The Moedim of YHWH

1. The Meaning of the Term "Moedim" (מוֹעֲדִים) – Definition and Origin

The Hebrew term “Moedim” is often translated as "appointed times," "holy feasts," or "sacred assemblies." It derives from the Hebrew root “ya’ad” (יַעַד), which means "to appoint," "to designate," or "to assemble." In this sense, the Moedim are divinely established times set apart for meeting with YHWH, the Creator.

Definition and Biblical Foundation

The term appears for the first time in Genesis 1:14, where YHWH creates the lights in the heavens:

"And Elohim said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for appointed times (Moedim), and for days and years.’"  - Genesis 1:14

This reveals that the Moedim are deeply connected to the cosmic order established by YHWH. The sun, moon, and stars are given as markers to identify these sacred times, integrating them into the rhythm of creation itself.

The most comprehensive description of the Moedim is found in Leviticus 23, where YHWH commands Moses:

"Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: ‘These are the appointed times of YHWH, holy convocations which you are to proclaim at their appointed times.’"  - Leviticus 23:2

Here, the word “appointed times” translates the Hebrew Moedim, emphasizing that these are not man-made traditions but sacred times that YHWH Himself established for His people.

Origin and Purpose

The Moedim are not arbitrary dates or mere symbolic events; they serve specific purposes:

1. Sacred Appointments with YHWH: The Moedim were and will become again opportunities for drawing near to YHWH through worship, prayer, offerings, and reflection on His sovereignty.

2. Commemoration of YHWH’s Acts: Each appointed time is tied to a historical event that demonstrates YHWH’s power and faithfulness (e.g., the Exodus during Passover).

3. Prophetic Foreshadowing: The Moedim serve as shadows of future events, pointing to Yashua (Messiah) and YHWH’s eternal plan of redemption.

4. Spiritual Renewal: They act as cyclical reminders to realign one's life with YHWH’s will and instructions (Torah).

5. A Witness to the Nations: The Moedim proclaim YHWH’s sovereignty to all nations, offering a glimpse of His redemptive work for humanity.

   
   

The Structure

Leviticus 23 divides the Moedim into three categories:

1. The Weekly Sabbath (Shabbat): A day of complete rest and communion with YHWH (Leviticus 23:3).

2. The Spring Festivals:

   • Passover (Pessach): Deliverance from Egypt (Leviticus 23:5).

   • Unleavened Bread (Matzot): Removal of sin (Leviticus 23:6-8).

   • Firstfruits (Bikkurim): Offering of the first harvest (Leviticus 23:9-14).

   • Feast of Weeks/Pentacost (Shavuot): Giving of the Torah and wheat harvest (Leviticus 23:15-22).

3. The Fall Festivals:

   • Trumpets (Yom Teruah): Spiritual awakening (Leviticus 23:23-25).

   • Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): Fasting and repentance (Leviticus 23:26-32).

   • Tabernacles (Sukkot): Celebrating YHWH’s provision and dwelling (Leviticus 23:33-44).

2. The Spring Festivals

The Spring Festivals in the Moedim cycle reflect the foundational acts of YHWH’s redemptive plan and point directly to the first coming of Yashua. They include Passover (Pessach), Unleavened Bread (Matzot), Firstfruits (Bikkurim), and Weeks (Shavuot). Each festival commemorates a historical event while prophetically foreshadowing YHWH’s work through the Messiah.

Passover (Pessach)

1. Origin and Meaning in the Exodus Passover commemorates the night when YHWH delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. The blood of a lamb, applied to the doorposts of each household, caused the Angel of Death to pass over and spare the firstborn of Israel:

"The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt."  - Exodus 12:13

This event marked the beginning of Israel’s liberation and their journey to becoming YHWH’s covenant people.

2. Events During Passover Key events include the selection of the lamb (Exodus 12:3-5), the slaying of the lamb at twilight (Exodus 12:6), and the eating of the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8). Passover was also the night of the final plague, the death of the firstborn, which compelled Pharaoh to release Israel from bondage (Exodus 12:29-31).

3. Prophetic Connection to Yashua Passover prophetically points to Yashua as the ultimate Passover Lamb:

"Behold, the Lamb of YHWH who takes away the sin of the world!"  - John 1:29

• Yashua was sacrificed during Passover, fulfilling the requirement of a spotless lamb (1 Peter 1:19).

• His blood covers and saves believers from spiritual death, just as the lamb’s blood saved Israel.

Unleavened Bread (Matzot)

1. The Meaning of “Chamez” (Leaven) and Its Removal The Feast of Unleavened Bread begins the day after Passover and lasts for seven days. During this time, all leaven (chamez) is removed from homes, symbolizing the removal of sin and corruption:

"Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven from your houses."  - Exodus 12:15

Leaven, in Scripture, often represents sin and pride (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). This act of removal signifies purification and living a holy life before YHWH.

2. Prophetic Meaning: Yashua as the Sinless Bread of Life Yashua’s burial corresponds with the Feast of Unleavened Bread:

• He was placed in the tomb during the first day of this feast (Luke 23:53-54).

• His sinless life is symbolized by the unleavened bread, which is pure and without corruption.

• The absence of leaven (sin) in His body meant that death could not hold Him, preparing the way for His resurrection (Psalm 16:10).

