October 2011
KEEPING
THE FEAST DAYS OF YAHUAH IN AMERICA
LESSON 3- MADE SIMPLE
Dear Saints,
The celebration of the Fall Feast Days of YAHUAH is upon us. We are now in the time/ season when many Hebrew Israelites will attempt to keep these feasts of YAHUAH here in America. As we have discussed in Lessons 1 and 2, the Feast Days of YAHUAH are very important to HIM. It is clear from Scripture that YAHUAH has commanded us to keep His feasts in obedience to what HE has spoken, and we are to perform them accordingly. But the question is Can We Righteously Keep The Feasts of YAHUAH Outside Of Its Appointed Place? The answer is a resounding NO!!! The Scripture is clear in declaring YAHUAH'S desire for us to keep HIS feasts, but it is equally clear that HIS feasts are to be kept at their appointed place, appointed time, and prescribed way. Let's look at some evidence from Scripture to prove these points.
In the book of Exodus chapter 12 is when YAHUAH first reveals HIS intention concerning feast day celebrations (Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread) to Moses and Aaron while they are yet in the land of Egypt. See Exodus 12: 1-23. In verses 24 through 25, YAHUAH speaks concerning a land/ place where these feasts should be kept. Exodus 12: 24, And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass when ye be come to the land which YAHUAH will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. These verses of scripture prove that even while the Hebrew Israelites where in bondage in Egypt, YAHUAH always had the intention that HIS feasts days would be celebrated in the land which HE would choose/ give unto them. Now, let's look at Deuteronomy chapter 16 for further evidence that YAHUAH always had a designated place in mind where HIS Feast Days would be celebrated. In Deuteronomy chapter 16 beginning at verse 1,YAHUAH commands the Hebrew Israelites, "Observe the month of Abib, and keep the passover unto YAHUAH thy Mighty One: for in the month of Abib YAHUAH thy Mighty One brought thee forth out of Egypt by night. Pay close attention to verse2, Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto YAHUAH thy Mighty One, of the flock and the herd, in the place which YAHUAH shall choose to place his name there. This is the key statement that reveals to us that YAHUAH speaks of a place where HE is going to place HIS name and where HE wants HIS feasts to be kept. Verse 3, Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction; for thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that thou mayest remember the day when thou camest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. 4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there anything of the flesh, which thou sacrificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning. YAHUAH continues to speak concerning Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Now notice the very distinct statement that YAHUAH makes in regards to where HE wants these feasts to be kept. Deuteronomy 16: 5- 6, Thou mayest not sacrifice the passover within any of thy gates (towns), which YAHUAH thy Mighty One giveth thee: 6 But at the place which YAHUAH thy Mighty One shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sacrifice the passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou camest forth out of Egypt. These verses of scripture prove that we cannot keep the feast days in the place or at the time of our own choosing but only in the place and at the time that YAHUAH chooses. Now verses 7 and 8 of Deuteronomy 16, And thou shalt roast and eat it in the place which YAHUAH thy Mighty One shall choose: and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to YAHUAH thy Mighty One: thou shalt do no work therein. So far from these verses of scripture concerning Passover and Unleavened Bread, YAHUAH tells how these feasts should be celebrated, the season these feasts should be celebrated, and speaks of a special place where these feasts should be celebrated.
Question, does YAHUAH reveal in scripture HIS intention to have a place where all HIS feasts should be held? The answer is YES, HE does. Now, let us look at Deuteronomy 16: 9-12 where YAHUAH speaks about the Feast of Weeks also known as the Feast of Pentecost. Deuteronomy 16: 9, Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle (reaping hook) to the corn. 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto YAHUAH thy Mighty One with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto YAHUAH thy Mighty One, according as YAHUAH thy Mighty One hath blessed thee: 11 And thou shalt rejoice before YAHUAH thy Mighty One, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates [towns], and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which YAHUAH thy Mighty One hath chosen to place his name there. 12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. YAHUAH even reveals in scripture that the Feast of Weeks should also be celebrated in the place and time that HE should choose and not a place and time of our own choosing.
