Understanding Our Faith The Lord s Feast

Transcription

1 Understanding Our Faith The Lord s Feast

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Feasts of the Lord Children s Curriculum Table of Contents Introduction One Lesson Shabbat One Lesson Rosh Hashanah Two Lessons Yom Kippur Three Lessons Sukkot Three Lessons Pesach (Passover) Three Lessons plus Seder Shavuot Three Lessons 2

3 INTRODUCTION FEASTS OF THE LORD FOR CHILDREN INTRODUCTION THE GREAT COMMANDMENT Memory Verse: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Lesson Objectives: To learn God s commandment, given to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai, which was to teach their God-given heritage from generation to generation so they would never forget who their God is, and what He expects from them in response for His blessings. To learn about the Jewish people and why they are a special people. To learn the difference between the Lord s Feasts and what we know as a holiday. Introduction We are going to begin a very special lesson series Hebrew Roots for Children. Part of this lesson series will be a study of the Feasts the Lord commanded His people to observe. In Exodus 23:14-16, God said this to the Israelites: Three times a year you are to celebrate a festival to me. Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you. Do this at the appointed time in the month of Aviv, for in that month you came out of Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field. God, in His Word, has also included Gentiles in these commandments concerning the Feasts. (Read Isaiah 56:6-7.) What do you think a feast is? What kinds of things come to your mind when you hear the word feast? (Allow responses). Yes, most of us think of having a big dinner with all kinds of special foods. We might also think of receiving gifts; having friends and relatives visit; parties; not having to work or go to school; attending special programs at school or church or in our community. But a feast is a periodic observance commemorating an event or honoring a deity, person or thing. What do you think the word deity means? (Allow responses.) Deity refers to a god. In the case of the Holy Scriptures, God is understood to be the 3

4 INTRODUCTION Creator of the World and everything in it, and the author of our Bible. God was commanding His people to hold special observances, acknowledging His Lordship over mankind and honoring Him for who He is and what He had done for them. He reminds them about His bringing them out of slavery in Egypt, as well as how He had blessed them with abundant crops so they could be well fed. There is a difference between what God called a feast and our holidays. Let s look at some of those differences. A Biblical Feast of the Lord: 1. Lasted one or more days 2. Included a festive meal, or it could be a fast with no food or drink of any sort 3. Often included visits with friends and relatives 4. Sometimes included the giving of gifts 5. Often work was not allowed 6. Sometimes included parties 7. Always included praise, worship and prayer to God and remembrance of His works 8. Included attendance at special services 9. Almost always included repentance for sins committed and sacrifices Do you see similarities between a feast and our holidays? What is the same? (Allow responses.) Yes, many of the things we include in our holidays are also a part of the feasts God established for His people. What differences do you see? (Allow responses.) Many feasts required repentance and sacrifices. As we go through this lesson series, we will see a Holy God wanting more than anything to show His unconditional love for His people and wanting them to enjoy what He has given them; BUT expecting their acknowledgement and worship of Him as their Creator and Lord. He also expects repentance for sins committed by not following His commandments. A Special People These lessons are special because they are about a special people, dear to God the Jews. How do we know that God loves the Jewish people in a special way? (Allow responses.) God in His Word calls them: His peculiar treasure (Exodus 19:5) His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6) His inheritance and portion (Deuteronomy 32:9) The apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:10), 4

5 INTRODUCTION His kingdom of priests and holy nation (Exodus 19:6). They are a people worth finding out about, right? (Teacher, you may wish to have the children, either in groups or single, draw a picture of what one of these Scriptures says to them) They are a people to whom God gave many blessings, as well as many defeats and problems because of disobedience to His commandments. We will learn what a blessing the Jewish people have been and are to the world, in that later, in God s time they gave us our Savior Jesus and our Holy Bible. We ll also learn about the Jewish people; their different attire, their belief that a Messiah is still to come, as well as the different customs and items common to their worship of God. We will study, in depth, the Feasts of the Lord, which God commanded be observed forever. These include: 1. The great Harvest Festival of Shavuot (pronounced shah-voo-ote); 2. The Return and Repentance of Rosh Hashanah (pronounced ROESH hah-shah-nah); 3. Yom Kippur, (pronounced YOME key-poor) the Day of Atonement; 4. Sukkot (pronounced suh-cote), the great Feast of Tabernacles; 5. The Feast of Pesach (pronounced PAY-sakh), Passover, when the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt. We will learn how Passover relates to our communion service, and about Shabbat, (pronounced shah-baht), their weekly worship. This will be an interesting and fun study with plays, stories, guest speakers, music, games and refreshments but these lessons carry some very serious messages from God to His people and to us. Judeo-Christian Culture Do you know what the word culture means? (Allow responses.) The culture of any nation is the result of what the people learn and know; it s what they find of value; it s how they have been disciplined and trained; it s how they behave and present themselves to the world and each other; and it s what their spiritual beliefs are. Have you ever heard the expression Judeo-Christian? (Allow responses.) Do you know what it means? (Allow responses.) A Judeo-Christian culture is a belief system that has its roots in both Judaism and Christianity! Judaism is the religious belief in one God and His favor by obedience to His commandments. Judaism also carries 5

