Doubtless, this post is bound to generate some controversial and interesting comments. — Natan
Zechariah 8:19, The fast of. What are these four fasts of the house of Judah (the Jews) that YHVH is here approving and refers to as “appointments” or moedim (though not necessarily “divine appointments” [except for the fast of the tenth month, which is Yom Kippur], since they weren’t mandated by YHVH)? These four fasts are (according to https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/609607/jewish/Jewish-Fast-Days.htm):
The fast of the fourth month of Tammuz: Shivah Asar B’Tammuz— The fast actually commemorates five tragic events that occurred on this date:
- Moses broke the tablets when he saw the Jewish people worshipping the Golden Calf.
- During the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, the Jews were forced to cease offering the daily sacrifices due to the lack of sheep.
- Apostomos burned the holy Torah.1
- An idol was placed in the Holy Temple.2
- The walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans, in 69 CE, after a lengthy siege. (Three weeks later, after the Jews put up a valiant struggle, the Romans destroyed the second Holy Temple on the 9th of Av.)The Jerusalem Talmud maintains that this is also the date when the Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem on their way to destroying the first Temple.
The fast of the fifth month of Av: Tisha B’Av— The saddest day on the Jewish calendar is the Ninth of Av, “Tisha B’Av.” It is the date when both our Holy Temples were destroyed, and an era of exile, persecution and spiritual blackness began.
The fast of the seventh month of Tishrei: Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement
The fast of the tenth month of Tevet: Asarah B’Tevet— On Asarah B’Tevet, the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Asarah B’Tevet is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance.
What can we learn from this Bible passage? This verse tells us that YHVH is not opposed to our observance of man-made, extra-biblical holidays if they commemorate important events in the religious history of his people and if they are done on the basis of love and peace. This could be applied to such momentous biblical events as the birth and resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah as long as we do not substitute these for YHVH’s commanded biblical festivals as listed and commanded in Leviticus 23 and elsewhere. Of course, it is patently contrary to the Word of Elohim for any man-made holidays to contain any taint of paganism (Jer 10:2–5; Lev 18:3; 20:23; Deut 12:30–31) as do most if not all of the popular modern Christian holidays.
Dan 7:25=they shall think to change times and laws. We cannot change a law of YHVH-they changed the ways or days in which we live and celebrate. I don’t know how many of us bloggers here know that the 15th day of the 7th month, being Sept=7, September, it would follow that Oct=8 (as in octagon, an 8 sided shape) October is the 8th month and then November (nueve in Spanish) would be the 9th month and then of course Dec (a decimal , tenth part, December the 10th month which means January is 11 not 1 and February 12 not 2 and the head of the year is in the spring when everything is coming back to life after the dead of winter. With YHVH there is sequence, w/o YHVH, CONSEQUENCE!
This is a slippery slope! (The last paragraph) We know Yeshua was born around Trumpets, and that He was resurrected at First Fruits after Passover. If we are acknowledging this that is one thing. We must however stay clear of merging into traditional pagan festivals which invert and proclaim a false messiah. We are not instructed to celebrate His birth or resurrection. We are to proclaim and remember Yeshua’s death. I think maybe Natan is toying with us a little?
I agree with everything you have said. No, I’m not toying with anyone. YHVH didn’t command the Jews to do those extra biblical fasts, but he didn’t condemn them either. In fact he blessed them for their zeal in stopping to reflect on some sad moments in Jewish history and the consequences of their forsaking him. Hanukkah and Purim would fall under the category of extra biblical holidays as well. I don’t celebrate either, nor to do I celebrate the birth or resurrection of Yeshua, and don’t plan to. However, if someone wants to do so at the proper times of the year, Elohim seems to have no problem with it. Just don’t mix in paganism!!!!!! And, most importantly, don’t neglect to keep his biblical feasts!!!!!!
Too many Hebraic minded people like to bash Christians over Christmas and Easter. These two holidays have become the whipping boys that many Messianics love to hate and that hatred comes over loudly and clearly to those lost sheep of the house of Israel (the Christians) to whom we’re trying to show the way of Torah. This can be a great turn-off and stumbling block to them. How about graciously showing them that they can celebrate the nativity and resurrection minus the paganism as they’re learning the higher ways of Torah and the biblical feasts?
Just wanted to challenge us to think out of the box a little.
🙂
I suppose celebrating the birth of Yeshua is in itself not a sinful activity and to those Christians who really love Him, it is an expression of their faith and an act of worship.
However, to commemorate the Creator’s birth into this world on the day when the pagans celebrate the birth of their Babylonian messiah might be insulting to Elohim. In Arabia, they celebrated the birth of the ‘Lord Moon’ at this exact time also. Even without christmas tree, yule-cakes, Santa etc. just the timing around the solstice is not a good one. YHVH says don’t worship me in the heathen’s way. He expects us to destroy all the ‘high places’ and cut down the asherah poles instead of turning them into YHVH’s symbols. For me, that includes the special worship days for the pagans as well. Having said that, last year, we accepted an invitation for lunch on the 25th of December by our family thinking that for us, it was just lunch with family members and nothing else; still wondering whether this is o.k.?
In regard to how should our conduct be with Christians? Speak the Truth with Love and without condemnation; Elohim is the judge!
Shalom to all, Sonja
I agree that if one were to celebrate the brith of Messiah, December 25 should not be the day to do so!!!
When we had a regional Sukkot celebration, we would commemorate Yeshua’s birth on the first day of Sukkot by singing some non-pagan nativity songs. It was a nice thing to do, although it always felt weird to me to be singing Away in the Manger and Silent Night et al due to my anti-Christmas upbringing. At the same time, some of these songs are still some of the most beautiful hymns ever written. Whenever I hear O Holy Night, I get moved deep in my gut with love for my Lord and am so thankful that YVHV Elohim sent his Son to this earth for me. HalleluYah!
1Cor 5:9-13
We should focus and build on the positives and leave the negatives to Elohim.
Shalom, John
As much as possible, yes, unless you’re a John the Baptist type who is called of Yah to call people to turn from sin and to repent. Then you kind of have to identify the problem before proclaiming the solution. Even then, we want to be a river of life to those around us by focusing more on the solution than the problem. Amein.
A task for Eliyahu.
Barukh Haba B’Shem Torah.
John