We clearly see from Scripture that YAHUAH has an appointed place and appointed time where HE wants the Spring Feasts (Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Feast of Weeks, which is also known as Pentecost), to be celebrated. What about the Fall feasts? Can we keep the Fall feasts anywhere or anytime we desire, or does YAHUAH also have an appointed place and appointed time for them as well? The answer is a resounding YES, HE does! Let's look at the proof and evidence that proves that even the Fall feasts cannot be kept anywhere or anytime we want to keep them. They must be kept in the place and at the time that YAHUAH has chosen. Deuteronomy 16: 13-15 goes on to speak about the Feast of Tabernacles, Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates [towns]. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto YAHUAH thy Mighty One in the place which YAHUAH shall choose: because YAHUAH thy Mighty One shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. Over and over again we can see from these scriptures concerning the Feast Days of YAHUAH that HE mentions a special place/ land that HE will choose for HIS feasts to be kept. Why do we think we have the right to choose the place where YAHUAH'S feasts should be kept when HE specifically states that HE will choose the place where they should be kept, and the place that HE has chosen is the only place where theses feasts should be kept?
In our attempt to keep the Feast Days of YAHUAH here in America, here is something we have not seen since Acts chapter 2 and our dispersement from the land of Canaan. YAHUAH requires that three times a year all the males appear before HIM. Deuteronomy 16: 16-17, Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before YAHUAH thy Mighty One in the place which he shall choose ; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before YAHUAH empty: 17 Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of YAHUAH thy Mighty One which he hath given thee. Even in our best attempt to keep the Feast Days of YAHUAH here in America, I have never seen an attempt to gather all the males that are just here in America to a specific location here in America so that all the males of the Hebrew nation in America could meet during the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. If such an attempt was possible, it would still be out of order and not according to what YAHUAH has commanded because YAHUAH specifically requires that when all the males appear before HIM during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles that they can only be in the place which HE will choose and not a place that we choose. Now Deuteronomy 16: 18-22, Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates [towns], which YAHUAH thy Mighty One giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest [misinterpret or misapply] judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous. 20 That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which YAHUAH thy Mighty One giveth thee. 21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of YAHUAH thy Mighty One, which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which YAHUAH thy Mighty One hateth.
There are
six points that these verses of scripture reveal and prove that I would like to
call to your attention:
1. YAHUAH has an appointed place/ land where HIS feasts should be kept, which
is the place where YAHUAH has placed HIS name (see verses 2, 6, 7,
11, 15, 16, 18, and 20).
2. YAHUAH'S feasts cannot be kept anywhere we choose to keep them but
only in the designated place YAHUAH has chosen (see verses 5 and 6a, 7,
and 11).
3. Not only does YAHUAH reveal that HE has an appointed place where these
feasts should be kept, but YAHUAH also reveals the appointed time/ season
when HIS feasts will begin to be observed each year (see verses 6 and verse 1,
verse 3, and verses 9 and 13).
4. With each feast that is mentioned in these verses of scripture, YAHUAH reveals
HIS desire for a special place/ land that HE will choose for HIS feasts to be
kept (Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread: verses 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6,
7 and 8, and verse 16; Feast of Weeks: verses 9 and 10,11 and 12, and verse 16;
Feast of Tabernacles: verses 13 and 14, and 15 and 16).
5. YAHUAH commands all the males of the Hebrew nation to appear before
HIM three times every year during the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles at the appointed place and
appointed time that HE has chosen (verses 16 and 17).
6. YAHUAH commands for us to only follow what is altogether just or
righteous, that we may live and inherit the land which HE has given us (verse
20).
Concerning the Feast Days of YAHUAH, we should be following what is altogether just and righteous- not these leaders (pastors and teachers) that lead their congregation in observing the feasts their way, taking out what they do not like or understand, and adding what they want and calling it sacred. For YAHUAH'S way is the just way. HIS law and that which HE has commanded is righteous. We must do it HIS way, the righteous way that we might live and inherit the land of promise. The only way that we can keep the feasts is to keep them YAHUAH'S way. Again if we want YAHUAH'S results, we must do it YAHUAH'S way.
