Thoughts on the readings for April 29th (Deuteronomy 16, Ecclesiastes 8, Acts 7)

There were 8 feasts which Israel held. Deuteronomy 16 describes the major three Feasts at which every male was to present himself - and none of them was to come empty handed. These Feasts were the Passover, the Feast of Weeks - also called in the New Testament Pentecost - and the Feast of Tabernacles, or booths. Each of these feasts lasted for 7 days - the number of God's covenant - and a recurring pattern in the worship of Israel's Sovereign. The Passover is described in verses 1-8 and was observed by the eating of the Passover lamb and unleavened bread, both of which symbolise our Lord Jesus Christ - see the Apostle Paul's comments in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. The second feast was held 50 days later; hence its Greek name of Pentecost. Verses 9-12 tells of this feast. The key to this feast of the ingathering of the grain harvest is joy. The nation was commanded to come before Yahweh with rejoicing. This feast speaks of the salvation of the believers in our Lord Jesus Christ from his day until the time of his second coming - illustrated in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 20-23. Rejoicing is emphasised by repetition. They were to be joyful in the remembrance of their redemption. Verses 13-17 describe the feast of booths, which was also called the feast of the nations, since the LORD gives the number of the nations as seventy - Genesis 10 and Deuteronomy 32:8. Seventy bulls were offered during this feast. It celebrates the finalisation of the fruit and vegetable harvest. This will be the feast observed by all nations during Messiah's kingdom reign - see Zechariah 14 verses 15-21. Verses 18-20 speak of the appointing of judges for the dispensing of their Sovereign's principles to be observed by His people. The last verse of the chapter belongs to chapter 17 which deals with forbidden worship. Chapter 8 of Ecclesiastes contrasts wisdom and folly. Verse 1 speaks of the radiance of the face of the wise. Verses 2-8 tell of the need to show wisdom in the ruler's presence. The wise will choose appropriate words for every situation. However the greatest wisdom is to recognise that we are futile and will have no control over the time we will come to the grave. Wisdom says prepare now to meet your God by living according to His principles outlined in His Word. And so the theme continues in verses 11-13 by establishing that it will be well for those who reverently walk in the ways of their Sovereign. Verses 24-17 days that know matter how wise a man may be considered to be that man will never entirely fathom the wisdom of our Almighty God. The Apostle Paul argues this in 1 Corinthians 2 verses 20-25; 2 verses 6-16. In Acts 7 we have Stephen's defence. Stephen shows a) God is not confined to a Temple, or place; and, b) Israel's history illustrates a pattern of rebellion against the leaders God sent them. Stephen begins by telling the Sanhedrin Council - his accusers - that the God of glory appears to Abraham, not in the Land of Israel, not in a temple but in Mesopotamia. When Abraham dies the only inheritance he has in the land is the burial plot he has recently purchased. Stephen enumerates the terrible behaviour of the 12 sons of Israel. God raises up for His people Israel in Egypt a deliverer - Moses who was raised as an Egyptian prince. Stephen says that Moses was "mighty in words and deeds". But this self confident prince thought it would be via his might and power that the Almighty would deliver His people. But at this time they reject Moses - just as they rejected Jesus in his time among God's people. Moses flees from Egypt a fearful and disillusioned man. Once again the glory of God is revealed to Moses outside the land in the Sinai desert by an angel at the burning bush in Sinai. Moses worships the LORD here. And for 40 years Moses leads Yahweh's people through the Wilderness and he is supported with signs and wonders from God. And it was Moses who had declares, in Deuteronomy 18, that the LORD God would raise them up a prophet like himself. God did send them that prophet - His Son Jesus - whom they had failed to hear. Idolatry and disbelief are Israel's characteristic pattern throughout their history. The same traits continued and caused them to be exiled in Babylon. Once again their persistent hard heartedness and their resistance to God had been evidenced in their crucifixion of God's Holy Son. At this point the hostile audience gnash upon Stephen and drawing him outside the city and stoning him. In his dying moment Stephen is granted a vision of the Son of Man, from Daniel 7 returning to set up his kingdom. He prays for their forgiveness - but omits Jesus' words that 'they knew not what they were doing'. Stephen asks that the spirit of his testimony be received as a witness of his life. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-april-29th-deuteronomy-16-ecclesiastes-8-acts-7/?feed_id=90801&_unique_id=680f30e1e4ffb