New Moons

The observance of the New Moon is a significant aspect of the biblical calendar, marking the beginning of each month in the Hebrew lunar calendar. The New Moon, or "Rosh Chodesh," is mentioned in various passages throughout the Old Testament, highlighting its importance in the religious and communal life of Israel.

In Numbers 10:10, the Lord commands the Israelites to blow trumpets over their burnt offerings and fellowship offerings on the day of their gladness, appointed feasts, and at the beginning of their months: "Also at your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God. I am the LORD your God."

The New Moon was a time for special sacrifices and offerings, as outlined in Numbers 28:11-15. These offerings included burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, signifying a time of renewal and dedication to God. The New Moon was also a time for communal gathering and worship, as seen in 1 Samuel 20:5, where David speaks of the New Moon festival as a time when he is expected to dine with the king.

Prophetically, the New Moon is mentioned in Isaiah 66:23, where it is written, "From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me," declares the LORD. This passage points to a future time of universal worship and recognition of God's sovereignty.

Sabbaths

The Sabbath, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening, is a day of rest and worship, instituted by God as a perpetual covenant with His people. The command to observe the Sabbath is rooted in the creation narrative, where God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3). The Sabbath is enshrined in the Ten Commandments, as seen in Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God."

The Sabbath serves as a sign of the covenant between God and Israel, as stated in Exodus 31:16-17: "The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. It will be a sign between Me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."

Throughout the Old Testament, the Sabbath is emphasized as a day of rest, worship, and reflection. It is a time to cease from labor and to focus on spiritual matters, as seen in Leviticus 23:3: "There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of Sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the LORD."

In the New Testament, Jesus addresses the Sabbath, emphasizing its intended purpose for the benefit of humanity. In Mark 2:27-28, Jesus states, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." This highlights the Sabbath as a gift from God, meant to provide rest and spiritual renewal.

The New Moons and Sabbaths together represent a rhythm of life ordained by God, providing structure for worship, rest, and community. They are integral to understanding the biblical calendar and the spiritual life of Israel, serving as reminders of God's creation, covenant, and ultimate sovereignty.