Bible study: 7 Feasts

About The 7 Feasts:

In her first title in Moody Publishers Bible study line for women, Davis, a speaker, author, and blogger, leads women through an 8-week study on the Seven Feasts outlined in Leviticus 23, from Passover to the Feast of Firstfruits to Day of Atonement and the Feast of Booths. While Leviticus 23 acts as the launching pad for the study, Davis takes readers throughout the Old and New Testaments as she unpacks each feast, its meaning, the symbolism, what it teaches us about God, and its significance to our lives today.

You will discover that passages you once skimmed over are now rich and meaningful in your life today.

 More About the study:

The Old Testament is filled with festivals of remembrance and celebration, but we often view these events as full of rules and regulations that have nothing to do with our lives today. But, what if we looked at them differently? What can we learn from them and how do they illuminate the character of God?

“The seven feasts are so much more than antiquated rules and rituals,” says Erin Davis, author of the new Bible study, 7 Feasts: Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament (Moody Publishers, June 2020). “They’re so much more than an out-of-date list of celebrations from a foreign culture in a hard-to- read book. The feasts were established as constant object lessons on the character

and faithfulness of God.”

In her first title in Moody Publishers Bible study line for women, Davis, a speaker, author, and blogger, leads women through an 8-week study on the Seven Feasts outlined in Leviticus 23, from the Passover and the Feast of Firstfruits to the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Booths.

“Leviticus isn’t just a book of rules arbitrarily handed down by a detached authority” says Davis. “They are opportunities to learn how to live, given to us by our patient Teacher. This paradigm shift matters, because it speaks to the heart of God.”

While Leviticus 23 acts as the launching pad for the study, Davis takes readers throughout the Old and New Testaments as she unpacks each feast, its meaning, the symbolism, what it teaches us about God, and its significance to our lives today. After spending the first week setting a foundation by helping readers better understand how to study Scripture and the rhythms of God, she focuses on the following feasts in subsequent weeks:

• Passover: Reminds us of our deliverance from death.

• Feast of Unleavened Bread: Reminds us that we still face the dangerous and permeating death of sin.

• Feast of Firstfruits: Celebrates that God gives us His very best: Himself. In return, as an act of worship, we give Him our very best.

• Feast of Weeks: Reminds us that God never wastes the wait.

• Feast of Trumpets: Jesus will fulfill the Feast of Trumpets with His triumphant return.

• Day of Atonement: This day showcase’s God’s elaborate grace.

• Feast of Booths: Shines the spotlight on God and reminds His children of His character.

“The Israelites were commanded to observe the seven feasts as a practical way to remember who God is. God graciously structured their calendars in a way that combatted their spiritual amnesia,” says Davis. “Because of Jesus, we no longer live under the letter of the law. We do still live, however, under the spirit of the law. We’re still prone to spiritual amnesia. We still need to rest in God’s redemptive plan. Our hearts still need to be shocked back into praise on a regular basis.”

About the author:

A popular speaker, author, and blogger, Erin Davis has addressed women of all

ages nationwide and is passionately committed to sharing God's Truth with others.

She is the author of many books, including Connected, Beyond Bath Time, and

books in the My Name Is Erin series. She also contributes regularly to the True

Woman blog. When she’s not writing, you can find Erin chasing down chickens and

children on her small farm in the Midwest.

My thoughts:
I am absolutely loving this study.  I was intrigued by this book’s description when I was offered a review copy. I’m so glad I said yes!

This is a wonderful study. I have not completed it as I am taking my time to find the verses, answer the questions, etc. I have been so blessed!

Let me tell you about it. There are 8 different weeks of study. Each week has an introduction followed by five days of lessons. Each week is focused on a different feast.

I have done many different Bible studies by different authors. This is my first by Erin Davis. It is totally my style, and I just love everything about it so far. I am learning so much and really like this way of studying the Bible.

I’d highly recommend this study for you to do with friends, your ladies class, or just on your own. You will be blessed!

Thank you to Moody Publishers for sending me a copy for my honest review.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Climbing With Abraham

Several months ago I received an email asking if I'd be interested in reviewing a 30 day devotional called Climbing With Abraham by David Ramos.

I must say I was very pleased with this devotional, both its content and format.  Each day has a passage to read from the Bible about the life of Abraham followed by a devotional thought and prayer.

