FEASTS OF OLD TIMES by Clarence Santee

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 2, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 27.

FEASTS OF OLD TIMES.

By Clarence Santee

There were three principal feasts to which the children of Israel were called. “The feast of unleavened bread,” or the Passover. The “feast of weeks,” or the “feast of harvest,” and the “feast of ingathering” at the close of the year, when all the harvest was gathered in. The round of the year was, to the Jews, a reminder of every phase of the Christian life, from deliverance from sin to the final rest in the kingdom. At all these gatherings they were made familiar with these truths by the teaching of the Levites and priests.

The Passover, at the beginning of the year, was a suitable time for teaching deliverance from sin, and the beginning of the Christian life. To Israel, Egypt has ever been a word representing sin. It is so represented in Rev. 11:8. Conversion was the subject of this feast, and all nature was in accord with this call to a new life.

Then came the “feast of harvest.” Following the feast of the Passover by but a few weeks, “a week of weeks,” the theme for this gathering was labor for souls. Following conversion and a new life came a time of instruction in the gathering of souls, the harvest. This feast came in the typical year where the harvest-time comes in the Christian life, between conversion and the final rest. What a grand time, with all nature to aid them, for teaching every soul how to labor, when to labor, and diligence in putting in the sickle. The Lord says, “Immediately he putteth in the sickle.”

At this feast they were to bring a sheaf from every field of grain, and present it to the Lord. This was the “first-fruits” of the harvest. These sheaves were accepted, and in this was acceptance for all the sheaves from the fields from which they came. This was a pledge from God of His acceptance of, and blessing on, the work of the faithful harvester. This sheaf from each field represented those who were raised at the resurrection of Christ, and who, accepted of God, and taken to the heavenly sanctuary, are an assurance from God for all the sheaves of the fields whence they were taken. The statement is made that these persons “were chosen and holy ones of every age, from creation down even to the days of Christ.”—Early Writings, part 3, p. 53. These were presented before the Lord, in the hands of the priest, Christ, and were accepted. Lev. 23:10, 11.

The Passover could only be eaten by those who gave outward evidence of conversion. They must be circumcised. Ex. 12:48. God did not authorize any to pry into the secrets of the heart, but they must have the outward sign of a child of God. They might deceive, but for this they must answer to God alone. Man has never been authorized to resort to any measure for the purpose of finding the secrets of the heart. The harvest feast could be eaten by all. Deut. 16:10, 11.

There was still another feast before the year closed. It was a feast of experiences. This feast disclosed the results of the year’s labors. There was nothing more to gather, and the work of the harvester was done. It was “the feast of ingathering,”—a fit time to teach the solemnity of the close of the harvest, the close of probation,—and to settle the solemn question, Who will sit at the feast in the kingdom when the work is ended? At that feast each one knew what sheaves he had gained. He knew where the disappointments had been, and where were the successes. But when he had made his “freewill-offering,” it was recorded that he was at the feast. He was not cut off. If one failed to come to these feasts, he was cut off, unless there

was a reason why he could not come. Thus with all his failures, he was encouraged, as the year closed, to believe that, as he had come to this feast and been numbered with Israel, so, if still faithful, he would be at the “supper” when the day of salvation was over.

Some have thought that the people who lived in olden time were to be pitied for their dim vision. But instead they saw phases of the Christian life at every step, and in the changes of the seasons there was a basis for ever-new instruction. God was taught in nature. The lesson written for them was also for those living to-day. 1 Cor. 10:11. At the supper, when the Lord will “gird Himself, and make them sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them,” each one will know more fully than he can know now of the failures and the successes in the work of the harvest, then past. But with all the unfaithfulness, the ingratitude, he has persevered, and now, with robes washed pure and white in the blood of the Lamb, he is there.

The Israelites labored diligently that success might be reported at the last feast; and if one was unfortunate, it was the duty of others to lend a helping hand, so that he might be at the feast, and that none should appear empty-handed. The Lord, to-day, desires that, as His people are preparing for this last feast, they look carefully lest there may be some heart-burdened, discouraged one, who, seeing no sheaves to fill his garner, has decided to yield up the struggle, but who may with a brother’s or sister’s encouragement, arise and yet come to the feast.

Have you had a part in the feast of the Passover? Is the outward sign of deliverance from Egypt upon you? It must be there; but added to this, to gain the spiritual benefit, must be God’s sign of a “new heart.” Have you passed from this to participation in the feast of the harvest? Are you now bringing your “first sheaf,” or are you now gathering the sheaves in the field whence the first was taken? Is the first one yet to be brought? Soon this feast will be past, and the last, and the best, will be entered upon. It will be the best because of faithfulness in the others, and all the good experiences of these will enrich this one, besides the blessing all its own. Decide, dear brother, dear sister, that you will be at the feast.

CLARENCE SANTEE.