6 INTRODUCTION the responsibility that God placed on the Jews to teach that God is the Father of all mankind and the Creator of the world. Of course, there are different religions that believe in a different God than we do. It s also true there are many different denominations in the Christian church with different ways of expressing their beliefs through doctrine and religious services, but Christian churches basically believe in one God and in Jesus, His Son, as our Savior. Jesus is the Messiah. That means that He is the Anointed One, the promised King and Priest that Jews have been waiting for. Since Jesus is a Jew and actually is the Jew s Messiah, why do they not accept Him or believe in Him? (Allow responses.) Their spiritual eyes have been blinded. In Romans 11:25, Paul tells us Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. Who are the Gentiles? (Allow responses.) Anyone who is not a Jew. Do you understand what this Scripture means? (Allow responses.) This Scripture tells us that blindness of the Jews (not recognizing their Messiah) will be in place until God decides the salvation of Gentiles is complete. Why would God have blinded the eyes of His chosen people? (Allow responses.) God, in His mercy, through this action, has made a way for us who believe in Jesus to become eligible for all of His promises to the Jews. That makes us very special people to God too! But it places the same responsibility for obedience to God on us as well! What does The Law have to do with us as Christians? (Allow responses.) The Law is the first five books of our Bible, which is known to the Jews as the Torah. The Law given on Mt. Sinai included the Ten Commandments. In church, we have received in-depth teachings from our pastors on the same Ten Commandments. They are just as important today as they were when God gave them to Moses and they apply to us as Christians. Who can tell me what the Ten Commandments are? (Allow responses, and then list them with the children from Exodus 20.) God Had Conditions for His Favor God set out His conditions for being the God of the Jews (and our God) in The Law, given to Moses on Mt. Sinai. This Law established that there is only ONE GOD. As we know, the people in Biblical days and many people today worship many gods. These are idols, but not the true God, the Creator. Isaiah 42:8 says this, I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols. 6

7 INTRODUCTION What is an idol? (Allow responses.) An idol is a created thing; it has no power to create anything, give life or forgive sinners. It has no ability to restore or regenerate. Only the one true God has, and He will not allow worship to any other gods. In Spite of Sin, Jews Have Remained a Godly People Even though the Jewish people have been blinded to the fact that Jesus is the Messiah they have so longed for and waited for, they have remained a Godly people. Over the centuries, they have sinned over and over against God. God sent Israel into exile because they worshipped idols instead of the one true God. What does knowing this say to you about disobedience? (Allow responses.) There is a price to pay; BUT God made a covenant with Israel. A covenant is a promise that will never be broken. He has not given up on His people and they have not given up on their God. They remain rooted in their belief in one God and His commandments to them, always returning to Him for forgiveness and deliverance when threatened. What can we do when we sin against God? (Allow responses.) We must repent before God, stop committing the sin, and ask for His forgiveness. Three Categories of Modern Jews Over the centuries too, three categories of Jews have emerged. The Orthodox Jews believe that God is a spirit and is a personal God. How does that compare with what we believe? (Allow responses.) They believe that the Torah is absolute truth, divinely given by God Himself. How does that compare with what we believe about our Bible? (Allow responses.) We believe that our Bible is absolute truth, given directly by God to its authors through His Holy Spirit. Conservative Jews believe the Scripture in the Torah is the work of both God and man and that God is impersonal. The Reform Jews believe that the Torah was written by man to preserve the nation s history, culture, legends and hope, and they have a different interpretation of God. Some of the Rabbis and Jewish religious leaders have added their own interpretations of the Torah Law as well. Since they not only are very influential in the spiritual lives of the Jews, but are very active in the political and governmental area, they have added their own versions of God s commandments, resulting in some of the distinct differences, which set the Jewish people apart from other people. The stringent and restrictive views of their Rabbis and leaders about Scripture often have led to real hardships for 7

