Acts 2:1, 5 CJB
We were quite the troupe making our way single file down Main Street Disneyland. A stroller, a double stroller, two scooters, three kids 5 and under, and an eleven year old with four of the six adults herding us along. I love family vacay’s. There is always an unexpected that turns vacation into an adventure. I broke my ankle and my arm one week before the epic trip. It was my four year old grandson and my husband’s birthday bash last December and I was not going to get left behind. I rented a scooter for the week. My eleven year old grandson took my mom on a scooter joy ride and got pulled over by the Disney patrol. You just can’t make this stuff up. Don’t let real life pass you by. They write the best adventures.
I love that God appointed family vacations. Three times a year Israelite families were to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, Shavuot – Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, and Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles. These were celebrations thanking God for His provisions, His deliverance, and His protection. It was a Jewish version of carnival with festivities, worship, food, and sacrifice.
““You are to count seven weeks, counting the weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. You are to celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God with a freewill offering that you give in proportion to how the Lord your God has blessed you. Rejoice before Yahweh your God in the place where He chooses to have His name dwell — you, your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite within your gates, as well as the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow among you.”
Deuteronomy 16:9-11 HCSB
Did you ever wonder why so many were in Jerusalem the day of Pentecost? Why did God choose this day to send His Holy Spirit down to dwell in every believer, to empower Peter, James, John, Mary … and all believers in Jesus gathered that day? Why were religious Jews from all over the world in Jerusalem on this day? Was there a conference?
The festival of Shavuot had arrived and the Jewish faithful had come to the Temple to celebrate. Shavuot was celebrated 50 days after Passover. In the Greek it is Pentecost. The Hebrew people came to thank God for the springtime harvest of wheat. Traditionally the Israelite farmers would tie a ribbon around the first stalk of wheat sprouting from the ground and when Shavuot was celebrated they would bring that stalk to Temple worship and wave it before the Lord God in gratefulness for His provision.
It was like packing for family vacations. From every village all over Israel the people would gather at their city gates and walk together to The Temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem sat on a hill so this was a upward trek no matter where you came from. Multitudes traveled toward The Temple and as they traveled they sang. They sang from their version of a hymn book – the Psalms. Specifically they sang The Songs of Ascent from Psalms 120 – 134.
“A song of ascents: If I raise my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? My help comes from Adonai, the maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — your guardian is not asleep. No, the guardian of Isra’el never slumbers or sleeps. Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand Adonai provides you with shade — the sun can’t strike you during the day or even the moon at night. Adonai will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life. Adonai will guard your coming and going from now on and forever.”
Tehillim (Psa) 121:1-8 CJB
Can you say #roadtrip? My family has been known to burst into song on a long road trip. It kept the kids from asking the repetitious question – “Are we there yet?” Our songs were “THE WHEELS ON THE BUS” or ”ITSY BITSY SPIDER” and the likes. But walking the hills and valleys of Israel the pilgrims eyes and hearts and voices were set upon their PROVIDER, and when they reached the top and final step of the Temple Mount all voices crescendoed in praise and worship to they One they called ADONAI!
Beginning, middle and ending, all things focused on God. Try traveling back in time to those days. Stand on top of a hill, look and listen to the people singing in the valleys below. All eyes raised upwards past the hills toward their Maker. He created heaven and earth. He caused the wheat to break through the ground. Their Guardian, our Guardian does not sleep nor slumber. All things begin and end with Him, and He is our center. Lift our eyes to One who guards our coming in and going out!
Hallelujah Praise the Lord!
That was an epic week, one for the ages thats for sure. Keep incorporating your tribe it makes it personal. To me those are the best stories.
Impressive kellye. Loved it.