Post by Watchman on Jun 3, 2006 16:47:13 GMT -5
Pentecost is the day of covenants. It is the day YHWH entered into the Old Covenant with Israel at Sinai, and it is the day He began making a New Covenant with those upon whom He poured out His Spirit. Pentecost, also called the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Firstfruits, pictures a vital part of YHWH's Great Plan of Salvation. It reminds us of the 'firstfruits' of His spiritual harvest, working to inbue us with His very nature and character. His Spirit is the means by which His laws are written in our hearts and minds and obedience becomes an integral part of our existance.
The Hebrew word 'berit' is used throughout the Old Testement for covenant and it describes a legal relationship between two parties based on a solemn promise. It is the word YHWH inspred to be used to describe the relationships he entered into with individuals such as Noah and Abraham, as well as the nation of Israel at Sinai.
The solemn agreement entered into at Mount Sinai occured on the Day of Pentecost during the year of Exodus. It was an agreement which spelled out the terms of Israel's relationship with YHWH. Obedience to the Ten Commandments was at the core of this covenant relationship.
Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Israel had been given His law as well as His promises of blessings for obedience. They simply lacked a heart to truly obey.
Deut 5:28-29 And YHWH heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and YHWH said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Israel's relationship with God shows that something more was needed than law, promises, and a covenant agreement. What was ultimatley required was a new heart for the people. God prophesied of a time when the people would be given a new hear and a new spirit.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
The prophet Jeremiah also prophesied of the time when YHWH would make a new covenant with His people. (Jeremiah 31:1-33) This new covenant would involve YHWH's laws being written in the inner man rather than being externally recorded on tables of stone.
The Apostle Paul quoted Jeremiah's prophesy in Hebrews 8:8-12 and went on to explain that Yeshua the Messiah came as the mediator of this covenant.
For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith YHWH. For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Under the New Covenant the law would be written in the peoples hearts, their sins would be forgiven, and each would know YHWH in a real and personal way. All of this made possible throught the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just as YHWH made the Sinai covenant with Israel on the Day of Pentecost, it was on another day of Pentecost 1500 years later that He poured out His Spirit upon believers, extending the promise of the Spirit to all who would turn to Him with faith in the gospel and repentance from sin.
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In the New Testement the word for covenant is 'diatheke'. This term not only means covenant in the same sense as the Old Testement equivalent, but it is also a legal term referring to the last will and testement. In Hebrews 9:15-19, Paul uses it in this sense.
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Here we are told that Christ has willed us an eternal inheritance and that this testement has come into full force and effect in the aftermath of His death and resurrection. While the Old Covenant is simply a covenant- a solemn agreement- the New Covenant is both a covenant and a testement. It represents a solemn agreement, into which we enter with our Creator at baptism, and also the last will and testement of our Savior. When we partake of the fruit of the vine at Passover, we are reminded of His shed blood, which was necessary to bring this New Covenant into being.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The Day of Pentecost celebrates the special covenant relationship that we have with our Creator- YHWH the Most High God. The New Covenant is available to all who respond to God's calling. YHWH's called out ones represent the Bride of Christ, which He will marry at His soon return!
The Hebrew word 'berit' is used throughout the Old Testement for covenant and it describes a legal relationship between two parties based on a solemn promise. It is the word YHWH inspred to be used to describe the relationships he entered into with individuals such as Noah and Abraham, as well as the nation of Israel at Sinai.
The solemn agreement entered into at Mount Sinai occured on the Day of Pentecost during the year of Exodus. It was an agreement which spelled out the terms of Israel's relationship with YHWH. Obedience to the Ten Commandments was at the core of this covenant relationship.
Deuteronomy 4:13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, [even] ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
Israel had been given His law as well as His promises of blessings for obedience. They simply lacked a heart to truly obey.
Deut 5:28-29 And YHWH heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me; and YHWH said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!
Israel's relationship with God shows that something more was needed than law, promises, and a covenant agreement. What was ultimatley required was a new heart for the people. God prophesied of a time when the people would be given a new hear and a new spirit.
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
The prophet Jeremiah also prophesied of the time when YHWH would make a new covenant with His people. (Jeremiah 31:1-33) This new covenant would involve YHWH's laws being written in the inner man rather than being externally recorded on tables of stone.
The Apostle Paul quoted Jeremiah's prophesy in Hebrews 8:8-12 and went on to explain that Yeshua the Messiah came as the mediator of this covenant.
For finding fault with them, He saith, Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith YHWH. For this [is] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHWH; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHWH: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Under the New Covenant the law would be written in the peoples hearts, their sins would be forgiven, and each would know YHWH in a real and personal way. All of this made possible throught the power of the Holy Spirit.
Just as YHWH made the Sinai covenant with Israel on the Day of Pentecost, it was on another day of Pentecost 1500 years later that He poured out His Spirit upon believers, extending the promise of the Spirit to all who would turn to Him with faith in the gospel and repentance from sin.
Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
In the New Testement the word for covenant is 'diatheke'. This term not only means covenant in the same sense as the Old Testement equivalent, but it is also a legal term referring to the last will and testement. In Hebrews 9:15-19, Paul uses it in this sense.
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Here we are told that Christ has willed us an eternal inheritance and that this testement has come into full force and effect in the aftermath of His death and resurrection. While the Old Covenant is simply a covenant- a solemn agreement- the New Covenant is both a covenant and a testement. It represents a solemn agreement, into which we enter with our Creator at baptism, and also the last will and testement of our Savior. When we partake of the fruit of the vine at Passover, we are reminded of His shed blood, which was necessary to bring this New Covenant into being.
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
The Day of Pentecost celebrates the special covenant relationship that we have with our Creator- YHWH the Most High God. The New Covenant is available to all who respond to God's calling. YHWH's called out ones represent the Bride of Christ, which He will marry at His soon return!