8 INTRODUCTION the Jews to obey. Let s look at some of the visible differences between the Jews and other people. Visible Differences Between Jewish People and Others The Jewish people do not desire to look different for self-gratification or selfimportance. God wanted His people to be different from the pagan world around them. He wanted them to be separate from that pagan world in a very visible way as a testimony to Him. He wants us to do the same not to think, act or do as the world that does not belong to Him. We are His witnesses in the world today. What have you seen Jews wear that is different from what you wear and immediately causes you to know that person is Jewish? (Allow responses.) 1. The Head Covering. Yes, the small round skullcap they wear on their heads. This item in Hebrew is called a kippah which means a dome. We know it as a yarmulke, which comes from the Aramaic and means awe of the King. The kippah is a form of memory aid to remind the Jews of their God and His holiness; that He is the Higher Authority above them. Many wear it all the time. However, wearing a kippah is not a commandment, nor is there a specified style. Jews who attend a religious school, called a yeshiva, wear a black velvet kippah. Modern Orthodox Jews may wear a knitted, colored kippah. A group or sect of Judaism wears a fur hat on Shabbat and holidays. In Judaism, putting on a head covering is a sign of respect. God gave special instructions for other items of wearing apparel to serve as memory aids to His people. Do we sometimes need memory aids? (Allow responses.) Yes, we do have memory aids, many of which came to us again from the Jewish people. King David in his many psalms called out ways we could remember our God and what He has done for us. Psalm 150:1-2 says, Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. This psalm tells us to use trumpets, harps, dance, stringed instruments, organs, and cymbals. Psalm 47:1 tells us to clap our hands while verse 6 tells us to use our voices in singing praises to God. Reading God s Word gives us many memory aids. Memorizing verses of Scripture is a memory aid. By doing these things, God will put His laws into our hearts and in our minds He will write them. (Hebrews 10:16) 2. Payos. Leviticus 19:27 gives very special instructions about how a Jewish man is to wear his hair and his beard. Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off 8

9 INTRODUCTION the edges of your beard. The sides of the head refer to the area above the ears. Obedience to this Scripture results in the long hair we sometimes see Jewish men wear in curls and the long untrimmed beards. These curls are known as payos or side locks. Curling these long strips of hair is quite a process for the men since Rabbis do not recommend they use curlers! Boys as young as three years old start wearing payos. Before that, the child s hair is not cut at all. On his third birthday, a special ceremony is held at which the hair is cut short, except for the side locks. A happy celebration follows for his family and friends, acknowledging that he is now no longer a baby! Hebrews 10:1-10 explains how the sacrifice Jesus made for us has freed us from some of these restrictive interpretations of Scripture. Since the Jews do not accept Jesus as their Savior, they continue in such beliefs. 3. The Prayer Shawl. One of these memory aids is the prayer shawl, which we will be covering in depth as we study the Feasts of the Lord. Have you ever seen a Jewish man wearing a garment under his clothing, the fringes of which hang below his coat? (Allow responses.) This garment is a smaller version of the prayer shawl, which is worn by Jewish men and boys most of the time. 4. Shuckling. While talking about prayer, have you ever seen pictures of Jewish men rocking back and forth as they pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem? (Allow responses.) This practice of rocking back and forth is called shuckling and is thought to increase the intensity of the prayer by involving the whole body and emotions in the process of praying. 5. The Tefillin. Another very unusual memory aid is called tefillin, the purpose of which is to remind the Jews again of God s commandments and His presence. Deuteronomy 6:8 commands the Jews to bind the words to their hands and between their eyes. (Read this Scripture.) The tefillin have been developed over centuries to adhere to this commandment. We will study this important memory aid in a later lesson. God gave further instructions for memory aids in Jewish homes and synagogues: 6. The Mezuzah. Another symbol or memory aid used by the Jews that differentiates them from other people is the mezuzah. Who knows what a mezuzah is? (Allow responses.) A mezuzah is a small case one will find 9

10 INTRODUCTION mounted in an angled position on the right side doorposts of Jewish homes. Its purpose is to remind all who live in that house of God s continual presence and the commandment that the Lord God is one Lord and demands total worship of heart, soul and mind. The use of a mezuzah derives from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, a Scripture passage known as the Sh ma. This Scripture, along with Deuteronomy 11:13-21, are written on a small scroll that is enclosed in the mezuzah. Every time a Jew passes through a door bearing a mezuzah, he touches the mezuzah and then kisses the fingers that touched it. This expresses his love and respect for God. 7. The Menorah. This seven-branch candelabra is the symbol of the nation of Israel. It also emphasizes the Jews mission to bring light (a savior) to the Gentiles. (Read Isaiah 42:6.) In John 9:5, Jesus said, I am the light of the world. In Exodus 25:31-33, 37, God instructed Moses to build a golden lamp stand as part of His sanctuary so He could dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8) The golden lamp stand was made from a piece of pure gold that weighed approximately 66 pounds, which had been refined several times. The middle shaft was called Ner Elohim, meaning lamp of God. This shaft has also been called the Shamash, meaning servant lamp. Many Jewish people believe it represents their Messiah. Ancient Rabbis stated that the Shamash burned for a day longer than the other candles on the same amount of oil, and called this the miracle of the Menorah. God commanded that the major decoration on the menorah be an almond called luz in Hebrew. Other interesting but significant facts about the menorah are: a. It is the only emblem in Jewish or Christian worship designed by God; b. It is the only sacred symbol that has not been tainted by use for pagan purposes; c. It is God s lamp belonging to all of God s people, both Christians and Jews. 8. The Star of David. The Star of David is universally recognized as the symbol of Jewry today. The flag of Israel carries this symbol. It became popular when it was adopted as the emblem of the Zionist movement that eventually brought about the modern country of Israel. 9. The Language of the Jews. Their language is mostly Hebrew. However, many European and American Jews speak a version called Yiddish. This version is a combination of Hebrew, German, and some Russian and Polish. 10

11 INTRODUCTION Now that we know who these special people are, we will have a better understanding of the Feasts of the Lord and their observance of them. Teach the Generations After God gave the Law, including the Ten Commandments, to His people at Mt. Sinai, He added another requirement to be observed forever. (Read Deuteronomy 6:1-7.) Today, Grandfather Levi is going to tell us what he has been taught since he was a child about his ancestors and the Feasts of the Lord. He will also share some of the joy he has experienced as he and his family observe these feasts. Grandfather Levi Skit (Skit listed at the end of this lesson.) Conclusion As we go through each of these holidays in subsequent lessons, we will learn how God planned for His people to be a special people in all of the world loved and provided for by a mighty God and eventually to become the people from whom Jesus, the Savior of all people, would be born. (Read Deuteronomy 7:6. Lead children in a prayer for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.) Additional Materials Walking in God s Word Relay Race Supplies needed: Four 9 x 12 sheets white construction paper with footprint patterns copied on them, or other place markers, such as rocks. Lay out two identical relay courses with tape. They do not have to be in a straight line. Divide students into two teams and line each team up at the Start point of one of the relay courses. Give the first player of each team two identical sheets of construction paper with imprinted footprints. Both players move along their relay course as follows: Each places one sheet in front of him while holding the other in his hand. He hops as quickly as possible onto the footsteps in front of him. He lays the sheet in his hand in front of him, and hops onto those footsteps. He reaches back to pick up the first set of footsteps and lays that down in front of him, and hops onto it. He repeats this process over the entire course, returning to the Start point. He gives the footprints to the next player on his team, who repeats the process on the relay course. The first team to complete their course wins the race. 11

12 INTRODUCTION Grandfather Levi Skit (Props: Park-like table and two benches, Checkers Game) The scene opens with (Grandpa Levi) sitting at a park table, setting up a game of Checkers and singing when his grandson (Joshua) and his friend (Ian) come running onto the scene. Joshua: Hi, Opa, sorry we re a little late. We just came from our shofar lessons. I could hear you singing your favorite Hebrew song as we were running up here. Levi: Joshua, do you remember what that song says, and where it comes from in the Bible? Ian: I know! I know! Joshua: God is good and His mercy endures forever! And it comes from Psalm 133. (Looking to the audience) Say, does one of you children out there have a Bible where you could read maybe the first four verses of Psalm 133? (Give them time to look up the verse and have them read verses 1-4.) That was very good. See Opa, I was listening when you were teaching me last week. Are we going to talk about more Jewish traditions today, or are we just going to play Checkers? Levi: Both. Did you know we have to set up these Checkers in a certain order for a reason? Ian: Of course, if you didn t put them in the right order, you couldn t play the game. Levi: That s right, Ian. Checkers and Jewish tradition have a lot in common. There is an order and a place to start. Did you know that my Grandfather taught me how to play Checkers, and he also taught me about Jewish tradition, - just like me, I am teaching you to play Checkers and about Jewish tradition. I hope someday you will teach your grandchildren all these things too. Now, where was I? Oh yes, order. Do you have those Checkers set up yet? Joshua: Yes Opa, they are ready and yes, I know you get to go first because you are the oldest. And that is because it s the tradition that was passed down to you. Levi: You are a quick learner. (Makes his first move in the game of checkers.) Where do I begin; well let s see, I will start with the next Jewish festival that us Jews will celebrate. As a matter of fact it is the Jewish New Year, which is called Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets. (Looking at his watch for the date.) And, wouldn t you know it, Rosh Hashanah is in just four days, on September 16 th. Oh what a wonderful celebration this will be, and I look forward to you, Joshua, blowing 12

