The Eighth Day
If
one studies carefully the word of God one will notice that there is an Eighth
Day that is associated with the Feast of Tabernacles for we have been duly
instructed saying; “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast
of Tabernacles for seven days to the LORD. On the first day there shall be a
holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you
shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall
have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the
LORD. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it”
(Leviticus 23: 4-36).
But
what exactly is the rationale for the Eighth Day of the Feast of Tabernacles? A
thorough study and examination of the word of God will prove and confirmed that
the biblical eighth day is associated with cleansing, circumcision,
sanctification and dedication and so, the rationale for the Eighth Day of the
Feast of Tabernacles it is to commemorate the sanctification and circumcision of
Jesus Christ a day which signifies a lot for humanity, a day which should be
commemorated not because the law says to observe it but observing it in
gratitude and appreciation for what this day means to humanity especially
Gentiles who at one time were without God in the world.
And
so the significance and spiritual intent of the Eighth Day festival is to
commemorate the day that the Lord was circumcised and given the name JESUS, the
name which is above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the
earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11)?
This
day also commemorates the day when Gentiles became fellow citizens with the
commonwealth of Israel as we have been duly admonished saying: “Therefore
remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh --- who are called Uncircumcision
by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands ---that at that
time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and
strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the
world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near
by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:11-13).
It
is also a day which foreshadows eternity when Jesus Christ delivers the kingdom
to God the Father and when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and
power, for He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last
enemy that will be destroyed is death.
I therefore beg to ask the
question why a day of such significance not being observed and commemorated in
thanksgiving and appreciation for what the Lord has done for humanity. Why
pretend and deceive others in believing that no one knows the date of Christ’s
birth and substituting it with the pagan festival of Christmas? God has
overlooked this time of ignorance and now commands all men everywhere to
repent.
Observing the Lord’s festivals is
not something that should be done under compulsion or coercion but according to
one’s own volition in gratitude and in commemoration and perpetuation for what
the Lord did for humanity on that particular day or season. For we have been
duly admonished saying; “Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own
master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to
make him stand. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every
day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the
day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord
he does not observe it” (Romans 14:4-6).
What should be considered however
is that, in many passages of scriptures the Lord is described as being a
jealous God, for example the Lord said; “(for you shall worship no other god,
for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),” (Exodus 20:5; 34:14;
Deuteronomy 4:24; 5:9; 6:15; Joshua 24:19).
Now since the Lord is a jealous
God and we have been duly instructed saying; “For since the creation of the
world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things
that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without
excuse” (Romans 1:20).
It is imperative that we examine ourselves and take into consideration the amount of time, diligence, energy and resources that we spend and devote in the celebration, commemoration and perpetuation of historical events, anniversaries, customs and traditions of men such as, the celebration of Christmas and for us to be completely oblivious of the Lord’s festivals, I wonder how does the Lord feels since it is clearly stated that; “The Lord our God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.? Food for thought.
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With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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