An Introduction to the Set Apart Times of YHWH

Have you ever wondered what the set apart times are in the Bible? In addition to the weekly Sabbath, there are seven times of the year that YHWH tells us to set apart. These times are special, and not only because we are told to celebrate them. Each holiday has significance historically, prophetically, and in the life of the Messiah. Paul wrote in Colossians that these times are a shadow of things to come. That means we have a lot to learn from these holidays.

The set apart times are:

Passover
Matzah Week / The Feast of Unleavened Bread
First Fruits

Shavuot / Pentecost / The Feast of Weeks

Yom Teruah / Feast of Trumpets

Yom Kippur / Day of Atonement

Sukkot / Feast of Tabernacles

While specific dates are given in Scripture, the Biblical calendar doesn't mesh perfectly with the Gregorian so the dates move a bit each year. 

Needing clarification is the truth that these are not "Jewish holidays." No, no, no. These are part of Scripture, so if you are a Bible believer these are yours, regardless of nationality or bloodline or family traditions. While these have largely only been kept by Jewish people, YHWH never, ever says that only part of his people should celebrate them. Deuteronomy 16:14 expressly tells us that foreigners who join the community of YHWH's people should celebrate these days too, so no matter your background the Creator invites you to these times. He made them for his honor, but also for our enjoyment and erudition. Two of the greatest gifts ever bestowed on humanity - YHWH's instructions for living and the Holy Spirit - were given at Shavuot. The Messiah was born during the Fall Feasts and of course crucified on Passover and resurrected during Matzah Week. Perhaps the most joyous time in history will be on Yom Teruah at the returning of Yahusha. These times are stunning in their significance.

A brief overview of the set apart times:

Passover: In the Biblical year Passover is the very first feast. We see the Israelites keep Passover just before the Egyptian exodus. They were instructed to brush the doors of their homes with blood from a lamb, we are reminded that the Messiah was the perfect sacrificial lamb. That's not just an allegory either, Yahusha was killed on Passover. 

The Feast of Unleavened Bread: This is a week long celebration that starts the day after Passover. Leavened/yeast bread and other products are forbidden this week. As yeast is a very small ingredient that rabidly transforms all the dough, we are reminded that the small things in our life make a huge impact. It was during this week when the Messiah rose from the dead.

First Fruits: This day happens during Matzah Week, but there is a lot of debate as to when. This is when the first of the barely harvest was to be presented before YHWH. First Fruits is the day the Messiah resurrected from the dead and presented himself to the Father. It is also when we are to start counting fifty days.

Shavuot: Fifty days after First Fruits we are to celebrate Shavuot. This is a day of great significance as the instructions on how to live were given at Mount Sinai and then shortly after Yahusha's ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit was given on the day of Shavuot.

Yom Teruah: The first of the fall feasts, Yom Teruah means something like Day of Sounding. All those verses that talk about a trumpet sounding when the Messiah returns? It will happen on that day.

Yom Kippur: Under the Levitical priesthood this was a very significant day because it's the day that the priests made atonement for all of Israel's sin with the two goats. Today we can celebrate that the Messiah has atoned for our sins. Prophetically, it is thought that this will be the day that the earth is judged and the people who have been atoned for by Messiah will be separated from those who have not.

Sukkot: This is a beautiful look ahead to when YHWH will dwell or camp with us. With that in mind, it's no surprise that it is believed the Messiah was born during this time. This eight day celebration usually looks like a camping trip, with the commandment being to dwell in tents. Others build a temporary structure on their property and spend time there throughout Sukkot.

Why should we be keeping the feasts?

-We are told to keep these set apart times forever (Exodus 12:14). And you know what? This isn't a bad thing. These are times of joy. Thinking otherwise illustrates a lack of trust in our Creator, that we could think so negatively about him to believe he is hosting parties just so we can be miserable during them. This is not the case at all. Each set apart time is a gift from him; a time for celebration, rest, joy, thanksgiving, time with family and friends, delicious foods, and fun memories. I refuse to treat that like a burden.

-We see the Messiah celebrating these times in Scripture. He even hosts a Passover meal (also known as the last supper). And he is supposed to be our example, right? So one of the answers to those WWJD bracelets is, "celebrate the feasts!"

-Paul exhorts us to keep the feasts (1 Corinthians 5:8). Even after the Messiah was ascended into heaven we are told to keep these festivals.

-Scripture tells us not to let anyone judge us for doing this (Colossians 2:16). In his all knowing, YHWH knew we would be facing some peer pressure to not keep the feasts. I think that's why in Colossians he reminded us to not let other's opinions make our decisions for us. It's not man's choice. It's YHWH's instruction.

