Shavuot: A Marriage Relationship

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Shavuot
Since this week is Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks, we will pause from our review of the portions and consider the meaning and symbolism of Shavuot.  When I left my previous belief system and adopted the Israelite paradigm, my vocabulary changed – instead of Jesus, I use Yeshua; instead of Christ, I use Messiah.  Torah, Shabbat, Shalom, Pesach instead of Passover became apart of my belief vocabulary.  But above all else the word relationship became a part of my belief vocabulary.  

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Indeed, the overall message that we get from the Bible is the message about having a relationship with God.   Previously, I summarized God’s holy days as the progression of a developing relationship with God and since Jehovah condescended to earth and became Yeshua to save all humanity – these feasts are as applicable to New Testament believers as much as they were to ancient Israel.  Here is that summary:

Holy Days	Relationship Stage
Pesach, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits	Initiating a Relationship with God
Shavuot	Entering into a Full Relationship with God
Trumpets, Yom Kippur, Sukkot	Living with God in the Millennium
Last Great Day of Sukkot	Living with God in Eternity

​The Marriage Relationship
But this relationship is not one considered as being between friends,  the Scriptures are explicit that the relationship between God and His people is a marriage commitment.  And Shavuot is the time to consider this marriage relationship, consider these two excellent video teachings by Lord Rabbi Sacks and Steven Berkson.

Steven Berkson
Looks at Shavuot as the time to commemorate the Torah as a marriage contract -ketubah- between God and His people.

Lord Rabbi Sacks
Looks at the Holy Days as seasons of a maturing marriage relationship.

Hebrew Study

​Hosea 2:19-20

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Resource Links for this Week's Portion

TORAH: Numbers 1:1-4:20
GOSPELS: Matthew 4:1-17

Listen and Read the Portion
First Fruits of Zion

Torah Pearls with Nehemia Gordon

HAFTARAH: Isaiah Chapter 35

Commentary with Avraham Gileadi, PhD