July 12, 2009
Background Scripture: Deuteronomy 16:1-8
Devotional Reading: 1 Corinthians 5:1-8

Just as children, youth and some adults ask why we have to obey God’s commandments, so there are also those who question why we “must” celebrate certain Christian holy days (with the exception of Christmas, of course). So far as I know, most religions – perhaps every religion – have days of special remembrance and celebration.

I believe there are two primary reasons for these observances – one, to bring back the remembrance of some special, vital event or period in the history of the religion. Reliving this remembrance is vital to the believers. And two, to elicit a vital response from believers: repentance, thanksgiving, praise and/or dedication/rededication.

The Hebrews’ faith was traced from God’s mighty act in rescuing them from slavery in Egypt and leading them to the Promised Land. From this there flowed the covenant relationship between God and Israel, the law and the writings that became their scriptures.
As one writer has observed, “The celebration of Passover ties together the past and present and unifies the people with a common heritage and memory.”

Three holy days

As Deuteronomy indicates, there were three principal national observances in Israel. The first of these, Passover, was held in the Canaanite month of Abib, the first month of the Hebrew sacred year, our March-April. Later, after the Babylonian exile and return, the name of Abib was replaced by that of Nisan.

Passover commemorated the liberation which gave birth to the nation. This was both a remembrance of a vital past event and the reliving of it in the present. Our Easter is linked with Passover.
The second was the Feast of Weeks, also known as the Harvest Feast or First Fruits, and was held 50 days after the beginning of Passover in honor of God, the owner of the land. So, people made an offering in proportion to the measure of their harvest. Later, this feast would commemorate the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai. In Christianity it became the day and season of Pentecost.

The third observance, the seven-day Feast of Tabernacles (or the Feast of Booths), celebrated God’s providence during the Exodus. Each of these observances was intended to help people remember the mighty acts of God in their history, a remembrance that inspired praise and thanksgiving.

Undoubtedly, God is pleased by our sincere worship but, even more, we need these worshipful expressions. Just as living by the commandments benefited the Hebrews themselves, so these commemorations were indispensable to the worshippers.

The ‘Why?’

The “why must we do this?” protest sometimes occurs because the observances become dry and dead. This happens because the observances become repetitiously automatic and sterile.
We remember to schedule these holy days without reliving the reasons for them. We focus on the mechanics and fail to teach the reason behind them.

 Valere and I have been invited to several Seder celebrations of Passover in the home of Jewish friends. We have been particularly impressed when the children ask about the meaning of Passover in the words of Exodus 13: “And when in time to come your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall say to him, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of bondage’” (v.14).

The question is asked because it is part of the prescribed ritual of the Seder and the Seder is performed in the home. Perhaps our Christian holy days would be more meaningful to us and our children if, in a similar manner, we prepared ourselves and our families with “What does this mean?”
 
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Rev. Althouse may write to him in care of this publication.