Are there benefits to celebrating YHWH's set apart times?

To quote Paul, "Much in every way." Most people keeping the cultural holidays do so because they feel like they are beneficial. The benefit could be that it's something fun to look forward to, or that it's an excuse to spend time with family and friends or to take a break from work, or that it's a way to celebrate love or show people you care. And these are for times that are man made or have very dark origins. How much more then can the Biblical holidays bring goodness into our lives? Here are a few of the opportunities you will have in keeping celebrating the Biblical holidays.

-Deeper relationship with the Messiah. Everything about the festivals points to him. We are going to get a a better understanding of who he is when we start celebrating the feasts. It gives us a closer look at his life (we know what he was doing at these times of year), and we can prophetically see what his return will be like.

-Taking ownership for faith in a concrete way. Believing and trusting can feel a little abstract at times. It is nice to do something tangible to grow in faith and relationship with YHWH. These are regular times to slow down and refocus on faith.

-Understanding Scripture in much more depth! The festivals are a significant part of both Old and New Testament Scripture. We are going to miss a lot of details if we aren't at least somewhat familiar with what these are. And we know that all of Scripture is useful for teaching, correcting mistakes, and training in character.

-Sharing experiences that those in the Bible had. Keeping Passover is something Moses did. And Miriam and Joshua. And the Messiah and the disciples. King Josiah and Apostle Paul too. How cool is it that we can relate to them in this way? These set apart times bring members of our faith together over thousands of years, and can make Scripture come alive to us.

-Building relationships with other believers. A Passover meal or Sukkot celebration is a great time to journey to be with others in the faith. Sharing these special times together can foster lasting friendships and meaningful relationships.

This is just a brief introduction to the feasts. There is so much more richness to each one! For more on individual feasts, go here.

Significance of the Shofar During Yom Teruah

Why is the shofar sounded during the Biblical holiday of the Feast of Trumpets? What do those sounds mean?

From Hebrew Yom Teruah translates as Day of the Sounding or Day of the Awakening Blasts. The sound in question coming from shofars (Leviticus 23:23). This is why Yom Teruah is also called the Feast of Trumpets.

What is a shofar? It's a musical instrument that is made out of ram's horn. They come in many sizes and, when played by someone who knows what they're doing, they make a lovely sound. While they aren't heard or seen much outside of Hebrew circles, occasionally they are used in movie soundtracks, including Lord of the Rings.

When we hear a sound that denotes something in particular we associate those things. Just hearing the music of an ice cream truck can make us hungry. Police sirens can cause our pulse to quicken as we remember the bill for our last speeding ticket. Hearing the tornado siren test brings to mind memories of bad storms a few years ago. We associate sounds.

Today, sadly, the significance of the sound of the shofar is lost on most of us. It's something we really don't have much to associate with. However, I don't believe YHWH desires for it to stay this way! Let's examine the Bible to see where the sounds of the shofars were heard.

Shofar Uses in Scripture:

1. The shofar is used when YHWH appears. -Zechariah 9:14

2. The Torah was given to Israel with the sound of the shofar. -Exodus 19:19

3. The shofar was blown to announce the beginning of the Biblical holidays. -Numbers 10:10

4. Shofars are used during new moon celebrations. -Psalm 81:4

5. The shofar was a blown at the start of the Jubilee year. -Leviticus 25:9

6. The blowing of the shofar was a signal for the call to repentance. -Isaiah 58:1

7. When the exiles are regathered into the Promised Land the shofar will be blown. -Isaiah 27:13

8. The blowing of the shofar ushers in the day of YHWH. -Joel 2:1

9. Shofars were used for the coronation of kings. -1 Kings 1:34

10. The sound Israel made after marching around Jericho was blasting shofars. -Joshua 6:20

11. Shofars were blown to signal to Israelites during war. -Judges 3:27

12. The watchmen who stood upon Jerusalem's walls blew the shofar. -Ezekiel 33:3-6

13. The shofar is a reminder of YHWH providing a ram for Abraham to use as a burnt offering. -Genesis 22:13

14. During the rebuilding of Jerusalem wall, shofars were used to call for help.  -Nehemiah 4:14

15. John was taken up to Heaven in the book of Revelation by the sound of the shofar. -Revelation 4:1

16. At the resurrection of the dead the shofar will sound. -1 Thessalonians 4:16

17. Seven shofars will be sounded when YHWH judges the earth during the tribulation. -Revelation 8

18. Shofars are used to praise YHWH. -Psalm 150:3

19. Shofars are used in joyful celebration before YHWH. -Psalm 98:6

20. The shofar is a reminder that YHWH is sovereign. -Psalm 47:5

21. An angel sounds a shofar to proclaim that the kingdom of the world know belongs to YHWH and the Messiah. -Revelation 11:15

There is a lot of significance with this instrument! This list isn't exhaustive (shofars are mentioned over 80 times in Scripture) but I think we should have an idea that this instrument has so much meaning to the Living God. 

