The Footsteps of Messiah are directly linked to the feasts. More specifically, from among the seven moedim, it is the three “foot festivals,” also known as the chagim:
Pesach (Passover)
Shavuot
Sukkot
Nahum explains:
Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news,
who announces peace!
Celebrate [chag, verb] your feasts [chag, noun], O Judah; pay your vows.
For never again will the wicked one pass through you;
He is cut off completely. (Na 1:15)
The key to hearing the footsteps of Messiah is to know and celebrate the feasts of Adonai, which are in perfect synchronization with the footsteps of Messiah Yeshua’s return. Although we do not know the exact date of his return, we are commanded to rehearse these foot festivals so that we will be ready every year. Additionally, by rehearsing, the next generation is show the way to salvation in Messiah Yeshua and the path for growth and maturity. Let’s return to our working text, the Shir HaShirim, Song of Songs, focusing on the context of Chapter 4:1-5
How beautiful you are, my darling, how beautiful you are! Your eyes are like doves behind your veil; your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep which have come up from their washing, all of which bear twins, and not one among them has lost her young. Your lips are like a scarlet thread, and your mouth is beautiful. Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate behind your veil. Your neck is like the tower of David, built with layers of stones on which are hung a thousand shields, all the round shields of the warriors. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle that graze among the lilies.
In past newsletters, we did more in-depth study of these verses. In a nutshell, they describe the spiritual growth of Israel in the Exodus from Egypt. To recap:
• The glory of Adonai is the glory "hair" of Israel, who descend from Mt. Sinai after their meeting with Him.
• They came up from their two “washings,” the crossing of the Sea of Reeds and the washing to prepare for their meeting at Mt. Sinai.
• Israel’s agreement to “do and hear” the covenant is a scarlet thread, two lips acknowledging their redemption.
• The pomegranates are the commandments.
• The neck is the increase in spiritual stature.
• The shields are the “perfect” and symbolic 1,000 generations promised to Abraham and Sarah.
• The two breasts are the twin tablets of the commandments, Moses and Aaron, Joshua and Elazar.
Let's return to "your hair is like a flock of goats that have descended from Mount Gilead."
Previously, we considered an explanation of this flock as referring to the sons of Israel crossing from the territory of Laban into Israel. Although Laban pursued, he was prevented from harming the flock, “not one of them has lost her young.” Laban and Jacob made a pile of rocks [galeed] to commemorate their covenant of no harm, a “mound of testimony.” (Ge 31:47-48) After the covenant at the mound of testimony, Jacob was about to cross the Jordan to return to the Land of Promise. This is the seed prophecy for Israel later entering into covenant at another mound of testimony, Mt. Sinai, and then crossing the Jordan to the Land of Promise.
This Jordan [Yarden] crossing is mentioned in all three components of the TANAKH. Tanakh is an acronym of:
Torah
Neviim Prophets
Ketuvim writings
In the first mention of a miraculous water crossing in the Torah, the literal flocks of goats and sheep followed Jacob, creating a “pairing” with the sons of Jacob, the twelve tribes. In Genesis 32:11, Jacob refers to the importance of the crossing:
