WIPING SLATE CLEAN WIPINGTHE THE SLATE CLEAN
2011 FALL FEASTS 2012 FALL FEASTS
A DEVOTIONAL FROM
HOWTO TOUSE USE HOW
THIS DEVOTIONAL THIS DEVOTIONALBOOK BOOK This devotional willwill take you This devotional book take youthrough through the last three of the annual feasts. A brief the three main holidays during theexplanation of each [Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur]ofwith A brief explanation each Appointed Times. supporting Scripture will precede the sections, (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot) and followed by simple family devotionals to supporting Scripture will precede the sections, engage in together. followed by devotionals easy for you and your family to engage in together. Through this book, you will see how God brings from a dirty, muck-filled Throughus this book, you will be see howplace God and brings usus from a dirty, new muck-filled place and through gives clean, beginnings gives us clean new beginning through forgiveness. Please join Cornerstone in our forgiveness. Please join Cornerstone in our celebration of wiping the slate clean celebration of wiping the slate clean through God’s redeeming plan. through God’s redeeming plan.
FALL FEASTS FALL FEASTS WHAT WHATARE ARETHEY? THEY?
From the God’s planplan was to From thevery verybeginning, beginning, God’s was to Moses was instructed in redeem the world. redeem the world. Moses was instructed in Leviticus to observe a series of rituals outlining Leviticus to observe a series on rituals outlining God’s redemptive plan. These werewere also known as God’s redemptive plan. These also known as the Lord’s Appointed Times, The Days Fall Feasts, The Fall Feasts or High Holy . or High Holy Days.
During this time, we celebrate our history, faith, During this time, the Jewish people celebrate their and thefaith, blessings God. The Fall Feasts reach the history, and theof blessings of God. pinnacle of God’s redemptive plan. These Appointed Times are the most important time of the year in Jewish culture, and represent an
essential part of God’s redemptive plan.
There are 7 annual feasts together, and God’s intention for each feastall was fulfilled or will God’s planinfor each was or will be fulfilled be fulfilled a dramatic way through Jesus’ in a dramatic way through Jesus’ life, life, death, and resurrection.
death, and ressurection.
Jesus the Passover Lamb was crucified on For instance, Jesus Passover Lamb was Jesus the the Bread of Life was buried on Passover; crucified Passover;Bread; Jesus and theJesus, Breadthe of first Life was the feast ofon Unleavened buried on thethe feasts Unleavened to rise among dead,ofrose from theBread; grave and Jesus, the first to rise among the dead, rose from on the feast of First Fruits.
the grave on the feast of First Fruits.
“THESE ARE THE LORD’S APPOINTED “THESE ARE THE LORD’S APPOINTED FESTIVALS, THE SACRED ASSEMBLIES FESTIVALS, THE SACRED ASSEMBLIES YOU ARE TO PROCLAIM AT THEIR YOU ARE TO PROCLAIM AT THEIR APPOINTED TIMES.” LEVITICUS 23:4 APPOINTED TIMES.” LEVITICUS 23:4 With Messiah’s Messiah’sreturn, return,Jesus Jesuswill willfulfill fulfill the the With remaining fall Trumpets will announce his Trumpets will announce remaining fallfeasts. feasts. return on Rosh he will judge the living his return onHashanah; Rosh Hashanah; he will judge and the dead on Yom Kippur; and he provide the living and the dead on Yom Kippur; and on Sukkot. an eternal home an for eternal his people he will provide home for his
people on Sukkot. The Appointed Times symbolize our ability to
receive forgiveness for wrongs and toour startability fresh, to Fall Feasts particularly symbolize wiping forgiveness the slate clean once and fortoall. receive for wrongs and start fresh,
wiping the slate clean once and for all.
ROSH HASHANAH ROSH HASHANAH THE THEFEAST FEASTOF OFTRUMPETS TRUMPETS
WHEN: September 29 –16 Sunset September 30 WHEN:Sunset Sunset September - Sunset September 17 WHAT Hashana, also known as theas the WHATITITIS:IS:Rosh Rosh Hashanah, also know Jewish is the firstfirst fall feast. Traditionally, JewishNew NewYear, Year, is the fall feast. Traditionally, the sounding thethe shofar (ram’s horn)horn) callscalls people people the soundingofof shofar (ram’s from the and focuses their attention from themundane mundane and focuses their attention preparation for the ofof God on the thesovereignty sovereignty Godin in preparation for the future dayofofjudgment judgment (Yom Kippur). future day (Yom Kippur). Jesus, in keeping with this tradition, described a Jesus, in keeping with this tradition, described a coming judgment that will be announced by the coming judgment that will be announced by the blowing of the shofar (Matthew 24:31).
blowing of the shofar (Matthew 24:31).