13 INTRODUCTION your shofar in this celebration. Ian: I have been practicing a lot; would you like to hear me? Levi: That would be great! (Ian plays his shofar as if for the celebration.) That was wonderful; it brings me great joy to already think of the New Year, and a year in which Jesus may return for us. I remember when I was a young man your age, my Father and my Grandfather would have tears of joy when they would hear the sounds of the horns blowing. Oh, look at me, I must have gotten a little of that tradition in me as well. (Wiping his eyes.) Joshua: (Making a move on the Checker board.) I have been practicing Opa (holding up his shofar,) and when I play, I hope it s good enough to make you cry and not so bad that it makes you cry. Levi: Well, either way, I will probably cry. (They all laugh.) Joshua: It s your turn, Opa. Levi: I almost forgot. Hmm, well as I was saying earlier, there is order to everything we do, and we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the first day of the Jewish New Year; and on the 10 th day of the Jewish New Year, we celebrate a Day of Atonement, or what we call Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year. Ian: What do you mean by the holiest day of the Jewish year? Levi: While on most of the other holidays we have, we celebrate with special foods and gatherings, on Yom Kippur we fast. (Looking at the children in the audience.) Who can tell me about fasting? Did everyone hear what he/she said? We go without eating on this day; and when we are hungry, we pray to the God Most-High, and have a time of confession and ask God to forgive us. We remember that Christ Jesus went to the cross for us, and we repent from our selfish ways, and recommit ourselves to God. But you know, you don t have to wait for a special day to ask God to forgive you and recommit your life to him. We Jews, we want to always ensure we hold to the tradition of setting aside a time as our ancestors did, and seek to have God in our lives. Joshua: Opa, how old were you when you first committed your life to our Messiah, Jesus? (Move one of your Checkers.) 13

14 INTRODUCTION Levi: Well, I was older than you, but I hope you have already committed your life to Him. That is one tradition I hope our family gets very good at - teaching our children and grandchildren the love of Jesus. And based on that last move you made, I believe I have taught you a good deal about playing Checkers. Ian: Joshua is good at Checkers. I know; he has won several times when we re playing. (The game starts to get real busy with quick plays.) Levi: All of this thinking is making me hungry. Which reminds me of what happens five days after Yom Kippur, and it is called the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkoth. Many people think we Jews are silly to continue in the tradition of Sukkoth, because we build ourselves a temporary place to stay in and eat our meals for seven days. (Looking to the audience.) How long is seven days? Why yes it is a week. Joshua: Opa, didn t you tell me you really liked the Sukkoth when you were a kid in Israel? Levi: Oh yes, I have very fond memories of those times, sleeping outside and looking at the heavens above. And still today, some of us build them in our backyards, and it is a place we can go and reflect on where we Jews lived when we were delivered from Egypt. Oh, what a joyful celebration it is. We also know that Jesus is our tabernacle; that if we dwell in Him, He will dwell in us, and eventually we will dwell and dine with Him in heaven. Ian: Mr. Levi, my family builds a Sukkoth in our yard; my father tells me stories that his father told him, and he always reminds us of where we Jews came from, and being delivered from Egypt, just like you said. Joshua: Opa, I can t wait to tell my children these stories and traditions, and teach them how to play Checkers. Now king me! Levi: You little rascal, you won! Now you boys get along; all this talk and Checkers has worn me out. (Boys put the Checker game back in the box and run off blowing their shofars.) I am going home to take a nap. (Pick up the Checkers game and walk off.) 14

15 SHABBAT SHABBAT SABBATH OF REST Memory Verse: Speak to the Israelites and say to them: These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord. Leviticus 23:1-3 Lesson Objectives: To learn that the regular observance of weekly worship is a commandment of God and is part of His covenant with all of His people, and To understand the peace and holiness of this feast. Introduction As God was creating the world, Genesis 1 notes that at the end of each act of creation, God said And there was evening, and there was morning the first day and so on through His six days of creation. Through these Scriptures, the Bible infers that a day begins in the evening as the sunsets. Because of this, the Jewish people believe that all days begin at sunset. Shabbat means many things to many people. In spite of the persecutions over the years, which have attempted to annihilate the Jewish people, the observance of the weekly Sabbath survives, as does their faith in the mighty God of Israel and His fourth commandment, which, in part, commands His people to Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. There is a saying, More than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel. Shabbat is the only feast day God included in His Ten Commandments to the Israelites. Throughout this lesson, we will learn its history; God s commandment concerning its observance; and how a typical Shabbat is observed. Is Shabbat A Feast of the Lord? Leviticus 23:1-3 has this to say, The Lord said to Moses, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a Sabbath to the Lord. God further commanded the Israelites to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for generations to come as a lasting covenant. 15

