Shavuot Prayer (The Day of Pentecost)

Shavuot In The Bible

The Festival of Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments. Many centuries ago Israel stood at the foot of Mount Sinai and committed to do YHVH's Will, as expressed in His Torah.

Generally the Torah gives the historical reasons for celebrating the holidays. For this reason, it is baffling that the Torah presents Shavuot (Pentecost) only from its agricultural aspect, without mentioning its connection to the giving of the Torah to Israel at Mount Sinai.
1. The harvest holiday - "the first fruits of your work." Exodus 23:15
2. Feast of Weeks - "The First Fruit of the wheat harvest." Exodus 34:22
3. "And you shall count from the time you offer the omer offering (from your first harvest - Leviticus 23:10) seven weeks... and you shall offer a new meat offering to YHVH." Leviticus 23:15-21
4. "On the day of the first fruit offering, when you bring a new meat offering to YHVH on Shavuot." Numbers 28:26
5. "Count seven weeks, starting when the sickle is first put to the standing grain, then you shall celebrate the feast of Shavuot to YHVH." Deuteronomy 16:9-12
In each of these instances Shavuot is presented solely as a harvest holiday, to thank Yahveh for the grain crops.

The Precise Date
When Was The Torah Given To Israel?
The Torah informs us of the precise date (even the time of day) when the Tenth Plague struck the Egyptians as well as when Israel left Egypt. Later on, it records the precise date when Israel arrived at the desert of Sin. (Exodus 16:1) In regard to the time in which the Ten Commandments were given, however, the Torah is quite vague. We are told that Israel arrived at Mount Sinai in the third month but we are not told on what day of the month they arrived.
"In the third month of Israel's departure from Egypt, on this day, they came to the Sinai desert." Exodus 19:1
The phrase "on this day" seems rather vague, and it is difficult to determine what day it is referring to or how many days actually transpired between Israel' s arrival at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Commandments. We know that Moses went up and down the mountain several times, and that three days were required for the people to prepare for this special occasion, but we are not told how many days elapsed in the interim.
Clearly, the Torah prefers to obscure the precise date of this event, and does not make a connection between Shavuot and the giving of the Torah (Law - Ten Commandments) in any other scripture either. The question is - why?
Receiving The Torah
An Uncommemorated Event

There are numerous commandments in Torah telling how to remember the Exodus from Egypt, both on its anniversary, Passover, by eating Matzah and re-telling of the story of the exodus, and all year round, by bringing the First Fruits to Jerusalem, which the Torah relates to the Exodus. However, there is no commandment to commemorate the giving of the Ten Commandments. Thus, the Torah is suggesting that we should not treat receiving of the Law as an historical event. Instead, each and every day we should feel as though the Torah has just been given.
This is reflected by the use of "on this day" instead of "that day" and it teaches that the words of the Torah should be considered new - as though they were given "this day - today." We should not view it as a onetime event; rather, every person must feel as though he entered into a covenant with YHVH. (Deuteronomy 5:1-3) Every generation must know that the Ten Commandments were spoken to them directly, no less than to earlier generations. To celebrate the anniversary as a single moment in our history would diminish its importance.

Hashem (YHVH) desires that we see this event as something that needs to be re-lived more than just commemorated.

Biblical 'Hints'

The Exodus from Egypt was a onetime historical event, not to be re-lived, rather it was an event to be remembered, as the Torah instructs. It was Israel's national birth, and as such it needed to be commemorated.

The giving of the Commandments at Mount Sinai, however, was to be re-lived and not just remembered, for it is the foundation of our daily existence. There are several interesting references to the connection between Shavuot and the giving of the Torah, i.e. the Ten Commandments.

The book of Leviticus gives specific details of the special laws of Shavuot in chapter 23. (Leviticus 23:15-21) This chapter discusses the special offerings to be made at the conclusion of the 50 days of the Omer: The "Two Loaves" and the "Peace Offering", whose meat was waved together with the two loaves. What did all this mean?
The Meaning of The Two Loaves
There are two unique commandments regarding the special Shavuot offerings: The 'Two Loaves' offering and the 'Peace' offering. The Two Loaves offering is the only "public" offering which is baked with leaven. All other flour offerings must be baked 'matzah', meaning unleavened.
Shavuot is the only time during the entire year when all Israel was commanded to bring a Peace offering.
Leavened And Unleavened Offerings
'Matzah' in this case symbolizes the beginning of a process, whereas the fully risen 'leaven' symbolizes its completion. Thus, the commandment to bake the two loaves as leaven indicates that the receiving of the Ten Commandments should be understood as the culmination of the redemption process, which began with the exodus from Egypt. Just as the two loaves marked the culmination of the wheat harvest, the staple of our physical existence - the historical process which began with the Exodus culminated with receiving the Torah, the essence of our spiritual existence.

