);

(d) preaching the gospel without love (Philippians 1:1517); giving dirty or unclean money for tithes and offerings (Malachi 1:6-8) and sacrifice without righteousness (Isaiah 1:11-15). The covenant of God is a holy and righteous covenant. The Lord warned the children of Israel that when they get to the good land, they must not do wickedness in His sight.

“And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded” (Deuteronomy 17:3). From the time God delivered the children of Israel and gave them the ten commandments, He consistently warned them against worshipping idols. The punishment for such people was to be stoned to death at the mouth of two or three witnesses. This was to put evil away from among them. “If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose” (verse 8). The children of Israel were directed that those who had difficult cases should come to the priests, who would inquire and show “the sentence of judgment” (verse 9). This was a great responsibility on the priest. They were to teach the people the word of God that will bring enlightenment in all matters. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but In the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14). The importance of counselling to Christian youths cannot be overemphasised.

One, it helps to lighten their burden (Exodus 18:19,20).

Two, it gives guidance to the confused (Psalm 73:24).

Three, it brings strength, steadfastness and safety (Proverbs 11:14).

Four, it gives wisdom in handling difficult issues of life (Proverbs 19:20).

Five, it brings courage and boldness to face persecution (Acts 14:22, 23).

Six, it helps to establish young converts in the faith (Ephesians 4:12-14).

Seven, it keeps believers away from false preachers (Acts 20:28-32). It is our duty to make ourselves available for counselling on any matter that brings confusion or needs clarification.

3.THE COMMAND TO GOD’S APPOINTED KING IN ISRAEL (Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 1 Samuel 8:11-22; Acts 13:21,22; Numbers 27:15-23; 1 Kings 19:15-17; 1 Corinthians 4:1,2; Ephesians 6:7,8)

“When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me” (verse 14). This was a prophetic statement from God before it’s fulfilment. This verse practically came to fulfilment when the children of Israel demanded a king during the time of Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 8:4,5). Also, the Lord commanded that they must not appoint any stranger as a king in Israel. Therefore, the appointment of a king in Israel was the responsibility of God (verse 15, Acts 13:21,22). Today, the appointment, approval and anointing of ministers in the church is the duty of God (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 13:1,2). However, He may use human agents to accomplish it (Acts 11:22-26; 2 Timothy 2:1,2; Titus 1:5).

Question 5: What are those things a king in Israel should not do according to our text?

“But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way” (verse 16). The king in Israel should not multiply horses for himself, make people to return to Egypt, multiply wives who will turn his heart from God and multiply silver and gold. Unfortunately, almost all the kings in Israel fell short of this demand though the warning was given by God. The worse was Solomon whom the Bible says: “Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin” (Nehemiah 13:26). As young people, when we get to position of authority, we must allow the fear of the Lord to rule our hearts and serve in righteousness. We must not get involved in corruption, bribery, mismanagement and misappropriation of the national or organizational resources for personal use (Isaiah 33:13-17). Remember, we will give account of our stewardship to God. “And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:” (verse 18). It was the responsibility of the king to have a copy of the law of God before him always. He was to read it all the days of his life (verse 19). Today, to be a successful Christian youth or professional, the word of God must be the centre of your life (Colossians 3:16).