First Fruits

Opening: Sowing in morning (369)

Topic – First Fruits

Scripture: lev 23:19-17

Closing: what shall the children bring (print)

a)      intro

This is the first part of a three part series Entitled the first fruits

The origin of rendering the first fruits

The principle that we should render the best and the first unto God is found all throughout scripture; however for our study today, we will be looking at the ordinance of rendering of the first fruits unto God.

Let us turn to Ex 22:29-30

EX 22:29   Thou shalt not delay [to offer] the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me. 

22:30   Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, [and] with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. 

The principle of tithing is reflected in the service of first the first fruits. Although there was not yet a commandment Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek (Heb7:9-10). Which represented offering the first fruits unto the Lord.

separate and apart from the promise to pay a tithe by Jacob gen 28:22)

b)     Do a brief overview of the Passover feast.

Every male had to appear before the Lord during the feast of unleavened bread deut 16:16

Tents were pitched and rooms were prepared everywhere as homes in the city were open to entertain this throng of men which came into the city. Case  in point, Jesus and his disciples in the upper room. Math 26:1-19

Lamb was slain at the 9^th hour on the eve of the 15^th day. Ex12:6. Which is about 3:00 pm

Ceremonial Sabbaths

Verse 11, verse 5-11High Sabbath when a ceremonial Sabbath met a Literal Sabbath. John19:31

No servile work

Definition of servile http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=36428

Originally the work done by serfs from which they were freed on Sabbaths and holy days in order to worship God. Until recently, servile work, forbidden on Sabbaths, was work that was chiefly physical. At present servile work is heavy manual labor, or such work as in a given society people commonly associate with strenuous effort and do not engage in when they have the freedom to avoid it. Implicit in the Church's prohibition of servile work on Sabbaths is fidelity to the divine commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. This means avoiding activities that would hinder renewal of soul and body, i.e., needless work or business, unnecessary shopping or housekeeping.

c)      What happened? 

As a part of the Passover, there were two distinct offering in the service known as the The Wave offering and the service of the first fruits.  They were eaten never burned on the altar as a sacrifice. Although this was what they represented.

d)     When it happened, How often.

The offering of the first fruits came on the third day of the Passover feast, once a year. The 14^th day of the month Abib/Nissan, the Passover was eaten, 15^th day was the (yearly) Sabbath and upon the 16^th day or as the bible states it, “On the morrow after the Sabbath,” the first-fruits were waved before the Lord.

e)      How did it happen

“As the children of Israel journeyed toward Jerusalem to attend the Passover, on every side could be seen fields of yellow barley, the heads with ripened grain bending in the breeze. But not a sickle could be put into the grain, or even kernels gathered to be eaten until the first-fruits had been presented before the Lord. (both the type and the literal)

The high priest would dress in his priestly garb and go into the Holy place and wave the few ripened kernels of grain before the Lord.

f)       How important was obedience to the Passover ordinance.

Very important. This was the service that commemorated the passing over of the death angel.  This was  not a service to be trifled with. To mistakenly or otherwise not have the blood over your lintel on that faithful night, meant death of your first born. That solemnity of the service was carried forward through generations. This was a very important service.

g)      What was the consequence of disobedience

The Passover feast and by extension the first fruits service were services attached to the sanctuary, as such, it is imagined that disregard for this service would be considered a defiant act of disobedience, and as a result a grievous sin. However no promise of immediate instantaneous death for the transgressor is found in the scripture.  

h)     Where did it happen

This was a sanctuary service, which all the children of Israel observed. The priest would dress up in the usual Sanctuary attire and enter the first compartment of the Sanctuary (the Holy Place) and before the curtain that separates the Holy from the Most Holy, the priest would wave the offering as a thanks giving service for the general harvest that was not yet yielded.

i)        What was the importance of the first fruit  service.

Primarily the first fruit service was a service of faith. Thanking the Lord for blessing that they had not yet received.

The principle

God is the Supreme being who should be worshiped with our best at all times. But he did not allow man to determine what is best, and bring that for Him. He has stipulations and has outlined carefully what should be rendered unto Him.

In the Garden of Eden the tree was the representation of this principle. Adam (both of them) were to understand that no matter what they did, they were never to tamper with that which belongs to God. 

Of course we know what happened and where we are today, but the principle did not change.  Notice what happened with Cane and Abel.

It was stipulated that a lamb should be brought and Cane was disobedient and Abel obedient. We know what happened there too.

Abel’s sacrifice was accepted and Cain was not. (heb11:4)

Faith in the word of God, obedience to it yields righteousness.

In Reverence and Obedience

If God stipulates that a certain thing should be done a certain way, who are we if we should think to change it?

j)       Who performed the service

 – high priest- since this was a yearly service that was in keeping with the Passover, the high priest officiated in this service.

k)     Where was Israel at the time of this service

Since it was stipulated by the Lord that all males should appear; more than likely these men and their families appeared before the Lord, as in the case of Hannah. Duet 16:16  

l)        How many first fruits ceremonies were there?

Waving of the literal fruits lev 23:10-11 and waving of a typified first fruits lev23:17

m)   Why was there more than one service?

We will look at this in more detail in the application/fulfillment of this, but please note which one came first. Was it the literal or the symbolic that came first?