Shavuot - The Day of Charging

People from many nations gathered in Jerusalem for what was called "The Festival of First Harvest," or "The Festival of Weeks," or "Shavuot."  This is one of three festivals where God told the Jews to come to Jerusalem.  Offerings to the Lord were to be abundant, starting with an offering of new grain.  Where yeast was forbidden at Passover, it was to be used in baking for the Feast of Weeks.  "From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord." (Leviticus 23:17)
 
Those who gathered to celebrate the Feast took the first and best of their harvest to bake two yeast-filled loaves to present as an offering to the Lord.  Those two loaves, the Jews believe, represent the two tablets given to Moses on Mt. Sinai and the two loaves of bread offered in the Temple.  There is more to the picture, in my opinion.  Leaven, or yeast, represent sin so the loaves with yeast are a picture of both Jew and Gentile who are sinners in His sight.  However, this changes when we accept the Son of God as our Savior through faith in Him.  Our confession and belief open the Kingdom of God to all of us.
 
It took the Israelites 50 days to walk from Egypt to Mt. Sinai where they would receive the Word of God.  Once entering the Promised Land, they harvested their crop of wheat 50 days after Passover.  It was on the same day that the Jews would have been celebrating "The Festival of Weeks" (seven weeks and one day) that God ordained that He would pour His Spirit on those who waited for His perfect time. Indeed, as the Lord's followers waited in Jerusalem on this special day, another harvest was about to begin.  The Word given at Mt. Sinai was to nurture obedience in His people for He was looking for a harvest of souls.  The Holy Spirit poured out "on the crop" was the catalyst needed for the harvest of souls.  Peter addressed the crowd of people who waited, and Acts 2:41 tells us, "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day." 
 
The Church calls the day when the Holy Spirit was poured out "Pentecost" which means 50.  I do believe that it would be wise for us to also remember that the Jews call this day "Shavuot."  Rabbi Jonathan Cahn gives us some insight on the origin of this word.  He directs our attention to Song of Songs 8:4 where it says, "Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you..."  Charge, in Hebrew, is the word "Shaba" which is the root of Shavuot.  Consequently, Shavuot or Pentecost is to be the "day of charging."  Rabbi Cahn says, "When God gave the Spirit, He was giving us a charge of entrustment, responsibility, and to live a Spirit-filled life...The Spirit in your life is a sign of God's commitment to you, and by the Spirit you are called and anointed to live a life of your commitment to God.  The Lord has charged you, by the Spirit, to live a life of victory, praise, joy, and triumph.  You have the power.  Now go out and live a life worthy of the one who has so been charged."
 
Beginning at sunset, Shavuot or Pentecost will be celebrated.  We can honor this significant day by asking the Lord to fan the flames of the Holy Spirit within us.  We can remember and thank the Lord for His indescribable gift because without the sacrifice of Jesus there would be no Holy Spirit.  And we can activate our call to go out into the world to share the love of God because we have been charged to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.