The LORD’s Feasts: God’s Appointed Times
Opening Scripture
Leviticus 23:1–2 (KJV)
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.”
1. Introduction: Whose Feasts Are They?
The first truth we must establish is that the Feasts are not merely “Jewish holidays.”
Twice in our text, God calls them “the feasts of the LORD”—His feasts, His appointed times. They belong to Him, not to any one nation. Israel was entrusted as the steward of these sacred appointments, but the Author and Owner is YHWH Himself.
For believers in Jesus Christ, understanding these feasts is not an exercise in cultural curiosity—it is a journey into God’s prophetic calendar.
The Apostle Paul makes it clear in Colossians 2:16–17 (KJV):
“Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”
These Feasts are shadows—divinely crafted previews—whose reality is found in Christ.
2. The Hebrew Word “Moedim” – God’s Appointments
The word “feasts” in Leviticus 23:2 is the Hebrew מוֹעֵד – Moed (plural: Moedim). It means:
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Appointed time
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Fixed meeting
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Set season
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Divinely ordained assembly
This is the same term used in Genesis 1:14 when God created the sun, moon, and stars:
“…and let them be for signs, and for seasons (Moedim), and for days, and years.”
From the very beginning of creation, God wove His prophetic timetable into the very fabric of the heavens. The Feasts are heaven’s appointments—fixed in God’s calendar, not man’s.
3. The Hebrew Mindset About Time
In the Western mind, time is linear—a straight line from past to future. But in the Hebrew mindset, time is cyclical.
Think of it like a spiral staircase—each year we return to the same seasons, but at a higher vantage point.
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Each Feast looks backward in remembrance,
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Upward in worship,
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Forward in prophetic anticipation.
Thus, every Feast is both a memorial and a rehearsal—remembering what God has done and rehearsing for what He will do.
4. The Purpose of the Feasts
God gave the Feasts for several interconnected reasons:
a. To Remember His Mighty Acts
Israel was never to forget their deliverance from Egypt, the giving of the Law, or God’s provision in the wilderness.
Exodus 13:3 (KJV):
“Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place…”
b. To Teach the Next Generation
The Feasts were living object lessons to children.
Exodus 12:26–27 (KJV):
“And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD’S passover…”
c. To Prophesy of the Messiah’s Work
Every Feast points to some aspect of Christ’s ministry—either in His first coming (Spring Feasts) or His second coming (Fall Feasts).
d. To Call God’s People into His Presence
Each Feast was a “holy convocation” (Hebrew: Mikra Kodesh)—a sacred assembly for worship.
Mikra can also mean “rehearsal,” implying the Feasts were dress rehearsals for the ultimate redemptive acts of God.
5. Historical Context of the Feasts
Agricultural Cycles of Israel
The Feasts were tied to Israel’s harvest seasons:
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Spring: Barley and Wheat Harvests (Passover → Pentecost)
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Fall: Fruit and Olive Harvest (Trumpets → Tabernacles)
This agricultural rhythm provided the physical backdrop for spiritual truths:
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The early harvests symbolize the first coming of Christ (bringing in the first believers).
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The later harvests point to the end-time ingathering of souls.
Temple Worship
During the First and Second Temple periods, the Feasts were pilgrimage festivals (shalosh regalim)—Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles—when all able-bodied men went up to Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 16:16).
This kept Israel united in worship and covenant loyalty.
6. The Feasts in God’s Prophetic Calendar
God’s Feasts are not random—they form a prophetic sequence:
| Feast | Hebrew Name | Season | Prophetic Fulfillment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passover | Pesach | Spring | Crucifixion of Christ |
| Unleavened Bread | Chag HaMatzot | Spring | Burial of Christ |
| Firstfruits | Reshit Katzir | Spring | Resurrection of Christ |
| Pentecost | Shavuot | Late Spring | Outpouring of the Holy Spirit |
| Trumpets | Yom Teruah | Fall | Rapture / Second Coming Announcement |
| Day of Atonement | Yom Kippur | Fall | Israel’s National Repentance |
| Tabernacles | Sukkot | Fall | Millennial Kingdom / God Dwelling with Man |
7. Christ: The Center of the Feasts
Jesus declared in Luke 24:44 (KJV):
“…that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
Every Feast is Messiah-centered:
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In the Spring Feasts, we see Messiah’s finished work.
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In the Fall Feasts, we anticipate Messiah’s coming reign.
Paul echoes this in 1 Corinthians 5:7–8:
“…For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven… but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
8. Spiritual Application for Believers Today
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God’s Timetable Still Matters: While we are not bound to keep these Feasts under the Law, knowing them helps us discern the times (1 Thessalonians 5:4–6).
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Christ is Our Feast: Our joy is not in the ritual but in the Redeemer the Feasts reveal.
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Deepening Relationship: Understanding the Feasts magnifies God’s faithfulness and strengthens our love for His Word.
9. Devotional Reflection
When we see the Feasts as God’s love appointments, we realize He is a God who plans meetings with His people. Just as a bride treasures the set dates with her beloved, so God calls us to value His appointed times. Every Feast is a whisper:
“I have set aside this moment to meet with you.”
10. Key Takeaways
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The Feasts are God’s—eternal in authorship, prophetic in purpose.
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The Hebrew Moedim are appointments, not human inventions.
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Time in God’s economy is cyclical—each year is a rehearsal and remembrance.
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Every Feast has a historical foundation, a spiritual message, and a prophetic horizon.
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Christ is the substance; the Feasts are the shadow.
Closing Verse
Psalm 89:15 (KJV)
“Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.”
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