The Three Feasts of God’s Chosen People

Deuteronomy 16:1–22
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Every Israelite male was obligated to attend three feasts at God’s chosen place every year (v. 16).  Apparently, some Jews of this period did not take this command any more serious than some Christians of our day do in attending the services of the church (Hebrews 10:25). If possible, their families were also to go with them (v.v. 11,14). These three festivals were:

1.   Feast of the Passover. (v.v. 1-8) - Celebrated in March or April.

2.   Feast of Pentecost. (v.v. 9-12) - Celebrated in May or June.

3.  Feast of Tabernacles. (v.v. 13-22) - Celebrated in September or October.

The “Feast of the Passover” was to celebrate the night the Lord “passed over” the blood sprinkled door posts, sparing the life of the first-born Israelite child while the Egyptians lost their children.

The Feast of Pentecost was held 50 days after the Passover (Lev. 23:15-16). It was to be a time of rejoicing and sharing because the Lord had been generous to the Israelites.

The Feast of Tabernacles was called by this name because after the fall harvest the Israelites were to live for one week in tabernacles as “booths” made of tree branches. This was done to remind them of the journey through the desert after the nation had come out of Egypt.

Application

At each of these festivals, each participant was encouraged to give what he could in proportion to what God had given him. God expects me to give what I can. (I Corinthians 16:2).