I like how each day related a different event of Abraham's life to something that we may face today. It was encouraging to be reminded again of how God was with Abraham and used him.  I appreciated the practicality of this devotion.  It is one that I would read again as I found it so beneficial the first time I read it.  There are many aspects of Abraham's story that have always been some of my favorites of the Bible, but this book showed me some things I had missed.  I look forward to reading more in the future from this author.

I apologize for my delay in posting my review. I received an electronic copy of the book for my review.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Even if?

I love the story of the three guys in Daniel 3 who were thrown into the fiery furnace. 

Join me over at Laced With Grace for a devotional called "Even if?" 

Thank you!  Hope you are having a great day! 

Have a day of blessings!

You'll Get Through This

Book Description:

You’ll get through this.

It won’t be painless.

It won’t be quick.

But God will use this mess for good.

Don’t be foolish or naïve.

But don’t despair either.

With God’s help, you’ll get through this.

You fear you won't make it through. We all do. We fear that the depression will never lift, the yelling will never stop, the pain will never leave. In the pits, surrounded by steep walls and aching reminders, we wonder: Will this gray sky ever brighten? This load ever lighten?

My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed many books by Max Lucado.  When I saw the title and information about this new one, I knew I wanted to read it.  I felt it could be a beneficial reminder to me after the loss we have experienced in our family this year. I appreciate the reminders of this book through the life of Joseph that God is wish us. 

I have always like Joseph's story in the Bible and seeing how God had a plan for him from the beginning.  In this book, each chapter focuses on a different aspect of Joseph's story, and as I was reading I realized a few things about Joseph that I had not previously considered.  I think everyone can learn something from this book and it will be an encouragement to you with whatever is happening in your life. 

Max Lucado is a wonderfully gifted author and I'm sure this newest book will touch the lives of many who are hurting.     

Have a day of blessings!


I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

Old Testament Examples

Do you have a favorite story from the Old Testament? It would be hard for me to choose just one. There are so many that I have loved for years. Now as a parent I have been able to share these with our son and see them from a new angle. Do you ever wonder why all of these stories are recorded? Do you ever wonder what other things happened that weren’t recorded for us? I recently came across a passage in I Corinthians that got me thinking about the various Old Testament stories.

Continue reading by joining me today over at Laced With Grace. 

Have a day of blessings!

A - Z Verse Challenge

"Nothing is too hard for God." – Jeremiah 32:17b

Have a day of blessings!

Prayers & Promises Week #31

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:30, 31

Have a day of blessings!

Fully Believe!

I am reading from the book of Joshua right now. Something in chapter 14 encouraged me, and I wanted to share it today in hopes that it will encourage you right now too.

"Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' "

The version I was reading was NCV and it says it this way:
"So that day Moses promised me, 'The land where you went will become your land, and your children will own it forever. I will give you that land because you fully believed in the Lord, my God.' "

Fully believed....That just made me stop and pause. Do I fully believe? I have some things right now that I will admit scare me. I can't see down the road. I know God didn't give us that ability on purpose....if we could see down the road, would we learn to trust Him?

In this passage Caleb fully believed God. It took a long time but he kept believing. We don't know all that happened to Caleb in the middle of all those years waiting. We do know he fully believed God, with all his heart he belived. That's what is important. God didn't let him down.

Do you fully believe God? I shared this passage with my husband and told him that even though there are many unknowns for us right now, I do fully believe God. I know He has the plan and will take care of all the details. I can look back and see where God has brought us through the years and am encouraged. I fully believe that He will continue and we will give Him the glory.

Have a day of blessings!

Bible reading: Genesis--The Life of Joseph

It seems all my posts this week have been on patience and waiting! I had one more for today to share.


In my Bible reading I am just finishing the story at the end of Genesis about Joseph and his life. This has always been one of my favorite stories because of all the lessons we can learn from it for our lives today. This time when I was reading I noticed something I don't remember reading before at the beginning of Genesis 41. After Joseph interprets the dreams of the cupbearer and the baker, it is another TWO years before Pharaoh has his dream. TWO years! This made me think about Joseph. What was he doing during this long stretch of time? How did he spend his days in prison? He'd asked the cupbearer and baker to remember him, which they did not do at the time. It was two years later that the cupbearer remembered Joseph and recommended to Pharaoh that maybe he could interpret his recent dreams.


