Solemn Assemblies; Holy Convocations:
Beloved brothers and sisters, The living Word proclaims:
"Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations -- I cannot bear your evil assemblies." (Isa. 1:13)
"Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them" (Isa. 1:14)
"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies." (Am. 5:21)
"I will stop all her (Israel's)celebrations: her yearly festivals, her New Moons, her Sabbath days--all her appointed feasts." (Hos. 2:11)
Nothing man can do can make anything holy! Ritual observances decreed for wrong reasons, no matter how solemn the occasion in our view, or how good our reasons seem to us, are simply "detestable" to God! "... and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags." (Is. 64:6) This is why Yahshvah (sic: "Jesus") is not honored by our capitulation to ancient pagan traditions reflected in our observances of Christmas (winter solstice festivals centered around December 25th, the traditional birthdate of the many "Sun"gods (the Baals); Easter (spring solstice fertility festivals of the goddess: Astarte, Isis, Ishtar); Halloween; Valentine's day; new year's day (in the "dead time" of winter); and the celebration of a weekly "sabbath" on Sun-day. (the first day of the week)
"This is what the LORD says: 'Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. ' " (Jer. 10: 2-4)
Though this passage actually refers to carved images used in worship (idolatry), I can't help but picture the X-mas tree when I read it!
On the other hand, we find that God has, in His Word, declared certain days holy, and commands us to remember them and keep them holy. (See: Lev. Ch 23) Although His grace has freed us from bondage to any sacrificial rituals, we can and do honor Him in these rememberances (in obedience to His revealed truths). These then become wonderful blessings which deepen our personal walk (in my own experience) to "Just a closer walk" with Him!
"In any dispute, the priests are to serve as judges and decide it according to my ordinances. They are to keep my laws and my decrees for all my appointed feasts, and they are to keep my Sabbaths holy." (Eze. 44:24)
It's all about Him! May He richly bless you all! Vance A. Johnson, first "high" priest Yahshvah's Soul Church