The Meaning of The Peace Offering
There is a very interesting difference between the required offerings for Shavuot and those of all the other holidays. Shavuot is the only holiday when "All Israel" must bring a Peace Offering of two goats, to be offered with the two loaves. The first mention of a 'Peace Offering' in Torah is in Exodus 24:4-8, at the special covenantal ceremony that took place at Mount Sinai. At this ceremony, all Israel committed to 'hear and obey' and entered into a covenant to become Yahveh's special nation, by accepting the Laws of Torah.
That ceremony included the special Burnt Offerings and Peace Offerings. The blood from these offerings was sprinkled both on the altar and on the people, to seal the covenant, and the meat was eaten by all the people at the conclusion of the ceremony. (Exodus 24:5-11)
The Peace Offering was a joint feast shared by covenantal partners. Since this offering is the same as the Shavuot offering, it serves as a connection and a reminder of the Mount Sinai Experience.
Experiencing Mount Sinai
We find two additional instances in Torah when Israel was commanded to offer a special collective Peace Offering - both relating to Mount Sinai.
1) On the 8th day of the Feast of Tabernacle. (Leviticus 9:1-5)
The eighth day" of Succot was the day when the newly built Tabernacle was dedicated, and was considered as an extension of Mount Sinai. The Shechinah, which left Israel in the aftermath of the Golden Calf incident, returned to the Tabernacle on that day, and YHVH began once again to teach Israel His Law - this time from the Tabernacle instead of from Mount Sinai. This marked the first time that YHVH appeared to Israel since Mount Sinai. Once again, Peace Offerings were€ ¦ made during this ceremony, reflecting the re-establishment of the covenant.
2) On Mount Ebal, when the generation that entered the land re-enacted the Mount Sinai Covenant and studied its laws. (Deuteronomy 27:1-8)
The purpose of the ceremony which YHVH commanded Israel to perform on Mount Ebal was to re-create the experience of Mount Sinai for the new generation, who were not present at the original event.
Traditional Scripture reading for Shavuot
The Festival of Shavuot recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai and the return of the Shechinah (Holy Spirit) to the camp of the Israelites.
On the first day of Shavuot we read all of Exodus chapter 19 and chapter 20:1-26, Ezekiel chapters 1-2 and the entire book of Ruth, which took place around the Festival of Shavuot.
On the second day of Shavuot we readHabakkuk chapter 3 - "the Prophet's Prayer" is recited.
Eating Dairy

"The sweetness (of Torah) drops from your lips, like honey and milk it lies under your tongue." Song of Solomon 4:11
Why is it customary to eat dairy on Shavuot? Since YHVH's Word, the Torah, is compared to milk, we eat a dairy meal on Shavuot, to commemorate the giving of Torah. The comparison of Torah to milk teaches that just as milk keeps best in earthen vessels and spoils quickly in silver or gold utensils, likewise the wisdom of Torah dwells in humble hearts and despises the prideful.

http://www.kab. tv/eng
Torah Studies: http://rinahshal. tripod.com /
Times of Refreshing I: http://rinah- -shalom.tripod. com/
Times of Refreshing II: http://rinah. shalom.tripod. com/
Moadim - Jewish Holidays: http://rinah- shalom.tripod. com/
His Word: http://rinahshalom. tripod.com/
Wisdom For Living: http://rinahshal. tripod.com/ wisdomforliving

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Being happy does not mean that everything is perfect. . . it means
you've looked beyond the imperfections to see as love sees.

SHAVUOTH
From the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering - the
day after Sabbath - you shall count off seven weeks. They must be
complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week –
Fifty Days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD.
You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as an
elevation offering; each shall be made of two-tenths of a measure of
choice flour, baked after leavening, as first fruits to the LORD."
[Leviticus (Vayikra) 23. 15 - 17 Tanakh, Torah]

Shavuoth (weeks) also called Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Harvest and
Feast of Weeks. Shavuoth is recognized as a memorial to the giving or
revelation of ALMIGHTY GOD'S gift of the 10-Commandments at Mount Sinai
50 days after the Israelites were led out of Egypt. Seven weeks after
leaving the land of death, the Israelites received the entire moral law
from the mouth of the LORD GOD HIMSELF as HE spoke to them from Mount
Sinai to guide and establish the redeemed nation.

