提要
到目前為止，我們已經在利未記讀到有關會幕、獻祭的潔淨之禮，以及百姓和祭司的聖潔；今天我們所讀的這章則談到「聖會」即「耶和華的節期」（23：2、37）。全章摘要的敍述了以色列人完整的宗教年曆。這些節期的設立是要提醒他們，所有美善的恩賜，例如豐收，都來自上帝，旨在彰顯祂的關顧、慈愛和美德。百姓在正確的時間按著指定的方式遵守這些節期，表現出他們對上帝的順服和忠誠。這些節期也用來提醒以色列人，特別是將來的子孫，上帝為他們所做的大事。
最重要、也是上帝最早設立的節日是每個禮拜要守的安息日（23：3）。安息日提醒他們上帝的創造之工（創2：1~3；出31：17），也作為他們與上帝立約，以及上帝救贖他們脫離奴役的一個記號（申5：15）。安息日是耶和華的「聖日」、一個「可喜樂」、「可尊敬」的日子（賽58：13）。雖然它強調的是身體的休息和更新，但最主要的目的是為更新與上帝的關係及心靈的復甦。
逾越節（23：4~5）是在以色列人宗教曆的第一個月份，尼散月（西曆三至四月間）的第十四日黃昏，由於以色列人用的是陰曆，所以過逾越節的月分每年不太一樣。他們的第一個逾越節是在埃及過的（出12：2、6~7、12）。在這個重要的節日裡，以色列人宣告上帝救贖的恩典，並再次肯定他們對上帝的信心。逾越節是要永遠提醒他們，上帝曾在埃及為他們施行了奇妙的干預，使滅命的天使「逾越」以色列人塗血的門楣。同樣的，今天的聖餐也提醒我們耶穌的介入，祂所流的贖罪之血是要塗在我們心裡的門楣上。
無酵節（尼散月第十五日）伴隨在逾越節之後。無酵節共七天（第一天和第七天都要守為安息日），以色列人在七日內只能吃無酵餅，並且所有的男人都要來朝見上帝（申16：16）。守無酵節是記念他們離開為奴之地，因為那時他們只能帶無酵餅（出12：39）在上帝藉著諸多神蹟為他們開路時，迅速離開埃及。今天的信徒「應當把舊酵（罪）除淨……成為新團，因為我們逾越節的羔羊基督已經被殺獻祭了。」（林前5：7）
待以色列人進入埃及後，他們要守初熟節。這大約是在四月間，初熟的莊稼可以收割時。以色列人不可吃這些新穀，直等到他們把收成獻給上帝，承認一切是來自祂的祝福後才可以吃。耶穌基督被稱為是「睡了之人初熟的果子」（林前15：20~23）。正如初熟之穀預示更多繼有的收成，基督復活也向我們保證即將來到的屬靈豐收以及我們自己未來的復活。
五旬節（這個字的意思是「第五十」）是從初熟節次日算起第五十天的安息節日。這是以色列人所有男丁要去朝見耶和華的第二個節日。五旬節是以色列人可以向上帝表達感恩的歡樂節慶，因上帝賜給他們收成及日用的飲食。上帝要他們不忘記窮苦人，所以再次提醒他們不要收取落穗（23：22）。
吹角節在七月初一（提斯利月，西曆十月間），守為聖安息日。這日他們會吹公羊角提醒以色列人預備過十天之後最重要、最嚴肅的贖罪日。當贖罪日時，以色列人要像在安息日一樣，停止一切的工作，並要禁食、獻贖罪祭。雖然以色列人整年裡獻了很多祭，但並不足以遮蓋罪。這個嚴肅的日子提醒以色列人，罪若沒有被對付，特別是藉著代罪羔羊除罪（細節看利未記十六章），他們與上帝之間的關係就沒有喜樂可言。
同月十五日開始慶祝為期八天的住棚節。住棚節的頭一天和最後一天要守為聖安息日，所有男丁也要第三度去朝見上帝。以色列人在住棚節時要住在樹枝搭成的棚子裡，提醒他們，在他們離開埃及後上帝的供應和保護，以及那段走曠野、住簡陋帳棚的日子。守住棚節證明他們確認耶和華是他們的上帝（23：43）。
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Overview
Thus far in the book of Leviticus, we have learned about the holiness of the sanctuary and the sacrifices as well as the holiness of the people and the priests; now we come to the chapter dealing with the “holy convocations” which are the “feasts of the Lord” (23:2, 37). The complete calendar of the Israelite religious year is briefly described here. The celebrations were designed to remind the people that all good, gifts, such as a good harvest, come from God and are manifestations of His care, love, and goodness. Observing these feasts at the proper times and in the prescribed manner showed their obedience and loyalty to God. These feasts also served to remind Israel, especially to the coming generations, of the great things God had done for them.