I try to imagine how Joseph's life must have been to be despised by his brothers and then sold to travelers to end up living in an unfamiliar place. Yet God used Joseph where he was to touch lives and eventually help his family. He was wrongly accused and put in prison for it. He stayed there a long time until he was remembered by the cupbearer.


How does this relate to my life today? I like to think of Joseph as an example of patience and obedience as he waited on God. We don't see that he did anything in prison to try to get the attention of the king or to remind the cupbearer of the promise to remember him. I can see myself trying to pass a note or say hey, remember this, what about me? We don't see that from Joseph, at least we don't read of it in Genesis. I can see myself trying to guess what was going to happen or try to make it happen on my own time. I am encouraged by this story of waiting. When the time was right Joseph was remembered and he was released from prison to become a man of high importance in Egypt.


I want to encourage you today as you wait to remember that God's timing is perfect. It probably isn't going to happen in our time. We need to remember God has a reason for the trials we go through as we wait and we need to be patient as we wait for him whether that is a day, month, or two years.


Hope you have a nice weekend. Have a day of blessings!

Bible Reading: Job

I'm reading through the Bible chronologically this year. I'm following the guide I found online. There are several different versions out there. I read a few chapters of Genesis and now I'm in Job. I've found many lessons in the book this time as I've been reading. I came across another of these Tuesday and wanted to share it with you.

Read Job 26. Job talks about God and His power. I particularly liked verse 7--"He suspends the earth over nothing." That verse just made me smile to read. Another version I read (New Century Version) said "God stretches the northern sky out over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing."

This passage made me think of something I heard Monday on the Glenn Beck radio program we were listening to in the car. He was talking to someone who was an atheist. Then later he talked about how some people believe the earth "just happened." He talked about the temperature in space. If it was off one degree, we wouldn't be here he said. How can you think that "just happened" and it "just happened" to be at exactly the correct temperature?

The rest of Job 26 talks about more of God's wonders. Then look at the end (again in the New Century Version) verse 14--"And these are only a small part of God's works. We only hear a small whisper of him. Who could understand God's thundering power?"


I love that! All of this that we see around us and the many ways we see the glory of His creation are just a "whisper of Him." Just think of all that we can't see and understand right now! Amazing! Thank You, God!


Have a day of blessings!

Memory Verse Week 52

We have one more memory verse for the year 2008. Here is last week's verse.


I have a new plan for 2009 so check back next Sunday for that! If you want to memorize with me, get a ringed pack of index cards. (I don't know what they're called really...they are index cards with a spiral across the top!) I used this for my verses in 2008, and it was very helpful to have them all in one place.


This week's verse is:
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3

Memory Verse Week #51

I liked the verse last week and am so thankful for God's grace. For this week's verse I have a verse from the Old Testament. It is Jeremiah 32: 18, 19--


"O great and powerful God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve."

Memory Verse Week 49

Here is last week's verse for your reference. Is it your goal to please Christ? I think this is something we can all work towards. It's good to be reminded of our purpose on earth and that this earth isn't our home.


This week's verse is from Psalms. It can be found in Psalms 71:8--

"My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long."

I read this verse during the week and thought it was a great one to have in my mind during this busy time of year!

Have a great day!

Memory Verse #44

I appreciated the comments about last week's verse. It is convicting to read that we'll have to give account for "every careless word." The King James Version uses the word "idle." I liked reading this commentary on this passage. This makes me wonder how many of my words are careless and should not be said. I know I have a bunch of them!

This week's verse is an encouraging one found in I Chronicles 29:11:

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all."

Memory Verse Week 25

The verse for this week is another one from Psalms.

It can be found in Psalm 119:5-8--

"Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me."

Verse

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4


I read this verse recently, and it just blessed my day. I believe it might have been in The One Year Book of Daily Prayer. I'm not sure what sticks out most about this verse because I really like all the parts of it. It is powerful to see that God does act on behalf of those who wait for him. What does that mean he "acts on behalf of"? To me it means He answers our prayers, He knows our needs, He's working things out for us in His way even though we may not see it working out in the here and now. Who is He going to act on behalf of? "Those who wait for him" There are many verses about waiting. It is hard to wait when we are bombarded with messages that we should expect to have what we want when we want it.

Let me know your thoughts on this verse.