It is a time to remember and observe the anniversary of the Covenant
between the ETERNAL GOD and Israel. GOD'S time-table is remarkable,
first HE established HIS pattern for redemption in the death of the
Sacrificial Lamb. As death visited the first-born of all the homes in
Egypt not covered by the blood, Israel was set free from her bondage.
Passover is a memorial to freedom. Many years later, at Passover,
YESHUA ha'MASHIACH concluded that sacrifice, setting us free from sin
and death. Paul identifies HIM in the resurrection as "CHRIST THE
FIRST-FRUITS" [1 Corinthians 15. 23] for it was on the morning of the
offering of the first fruits of the barley harvest that MESSIAH JESUS
arose from the dead.

Shavu'ot remembers GOD'S message of the Law, "All the people answered as
one, saying, All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" [Exodus (Shemot)
19. 8 Tanakh, Torah] There is no liberty without DIVINE Law and
self-discipline. The LORD MESSIAH YESHUA said, "Go! make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON
and of the HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age." [Matthew 28. 19 - 20]

On Shavuoth/Pentecost, the priest waved two loaves of challah (leavened
bread) before the LORD GOD OF HEAVEN. Usually leaven is forbidden, but
on this occasion there was a hidden meaning to the leaven. OLD
TESTAMENT saints wrote about the "GREAT SECRET" and the SECRET laid
hidden from Genesis to Malachi (Bereshith – Dibre Hayamin Bet in the
TANAKH). But, it was never fully known until the time of Paul. The
HOLY SPIRIT revealed to this Jewish Apostle that GOD'S eternal purpose
was to take from both Jew & Gentile, a people for HIS GREAT NAME, that
they would be made a joint-body in MESSIAH!

The two loaves "baked with leaven" were to be waved before the HIGH &
LOFTY ONE on Shavuoth, represent Jew and Gentile. The leaven is
symbolic of sin in them both being brought together in the SON. Here
ETERNAL GOD was teaching HIS people that divine redemption through HIS
ANOINTED ONE would be for whosoever will. "For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who
call upon HIM. For whoever calls on the NAME OF THE LORD shall be
saved." [Romans 10. 12 - 13]

As the wave offering was lifted up to a high plane, so the HOLY SPIRIT
leads both Jew and Gentile to the holy faith in YESHUA ha'MASHIACH to
the highest position near to the very heart of GOD OMNISCIENT. Also,
the HOLY SPIRIT leads both Jew and Gentile and forms us into one body.
Faith in the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA makes every man equal in GOD'S sight.
The LORD MOST HIGH is the gracious and merciful GOD & KING!

The LORD JESUS set us free from the Law in granting us salvation.
Salvation is a gift to be accepted not a status we achieve. JESUS, the
ROCK of our salvation, sets us free from our own habits and actions in
order that we may be free to obey. We become free to do, not as we
please, but as the LORD GOD commands. In a sense, we are set free from
our own habits, actions and the traditions of men so that we may hear
the authentic and complete WRITTEN WORD OF GOD. This freedom comes from
the knowledge that it is no longer our own efforts, but it is GOD'S
power that is at work within us. This was then demonstrated and brought
to completion in HIS season or timing: "And when the DAY OF PENTECOST
(Shavuoth) had fully come, they were all together in one place"
[Acts 2. 1], celebrating this "FESTIVAL OF THE FIRST-FRUITS" of the
wheat harvest "and they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT" becoming
the "first fruits" of GOD'S Harvest.

The POWER OF THE ETERNAL ONE came to dwell in us. The prophets were
continually calling the nation of Israel back to the LIVING GOD WHO had
made HIMSELF known at the Exodus. We can know that same HOLY GOD,
through YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, by the power of the SPIRIT OF GOD. On
Shavuoth/Pentecost, the HOLY SPIRIT came [Acts 2] to fulfill the
prophecy of David so that the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA would be recognized by
Israel and known as THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF THE LIVING GOD.


Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
We thank YOU, Great & MIGHTY GOD for by YOUR love, so rich and pure.
Amen
Chag Samayach (Joyous Holiday) - observing Shavuoth/Pentecost!! Have an
extraordinarily blessed day in celebrating the Festival of Weeks.


Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.


Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
Being happy does not mean that everything is perfect. . . it means
you've looked beyond the imperfections to see as love sees.
SHAVUOTH
From the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering - the
day after Sabbath - you shall count off seven weeks. They must be
complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week –
Fifty Days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD.
You shall bring from your settlements two loaves of bread as an
elevation offering; each shall be made of two-tenths of a measure of
choice flour, baked after leavening, as first fruits to the LORD."
[Leviticus (Vayikra) 23. 15 - 17 Tanakh, Torah]
Shavuoth (weeks) also called Feast of Pentecost, Feast of Harvest and
Feast of Weeks. Shavuoth is recognized as a memorial to the giving or
revelation of ALMIGHTY GOD'S gift of the 10-Commandments at Mount Sinai
50 days after the Israelites were led out of Egypt. Seven weeks after
leaving the land of death, the Israelites received the entire moral law
from the mouth of the LORD GOD HIMSELF as HE spoke to them from Mount
Sinai to guide and establish the redeemed nation.
It is a time to remember and observe the anniversary of the Covenant
between the ETERNAL GOD and Israel. GOD'S time-table is remarkable,
first HE established HIS pattern for redemption in the death of the
Sacrificial Lamb. As death visited the first-born of all the homes in
Egypt not covered by the blood, Israel was set free from her bondage.
Passover is a memorial to freedom. Many years later, at Passover,
YESHUA ha'MASHIACH concluded that sacrifice, setting us free from sin
and death. Paul identifies HIM in the resurrection as "CHRIST THE
FIRST-FRUITS" [1 Corinthians 15. 23] for it was on the morning of the
offering of the first fruits of the barley harvest that MESSIAH JESUS
arose from the dead.
Shavu'ot remembers GOD'S message of the Law, "All the people answered as
one, saying, All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" [Exodus (Shemot)
19. 8 Tanakh, Torah] There is no liberty without DIVINE Law and
self-discipline. The LORD MESSIAH YESHUA said, "Go! make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the FATHER and of the SON
and of the HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age." [Matthew 28. 19 - 20]
On Shavuoth/Pentecost, the priest waved two loaves of challah (leavened
bread) before the LORD GOD OF HEAVEN. Usually leaven is forbidden, but
on this occasion there was a hidden meaning to the leaven. OLD
TESTAMENT saints wrote about the "GREAT SECRET" and the SECRET laid
hidden from Genesis to Malachi (Bereshith – Dibre Hayamin Bet in the
TANAKH). But, it was never fully known until the time of Paul. The
HOLY SPIRIT revealed to this Jewish Apostle that GOD'S eternal purpose
was to take from both Jew & Gentile, a people for HIS GREAT NAME, that
they would be made a joint-body in MESSIAH!
The two loaves "baked with leaven" were to be waved before the HIGH &
LOFTY ONE on Shavuoth, represent Jew and Gentile. The leaven is
symbolic of sin in them both being brought together in the SON. Here
ETERNAL GOD was teaching HIS people that divine redemption through HIS
ANOINTED ONE would be for whosoever will. "For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who
call upon HIM. For whoever calls on the NAME OF THE LORD shall be
saved." [Romans 10. 12 - 13]
As the wave offering was lifted up to a high plane, so the HOLY SPIRIT
leads both Jew and Gentile to the holy faith in YESHUA ha'MASHIACH to
the highest position near to the very heart of GOD OMNISCIENT. Also,
the HOLY SPIRIT leads both Jew and Gentile and forms us into one body.
Faith in the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA makes every man equal in GOD'S sight.
The LORD MOST HIGH is the gracious and merciful GOD & KING!
The LORD JESUS set us free from the Law in granting us salvation.
Salvation is a gift to be accepted not a status we achieve. JESUS, the
ROCK of our salvation, sets us free from our own habits and actions in
order that we may be free to obey. We become free to do, not as we
please, but as the LORD GOD commands. In a sense, we are set free from
our own habits, actions and the traditions of men so that we may hear
the authentic and complete WRITTEN WORD OF GOD. This freedom comes from
the knowledge that it is no longer our own efforts, but it is GOD'S
power that is at work within us. This was then demonstrated and brought
to completion in HIS season or timing: "And when the DAY OF PENTECOST
(Shavuoth) had fully come, they were all together in one place"
[Acts 2. 1], celebrating this "FESTIVAL OF THE FIRST-FRUITS" of the
wheat harvest "and they were all filled with the HOLY SPIRIT" becoming
the "first fruits" of GOD'S Harvest.
The POWER OF THE ETERNAL ONE came to dwell in us. The prophets were
continually calling the nation of Israel back to the LIVING GOD WHO had
made HIMSELF known at the Exodus. We can know that same HOLY GOD,
through YESHUA ha'MASHIACH, by the power of the SPIRIT OF GOD. On
Shavuoth/Pentecost, the HOLY SPIRIT came [Acts 2] to fulfill the
prophecy of David so that the LORD MESSIAH YESHUA would be recognized by
Israel and known as THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF THE LIVING GOD.

Sha'alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of
Israel!
We thank YOU, Great & MIGHTY GOD for YOUR love, so rich and pure. Amen
Chag Samayach (Joyous Holiday) - observing Shavuoth/Pentecost!! Have an
extraordinarily blessed day in celebrating the Festival of Weeks.

Praying for the peace of Jerusalem is praying for the return of Messiah
Jesus and His Kingdom.
Web Page: http://delrifkah.homestead.com/
<http://delrifkah.homestead.com/>