Rosh is celebrated RoshHashanah Hashanah is celebrated as New spiritual New Year. as the thespiritual is a time of serious Year. It is a Ittime of serious personal
personal introspection introspection and an opportunity and an opportunity toin “clean to “clean the slate” order to begin theinnext afresh. the slate” orderyear to begin the next year afresh.
The ten days between Rosh Hashanah Yom Rosh Kippur The ten daysand between Yamim Noraim: are calledand Hashanah Yom Kippur thecalled DaysYamim of Awe. are Noraim: the Days of Awe.
YAMIM NORAIM YAMIM NORAIM DAYS OF AWE DAYS AWE
There are three aspects of personal introspection There are personal introspection during thethree ten aspects Days ofofAwe: during the ten Days of Awe:
- Teshuva (Repentance) » Teshuva (Repentance)
- Tefillah (Prayer)
» Tefillah (Prayer) - Tzedekah (Justice) » Tzedekah (Justice) We put together ten days of Bible verses WeYamim put together tenwith dayseach of Bible verses for Noraim focusing on for Yamim Noraim with each day focusing on these three areas - repentance, prayer, and these three areas— repentance, andand your justice. These devotionals willprayer, help you devotionals help you and your justice. family getThese the most out ofwill this special time. family get the most out of this special time.
Teshuva is the Hebrew word for repentance, but it literally meansword “to return. ” When we Teshuva is the Hebrew for repentance, we affirm our desire to return repent, but it literally means “to return.” When we
to a right relationship with God and repent, we affirm our desire to return with others. to a right relationship with God and
During the next ten days, we encourage you During the the next Holy ten days, we encourage to allow Spirit to speakyou to you. Holyyou Spirit speakthis to time to allow Our hopethe is that willtospend is that you will spend you. Our hope reconciling your relationship withthis God time with reconciling with God notrelationship only in personal and othersyour and with others not only personal introspection but theinaction as well. introspection but with action as well. It is typical during this time to confess areas in It is typical during this time to confess areas in your life that are falling short of God’s best, to your life that are falling short of God’s best, to seek reconciliation and forgiveness in seek reconciliation and broken relationships, andforgiveness to do acts ofincharity broken relationships, and to to dohelp acts of charity to those who are unable themselves. to those who are unable to help themselves.
DAY ONE DAY ONE
SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER29 16 Corinthians7:10 7:10 22 Corinthians Daniel 9:4-9 Daniel 9:4-9 Proverbs 31:8-9 Proverbs 31:8-9
DAY TWO DAY TWO
SEPTEMBER30 17 SEPTEMBER Romans 2:3-4 Romans 2:3-4 Daniel 9:17-19 Daniel 9:17-19 Micah 6:6-8 Micah 6:6-8
DAY THREE DAY THREE OCTOBER 1 18 SEPTEMBER
Psalm34:18 34:18 Psalm Kings8:22-29 8:22-29 I1Kings Isaiah1:17 1:17 Isaiah
DAY FOUR DAY FOUR OCTOBER 2 19 SEPTEMBER
Psalm Psalm32:5 32:5 I1Kings Kings8:30 8:30 Luke10:30-37 10:30-37 Luke
DAY FIVE DAY FIVE OCTOBER 3 20 SEPTEMBER
Matthew Matthew5:23-26 5:23-26 I1Kings Kings8:34-36 8:34-36 Psalm82:3 82:3 Psalm
DAY SIX DAY SIX
OCTOBER 4 21 SEPTEMBER
Romans Romans12:18 12:18 Kings8:37-39 8:37-39 I1Kings Jeremiah9:23-24 9:23-24 Jeremiah
DAY SEVEN DAY SEVEN OCTOBER 5 22 SEPTEMBER
Romans Romans14:19 14:19 I1Kings Kings8:52-61 8:52-61 Zechariah Zechariah7:9 7:9
DAY EIGHT DAY EIGHT OCTOBER 6 23 SEPTEMBER
IIII Chronicles Chronicles7:14 7:14 Psalm 130:1-5 130:1-5 Psalm Isaiah61:1 61:1 Isaiah
YOM KIPPUR YOM KIPPUR DAY OFATONEMENT ATONEMENT DAY OF
WHEN: Sunset October 7 – Sunset WHEN: Sunset September 25 -October Sunset8September 26 WHAT ITITIS:IS:During Yom Kippur, people usuallyusually fast for fast for WHAT During Yom Kippur, people
25 hours of ofrepentance and confession of of repentance and confession 25 hoursasaspart part times when the Temple still still sin before sin beforeGod. God.InInancient ancient times, when the Temple existed, thehigh high priest entered the Most Holy and Place and existed, the priest entered the Most Holy Place sprinkled blood from sacrificed animals on the sprinkled blood from sacrificed animals on the mercy seatofofGod. God. mercy seat The then placed his hands on the head of head of Thehigh highpriest priest would placed his hands on the goat (scapegoat), symbolically transferring the sins aa goat (scapegoat), symbolically transferring the sins of the people onto the goat. The goat was then taken of the people onto the goat. The goat was then taken out into to die, symbolizing God’sGod’s symbolizing out intothe thewilderness wilderness to die,
forgiveness ofofthe people’s sins. forgiveness the people’s sins.
