Schedule it

Today I read Leviticus chapters 21-23, why not read them today with me?
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Leviticus 23:2-4 NLT

“Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as official days for holy assembly. “You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of complete rest, an official day for holy assembly. It is the Lord’s Sabbath day, and it must be observed wherever you live. “In addition to the Sabbath, these are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to be celebrated at their proper times each year.

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I'm a big one for putting it on the calendar. I like a plan. Oh to be sure I like spontaneity but I think being flexible works best in a framework or a structure. Alongside the details of plans, diaries and expectations I love to see the big picture. I like a good overview.

Life benefits from both a healthy analysis as well as a synthesis. Look at the parts and how each part works individually and from very limited perspectives. Then look at the whole, the trends the big picture and see the parts with in the whole.

Leviticus contains instructions about the details of seven national annual festivals or holidays (Holy Days). These days were in addition to the weekly Sabbath days.

So a Jewish community calendar would have a lot to look forward to. But also there was the expectation that like western Christmas lots of money went into these festivals. Nearly each one required specific sacrifices. Since the real daily commodity of life is food and nearly all the required festival sacrifices were food a family would have to plan.

No holiday is complete without a big meal so it was more than a double consideration that a portion of the best food would be taken to the tabernacle /temple as a sacrifice and then there were the hungry families to feed.

These regular frequent privileges and equally obligations required planning.

But ultimately God was teaching his people to be careful and regular about recognising him as thier provider,  protector, defender and rescuer.

I can see how the whole system might become rather expensive and difficult to keep up with. But God said he'd provide.

By giving up a portion of the best regularly and then celebrating lavishly God's people had inbuilt systems to keep them dependant on God.

Do you see God's provision? Are you completely dependant on him? Do you have in your life specific times to celebrate? Are you preparing to honour God with your first fruits and remembering his rescues?

How about putting it on a calendar?