the Fourth Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 1 of 5
Deuteronomy 16:1-17
Of the seven feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23, this chapter only refers to the three main ones: the Passover in far greater detail here; the feast of weeks or Pentecost; finally the feast of Tabernacles. On these three great occasions every Israelite had to go up to the place which the LORD had chosen to dwell there. Luke 2:41 . . . shows us Mary and Joseph making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover with the child Jesus. Luke 22:14 . . . tells of the last Passover prepared for the Lord. It was a genuine need in His heart. "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer" (v. 15), He told His dear disciples.
Those solemn days were yearly occurrences. However the LORD wanted each of His people every day of their lives (v. 3) to remember the escape from Egypt and that they had been slaves there. It is not once a year, nor once a week even, on a Sunday, that the redeemed of the Lord should remember the place from which he was rescued by grace. He should be thankful for it each and every day. That memory will keep him from any slackness. But, without ceasing to be solemn and serious, the Christian is called beforehand to taste the joy of heaven. "Thou shalt surely rejoice!" (v. 15). "Rejoice in the Lord always," writes the apostle (Philippians 4:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16).