Now that we know that there is a specific place that YAHUAH has always had in mind for HIS feasts to be held, does the scripture reveal where this specific place is located? The answer is a resounding YES, it does. The place is JERUSALEM. Now let us look at some evidence from scripture that proves this very fact.
Scripture Evidence #1
I Kings 14: 21- And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam
[was] forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen
years in Jerusalem, the city which YAHUAH did choose out of all the tribes
of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name [was] Naamah an
Ammonitess.
Scripture
Evidence #2
II
Chronicles 6: 5-6- Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the
land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house
in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my
people Israel: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there;
and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.
We see clearly from these first two scriptures that are presented here as sound evidence that the place/ city which YAHUAH chose to put HIS name in is Jerusalem out of all the tribes of Israel. We also see from these scripture evidences that YAHUAH said out of HIS own mouth "in Jerusalem I will put my name." HE also said this to David and to Solomon his son, "In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever (please read Scripture Evidence #3 II Kings 21: 4 and 7)."
Scripture
Evidence #4
II Chronicles) 30: 1- And Hezekiah SENT to all Israel and Judah, and WROTE
LETTERS also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the
house of YAHUAH at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto YAHUAH the
Mighty One of Israel.
Question, why did King Hezekiah have to send for all of Israel and Judah and write letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to invite them to come the tabernacle of YAHUAH at Jerusalem to keep the passover? Did not they know when and where the passover would be held when YAHUAH had already established that it would be at Jerusalem where he had placed HIS name and at the season that they came forth out of bondage (Egypt)?
The answer is YES. They did know. But the problem was that the tabernacle had been polluted by King Ahaz and their fathers because they did evil in the sight of YAHUAH. Because of their unfaithfulness to YAHUAH, YAHUAH gave them up to desolation (to be an astonishment), and they also had been in bondage to the kings of Assyria. Therefore the passover and the feasts of YAHUAH were not kept at Jerusalem- the only place that they could be kept for a long time because the tabernacle of YAHUAH was in disarray and out of order; the doors of the tabernacle were closed and the priesthood was not sanctified, neither had the people assembled themselves together to Jerusalem collectively as prescribed by YAHUAH for a long time. Here is how the story goes:
After a reign of disobedience unto YAHUAH by Ahaz, the father of Hezekiah who did not do right in the sight of YAHUAH nor attend to the things of the tabernacle of YAHUAH, Judah was taken into bondage by Israel, their own brethren and was taken to Samaria in captivity. 200,000 of their women, sons, and daughters were taken into captivity in Samaria. After the death of Ahaz, Hezekiah reigned in his stead; he reigned in Jerusalem twenty five years. He did what was right in the sight of YAHUAH. In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened the doors of the tabernacle of YAHUAH, which his father had closed, and he restored the tabernacle. He brought together the priests and the Levites and commanded them to purify themselves and the tabernacle of YAHUAH and clean up the filth from the tabernacle that was done by their fathers. After purifying themselves and cleaning up the filth from the tabernacle, they went to King Hezekiah and said unto him that all of the tabernacle of YAHUAH had been cleansed including the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils and the shewbread table with all of its utensils. All the utensils which King Ahaz in his reign cast away when he was transgressing were made ready and sanctified and were now before the altar of YAHUAH. Then Hezekiah with all of the officials of the city went up to the tabernacle and made sin offerings for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and for Judah. They also made an atonement for all Israel. With the cymbals, harps, and psalteries, and with the instruments ordained by David- King of Israel, and the priest with the trumpet, and with singing, they offered up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to YAHUAH until all the burnt offering was finished. Then Hezekiah sent to all of Israel as well as Judah and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh to come to the tabernacle of YAHUAH at Jerusalem to keep the passover unto YAHUAH the Mighty One of Israel. So King Hezekiah sent a letter to the Hebrew Israelites, throughout all Israel and Judah saying,
. . .
