1S20-6: The Torah’s Take on Rosh Hodesh – Lessons from King Saul’s Blunders

Let me answer the quiz question I posed yesterday.

So David and Jonathan had come up with a plan to expose King Saul’s true intentions towards David during the ROSH HODESH dinner to take place in the royal court.

The idea was to gauge King Saul’s reaction when David did NOT show up.

My quiz question was the following:

Based on the Torah, what is wrong with how Rosh Hodesh is being observed here?

There are two reasons.

The first big mistake is that we have King Saul officiating over this holiday.

That’s a big no-no folks.

Why?

Because according to the Torah, ONLY the priesthood is allowed to officiate over this holiday.

We have Saul arrogantly assuming duties that were reserved for the priesthood.

And this isn’t the first time he committed this error.

Onward.

The second glaring error is we’re told they were going to celebrate ROSH HODESH for 3 days.

What?!?!?!

According to the Torah, this festival was to last only one day.

Not two or three, just one!

So to recap…

FIRST, no king or any other civil authority was to officiate over Rosh Hodesh.

SECOND, it wasn’t supposed to last more than one day.

Now, let’s transition over to the takeaway.

There’s a HUGE lesson to be learned here.

The truth is God’s original commands concerning this holiday had been so perverted with pagan elements and human tradition, that it was no longer a holy celebration…

EVEN THOUGH those observing the festival thought they were in God’s Will.

Over time, the Israelites started making things up as time went on…

And then of course, once the Gentiles took over the messianic faith and the so-called Roman Catholic Church was born, God’s holy appointed times were discarded altogether.

Do you really think that was God’s Will for this to happen?

This should be a BIG warning for all believers everywhere.

I think it’s high time the gentile church examines their holidays and see if they’re really authorized by God in the first place.

And for those, who believe they are keeping the Biblical feasts, a good question would be are you perhaps not mixing pagan elements into your observances?

Like putting drops of poison into your milk?

Remember, the Scripture defines syncretism as idolatry, plain and simple.

I’m not judging…

Hmm… let me rephrase that.

I am judging…

But I’m judging myself just as much as I’m judging others.

I may be pointing one finger at the gentile church for instance…

But while doing so, I’ve got three other fingers pointing right back at me.

Just some food for thought for you guys today.

How important do you feel God’s commands are?

CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT

“This calls for patient endurance
on the part of the people of God
who keep his commands
and remain faithful to the Messiah.”
-Revelation 14:12

P.S. A special thanks to Steven Bruck who shared some insights I didn’t share.  Check out his comment below.