Announcements Previous exam recall – the “Assyrian

question” – by today Exam Wednesday

You may start as early as 8:45 and/or stay later if necessary

The essay question will address the Sabbath

Ritual Torah:Sabbath, Festivals, Vows

Review Questions What are the categories of Torah? What were the key symbols involved in

Israel’s worship activities? What did they teach?

Sabbath Observance The Sabbath principle

Rest every seventh period Affected both humans and the land Set God’s people apart

Categories of Sabbath observance Every seventh day (the sign of the covenant) – based on…

God’s rest after creation God’s mighty redemptive act The death penalty applied if Sabbath was desecrated

Every seventh year – note environmental and social implications The Jubilee – return to family property, rest for the land, slaves

set free (paradigm of redemption from Egypt) – a reminder of God’s ownership

What did Jesus have to say about the Sabbath? (Mark 2:23-3:6; see also Matt 12:1-14)

Keep in mind the concern of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day

The Sabbath was made for humankind, not humans for the Sabbath

The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath

Is Sabbath observance “binding” for New Testament believers? Some reflections

It is one of the Ten Commandments and the penalty for infraction was death

It was the sign of the Sinai covenant One of the bases for its establishment lies in

creation itself The other lies in redemption and with the Sabbath

we look forward to our ultimate rest and redemption (cf. Hebrews 4)

Suggestion: The principle of rest and keeping holy one day in seven is binding; the specific practices are not rigid. Note Colossians 2:16.

Purposes of Festival Observance Worship – sacrifices were central – they

were not to come empty-handed Reminder of God’s nature and activities on

behalf of His people (educational tools) Demonstration of obedience (commanded

to appear before the Lord – Exodus 23:14-17)

The Three Major Festivals (Ex 23, Dt16; also Lev 23 and Num 28,29)

Passover and Unleavened Bread Provision of “second Passover” – Numbers 9

Weeks (also called Harvest and later Pentecost)

Tabernacles (also called Ingathering)

Two Additional Major Festivals [see Leviticus 23 and Numbers 28-29]

Trumpets

Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) “atonements” for high priest, sanctuary, people “transgressions” implies deliberate rebellion Two goats – one for the LORD was slaughtered;

one “for Azazel” was sent to the wilderness Possible connection with John 1:29

Other Ritual Observances Vows:

Nazirite vow (Numbers 6) – purpose, conditions, symbol, interruption, conclusion

Nature of vows in general

Tithes (Deut 14:22-29) Dedication and Redemption (Lev 27:1-29) Water of purification (Numbers 19) – provision for

purification from contact with death