What can we associate with the Feast of Trumpets from this list? The presence of YHWH, repentance, worshiping YHWH, the Torah, the Mssiah being crowned as king, the promise of YHWH to regather his scattered people, reminders that He will judge the earth, and that the world belong to Him!

More on Yom Teruah:

The Beginner's Guide to the Feast of Trumpets
The Meaning of Yom Teruah

Kosher For Passover Explained

Exodus 12:15 gives additional dietary instructions for Passover and the Feast of Matzah.
"For seven days you are to eat matzah—on the first day remove the leaven from your houses. For whoever eats hametz [leavened bread] from the first to the seventh day is to be cut off from Israel."

This is where the term 'Kosher for Passover' comes from. While it is fine to eat hametz the rest of the year, it is forbidden during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Hametz or chametz is often translated as "leaven" but that is misleading. Yeast should not be eaten during Passover but that's not explicitly what hametz refers to. Hametz refers to grains that have come into contact with water. It is related to chometz, meaning vinegar, and chamutz meaning sour. Meaning fermented grain products should not be consumed during the Feast of Matzah.

What are these grains? Scripture doesn't specify, though wheat is the best guess. I would encourage you to study and pray about the grains to avoid. Traditional Judaism avoids:

Wheat
Barley
Spelt
Oats
Rye

Please note that since it is the Feast of Unleavened Bread, unleavened bread is still perfectly okay to consume! Traditional matzah is made from wheat. You can purchase it Kosher for Passover or make your own.

An interesting hametz product that doesn't immediately jump to mind is vinegar. Vinegar is distilled from wheat that has obviously fermented and become hametz. This makes it's way into lots of condiments that should be avoided during Matzah Week. Unless a vinegar is specified as a wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar, consider it hametz.

So what all should be avoided during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Bread, croissants, biscuits, etc.
Flour tortillas
Pasta and noodles
Breakfast cereals such as Cheerios, Shredded Wheat, Raisin Bran, etc.
Baked goods with flour such as cookies, muffins, cake, etc.
Beer
Condiments with vinegar such as ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, salad dressings, salsa, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables.
Barley - soup or risotto
Oats and oatmeal
Spelt products
Rye
Also watch out for oatmeal in soaps and bath products.

If this is your first year keeping Kosher for Passover, this can sound a little overwhelming, but hang in there! There are still plenty of things you can eat.

What can we eat during the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Matzah/unleavened bread
Any vegetables
Any fruits
Lentils
Beans - black, pinto, Cannelini, kidney, chickpeas, etc.
Potatoes
Winter squash - butternut, acorn, spaghetti, etc.
Any Biblically clean meat or fish
Dairy - yogurt, cheese, milk, butter, sour cream, etc.
Eggs
Corn tortillas
Nuts
Salad dressings made with balsamic or apple cider vinegar
Gluten free soy sauce, called tamari
Ice cream
Desserts like cheesecake, creme brulee, flourless chocolate cake, and macarons

Meal ideas:
Beef or chicken fajitas with corn tortillas, black beans, guacamole, and onions and bell peppers
Stir fried broccoli, carrots, cabbage, peppers, etc. over fried rice with tamari
Baked salmon with roasted butternut squash and spinach salad with balsamic vinaigrette
Scrambled eggs with mushrooms and goat cheese served with matzah
Baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese
Spaghetti squash with marinara sauce
Coconut curried vegetables over lentils
Matzah spread with cream cheese, topped with smoked salmon, arugula, and cucumber slices
Lettuce salad topped with chicken, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, carrots, tomatoes, etc. and salad dressing from apple cider vinegar
Lots of soups: black bean, vegetable, lentil, potato cheese, etc. served with matzah
Fruit smoothies
Apples with peanut butter
Hummus with veggies and matzah
Yogurt with fruit or jam
Trail mix with mixed nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips

Here's more than 40 recipes that are Kosher for Passover.

Exodus 12:15-20 explains that the Festival of Matzah is an ongoing instruction that should be celebrated by every generation of YHWH's people. Matzah doesn't have to be the only thing we eat, but it does say that we should eat it so have some each day and make it a central part of the Feast!

Have a wonderful Feast of Unleavened Bread!