The Appointed Feasts and New Moon Festivals hold significant importance in the biblical narrative, serving as times of worship, remembrance, and community gathering for the people of Israel. These observances are deeply rooted in the covenantal relationship between God and His chosen people, as outlined in the Old Testament.

Appointed Feasts

The Appointed Feasts, also known as the "Feasts of the LORD," are divinely instituted celebrations that occur annually. They are detailed primarily in Leviticus 23 and serve as sacred assemblies for the Israelites. These feasts are not merely cultural or social events but are imbued with spiritual significance, reflecting God's redemptive plan and His ongoing relationship with His people.

1. Passover (Pesach): Celebrated on the 14th day of the first month (Nisan), Passover commemorates the Israelites' deliverance from Egyptian bondage. It is a time to remember the sacrificial lamb and the passing over of the Israelite homes by the angel of death. "On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover" (Leviticus 23:5).

2. Feast of Unleavened Bread: Beginning the day after Passover, this seven-day feast emphasizes the haste of the Israelites' departure from Egypt, during which they ate unleavened bread. "On the fifteenth day of the same month begins the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the LORD. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread" (Leviticus 23:6).

3. Feast of Firstfruits: Celebrated during the week of Unleavened Bread, this feast marks the beginning of the harvest season, offering the first sheaf of the harvest to the LORD. "When you enter the land I am giving you and reap its harvest, you are to bring to the priest a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest" (Leviticus 23:10).

4. Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost): Occurring fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruits, this feast celebrates the wheat harvest and the giving of the Law at Sinai. "You shall count off fifty days until the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the LORD" (Leviticus 23:16).

5. Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): Marking the beginning of the civil year, this feast is a time of rest and trumpet blasts, calling the people to prepare for the Day of Atonement. "In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly announced by trumpet blasts" (Leviticus 23:24).

6. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A solemn day of fasting and repentance, this is the most sacred day of the Jewish calendar, focusing on atonement and reconciliation with God. "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present an offering made by fire to the LORD" (Leviticus 23:27).

7. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot): This week-long feast commemorates the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and God's provision. It involves dwelling in temporary shelters. "On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it continues for seven days" (Leviticus 23:34).

New Moon Festivals

The New Moon Festivals are monthly observances marking the beginning of each lunar month. These festivals are times of worship and sacrifice, acknowledging God's sovereignty over time and creation. "On the first day of each month, you are to present to the LORD a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, all without blemish" (Numbers 28:11). The New Moon Festivals serve as reminders of God's continual presence and provision, offering the Israelites an opportunity to renew their dedication to Him.

Throughout the Old Testament, these feasts and festivals are integral to the spiritual life of Israel, providing structure and rhythm to their worship and community life. They are not only historical commemorations but also prophetic foreshadowings of the Messiah, fulfilled in the New Testament through the life and work of Jesus Christ.