Prayer Journal
Thursday, June 8, 2000
Shavuoth (Jewish Feast of Pentecost), begins at Sunset
Traditionally on the 6th and 7th of Sivan on the Jewish calendar (late May/early June), Jews commemorate receiving the Ten Commandments. It is the zeman mattan torathena, the time of the giving of the law. (See Leviticus 23 for a list of the seven feasts of Jehovah.)
In biblical time, the firstfruits of the fields and orchards from the Spring harvest were brought to the Temple as an offering to the Lord. Shavuoth is considered a day of dedication for the nation of Israel so many modern Jewish youths will be confirmed in ceremonies on this day.
In many synagogues, tonight will be spent reading scripture and in then in a morning service the Ten Commandments will be read preceded by the singing of a familiar eleventh century poem:
"Could we with ink the ocean fill, Were every blade of grass a quill, Were the whole world of parchment made And every man a scribe by trade, To write the love of God above Would drain the oceans dry. Not could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky." (3)
"The Feast of Passover and Unleavened Bread have prophetic significance (1 Cor 5:7) and Firstfruits points to his resurrection, the Feast of Jehovah Shabuoth directs us to the Day of Pentecost that fell exactly 50 days after his resurrection. This was the birthday of the church when the Holy Spirit, the Ruach K'doshen, came to unite the Jewish believers of that day into one loaf or body." (4)
"Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." Col 2:16,17
(1) Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society
(2) The images used herein were obtained from the Learning Company's ClickArt Christian Graphics Deluxe product, (c)1999 The Learning Company, Inc and its subsidiaries, 88 Roland Way, Novato, CA 94945 USA. All Rights Reserved.
(3) "Love of God"
(4) "Jewish Holy Days" Coulson Shepherd, published by Loizeaux Brothers (c)1961
Construction team from Kentucky in Bosnia
86 Medical volunteers in Timisoara Romania