Firstfruits (Bikkurim)

1. Connection to the Resurrection of Yashua The Feast of Firstfruits marks the offering of the first harvest to YHWH as an acknowledgment of His provision:

"When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest."  - Leviticus 23:10

This feast prophetically points to Yashua’s resurrection as the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep":

"But now Messiah has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."  - 1 Corinthians 15:20

Yashua’s resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of all who belong to Him.

2. Historical Practice and Significance

In ancient Israel, a sheaf of barley (the first crop of the year) was brought to the priest and waved before YHWH. This act consecrated the entire harvest and demonstrated faith in YHWH’s provision.

Pentacost (Shavuot)

1. The Giving of the Torah at Sinai

Shavuot occurs 50 days after Firstfruits and commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai:

"On the third day YHWH will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people."  - Exodus 19:11

At Sinai, YHWH revealed His instructions (Torah) to guide His people in righteous living, making Shavuot a covenantal moment.

2. The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

Shavuot also prophetically points to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which occurred on the same day in Acts 2:

"When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place... And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit."  - Acts 2:1-4

This event signifies the renewal of YHWH’s covenant, as His Spirit empowers believers to live according to His Torah (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

3. The Fall Festivals

The Fall Festivals in the Moedim cycle reveal YHWH’s plan for the end times and the ultimate restoration of His people. They are deeply prophetic and anticipate key events surrounding the second coming of Yashua and the establishment of YHWH’s eternal Kingdom.

Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets)

1. The Meaning of the Shofar and the Call to Repentance

Yom Teruah, meaning "Day of Blowing," is marked by the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn):

"Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’"  - Leviticus 23:24

The shofar blast serves as a wake-up call to repentance and self-examination, signaling the start of the Ten Days of Awe leading to Yom Kippur. It is a call to return to YHWH and prepare for His judgment.

2. Prophetic Connection: The Return of Yashua

Yom Teruah prophetically foreshadows the return of Yashua, when a great trumpet will sound to gather His people:

"For Adonai Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of YHWH. And the dead in Messiah will rise first." - 1 Thessalonians 4:16

This festival points to the resurrection of the righteous and the beginning of Yashua’s reign.

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

1. The Sacrifice and the Cleansing of the Sanctuary

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the biblical calendar, a day of fasting and repentance. On this day, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies to make atonement for Israel’s sins:

"For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before YHWH from all your sins."  - Leviticus 16:30

The high priest would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat, symbolizing the purification of the sanctuary and the people's sins being transferred to the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:20-22).

2. Prophetic Connection: Final Judgment and Israel’s Reconciliation

Yom Kippur prophetically points to the final Day of Judgment, when all people will stand before YHWH:

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done."  - Revelation 20:12

It also anticipates Israel’s reconciliation with YHWH, as prophesied:

"And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.’"  - Romans 11:26

Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)

1. The Meaning of Dwelling in Booths (Sukkot)

Sukkot is a joyous seven-day festival where Israel dwells in temporary booths (sukkot) to remember their journey through the wilderness and YHWH’s provision:

"You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt."  - Leviticus 23:42-43

The booths symbolize dependence on YHWH and the temporary nature of this life, while the celebration reflects gratitude for the final harvest.

2. Prophetic Connection: YHWH’s Kingdom and His Dwelling with His People

Sukkot foreshadows the Messianic Kingdom, when YHWH will dwell with His people:

"Behold, the dwelling place of YHWH is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and YHWH Himself will be with them as their Elohim." - Revelation 21:3

The festival also looks forward to the time when all nations will celebrate Sukkot in Jerusalem under Yashua’s reign:

"Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, YHWH of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths."  - Zechariah 14:16

Summary and Conclusion

The Moedim are not merely festivals but divinely appointed times that are integral to YHWH’s eternal plan. They connect past events, such as the deliverance from Egypt, with the future establishment of YHWH’s Kingdom. Each Moed is a call to reflection, worship, and communion with YHWH, serving as a rhythmic reminder to align with His will. They demonstrate YHWH’s sovereignty over time and His precise fulfillment of His redemptive purposes.

The Moedim reveal a deep connection between the Torah and Yashua, the living Word. Each appointed time prophetically points to Yashua:

• The Spring Festivals were fulfilled in His first coming, such as Yashua being the Passover Lamb (John 1:29) and the Firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20).

• The Fall Festivals foreshadow His return as King, bringing judgment (Yom Kippur) and dwelling among His people (Sukkot, Revelation 21:3).

It is important to acknowledge that we do not know with certainty which calendar aligns perfectly with YHWH’s timing. Over history, the Church introduced changes (see how the church changed the gospel), such as the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, which altered the reckoning of time and led to the detachment of sacred observances from their biblical foundations.

The Scriptures also warn us that in the end times, the heavenly bodies will go off course, affecting how times are reckoned:

"And many chiefs of the stars shall transgress the order prescribed; and these shall alter their orbits and tasks, and not appear at the seasons prescribed to them." - 1 Enoch 80:7

These appointed times are a testimony to YHWH’s plan to save and restore His people through Yashua. They invite believers to honor YHWH’s instructions, participate in His eternal purpose, and remain watchful for the fulfillment of His promises, trusting in His perfect timing despite human limitations in tracking it.

All Praise to the Most High!

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