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Friday, 14 May 2021
The Omer and Shavuot

Acts 2 contains the story of that first Shavuot after Yeshua's crucifixion. The crucifixion took place on the afternoon before Passover began. Passover/Unleavened Bread was followed immediately that year by a Saturday Shabbat. On the third day ... Matthew 28:5-6 "But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know you are looking for Yeshua who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.'"

Then Yeshua appeared to many, including the 11 Apostles. At first Thomas was missing. But then ... John 20:26 "Eight days later the disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Yeshua comes, despite the locked doors. He stood in their midst and said, 'Shalom aleichem!'"

Yeshua greeted His disciples with these words, "Peace be unto you." He taught them for 40 days ... Acts 1:3 "To them He showed Himself to be alive after His suffering through many convincing proofs, appearing to them for forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God." Then Yeshua gives the disciples one last instruction ... Acts 1:4-5 "Now while staying with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father promised - which, He said, 'You heard from Me. For John immersed with water, but you will be immersed in the Ruach ha-Kodesh not many days from now.'"

That was 40 days (before His ascension), leaving another 10 days before the 50th day came. The 50th day is the Feast of Weeks called Shavuot in Hebrew. Acts 2:1-3 "When the day of Shavuot had come, they were all together in one place. Suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues like fire spreading out appeared to them and settled on each one of them."

Of course something else happened just before the 120 from the upper room ministered to the 3,000 who got saved on Shavuot morning. Acts 2:4 "They were all filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh and began to speak in other tongues as the Ruach enabled them to speak out."

The important thing is that we have been taking 7 weeks to recount our blessings. We are offering each blessing to the Lord as a thank offering. The instruction in Hebrew is S'firat HaOmer. S'firat means to count (as in to take a census). The same Shoresh (root word) is used variously along the same lines. A Sipur is a story. A Safer is a book. A Sofer is a scribe (or secretary). So, you can see that counting is not just one number after another, but taking inventory and detailing the "story" of our blessings in writing.

Psalm 9 starts with the words O'deh Yehovah which actually means "I will thank God." Psalm 9:1-2 "For the music director, to the tune of The Death of the Son, a psalm of David. I will praise (thank) Adonai with my whole heart. I will tell about all Your wonders." (This is all verse 1 in the Christian Bible.) Notice this is a song of David upon the death of his son. And the first word out of his mouth (a man after God's own heart) is "I will thank God." This is also a good word for us today. Shalom aleichem.

Posted By Rabbi Michael Weiner, 10:18am Comment Comments: 0