2.4.25 ~ Don't Arrive Empty-Handed

Good morning!

Every week when I go to a bible study or a service, I have a goal of always going in full, giving whatever fullness I have and leaving that worshipful time (Prov. 11:25; Matt. 5:6). 

As we move towards the Feast of Unleavened Bread, in the month of April, we are commanded NOT to appear empty handed (Ex. 23:15). 

"Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for 7 days eat bread without leaven, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in that month you came out of Egypt (Ex. 12:1, 17, 41, 51). No one is to appear before me empty-handed/reqam
(Ex. 23:15)

There is a challenge that we all face: the feeling that my pursuit of God is NOT in vain or empty/req. Maybe, that's not you, but for many it is...desperately and passionately you keep your heart pure, but feel like it produces vain, empty-handed results (Psa. 73:13)
"This is what the wicked are like - always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain/riq (the root of reqam), I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocency. 
(Psa. 73:12,13)

How do these two thoughts from Exodus and Psalms line up? Enquiring minds want to know :-) No one shall appear before Me without hands filled with the appropriate sacrifice,” can be translated “No one shall appear before Me in vain.”  Huh?

The 'Not empty hand' commandment, we will cover later, is more than showing up with the first fruits of the harvest or the sacrificial bird or animal. As many of us know, it's possible for us to arrive with our hands full and still be empty-handed, as the Psalmist learned. Emptiness is both a physical and a spiritual state. God demands that we arrive before Him with full hands (the outward expression of our obedience) and full hearts (the inner acknowledgment of His all-sufficiency); otherwise, riq applies. Otherwise we arrive at his appointed times/moedim in vain.

Many of you may have connected this 'vain' reality (not arterial :-), with the 3rd statement within the "Big 10" (Ex. 20:7); a term connected with the worthlessness and unreliability of idols. God says through Moses... 

"You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain/lashaw; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain/lashaw
(Ex. 20:7)

This word is commonly associated with the worthlessness and unreliability of our man made idols; with something false, unsubstantial or deceptive. The commandment concerning appearance at the Feast, however, is not about deception or worthless expression of our man made idols. It is about unfulfilled obligations. Most of us would never consider going to a party without bringing a gift for the host. Hence, God, as the greatest party host, tells us that we better show up prepared.

And as usual, this makes us ask ourselves some straight forward questions. When it comes to God's appointed times/moedim, most modern day believers, not only don’t show up prepared, they don’t arrive at all.  They don’t attend the party in spite of God’s command and invitation (Ex. 12:14,17, 24; 13:10; 2 Kg. 23:21; 1 Cor. 5:7,8). 

The biggest question is: "Why don’t  they come"?  Because between the 2nd and 4th centuries the Church began to teach that Christians no longer needed to adhere to these “Jewish” rules. Since that teaching has been in place for nearly 2000 years, it is difficult for many of us to comprehend that it is mistaken, that it arose from anti-Semitism, not from the text. 

Why do I say such outrageous things? Because an examination of the history of the early Messianic community in the book of Acts and the 2nd century shows, without discrepancy, that these communities followed God's calendar and practiced the Feasts of the Lord (misnamed feast of the Jews).  

It took the Church several hundred years to eliminate this continuity and replace it with substitutes like Easter, Christmas, Valentines Day, etc. But now people all around the world are beginning to recognize that we've all inherited lies (Jer. 16:19). Now we know that our traditional belief is not based in Scripture or in the actual practice of the earliest Messianic communities. And so now we have to ask, “Are we arriving empty-handed?”

Wherever I am, this year, for the Spring Party...I plan on having my hands and heart full! I hope you'll do the same (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23)!

Shalom

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