In reading Leviticus 23:15-22 (yesterday’s Text) we never found the word “spirit” (or “Spirit”) in its whole scope. Yet in the New Testament (Acts 2) the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, is clearly present! In fact, the Day of Pentecost WAS the very Day the Holy Spirit was poured out upon (and filled) those 120 believers in that Jerusalem upper room!
“And when the DAY OF PENTECOST was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all FILLED with the HOLY GHOST …” Acts 2:1-4a
What’s the linkage here?
Well, the Old Testament Pentecost involved bringing in part of the “harvest,” the wheat harvest. With the “poor” and “strangers/foreigners” in mind! “Leave some for them, some grain” … Israel was commanded. Is this not a harbinger of what happened at the New Testament Pentecost? Souls (what a harvest, three thousand) were “brought into” the Kingdom of God! From all over the world! (“Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.” Acts 2:9-11)
That’s one “link,” for sure!
Then there’s this.
At Pentecost the “new meat (meal) offering” given to God was to consist of “two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven.” With leaven, Leviticus 23:17?
Yes, and unlike the initial Meat Offering back in Leviticus chapter 2 (see that Lesson, which is archived here for you) … no “oil” or “frankincense” were required, or at least not mentioned!
But why leaven? Clearly a type or symbol of sin?
Because the newly constituted Church (born at Pentecost we have been taught) consists of men and women saved by God’s Grace, yet not yet sinless! Loaves offered to God, now belonging to God … that are still (in practicality) tainted with leaven, with sin. (And no oil or frankincense … because we do not please God fully, not in that leavened sense!) The specific Meat Offering in Leviticus 2 is a symbol of Jesus, totally pleasing His Father! This Leviticus 23 Pentecostal “new meat offering” is a picture of you and me who are saved, God’s harvest indeed, but not yet sinless! JESUS WAS SINLESS, ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE SWEET FRAGRANCE OF INCENSE, TO HIS FATHER’S DELIGHT!
Wow!
And now for today, one more question, why two loaves?
And here I may speculate a bit. It’s this Preacher’s thought that the two loaves picture both Israel and the (Gentile) Church being saved! Both entities being part of the “harvest!”
Jesus is, after all, the “Saviour of the world,” John 4:42.
Folks, we are now living, in fact, in the long interval between Pentecost and Trumpets (tomorrow’ Lesson) … with souls (those leavened loaves) being given to God (being saved) day after day, both Jews and Gentiles!
Hallelujah!
And henceforth … for a little over two thousand years now … the dear Holy Spirit of God has been “at work” in our midst. Indwelling, filling every Believer in Jesus. Convicting sinners of their iniquity and wooing them to Jesus, to the Cross, to the shed Blood! And empowering God’s people for service! And much more …!
Thank God for Pentecost!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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