Celebrating Biblical Feasts: In Your Home or Church

"I celebrate Martha Zimmerman’s Celebrating Biblical Feasts as a feast of its own. Loaded with insights and background, and full of wonderfully practical ideas, this book will be an important tool for all who seek to bring the Bible into 21st century life. Parents, homeschoolers, Christian educators, and pastors will all find an abundance of ideas to help develop an awareness of the rhythms of life through participation in reenactments of the biblical feasts. I loved this book in its earlier edition; I rejoice that it is being made available in this new and updated edition for another generation of parents and teachers."

—Maxine Hancock, Ph.D.

Author, Living on Less & Liking it More, Re-evaluating Your Commitments

Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Spiritual Theology

Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

Why should we Jews have all the fun? This book shows Christians how to incorporate the joy, wisdom and human interrelating of biblical celebrations into their family and communal life. I say ‘family and communal life’ rather than just ‘life’ because this book, unlike much of Western Christianity, does not emphasize primarily the individual. Martha Zimmerman has absorbed the Jewish—and biblical—emphasis on community and family, and she teaches it to all who will read her engaging book. By celebrating these festivals Christians will not be ‘Judaizing’ themselves but enriching their lives and enhancing their experience of the Lord. So join with the Lord, join with the Jewish people, and join in the fun.

—David H. Stern, Ph.D.

Translator, Jewish New Testament and the Complete Jewish Bible

Author, Jewish New Testament Commentary, Messianic Jewish Manifesto, and Restoring the Jewishness of the Gospel: A Message for Christians

Martha Zimmerman’s book has been a treasury of inspiration on a much-neglected aspect of Scripture. It has amazing appeal in cultures where people want to comprehend God with their entire being. When I use the teaching of the biblical feasts in Africa, tribal people invariably respond: ‘We had heard, but now we have seen, felt, smelled, and tasted how wonderful our God is.’

—Peter Wiegand

        Torchbearers Austria

Celebrating

Biblical Feasts

In Your Home or Church

Martha Zimmerman

Celebrating Biblical Feasts

Copyright © 1981, 2004

Martha Zimmerman

Cover design by Danielle White

Originally published as Celebrate the Feasts

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-0-7642-2897-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Zimmerman, Martha.

     [Celebrate the feasts of the Old Testament in your own home or church]

     Celebrating biblical feasts in your home or church / by Martha Zimmerman.

          p. cm.

Orginally published: Celebrate the feasts of the Old Testament in your own home or church. Minneapolis, Minn. : Bethany Fellowship, c1981.

     ISBN 0-7642-2897-8 (pbk.)

     1. Family—Religious life. 2. Worship programs. 3. Fasts and feasts in the Bible.

I. Title.

     BV4526.3.Z56      2004

     249—dc22                                                                                                                              2003023569

Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lock-man Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations identified NIV are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION.® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified THE MESSAGE are from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations identified TLB are from The Living Bible © 1971 owned by assignment by Illinois Regional Bank N.A. (as trustee). Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified MLB are taken from the Modern Language Bible, The New Berkeley Version in Modern English, © 1959, 1969 by Zondervan Publishing House.

Scripture quotations identified NEB are from The New English Bible, © The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and The Syndics of the Cambridge University Press 1961, 1970. Reprinted by permission.

This book was written to honor my parents,

MARGARET and DICK GADSKE.

It has been

taught with love and diligence to our children—

JOHN, RICHARD, and SARAH.

About the Author

Martha Zimmerman was taught to love Jewish people and their celebrations as a child. She and her husband passed along this tradition to their three now-adult children. Martha has an honorary doctorate from Carey Theological College in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is an adjunct faculty member there. Martha is a frequent speaker at churches and conferences and a guest on radio talk shows throughout North America. She and her husband make their home in Washington. She is the author of Celebrating Biblical Feasts and Celebrating the Christian Year.

Foreword

I welcome the republication of Celebrating Biblical Feasts by Martha Zimmerman.

We Christians owe a great deal to our Jewish heritage. In the early church a fierce battle was waged against the Gnostics who repudiated the Jews, their faith and worship. But the Fathers of the church were right in insisting that Hebrew faith and Christian truth were continuous.

Using the pictures of Christ in the Old Testament, early interpreters of the faith saw that all the events, offices, and feasts of Hebrew faith found their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Today the study of the feasts of Israel will lead Christians to a greater appreciation and deeper devotion to Jesus who is the fulfillment of them all.

Also, the practice of a rhythm of time that shapes and forms the spiritual life is a great contribution of Israel. Following in their footsteps Christians mark time with the fulfillment of all of Israel’s feasts in the incarnation, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Read Celebrating Biblical Feasts and see Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, redeemer of the world.

Robert Webber

Myers Professor of Ministry

Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

Lombard, Illinois

Preface

"Hey, Mom! You’re right! Habakkuk is in the Bible."

Sure that I was hearing things, I called back to our twelveyear-old son, What did you say? His response was a surprise.

Well, the other day I heard you talking about some book in the Bible called Habakkuk, and I just found it.

My response still shocks me; the words are burned into my memory! Richard, haven’t ‘they’ taught you the books of the Bible yet in Sunday school?