Memory Verse Week 23

I hope you are ready for a new month as we are already in the middle of 2008! I plan to look back over my goals for the year I posted back in January sometime this week and see how I'm doing.

Last week's verse I read during the week while I was doing a section of the Beth Moore Living Beyond Yourself study on patience.

This week's memory verse is from Psalms. I hope it encourages you!

It is Psalms 86:11, 12--

"Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart that I may fear your name. I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever."

Memory Verse Week 14

Last week's verse was an encouragement to me. It reminded me of God's power and that He is in control, not me.

The memory verse from this week is from Psalm 51. This is one of my favorite Psalms.

Psalm 51:15--17---

"O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. O God, you will not despise."

From my Bible reading

This week we've been in Exodus. The story of Moses, Pharaoh, and all the plagues always intrigues me. My mind cannot fathom the plagues. I've seen little cartoon pictures to depict the plagues, but I don't think they really do justice to the actual situation.

Something I read yesterday made me laugh in Exodus 8:8--11--

"8 Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD."
9 Moses said to Pharaoh, "I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile."
10 "Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, "It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the LORD our God. 11 The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile."

It made me wonder why Pharaoh's answer was "tomorrow." Why wouldn't he say get rid of those frogs now?

As we continue through the story in Exodus, we see Pharaoh's hardened heart. The plagues were done to show the people that He was the Lord. I was thinking how it is easy for us to read a story like this one and say, "I'd never do that. If God sent a plague of hail or flies or turned the water to blood, I'd do what He said. It wouldn't take plague after plague to get my attention." Do we really pay attention to what God wants us to do though? Do we try to make compromises with Him to get to keep doing what we enjoy doing even though it isn't what He wants us to do? How do we treat Him in our own lives? Is He Lord of all or just when it feels like we need Him or it's convenient?
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"There is something in every season, in everyday, to celebrate with Thanksgiving." Gloria Gaither

A lesson from Lot

This week in my reading I read Genesis 19. I love when I'm reading and I catch something new. From this Bible story I usually think of Lot's wife turning to salt. Something struck me as I was reading through this story of Sodom and Gomorrah. Here is the passage I'm referring to:
Genesis 19:15--30
15 At dawn the next morning the angels became insistent. “Hurry,” they said to Lot. “Take your wife and your two daughters who are here. Get out right now, or you will be swept away in the destruction of the city!”
16 When Lot still hesitated, the angels seized his hand and the hands of his wife and two daughters and rushed them to safety outside the city, for the Lord was merciful. 17 When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” 18 “Oh no, my lord!” Lot begged. 19 “You have been so gracious to me and saved my life, and you have shown such great kindness. But I cannot go to the mountains. Disaster would catch up to me there, and I would soon die. 20 See, there is a small village nearby. Please let me go there instead; don’t you see how small it is? Then my life will be saved.”
21 “All right,” the angel said, “I will grant your request. I will not destroy the little village. 22 But hurry! Escape to it, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” (This explains why that village was known as Zoar, which means “little place.”) 23 Lot reached the village just as the sun was rising over the horizon. 24 Then the Lord rained down fire and burning sulfur from the sky on Sodom and Gomorrah. 25 He utterly destroyed them, along with the other cities and villages of the plain, wiping out all the people and every bit of vegetation. 26 But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
27 Abraham got up early that morning and hurried out to the place where he had stood in the Lord’s presence. 28 He looked out across the plain toward Sodom and Gomorrah and watched as columns of smoke rose from the cities like smoke from a furnace. 29 But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain.
30 Afterward Lot left Zoar because he was afraid of the people there, and he went to live in a cave in the mountains with his two daughters.

What really stuck out to me was in verse 17 when Lot was told to flee to the mountains. His response was No and he asks that he can go to the village in verse 20. Then in verse 30 after the destruction Lot went to live in the mountains. Were these the same mountains he was told to go to originally? This just really stood out to me as I was reading, and I hope I'm reading it correctly.

How many times do we want to do things our way? We think we know what is best, and we try to talk God into letting this thing be okay. It's easy to rationalize anything! If we would just obey God and do what he wants us to do in the first place, how much simpler would our lives be?

Just wanted to share this today. Let me know your thoughts and leave a comment!
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"But God had listened to Abraham’s request and kept Lot safe, removing him from the disaster that engulfed the cities on the plain." Genesis 19:29