16 SHABBAT (Exodus 31:16) The Feasts of the Lord are not just Jewish feasts. They are for all of God s people to learn about God, His love and care for all of His people and to worship and celebrate His blessings. As believers in Jesus, we have inherited not only the blessings of God s covenant with the Israelites, we have inherited His commandments as well. How Shabbat Began Genesis 1:1-3 tells us, By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. This, then, became the first Sabbath ever observed, establishing a model for the observance of the seventh day of the week for rest and remembrance. Our memory verse tells us that God said His people could work for six days, but then must observe one day of rest. Shabbat reminds us that God is our Creator. Rest for the Land God further established the seventh year as a time when the Israelites were to allow their fields to lay fallow and rest. Leviticus 25:3-5 says, For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a Sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the Lord. Why do you suppose God issued this commandment? (Allow responses.) Just like people, the land itself loses strength and nutrients when it is overworked. The seventh year allowed the land to regain strength and nutrients which had been used up during the previous six years, just as the seventh day of the week allows people to be renewed and strengthened. Holy Time, A Feast of Rest Most cultures, including the Jewish culture, had holy places altars, temples, etc., but the establishment by God of Holy time was something new. Leisure time and rest was for the ruling classes only, not for the working class or slaves. The seventh day was not just another day; God established it as a holy day. What God makes holy is holy! What have we learned that the word holy means? (Allow responses.) We have learned that the word holy means to be sacred, set apart for the worship of a deity. We have also discussed what the word deity means. Who remembers? (Allow responses.) Deity means a god to Christians and Jews, the one God, Jehovah. Shabbat reminds us that Jehovah God is our Lord and our God. Other gods do not care how much, how hard or how long their followers work. Shabbat reminds 16

17 SHABBAT us that we have rest in our God. Jesus said, Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28) What meaning do you think this observance of a day of rest has for us today? In what way? (Allow responses.) Today, most businesses, governmental agencies and schools observe either a five or six-day work schedule. We are commanded to remember Shabbat, but remembering means much more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat. It also means to remember the significance of Shabbat, both as a commemoration of creation and as a commemoration of the freedom of the children of Israel from slavery in Egypt. In observing the Sabbath, God s commandment that work is not to be performed in NOT to place negative restrictions on us; it is to allow us the rest and refreshment our spirit and body needs to be replenished and restored, and to give us time to worship and be with our God and spend time with our family. The Weekend Shabbat affords a weekly time when close family ties can be strengthened, while remembering and honoring a loving God, the Father of all. At the end of the school week, how do you feel? Are you ready for a time away from schoolwork and the responsibilities you have? (Allow responses.) What do you want to do with your time when you don t have to go to school or perform chores? (Allow responses.) The Jewish people, and your parents, have similar thoughts about putting behind them the cares and work of their everyday life, and just relaxing and enjoying this gift of rest from their God. (Teacher: Discuss with the children what their family considers to be a relaxing family time of rest and relaxation, and whether or not time spent with the Lord is included. Conclude this discussion with the following:) Too often today, our close family times have been crowded out by other busy obligations and events. What part of your weekend time do you set apart for being with God? (Allow responses.) In what ways do you spend time with God? (Allow responses.) Do you think some of the activities in which we participate could be honoring other gods? (Allow responses.) Shabbat Customs 17

18 SHABBAT The Preparation: On Friday afternoons about 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. a flurry of preparation activities begins. Some begin preparations as early as Wednesday, allowing ample time for inviting guests, menu planning, shopping, cooking and table setting. Each home is thoroughly cleaned; the family bathes and dresses in their best clothes; the very best dishes and tableware are used for a lovely meal setting; and a special meal is prepared. Shabbat is often referred to as queen, and the prevailing mood is a deepening sense of peace and anticipation as if awaiting the arrival of a very special guest. In addition, everything that cannot be done during Shabbat has to be set up in advance; lights and appliances must be set (or timers placed on them, if the household does so;) the light bulb in the refrigerator must be removed or unscrewed so it does not turn on when you open it; and preparations for the remaining Shabbat meals must be made. In Israel, it is customary for husbands to buy flowers for their wives, to show their appreciation for them and bring beauty and joy into the home. All of this is done to faithfully observe God s commandment to rest and do no work on Shabbat. What do you think about the limits to which the Jewish people go in observing God s commandment to do no work? (Allow responses.) Some of these actions may seem to be over the top for Gentile believers, but the Jewish people so revere God, they willingly go to these lengths. Too, history handed down through the generations has taught them that disobedience, unbelief and lack of trust in God brings down the wrath of God. The Observance: Shabbat candles are lit and a blessing is recited no later than 18 minutes before sunset (18 is the Hebraic number for life.) This ritual, performed by the woman of the house, officially marks the beginning of Shabbat. The men, for sure, and sometimes the whole family then attend a brief evening service of about forty-five minutes in length. The evening service welcomes the Sabbath with reverence and joy, often expressed as participants break into dancing, reveling in the closeness they feel with their Jewish brothers. Before leaving for their homes, it is customary to wish everyone Shabbat Shalom, a peaceful Sabbath. Two candles are lit. The act of lighting the candles brings into the home a sense of peace and harmony, and recalls the first two words of the commandment concerning Shabbat, to remember and observe to keep it holy. Upon returning home, Jewish fathers bless each of the children, their wife and parents. This is followed by a blessing of the wine known as Kiddush, which sanctifies (makes 18

