CHAPTER 23
Israel to hold a holy convocation on each weekly sabbath—Israel to
keep feast of the passover, of unleaven bread, of pentecost or firstfruits,
of trumpets, of the day of atonement, and of tabernacles.
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1 AND the LORD spake unto
Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto
them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to
be holy convocationsa,
even these are my feasts.
3 Six days shall work be done: but the
aseventh day is the bsabbath of
rest, an holy cconvocation; ye shall do no work
therein: it is the dsabbath of the LORD in
all your dwellings.
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2a holy convocations Simply,
convocations are 'meetings', but in terms of a 'holy convocation' it is a
meeting of special meaning. These 'holy convocations' held in respect to
the feast days of the LORD would be special 'meetings' wherein particular
remebrances were set forth as per that particular meaning of that feast day.
Instructional review of scripture and the meaning of that remebrance would
be effective and the congregation would renew their remebrances and
commitments to the LORD in these respects. Today we might look upon our
weekly sacrement meetings as 'holy convocations' which center upon the
sacrament of the Lord, our remembrance of him and his sacrifice for us, that
we do take His name upon us, and that we renew ourselves in and through him,
seeking our repentance and commitment to keeping his commandment that we
might go forth having his spirit to be with us. And the whole of the
sacrament meeting is centered in the Lord, learning of his ways and teachings.
Now while we do not hold the feasts of the old Law of Moses, we do have other
special 'holy convocations' such as our temple meetings and frequent
conferences wherein we also may recommit ourselves to the Lord in mind,
thought and action.
These particular ancient 'holy convocations' of Israel were
those to be kept in rembrance of the Lord and what he had done for Israel,
and that Israel was to commit or recommit themselves to his ways and
commandments. If one studies the operations of Judaism today they will find
almost regimented suggestive scriptures, readings, prayers, hymns and such
which are to be recited as a part of their feast day commemorations as a part
of their holy convocational commitments unto the Lord.
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