31 May, 2022
💎 “Then you are to count from the morrow after the Shabbat, from the day that you brought the omer (A measure of flour) of the wave offering, seven complete Shabbatot. Until the morrow after the seventh Shabbat you are to count fifty days, and then present a new grain offering to Adonai. You are to bring out of your houses two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two tenths of an ephah of fine flour. They are to be baked with hametz (leaven) as firstfruits to Adonai.” (Lev 23:15-17, TLV)
Shavuot begins at the sundown on Saturday, 4 June and ends before the nightfall on Sunday, 5 June. Pentecost is observed by Christians on Sunday, 5 June.
“Shavuot” means “weeks” in Hebrew. It is called the “Feast of Weeks” because it is observed seven weeks after the second day of Pesach (Passover). Shavuot is an ancient wheat harvest festival and it is also traditionally identified as the anniversary of the giving of Torah by God on Mount Sinai about 3,300 years ago. “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word “pentekoste” which means the fiftieth day. According to Acts 2, when approximately 120 followers of Yeshua gathered in Jerusalem for the Shavuot celebration, the Holy Spirit fell on them powerfully and spectacularly in the Upper Room. Apostle Peter addressed the Shavuot crowd, preached his first sermon and the kehilah (church or ekklesia) was born! Shavuot and Pentecost are the same festivity with different meanings and rituals.
In most synagogues and messianic congregations, Shavuot is observed by the reading of the Book of Ruth which reminds us of God’s redemptive love. It is also celebrated to give thanks to God for the bountiful harvests. In Christian churches, Pentecost is generally commemorated by the reading from the Book of Acts. It signifies the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the early Christian Church which reminds us of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.
Do not overlook either Shavuot or Pentecost. We can meditate on God’s love and power, give thanks to God for the giving of His Word, praise Him for our daily bread and all His abundant provisions, wait upon Him, anticipate the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit, pray for our local kehilah (church), preach the gospel, and testify Him to the nations!
🙏 Dear Father, come and fill us once again. We long for your great love and power, so we may bear your Name and take your Good News to all nations! Renew our love and zeal for the Lord to bear good fruits in our homes, workplaces, ministries and local churches. In the name of Yeshua we pray and bless You, Amen.