On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to break free from Great Britain’s rule. But it was two days later before they issued their justly famous proclamation: the Declaration of Independence. Ever since that day, American’s have commemorated the birth of their nation on the Fourth of July with picnics, fireworks, and parades.

In Deuteronomy 16, Moses outlines a series of festivals that would punctuate Israel’s year: Passover, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Tabernacles. These feasts would be a way for Israel to remember and celebrate God’s mighty acts that led to the birth of the nation. At Passover, they would remember how the Lord led them out of slavery (v. 1). To remind them of the haste of their departure, they would eat unleavened bread and consume all the meat of the sacrificed lamb that night (vv. 3–4). At the Festival of Weeks, Israel would celebrate God’s continual provision for them (v. 9). It reminded them that the land they inherited was a gift from God (v. 12). At the Festival of Tabernacles, they would remember how God provided them with food and water in the wilderness.

As followers of Christ, we are not under the obligation to celebrate these feasts. Jesus is our once-for-all Passover lamb. Paul teaches, “Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7). Yet, there is wisdom in creating space in our calendar to celebrate what God has done. The church has historically done this through Christmas, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost. Some of these—Easter and Pentecost—are directly related to the annual feasts of Israel (Passover and Weeks). Reflecting on what God has done should lead us to joyful, communal worship.

Donate to Today in the Word: https://give.todayintheword.org/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.