God prepares us in amazing ways for His new lessons. His timing is perfect. I had just finished writing a paper for one of my seminary courses on Deuteronomy 6:1–9 which says, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you today shall be on your heart, and you shall teach them diligently to your children. . . . I knew it didn’t say Sunday school teachers or fellowship leaders or the great staff at our church" (all of those people are glad to help)—but the command is to parents. You shall teach them. If God gives us something to do, He will enable us to do it!

At that moment I didn’t know where the next step would take us; but I knew from experience that when His instructions are followed, the end for which they are given will be accomplished. The results are God’s business. He was calling me to be faithful.

Many questions followed, such as: How? When? Are you sure?—Me, God? We talked about it as a family. The children’s suggestions were helpful and encouraging. It was obvious they were eager and ready to begin a new adventure.

When I started looking for materials to teach Christian Education in the Home, my search led to the best possible source! Since God said do it in the Bible, I reasoned the Bible would tell us what to do. And it did!

This book has been growing ever since. We have learned a lot, known God’s blessing, and had many fun and funny times together! We want to share our adventures, not as a model to copy but as guidelines to encourage you in creatively teaching the marvelous truths of the Old Testament with New Testament understanding.

I want to thank Homer Goddard, whose vision brought Fuller Seminary Extension to Richland, Washington; David Stoop, adjunct professor of the seminary class on Creative Teaching, who encouraged me to write this book; Judy Moy, Christian Education Director, who met with me once a week to pray and share; the William Markillie family and the Roger Johnson family, who spent three years celebrating these festivals with us, giving their support; many friends who joined us and shared in prayer; Sharynn Freiheit, who found helpful ways to care for our family; Terry Sullivan for technical support; Joanne Fankhauser, Betty Phillips, and Sally Rossello, who did all of the typing; John, John Jr., Richard, and Sarah for suggestions and constant encouragement. I want to thank the many churches who have taken up the challenge to prepare parents for their God appointed task.

Habakkuk is in the Bible. So is Leviticus. Chapter 23 is where we started. It was our outline for the family times presented on the following pages.

Martha Zimmerman

Blaine, Washington

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Sabbath

A Weekend Celebration for the Family

What is Sabbath? Activities for the family, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Why is this celebration important? Meaningful explanations through simple visual aids.

Chapter 2: Passover

In Order That You Should Remember

What is Passover? Its history in Scripture. What will you need for the Seder? Explanation of symbolism. A Passover Haggadah for Christians.

Chapter 3: The Omer

An In Between Time

What is the Omer? Count fifty days. First on stone, then on human hearts.

Chapter 4: Shavuoth

Fifty Days Counted, Now Celebrate!

What is Shavuoth? What will you need for the celebration? The Night Watch. Festival of First Fruits.

Chapter 5: Rosh Hashanah

A Day of Blowing

What is Rosh Hashanah? What is Tashlich? Why is the ram’s horn significant? Apples dipped in honey and other symbolic foods. A time of preparation.

Chapter 6: Yom Kippur

A Day of Returning

What is Yom Kippur? Biblical basis. Fasting and feasting. Blessing the children. Putting things in order.

Chapter 7: Sukkoth

A Family Fort Festival

What is Sukkoth? Simhat Torah? Directions for building a Sukkah. Children learn what they live.

A Last Word

Special Helps

Appendix: Bible Reading Plan

And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets,

He [Jesus] explained to them the things concerning

Himself in all the Scriptures.

(Luke 24:27)

Introduction

Beginning an Adventure

Puzzles are a challenge. They are also lots of fun. It always feels good to find a piece that fits. Having found one, you want to find one more. When my dad began to work a jigsaw puzzle, he located all the border pieces first. Jesus is like the frame or border around the entire Bible. His life draws all the pieces together. One of the miracles of God’s Word is that all the pieces fit! Every person, place, event, and story adds to the completed picture. The Old and New Testaments belong together! Once you understand and believe that Jesus is central to all truth (I am . . . the truth—John 14:6), even some odd shapes fit.

An essential border piece, Matthew 1:1, reminds us that Jesus was Jewish: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham. Some other border pieces are bits of evidence found throughout the Gospels: He obeyed God’s commandments, celebrated each biblical feast, and regarded all of the festivals as ordained by God to be remembered, observed, and celebrated. He said, Don’t misunderstand why I have come—it isn’t to cancel the laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. (Don’t throw away half of the puzzle pieces and expect a finished picture when you are through.) I came to fulfill them, and to make them all come true (fit together). "Those who teach God’s laws and obey them shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matt. 5:17, 19, TLB).

This book contains suggestions for celebrating the biblical festivals. I believe that they are key puzzle pieces. Paul had something to say to us about them: Some think that Christians should observe the Jewish holidays as special days to worship God, but others say it is wrong and foolish to go to all that trouble, for every day alike belongs to God. On questions of this kind everyone must decide for himself. If you have special days for worshipping the Lord, you are trying to honor him; you are doing a good thing (Rom. 14:5–6, TLB). The suggestions presented here for celebrating the feasts are not to be a legalistic set of rules to earn God’s favor but are to be used as teaching tools to help our families honor God.

Let’s go back in time. A very large puzzle piece tucked in Deuteronomy is called the Great Shema. Just as the Israelites were about to enter the