ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite ‘Epeleli 25, 2023

שׁבעת The Feast of Weeks

KATONGA ‘O E NGAAHI UIKE

LEVITICUS 23:15-16

"YOU SHALL COUNT SEVEN FULL WEEKS FROM THE DAY AFTER THE SABBATH, FROM THE DAY THAT YOU BROUGHT THE SHEAF OF THE WAVE OFFERING. YOU SHALL COUNT FIFTY DAYS TO THE DAY AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH. THEN YOU SHALL PRESENTA GRAIN OFFERING OF NEW GRAIN TO THE LORD."

LEVITIKO 23:15-16

15 Pea te mou kamata ‘apongipongi, hili ‘a e Sāpate, ke lau ‘aho; ‘io, te mou kamata mei he ‘aho na‘a mou ‘omi ai ‘a e ‘ū koane tākalo, ‘o fakakakato ha uike ‘e fitu: 16 te mou fai atu ki he ‘aho hili hono fitu ‘o e uike, ‘o kakato ai hamou nimangofulu‘i ‘aho; pea te mou toki ‘atu kia Sihova he feilaulau me‘akai mei he ta‘u fo‘ou.

Christians call it Pentecost (Greek for "fiftieth"), but Israelites called it Shavuot ("weeks"). They counted seven shavu'ot after Passover, then began this second annual festival the next day. Originally, Shavu'ot was a farming festival in which the firstfruits of the spring wheat harvest were brought to the altar. Well before the first century, however, it had also become the time to celebrate God's giving of the Torah at Sinai. Since the nation had arrived at that mountain on the third month after the original Passover (Exod. 19:1), the seven-weeks-plus-one-day time period lined up. 

In Acts 2, when Jews from around the world were gathered in Jerusalem, they were there to celebrate the giving of the old covenant. But the Holy Spirit had other plans. As Sinai had flamed and smoked, so a "mighty rushing wind" and "tongues of fire" appeared at this new Shavu’ot. As Israel had offered her firstfruits, now Christ gave his people "the firstfruits of the Spirit" (Rom. 8:23). The tongues of the disciples spoke of the universal message of grace for all in the new covenant.

Holy Spirit, God's fire from above, kindle in our hearts faith, hope, and love.