Memorials in the Bible
A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.
God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at four of them.
1) PASSOVER
13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. (Exodus 12:13-15)
Definition and Origin
Passover, known as “Pesach” in Hebrew, is one of the most significant feasts in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the Israelites’ deliverance from slavery in Egypt. The term “Passover” refers to the event described in Exodus 12, where the Lord “passed over” the houses of the Israelites during the tenth plague, sparing their firstborn while striking down the firstborn of Egypt. This event marks the beginning of the Exodus, the journey of the Israelites to the Promised Land.
Biblical Account
The institution of Passover is detailed in Exodus 12. God commanded Moses and Aaron to instruct the Israelites to take a lamb without blemish, slaughter it, and apply its blood to the doorposts and lintels of their homes. The lamb was to be roasted and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. The Lord declared, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and I will strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12-13).
Observance and Rituals
Passover is observed on the 14th day of the first month, Nisan, in the Hebrew calendar.
Passover in the New Testament
Passover holds significant typological importance in the New Testament, where it is seen as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrificial death. The Apostle Paul writes, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). The Last Supper, which Jesus shared with His disciples, was a Passover meal. During this meal, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). The crucifixion of Jesus coincided with the Passover, underscoring His role as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). (https://biblehub.com/topical/p/passover.htm)
2) UNLEAVENED BREAD
Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.8 And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.9 And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt.10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year. (Exodus 13:7-10)
Definition and Origin
The term “unleavened” refers to bread or other baked goods made without leavening agents, such as yeast, which cause dough to rise. In the Bible, unleavened bread holds significant religious and symbolic meaning, particularly in the context of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Biblical Significance
Unleavened bread is first mentioned in the context of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt. As they prepared to leave in haste, there was no time to allow their bread to rise. Thus, they baked unleavened bread, which became a lasting symbol of their deliverance from bondage. In Exodus 12:39 , it is recorded: “They baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay; they had not prepared any provisions for themselves.”
Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread
The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven-day festival that begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, immediately following the Passover. During this time, the Israelites were commanded to eat unleavened bread and remove all leaven from their homes. Exodus 12:15 states: “For seven days you must eat unleavened bread. On the first day, you are to remove the leaven from your houses. Whoever eats anything leavened from the first day through the seventh must be cut off from Israel.”
This feast serves as a reminder of God’s deliverance and the purity required of His people. Leaven, often symbolizing sin and corruption, is to be purged, reflecting the call to holiness and separation from sin.
New Testament Context
In the New Testament, unleavened bread continues to hold symbolic importance. The Apostle Paul draws a parallel between leaven and sin in 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 : “Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
Here, Paul emphasizes the need for believers to live lives of sincerity and truth, free from the corrupting influence of sin, just as unleavened bread is free from leaven. (https://biblehub.com/topical/u/unleavened.htm)
3) PURIM
And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed. (Esther 9:28)
Definition and Origin
Purim is a Jewish festival commemorating the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Book of Esther. The name “Purim” is derived from the word “pur,” meaning “lot,” as Haman, the antagonist in the account, cast lots to determine the day on which he would execute his plan against the Jews (Esther 3:7).
Biblical Account
The narrative of Purim is found in the Book of Esther, which is part of the Ketuvim, or Writings, in the Hebrew Bible. The account unfolds during the reign of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I) of Persia. Haman, an Agagite and a high-ranking official in the king’s court, harbored a deep hatred for the Jewish people, particularly Mordecai, a Jew who refused to bow to him. In his wrath, Haman devised a scheme to destroy all the Jews in the Persian Empire.
Esther, a Jewish woman who had become queen, was urged by her cousin Mordecai to intercede with the king on behalf of her people. Despite the risk to her own life, Esther approached the king and revealed Haman’s plot. The king, moved by Esther’s plea and angered by Haman’s treachery, ordered Haman to be executed on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai (Esther 7:9-10).
Following Haman’s downfall, the king issued a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. On the appointed day, the Jews triumphed over those who sought their harm, and the threat was averted (Esther 9:1-2).
Observance
Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, with the 15th observed in walled cities like Jerusalem, known as Shushan Purim.
Theological Significance
From a theological perspective, Purim underscores themes of divine providence and deliverance. Although God’s name is not explicitly mentioned in the Book of Esther, His hand is seen in the orchestration of events leading to the salvation of His people. The festival serves as a testament to God’s faithfulness and His ability to protect and preserve His chosen people against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Purim also highlights the courage and faith of individuals like Esther and Mordecai, who played pivotal roles in the deliverance of their people. Their actions exemplify the importance of standing firm in faith and righteousness, even in the face of great danger. (https://biblehub.com/topical/p/purim.htm)
4) BLOWING OF THE TRUMPETS
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. (Leviticus 23:23-25)
Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the Lord your God. (Numbers 10:10)
Definition and Origin
The Feast of Trumpets, also known as Rosh Hashanah in Jewish tradition, is one of the appointed feasts of the Lord as outlined in the Old Testament. It is observed on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri, according to the Hebrew calendar. This feast marks the beginning of the civil new year in Jewish tradition and is a time of spiritual reflection and renewal.
Biblical Foundation
The Feast of Trumpets is instituted in Leviticus 23:23-25: “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the Israelites and say, “On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. You must not do any regular work, but you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD.”‘”
Numbers 29:1 further elaborates on the observance: “On the first day of the seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must not do any regular work. This is a day for you to sound the trumpets.”
Significance and Observance
The blowing of trumpets, or shofars, is a central element of this feast. The trumpet blasts serve as a call to repentance and a reminder of God’s sovereignty. The sound of the shofar is intended to awaken the spiritual consciousness of the people, prompting them to reflect on their lives and return to God.
The Feast of Trumpets is a time of introspection and preparation for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), which follows ten days later. These ten days, known as the Days of Awe, are a period of repentance and seeking forgiveness.
Symbolism and Prophetic Implications
In addition to its historical and spiritual significance, the Feast of Trumpets holds prophetic implications within Christian eschatology. Many conservative Christian theologians see the trumpet blasts as symbolic of the future return of Christ. This is supported by passages such as 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, which states, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.”
The Feast of Trumpets is thus seen as a foreshadowing of the final gathering of God’s people and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.
Cultural and Liturgical Practices
In Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is observed with various customs, including the sounding of the shofar, prayer services, and festive meals. It is a time for personal reflection, prayer, and the seeking of reconciliation with others. The liturgy often includes the recitation of Psalms and other prayers that emphasize God’s kingship and the hope for redemption.
The Feast of Trumpets, while rooted in Jewish tradition, continues to hold significance for Christians as a reminder of God’s call to repentance and the anticipation of Christ’s return. (https://biblehub.com/topical/f/feast_of_trumpets.htm)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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