January 15, 2004, submitted,

Harvest

Image Caption: Thought for the month

Thought for the month

Submitted

“On the first day you are to take the choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God...” (Leviticus chapter 23 verse 40) I did not have a ‘thought’ handed in for this month so I decided to browse the scriptures with the theme of Harvest in mind. We could be excused for thinking that Harvest Festivals were invented by the church, just another opportunity for getting people through the doors and increasing the offering on that Sunday. God told us to celebrate the harvest! Just take another look at the verse above, ‘rejoice before the Lord your God’ those are God’s own words to us. This festival is based on the Jewish ‘Feast of Tabernacles’ which is held in their month of Tishri which falls in our calendar as mid-September to mid-October. After the Jewish people had gathered in the crops from their land, they were told to celebrate this festival to the Lord for seven days. You can read all the instructions for this festival in the book of Leviticus chapter 23. As I browsed through my Bible, I came across countless references to the celebration of harvest. “ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James chapter 1 verse 17.)