19 SHABBAT separate and holy) the Shabbat, before the family sits down to enjoy the evening meal. What have we learned through this study of the Feasts of the Lord that wine represents? (Allow responses.) When Jesus was with His disciples at the Last Supper, the Bible tells us...he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:27) Wine represents the blood of our Lord Jesus. Two covered braided loaves of challah bread are used at each Shabbat meal. Why do you suppose the mother would prepare twice as much bread as she normally would? (Allow responses.) This is done in remembrance of the double portion of manna God provided every sixth day for the Israelites as they wandered in the desert. (Exodus 16:29) A white cloth made of linen or other white fabric covers the bread. These covers are often decorated with floral patterns or Sabbath themes. When the cover is removed, the loaves are lifted up and blessed, sprinkled with salt as a reminder of the Temple sacrifices where salt was used, broken and given to all meal participants. What did Jesus say about Himself and bread when He instituted the sacrament of communion? (Allow responses.) Matthew 26:26 reads, While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body. The meal is then blessed, thanking God for His provision of food. There is no specific requirement regarding the meal contents. Meals are generally stewed or slow cooked because of the prohibition against cooking during Shabbat. After the meal, grace is recited, often accompanied by singing. A Torah discussion in which the whole family is engaged sometimes fills in before bedtime. Shabbat Day: Shabbat Saturday begins with breakfast usually consisting of cakes or pastries. Shabbat services begin around 9:00 a.m. and continue until about noon, usually followed with coffee and tea, which must be kept hot in an electric pot, which had been filled and plugged in before Shabbat. Around 2:00 p.m. another festive, previously prepared meal is enjoyed. Families study the Torah, talk, take walks, go to a local park or playground, attend afternoon classes or youth groups, or enjoy a lengthy nap. The Havdalah Service: Shabbat ends with the appearance of three stars in the sky. This 19

20 SHABBAT service takes place just after dark on Saturday evening. Havdalah is a Hebrew word which means separation. The Havdalah service is intended to separate the holiness of Shabbat from the rest of the days in a week. There are specific items, which are used in conducting this service a cup of wine, a braided candle and a box of some sweet smelling spices. Verses from the Bible are used to bless the wine, the spices and the candle. 1. The participants form a close circle. 2. Each item is passed around the circle, as a blessing is said over it. 3. The wine is poured until it overflows the cup, and then the cup is lifted up as Psalm 116:13 is read. I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. 4. A child holds the candle as it is lit. Matthew 5:14 is an appropriate verse for blessing the candle. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven. 5. The wine is blessed. Use Mark 14:23-24 for this blessing. Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for man, He said to them. 6. Then the spices are passed around the circle for everyone to enjoy the wonderful aroma as a blessing is spoken over the spices. Ezekiel 20:41 might be appropriate, I will accept you as fragrant incense when I bring you out from the nations and gather you from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will show myself holy among you in the sight of the nations. 7. The wine is passed around the circle for everyone to take a sip of it. 8. The candle is extinguished in the wine as a final blessing is spoken. Try Ephesians 1:3, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 9. The service ends with a song. 20

21 ROSH HASHANAH ROSH HASHANAH LESSON ONE PRAYER LIFELINE TO GOD Today, we are going to learn about and celebrate New Year s! Not our New Year, but the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. This holiday is one known by many names and many meanings. Some of the other titles are closer to the Biblical meaning the Day of Sounding the Trumpets; Day of Remembrance; or Day of Judgment. This is the first of the fall feasts. Rosh Hashanah would probably be September or October on our calendar. This holiday or feast day is celebrated by a Feast of Trumpets, calling attention to the coming Holy Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, ten days later. These ten days are known as The Days of Awe or the High Holy Days. Who can tell me what a shofar is? (Allow responses.) A shofar is basically a kind of trumpet. Trumpets were made of many different materials and in many different shapes. The Bible tells us that the priests also had long, silver trumpets, which only they could blow to make the Israelites aware of coming events or danger. The shofar is traditionally made from a hollowed-out ram s horn. A priest who was taught, as a child, the correct method, blew these at special seasons and festivals. When the trumpet was blown, workers in the fields would leave what they were doing, and go immediately to worship service or to receive instructions. What ways do we have of letting people know about events that are coming up, such as holidays, weather or serious problems affecting the public? (Allow responses.) Reasons for Blowing the Trumpets Following are the uses of the shofar and/or trumpets in the Bible: To call an assembly. To gather the assembly, blow the trumpets, but not with the same signal. (Numbers 10:7.) To direct God s people. (Numbers 10:2-6) To call the people to consecration. Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the LORD, weep between the temple porch and the altar. Let them say, Spare your people, O LORD. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations. Why should they say 21