Ye children of Israel, turn again unto YAHUAH Mighty One of Abraham, Isaac,
and Israel, and he will return to the remnant of you, that are escaped out of
the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And be not ye like your fathers, and like
your brethren, which trespassed against YAHUAH Mighty One of their
fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. 8 Now be ye not
stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto YAHUAH, and
enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve YAHUAH your
Mighty One, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. 9 For
if ye turn again unto YAHUAH, your brethren and your children shall find
compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again
into this land: for YAHUAH your Mighty One is gracious and merciful, and
will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him (II
Chronicles 30: 6-9).
II Chronicles 30: 10-14 states, So the posts (couriers) passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also in Judah the hand of YAHUAH was to give them one heart to do the commandment of the king and of the princes, by the word of YAHUAH. 13 And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation. 14 And they arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense took they away, and cast them into the brook Kidron.
II Chronicles) 30: 21, And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised YAHUAH day by day, singing with loud instruments unto YAHUAH.
II
Chronicles 30: 25-26, And all the congregation of Judah, with the priests and
the Levites, and all the congregation that came out of Israel, and the strangers
that came out of the land of Israel, and that dwelt in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So
there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time
of Solomon the son of David King of Israel there was not the like
in Jerusalem.
Scripture
Evidence #5
II
Chronicles 31: 1-3, Now when all this was finished, all Israel
that were present went out to the cities of Judah, and brake the images in
pieces, and cut down the groves, and threw down the high places and the altars
out of all Judah and Benjamin, in Ephraim also and Manasseh, until they had
utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned, every
man to his possession, into their own cities. 2 And Hezekiah appointed
the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man
according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for
peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates
(towns) of the tents of YAHUAH. 3 He appointed also the king's portion of
his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt
offerings, and the burnt offerings for the sabbaths, and for
the new moons, and for the set feasts, as
it is written in the torah (law) of YAHUAH.
Scripture
Evidence #6
II
Chronicles 33: 4- Also he built altars in the house of YAHUAH,
whereof YAHUAH had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for
ever.
Scripture
Evidence #7
Luke 2:
41-43 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the
feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went
up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they
had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child YAHUSHA tarried
behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not [of it].
Scripture Evidence #8
Acts 2: 1, 5- And when the day of Pentecost [Feast of Weeks] was
fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 5 And
there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews (Yahudim), devout men, out
of every nation under heaven.
We clearly see from these undisputed scripture evidences that YAHUAH without question has put HIS name in Jerusalem, and it is the place that HE has chosen forever for us to not only keep HIS feasts but to keep HIS sabbaths as well. We also see clearly that YAHUAH'S feasts were never kept in the land of our captives, for being in the land of captivity signifies that we have turned away from YAHUAH. But as King Hezekiah stated in his letter to all of Israel and Judah (the Hebrew Israelites], if we turn back to YAHUAH, YAHUAH will allow us to return again to our land for YAHUAH will not turn HIS face from us if we return to HIM. There are many other scriptural evidences that prove that the city of David (Jerusalem) is where YAHUAH has placed HIS name forever and that HIS feasts and sabbaths should be kept there. Time will not permit me to present on all these scriptures, but there is one more scripture in the book Zechariah that I must present to you as evidence that Jerusalem is the place where YAHUAH has placed HIS name.
Scripture
Evidence #9
Zechariah
14: 16-21, And
it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came
against Jerusalem shall
even go up from year to year to worship the King, YAHUAH of hosts, and to keep
the feast of tabernacles. 17And
it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto
Jerusalem to
worship the King, YAHUAH of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 18 And
if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall
be the plague, wherewith YAHUAH will smite the heathen that come not up to keep
the feast of tabernacles. 19 This shall be the
punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep
the feast of tabernacles. 20 In that day shall there be upon
the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO YAHUAH; and the pots in YAHUAH'S house
shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yea, every pot in
Jerusalem and
in Judah shall be holiness unto YAHUAH of hosts: and all they that
sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there
shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of YAHUAH of hosts.
