Listener Comment - ..Feast of Weeks
I'm trying to understand the Feast of Weeks....it's meaning and how we are to go about celebrating it. Could you provide any help? Thanks a bunch!!

Tsiyon Answer - ..Feast of Weeks
Seven Weeks (seven shavuot) is the period starting on the day after the Passover Sabbath, on the day when the first fruits of the barley harvest were waived before YHWH. From this day forward Israel is allowed to eat of the new grain. This is the beginning of the yearly agricultural cycle of Israel. Over the next seven Sabbath cycles (seven shavuot) the rest of the barley harvest must come in and the first fruits of the wheat harvest must appear. Further, the spring rains during this period are absolutely necessary for a good harvest for the rest of the year. That makes these seven Sabbath cycles extremely important to provide food for the year. This was a time when Israel was looking to YHWH to provide the rain, the sunshine and the growth, all in the right amount, to fuel a bountiful harvest, on which the whole nation was dependent for sustenance. That made "the counting of the omer" a time of waiting and prayer upon YHWH. Think of it as a counting down toward the wheat harvest, at the end of which is the celebration of Shavuot (Weeks, Pentecost) a time of proclaiming the goodness of YHWH.

Traditionally this entire period is seen as the period when Israel was delivered from Egypt until the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, to become the Covenant nation of YHWH.

This is also the period between the death of Messiah as our Passover Lamb and the outpouring of the Ruah, the Holy Spirit, on Shavuot (aka Pentecost). For 40 days during this period the Risen Lord taught His talmidim (disciples) about the Kingdom. Before departing from them He told them; “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. For Yochanan indeed immersed in water, but you will be immersed in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Act 1:4-5

Thus, the talmidim were waiting and praying, as is appropriate to this time period. "All these with one accord continued steadfastly in prayer and supplication, along with the women, and Miriam the mother of Y'shua, and with his brothers." Acts 1:14

We know that when the count was over the Holy Spirit was poured out upon those believers as a first fruit of what is to come in the Kingdom. Truly, that was an amazing day! On that day the renewed Israel under the renewed covenant was empowered for its mission in this world. (Acts 2)

So, what are we to do during this count of seven Sabbath cycles, and on Shavuot/Passover that follows? To wait and pray until then, as did those first talmidim. And then to celebrate and proclaim YHWH and the bounty He has showered upon us through our Messiah.

You can consult our Tsiyon calendar through this period to count the passing of this time with us.
 

Blessings and Shalom to all,

Eliyahu ben David