22 ROSH HASHANAH among the peoples, Where is their God? (Joel 2:15-17.) What does consecration mean? (Allow responses.) To be consecrated means to be set apart, dedicated to the service or worship of God. For warfare. When you go into battle in your own land against an enemy who is oppressing you, sound a blast on the trumpets. Then you will be remembered by the LORD your God and rescued from your enemies. (Numbers 10:9.) In worship. Also at your times of rejoicing your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals 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. (Numbers 10:10.) In the presence of God. On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. (Exodus 19:16-19.) For the coronation of Kings. Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, Long live King Solomon! (1 Kings 1:39) To announce the coming of God s judgment and the soon coming of the Messiah. Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the LORD is coming. It is close at hand. (Joel 2:1) To herald the second coming of the Messiah. The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15) The Bible also tells of other special times when the shofar was blown. Following are some of the times the shofar was used: 22

23 ROSH HASHANAH When Moses received the Torah from God on Mt. Sinai. And the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. (Exodus 19:19) As an announcement of the year of Jubilee. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month (Leviticus 25:9) The shofar is blown at the beginning of every month. Also at your times of rejoicing your appointed feasts and New Moon festivals you are to sound the trumpets over your brunt offerings and fellowship offerings, and they will be a memorial for you before your God, I am the Lord your God. (Numbers 10:10) The Return Aliyah (pronounced ah-lee-yah) of the Jews to Israel The Bible tells us about God s trumpet call for His people to return home to Israel. (Read Isaiah 27:12-13.) We are seeing this every day as thousands of Jews come from all over the world to their Promised Land. The Jewish Calendar The Jewish people use a calendar that is based on the moon, consisting of twelve months of 29 or 30 days. Using this system, the year lasts for approximately 354 days, with leap years to create a calendar that somewhat matches our 365-day calendar. The dates for Jewish holidays do not change from year to year, but it seems that way to us since feast dates occur on different days on our calendar. Teshuvah Teshuvah is a 40-day period meaning return and repentance and includes the 30 days before Rosh Hashanah and the 10 days after Rosh Hashanah leading to Yom Kippur. It is a feast (or holiday) that God commanded be observed in special ways to remind His people who He is and what He requires of them. Why Should Christians Study the Biblical Holidays? Why do you think God set up so many feast days for His people to observe? (Allow responses.) God used these feasts as a way for His people to learn about His nature and character; to continue to look to and worship Him as their God and Lord of their lives; to cause them to remember what He has done for them in the past; to cause them to think about their lives (their faults, failures, and lack of commitment to God s commandments) and to repent; and to again give a picture of the coming Messiah, who would come out of the Jewish people to be a sacrifice that would atone for the sins of the world, and restore Israel to a place of world leadership. 23

24 ROSH HASHANAH The Element of Sacrifice As Christians, we need to understand God s purposes in commanding the Jewish people to honor His feasts. God was using these feasts not only for the purposes stated before in the lives of the Israelites, He was establishing principles for all of His people those who were alive at that time and those who would become believers in His Son, Jesus, later. We became eligible for all of God s promises to the Jewish people through the blood of Jesus BUT we also, as God s people, are included in the responsibilities God gave to the Jewish people to worship Him and Him alone, and be obedient to His commandments. God not only gives us the command to celebrate, but there is also the element of sacrifice. The Importance of Understanding Biblical Culture It is very important for Christians to know something about the way the ancient Israelites lived. Jesus used examples of Israelites lifestyle and customs in His teachings to His disciples and followers. He knew they would understand what He was teaching because of the way they lived everyday life. Today, we don t live where Jesus lived, nor do we live the way people lived 2000 years ago; but the comparisons Jesus used in His teachings can be better understood by us if we know how the ancient Israelites lived at the time when Jesus was on the earth. The Parables Jesus Used in His Teaching These teachings are called parables. A parable is a short story of an event in real life or in nature that shows a spiritual truth. What are some of the parables Jesus used in His teachings? (Allow responses.) Return and Repentance Each morning during the 30-day period before Rosh Hashanah, the priest blows the shofar after morning prayers, to warn the people that Rosh Hashanah is approaching. This 30-day period is a time to remember sins a person has committed against other people; to repent for them; ask for forgiveness; and make things right with God and with family, friends and other people they know that they might have hurt or offended in some manner. Time Out Do you remember times in the past when you have been disobedient to your parents, and they have given you time out to think about what you have been doing? Did they demand an apology (or repentance) as a condition before you would be back in their good graces again? (Allow responses.) How did you feel once you had made things right with your parents? Allow responses. 24