New Moon 1/5/27/120
Dear Friends,
This new moon we wish to address the issue of fellowship and eating together at the feasts.
Eating together is combined with rejoicing and praising Yahovah. We are commanded to eat the tithes of the Lord there that are allocated for our use. This is the second tithe as the first is given to the priesthood for the work of God.
Deuteronomy 12:5 "But you shall seek the Lord at the place which the LORD your God shall choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come. 6 "And there you shall bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the contribution of your hand, your votive offerings, your freewill offerings, and the first-born of your herd and of your flock. 7 "There also you and your households shall eat before the LORD your God, and rejoice in all your undertakings in which the LORD your God has blessed you.
The requirement is reinforced in verse 18.
18 "But you shall eat them before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD your God will choose, you and your son and daughter, and your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates; and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all your undertakings.
Deuteronomy 14:23-29 covers this aspect also and provides if the way is too far from your home you can turn it into money and then purchase what you wish at the feast. The section from verse 27 to 29 provides for you to eat it within your gates for the third year and there you may also provide for the Levites and the poor and needy within your towns or gates also. This section makes it clear that it is only in the third year that we are allowed to remain within our gates. In every other year we are required to go to the feast and we are required to eat together. The more blessed are to help the poor and needy.
Isaiah 62:9 requires us to gather the tithes and to PRAISE THE LORD together in the courts of His Holiness.
But they that have gathered it shall eat it and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together (i.e. extracted it or “brought it out”) shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.
The Companion Bible notes to this verse refer to the Pentateuch in Deuteronomy 14:23, 26; 16:11,14 and Deuteronomy 12:12. There is a requirement to share the feast with each other and eat together in the place of pilgrimage. The consumption of alcohol is clearly required at the place of the feast for all those who are there to share in it.
Also the collective place of eating the tithe and offerings was understood from the days of the judges.
1Samuel 9:13 "As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now therefore, go up for you will find him at once."
Psalm 22:25 From Thee comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, And all the families of the nations will worship before Thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD's, And He rules over the nations.29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
The congregation of the elect in the “great congregation of God” is required to eat and praise God as worship. Now you cannot keep the feasts of God from home and refrain from eating together and comply with these instructions.
The concept of eating together on Sabbaths and Feasts extends also to the New Moons.
1Samuel 20:5 So David said to Jonathan, "Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening… 24 So David hid in the field; and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food.
Now, obviously the fact that the king sat down to eat food is not an out of the ordinary meal, as he did that every day. The significance here was that the New Moons were as Sabbaths. The entire household was required to be in attendance to eat on these days. David knew he had to be in attendance and needed a very good excuse not to be there.
Not eating together often relates to disassociation and is usually intentional, sometimes to separate from us as a body (Gal. 2:11-13, Acts 11:3), and us from them as well.
1Corinthians 5:11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. (see also 1Cor. 10:7)
The disciples did all eat together (Lk. 13:26). Note the apostles and the disciples ate together and shared in the fellowship meals.
Acts 2:42-47 42 They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers. 43 Many miracles and wonders were done through the apostles, which caused everyone to be filled with awe. 44 All the believers continued together in close fellowship, and shared their belongings with one another. 45 They would sell their property and possessions and distribute the money among all, according to what each one needed. 46 Everyday they continued to meet as a group in the Temple, and they had their meals together in their homes, eating the food with glad and humble hearts, praising God, and enjoying the good will of all the people. And every day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved. (Good News For Modern Man).
If you don’t want to eat with the brethren, then there is something wrong with you. From past experience, it is only a matter of time before the separation become final. God will add to us as we participate and fulfil His orders and His Law eating at His feasts.
Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so (SHD 3069 changed to Adonai by the Sopherim) Yahovih will CAUSE RIGHTEOUSNESS (SHD 6666) and PRAISE (SHD 8416) to spring forth before all the nations.
As we are faithful and are blessed so shall Yahovih, the Eternal God cause righteousness and praise to spring forth. Thus, what we do is critical to the ongoing calling and salvation of the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:23 And YOU SHALL EAT before the Lord thy God IN THE PLACE WHICH HE SHALL CHOOSE TO PLACE HIS NAME...that you learn to fear the Lord thy God Always.
One of the greatest ways to PRAISE THE LORD thy God, Yahovih is to EAT BEFORE HIM on the days and at the places HE chooses. Eating together is a major issue in Scripture and the correct worship of God at His feasts.
Love your brethren and show it by fellowship and eating together. In that way, you show you love God and worship Him there where He sets His hand.
Wade Cox
Coordinator General
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