The following is from Don Haris of Think Red Ink Ministries...Good Stuff Don!
So, how many omers have ya' counted so far?
For me it's ZERO! I have counted 49 days up to this point. You see, I have been counting days - not omers. Why? Because Leviticus 23:16 says clearly, "Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days..." The Torah itself does not give us a reason for counting the omer.
Over the years, the Rabbis have provided us with several poor explanations for this "Biblical" commandment. Although I cannot see how, some Rabbis say the Omer count links Passover and Shavuot (Day of Pentecost). According to them, the nation of Israel was given its freedom on Passover, and "we were given the purpose of our freedom on Shavuot."
The Kabbalah, (pure Jewish mysticism), teaches, "We count the omer because each day of the counting is an ascension from one of the forty-nine levels of the impurity we lived as slaves in Egypt. Only after these 49 days of ascension were the Israelites worthy of receiving the Torah."
You can easily see why I take no part in this omer counting. It comes from pure "Torah worship;" however, I do believe that the commands of YHVH have some significance.
So, what is the significance? I wish I knew it in all its fullness, but I don't. So, I will approach it in a simple, direct, and (more than likely) different way.
Could it be that the LORD YHVH's intention was spoken by the Messiah, (Luke 24:45-49) "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, ... behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."
I am intrigued by the statement, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures..." Here we witness a supernatural impartation of understanding.
It also presupposes that they DID NOT understand the Scriptures pertaining to what had just occurred. Hadn't these boys ever been to Sunday School? Hadn't they learned the teaching of the Rabbis pertaining to Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Firstfruits Offering, and counting down to Pentecost? Hadn't they kept these days and festivals all of their lives? What was it that they did not understand? (And if they did not understand, isn't likely that we do not either?)
THIS IS THAT!
On the road to Emmaus the Apostles were despondent and approaching bitterness. Jesus come close to them cloaked in anonymity and asked a red-letter question, Luke 24:17-51,
"And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
Then [Jesus] said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself..".
The despondent men, now elated, returned to Jerusalem:
"And they told what things were done in the way... [Then] Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, "... These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."
Now we have arrived at the Scripture with which we started. "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye (count the days - wait - keep the weeks) in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven."
Here we have the whole package:
His life of suffering (Isaiah 53)
His fulfillment of Passover (His death)
The sign of Jonah (the three days and nights in the grave)
The firstfruits (His resurrection)
The fulfillment of Isaiah 61 (Jubilee)
The waiting (counting) of the days of Shavuot or Pentecost
The fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that later was boldly proclaimed by Peter:
Acts 2:14-21, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
How did Peter, John, Cleopas and the rest of the 120 come to such a realization? They waited!
They waited without knowledge - but not without hope!
They counted the days to Pentecost without facts - but not without expectation!
They waited in faith - the substance of things hoped for - until the promise came.
They waited and counted the days until hope became a reality!
Our firstfruits offerings hold little moment when compared to the actuality of YHVH's firstfruits gift. The "firstborn from the dead" was none other than Joshua - Yeshua - Jesus of Nazareth.
At THAT Day
John 14:16-20, "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth ... for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ... Because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you."
Have you come to THAT Day? Have you been endued with power from on high?
Wait for it! Count the days. The promise will come... if we wait!
Shalom
