When we think of the Old Testament, it’s easy to view it as ancient history, maybe even just stories, laws, and festivals that belonged to another time and another culture. Yet, within those pages are celebrations that still echo with spiritual truth and relevance for us today. The feasts and festivals God commanded Israel to observe weren’t just religious events; they were sacred rhythms that reminded His people of who He is, what He had done, and what He promised to do. And those rhythms still speak.
Take the Passover for example, which is a powerful reminder of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. As Christians, we see its fulfilment in Christ, the Lamb of God, whose blood brings us deliverance from sin, death and the power of Satan. When we reflect on the Passover, we are reminded of the true cost of freedom and the power of God’s redemption.
Or consider the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), which celebrated the first fruits of the harvest. For believers, Pentecost also marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, the moment when God wrote His law on human hearts and empowered His people to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. That’s not just history; this should be part of our identity as Christians.
The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us that God dwells with His people. In the wilderness, the Israelites lived in temporary shelters, and God tabernacled among them. Today, we know that through Christ, God has come to dwell within us and one day, we will dwell with Him eternally. The festival reminds us of our journey and the joy of God dwelling with us.
These Old Testament festivals were never meant to be lifeless rituals. They were and still are pictures of God’s character, His faithfulness, and His plan for redemption. While we are no longer under the Mosaic Law, we are invited to remember, reflect, and even reclaim the heart of these sacred celebrations.
So yes, these ancient feasts still matter. They teach us to pause, to worship, to remember. They help us live not just in light of what has happened, but in anticipation of what is still to come. As the God who gave those celebrations is the same God who walks with us today.