The most important and the oldest feast God designated was the weekly observance of the Sabbath (23:3), their day of rest. It reminded them of His creative work (Gen. 1-2:3; Ex. 31:17) and was a sign of their covenant relationship (Ex. 31:13) and His redeeming them form bondage (Deut. 5:15). It was the Lord’s “holy day”, a “pleasure”, “delight”, and “honorable” day (Isa.58:13). Although the stress is upon physical rest and refreshment, the primary purpose was spiritual refreshment in renewing fellowship with God.
The Passover (23:4-5) marked the beginning of the religious year. It began at sunset on the fourteenth day of the first month called “Nisan” (March or April). It was a lunar calendar, so the months vary from year to year. The first Passover was observed in Egypt (Ex. 12:2, 6-7, 12). In this very significant feast, the Israelites proclaimed the redeeming grace of God and reaffirmed their faith in Him. It was to always remind them of God’s miraculous intervention on their behalf in Egypt when the Lord’s death angel “passed over” the homes with the blood applied to its doorposts. Likewise, the Last Supper reminds us today of Jesus’’ intervention and sacrificial blood that was shed to be applied to the doorpost of our heart.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread (fifteenth of Nisan) accompanied the celebrations of the Passover. For a period of seven days, the first and seventh being Sabbaths, the Israelites were to eat only unleavened bread and all the men were required to be present before the Lord (Deut. 16:16). It commemorated their exodus from slavery, for they were to take only unleavened brad (Ex. 12:39) and leave immediately at the time when God opened the way because of His many miracles, the climax of which was the Passover. Believers are to “purge out the old leaven [sin]…” and be “…unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Cor. 5:7).
When the people entered the Promised Land, they were to observe the Feast of First Fruits. This occurred when the first early crop was ready for harvest, sometimes in April. No grain from the new crop was to be eaten until they acknowledged that it had come as a blessing from God. Jesus Christ is called “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor.15:20-23). Just as the first ripe grain came as a promise of more harvest to follow, so Christ’s resurrection assures us of the coming spiritual harvest and our own future resurrection.
The Feast of Pentecost, meaning “fiftieth [day]”, also called the Feast of Weeks, is a Sabbath celebration coming 50 days after the start of the First Fruits. It was the second feast for which all Israelite males were to be in attendance. It was a joyous occasion in thankfulness to the lord for harvest and for providing their daily bread. They were not to forget the needy, so they were reminded to leave the gleanings (23:22).
The feast of Trumpets was a holy Sabbath on the first day of the seventh month of Tishri (October). The people would blow the ram’s horn to awaken Israel to prepare for the important and most solemn Day of Atonement which came ten days later. This was observed by a Sabbath, a fast, and the sacrifice of animals to atone for sin. Even though there were many sacrifices through the year, this was not sufficient to cover sin. This serious day reminded the Israelites that there could be no joy in their covenant relationship without sin being dealt with, especially through the substitute (details in Lev.16).
On the fifteenth day of the same month of Tishri, the Feast of Tabernacles began and lasted for eight days. The first and eight days were holy Sabbaths and, for the third time in the year, all the men were to appear before the Lord. During this time, the Israelites lived in booths to remind them of God’s provision and protection after their departure from Egypt and their traveling in the wilderness, living in crude tents and booths. It confirmed their acknowledgement that the Lord, Yahweh, was their God (23:43).
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