SIGNS, SYMBOLS, AND SIGNIFICANCE: Still counting the Omer…

This is about the mid-way point of counting the Omer. It’s not too late to start if you haven’t already! In my last blog I wrote that this appointed time is another season of anticipation of what God will do. Isn’t it interesting that he commanded us to count the days between Passover and Shavuot? Leviticus 23;15-16 tell us to “Count to the day after the seventh Sabbath, 50 days, then I want you to bring a fresh grain offering to Me”.

Let’s back up just a bit to see how we got to this point. For all of the feasts and festival’s God gave dates for their celebration. Again, in Leviticus 23 God said, “in the spring, on the fourteenth day of the first month (that’s the month of Nissan), My Passover begins at first light. When the fifteenth day arrives, you are to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in My honor”.

Remember the story of when the Israelites left Egypt. Moses had gone to Pharaoh several times to request that the Israelites be allowed to go out to the desert to worship their God. Each time that Pharaoh refused God sent a terrible plague. Finally, Pharaoh couldn’t take it anymore and relented. But God had said that anyone who did not put the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and lintel would suffer the death of their firstborn. The Angel of Death would pass over the homes where the blood was placed.

Moses then led all of the Israelites out from the land of Goshen and across the Red Sea. Then the mighty hand of God split the sea so that they people could walk through on dry ground and then when they were all safely across and the Egyptians were in hot pursuit God closed the water so that the Egyptians were all drowned.

Once they were across the sea, they marched for 50 days until they reached the foot of Mt. Sinai where God gave the Torah, the Law, to Moses. During those 50 days there must have been much anticipation about where they were headed and what they were doing. There were many moments of complaining about their living conditions and lack of food. But God provided for their every need, in spite of their whining.

Shavuot (pronounced sha-voo-OTE) is the Greek word for fiftieth. This became the ancient agricultural feast associated with the Israelites receiving the Torah.

This feast, Shavuot, contains signs and symbols that foreshadow what God would do for his people. Jesus Messiah, who died and rose again, told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem to wait for the Holy Spirit. When did he tell them this? Right before he ascended to heaven, he commissioned them and told them to wait in Jerusalem. Ten days later, as the disciples were gathered in the Upper Room the Holy Spirit came like a mighty rushing wind (Acts 2). The day this happened was the first day of the feast of Shavuot or Pentecost (also a Greek word for fiftieth). As I write today, there a strong wind blowing through the trees and it sounds a bit like the waves crashing on the beach.

As I mentioned earlier, the time of counting the Omer is significant as it is a time for anticipation and reflection. Isn’t it interesting that the season of the church year and the feasts and festivals incorporate times of anticipation and reflection? Advent and Lent are also characterized by anticipation and reflection or looking forward and looking backward. God does not want us to forget! He wants us to remember what he has done in the past and look forward to what he will do in the future!

As part of the counting, each evening a prayer of blessing is said: “Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to count the Omer”. Believers in Jesus Messiah can add: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us through Yeshua the Messiah, and commanded your people to count the Omer”.

Praying Psalm 67, which is similar to the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26, is then read each night. What a powerful way to end each day!

May God pour His grace and blessings into us and turn His face to shine His light on us.

[pause] 

2 So all those on earth will learn to follow Your way and see Your saving power come to redeem all nations.3 May all people live to praise You, Our True God;    may all come to praise You.

4 May all nations celebrate together, singing joy-filled songs of praise to You be cause You judge the people fairly and give guidance to all the nations of the earth.

[pause]

5 May the people praise You with their whole hearts, O God;    may every man, woman, and child on the earth praise You.

6 The land has supplied a bountiful harvest,    and the True God, our God, has poured out His blessings to us all.7 God is the source of our blessings;    may every corner of the earth respect and revere Him.

So in the last couple of weeks before the festival of Shavuot (by the way, which is characterized by grains and dairy foods – cheesecake!) I encourage you to thank God for his bountiful gifts, his faithful leadership, and all of the ways he has blessed you and filled you. Thank him for his promises. Remember to pray for Israel! Pray that he continues to watch over them and protect them. Pray that they will recognize the mighty hand of God and acknowledge Jesus as their true and only Messiah! Psalm 122:6.

Shalom!