These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, holy gatherings to be proclaimed in their appointed seasons. They were times to lay aside unnecessary work in order to consider God's dealings, blessings, warnings, and deliverance. They were times to rejoice and to thank and praise Him for Christ's sacrifice, and for rest and peace and joy.
At these gatherings the people were to bring freewill and thank offerings in proportion to the blessings received. Those offerings revealed whether they valued God's gifts and loved their Benefactor. The gatherings were to include servants and strangers and orphans and widows. They included the yearly commemoration of the Passover.
A camp encampment is such a holy convocation, an annual gathering set apart to seek God with all the heart for spiritual blessings. It is where His people come up to appear before the Lord, to feel His presence, and to see His power displayed. Such a gathering means coming close together in heart and mind in unity. Scattering of mind must not be allowed, nor diversion to anything else, nor leaving where the spiritual blessings are to be had to hear other preaching.
Coming to it requires individual and family work of preparation at home beforehand, so the Spirit of God can come with deep movings and might. Deep heart-searching and prayer are to be put first, and preparation for eating and dressing kept secondary. Preparation means praying three times a day with importunity like Jacob. It means finding Jesus at home and then taking Him to the meeting, which makes the hours spent there precious.
These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, holy gatherings to be proclaimed in their appointed seasons. They were times to lay aside unnecessary work in order to consider God's dealings, blessings, warnings, and deliverance. They were times to rejoice and to thank and praise Him for Christ's sacrifice, and for rest and peace and joy.
At these gatherings the people were to bring freewill and thank offerings in proportion to the blessings received. Those offerings revealed whether they valued God's gifts and loved their Benefactor. The gatherings were to include servants and strangers and orphans and widows. They included the yearly commemoration of the Passover.
A camp encampment is such a holy convocation, an annual gathering set apart to seek God with all the heart for spiritual blessings. It is where His people come up to appear before the Lord, to feel His presence, and to see His power displayed. Such a gathering means coming close together in heart and mind in unity. Scattering of mind must not be allowed, nor diversion to anything else, nor leaving where the spiritual blessings are to be had to hear other preaching.
Coming to it requires individual and family work of preparation at home beforehand, so the Spirit of God can come with deep movings and might. Deep heart-searching and prayer are to be put first, and preparation for eating and dressing kept secondary. Preparation means praying three times a day with importunity like Jacob. It means finding Jesus at home and then taking Him to the meeting, which makes the hours spent there precious.