Praise YAHUAH!!! What a powerful scripture that speaks about future events! This scripture shows that beyond a shadow of doubt that Jerusalem is the place where YAHUAH wants not only HIS people, but also the heathen that will be left after the day of YAHUAH, to come to worship and keep HIS feast. Whoever refuses to come up of all the families of the earth to Jerusalem to worship and keep HIS feast, YAHUAH will smite them that come NOT up to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. For this will be the punishment of Egypt and all nations that will not come up to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Praise YAHUAH!!! What a scripture! What great proof and evidence that is given in these scriptures concerning the appointed place where YAHUAH'S feasts should be held. If you reject the proof and evidence that is presented here, then you do so on your one accord- not because you have not been shown or warned. The choice is yours. Attempt to keep these feasts here in America or cry out to YAHUAH to bring us again to a place, even the place of our inheritance where we can serve HIM and keep HIS feasts the way HE has prescribed and the way that HE desires that we might live lives that are well pleasing in HIS sight.
So, are there any benefits in keeping the Feasts of YAHUAH outside of HIS appointed place, which is Jerusalem? The answer is NO. There are never any benefits for our disobedience. Our obedience to YAHUAH is much greater than any sacrifice we make trying to find favor with YAHUAH by doing what HE has commanded our own way. Scripture proves that our disobedience to YAHUAH only leads us into bondage. Please read Leviticus 26: 31-34, Lamentations chapters 1 and 2, and Jeremiah chapter 5. Our ancient ancestors when they were in bondage in Egypt began to cry out to YAHUAH because of their affliction, hard labor, and cruel oppression that they were under and YAHUAH heard them and delivered them with a mighty hand and outstretched arm. We too must cry out to YAHUAH because of the suffering we endure. HE promises to deliver us like HE did our ancient ancestors with a mighty hand. Today in America (our Egypt) we may not suffer the exact same type of physical afflictions, hard labor, and oppressions that our forefathers who were enslaved suffered, but nevertheless today we too are afflicted physically, burden with hard labor, and oppressed economically, sociably, and educationally. But our greatest oppression here in America is knowing that we are called to a higher calling in YAHUAH than what we are experiencing. We are living way beneath our calling according to what YAHUAH has called us to, for we are called to be far above all nations of the earth- a set apart and sacred people unto YAHUAH. We are called to be lenders and not borrowers where we should be lending to many nations and not borrowing. We are to be the head and not the tail. We are to be above only and not beneath. We are called to serve YAHUAH and keep HIS feasts in the land of our inheritance, which is Jerusalem. For this commercial government that is in America in which we live does not recognize/ keep YAHUAH'S law or HIS commandments. YAHUAH promised, And when all these things have come upon you, the blessings and the curses which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where YAHUAH your Mighty One has driven you, 2 And shall return to YAHUAH your Mighty One and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your [mind and] heart and with all your being, 3 Then YAHUAH your Mighty One will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you. 4 Even if any of your dispersed are in the uttermost parts of the heavens, from there YAHUAH your Mighty One will gather you and from there will He bring you. 5 And YAHUAH your Mighty One will bring you into the land which your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will do you good and multiply you above your fathers (Deuteronomy 30: 1-5). Also see Jeremiah 30: 1-3, 9-11, 16-18, 22-24 and II Chronicles 7: 14.
In closing because we are not in a proper covenant relationship with YAHUAH, and we have broken the covenant agreement, we do suffer and have become the opposite of what we are supposed to be. If we would only turn from our wicked ways, love YAHUAH with all our heart, keep the commandments of YAHUAH, and walk in HIS ways, then the blessings of YAHUAH would overtake us. YAHUAH will heal our land, and we will be restored back into our land where we can serve YAHUAH and keep not only HIS feasts but HIS sabbaths as well.
In the Fear of YAHUAH,
Pastor Fredrick A. Brown
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