TheNew NewTestament Testament describes The describes how how theDay DayofofAtonement Atonement applies the applies to to blood thedeath deathofofJesus. Jesus. the TheThe blood
thatJesus Jesusshed shed a cross, that onon a cross, insteadofofthe the blood instead blood of of thethe sacrificedanimals, animals, now makes sacrificed now makes atonementfor for our sinsonce - once atonement our sins– andfor forall all(Hebrews (Hebrews 9:11-14). 9:11-14). and Throughfaith faith what Jesus did for Through in in what Jesus did for uson onthe thecross cross, past, present us ourour past, present and and future sins are forgiven. future sins are forgiven.
Inaddition additiontoto a time of fasting In a time of fasting and and repentance,people people attend repentance, alsoalso attend specialYom YomKippur Kippur services during special services during Cornerstone thisfeast. feast.Cornerstone this willwill holdhold
YomKippur Kippurservice serviceininour our aa Yom mainauditorium auditorium Tuesday, main onon Friday, October September 25 at 6:30pm. sure 7, at 7pm. Be sure to read that Be day’s to read that day’s devotional devotional before the service! before the service.
DAY NINE DAY NINE SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 7 24
I1John John1:9 1:9 Psalm51:1-2 51:1-2 Psalm Isaiah58:6-7 58:6-7 Isaiah
DAY TEN DAY TEN OCTOBER 8 25 SEPTEMBER
Acts Acts3:19 3:19 Psalm51:7-12 51:7-12 Psalm Amos5:22-24 5:22-24 Amos
SUKKOT SUKKOT
FEAST OF FEAST OFBOOTHS BOOTHS WHEN: October 19 30 - Sunset of October 7 WHEN:October Sunset13 of –September WHAT commanded the Israelites to build WHATITITIS:IS:God God commanded the Israelites to build temporary booths as a reminder of the 40 years temporary booths as a reminder of the 40 years they wandered they wanderedininthe thewilderness wilderness before beforeentering entering the Promised Land. the Promised Land. They ate their meals, prayed and slept in these They ate their meals, prayed and slept in these booths for seven days as a reminder of God’s booths for seven days as a reminder of God’s faithfulness as a protector and provider. The Sukkah faithfulness as a protector and provider. The Sukkah symbolizes our future eternal home with God
symbolizes our future eternal home with God in the new heavens and new earth (John 14:2-3). in the new heavens and new earth (John 14:2-3).
In the context of Sukkot, Jesus In the context of Sukkot, Jesus dramatically presented his message. dramatically presented his message. and greatest day of On the “last On “last and greatest day of thethe Feast,” in the midst of the water ceremony prayers for God in theand midst of the water the Feast,” to send water, Jesus for proclaimed: ceremony and prayers God to send water, Jesus proclaimed:
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to in rivers me,and as Scripture has said, me drink. Whoever believes in
of living water from me, as Scripture haswill said,flow rivers (John 7:37-38) within of livingthem.” water will flow from
7:37-38) within them.” (JohnSukkah The Cornerstone
willCornerstone be set up onSukkah our deck The will during the 7 days of Sukkot: be set up on our deck during September 30 - October 7. the 7 days of Sukkot: October 13-19. Youmay mayreserve reserveaablock blockof oftime time to You eat a meal under the Sukkah with to eat a meal under the Sukkah with your friends and family. your friends and family.
CONCLUSION CONCLUSION
THE 2011 2012FALL FALLFEASTS FEASTS OF THE
Let’s Celebrate! celebrate! We’ve seen God’s perfect Let’s We’ve seen God’s perfect throughout the Testament feasts plan throughout plan theOld Old Testament feasts and how how Jesus (and willwill fulfill!) eacheach and Jesusfulfilled fulfilled (and fulfill!) of them. them. We’ve how GodGod essentially of We’vewatched watched how essentially washes the reveal a a washes thedirt dirtaway awaytoto reveal clean, forgiven clean, forgivenslate. slate.
Fall aroundus, us,and and hope Fall is is all around wewe hope thatthat this book helped your family this devotional devotional book helped your family experience theyear’s year’s end never experience the end likelike never before. Pleasejoin joinusus again next again next yearyear for afor a before. Please heart-felt passagethrough through history, Scripture heart-felt passage history, Scripture, and and cleansing. cleansing.
Shalom! Shalom!