As the first signs of spring emerge, the minds of longtime Christians often turn to the nearness of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, prompting a need to evaluate ourselves and prepare physically by removing leaven from our homes. While we eagerly anticipate the fellowship, messages, and fine food of God's festivals, many of us take for granted the proper way to observe them, having ingrained routines over decades. For those new to these holy days, the desire to honor God can be intimidating, and they may initially seek guidance from Jewish practices, only to find them inadequate in a Christian context. The Bible offers instruction and principles for observing these important days, supported by church tradition and experience, ensuring we obey and honor God while benefiting from the meaning and joy of His feasts. Leviticus 23 reveals that these are God's feasts, their Source and ultimate Object, focusing our observance on Him and His teaching for spiritual and physical benefits. They are proclaimed as holy convocations, times set apart for bringing God's people together for instruction, worship, and unity in purpose, doctrine, and relationships within the Body of Christ. Additionally, like the weekly Sabbath, the annual holy days are Sabbaths of solemn rest, where no customary work is to be done, emphasizing their sacred nature. For the Feast of Unleavened Bread, God allows preparation of food necessary for eating, as feasting is part of the holy day experience, encouraging us to enjoy the abundance He has bestowed in thanksgiving and joy, though preparing food beforehand is preferred to fully engage in the feasts. The Night to Be Much Observed, marking the start of this feast, involves families gathering for a grand meal, commemorating the joy and thanks for freedom from sin and bondage, mirroring the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. In contrast, the Day of Atonement stands apart as a day of complete fasting, with no eating, drinking, or working, dedicated to worship, instruction, prayer, and humbling ourselves before God for His work in atoning for sin and uniting mankind with Him. The Feast of Unleavened Bread uniquely requires removing leaven from our homes and abstaining from leavened foods for seven days, symbolizing a life of sincerity and truth, as God freed us from bondage to sin. We eat unleavened bread daily as a reminder of His deliverance and how we should live before Him. The Feast of Tabernacles is distinct in commanding us to dwell in temporary structures, traveling to a designated Feast site to live in campgrounds or motels, teaching us that, like the Israelites in the wilderness, we are pilgrims journeying toward the Kingdom of God. To support this, God commands a festival tithe to cover expenses, allowing us to keep and enjoy His feasts properly and experience a foretaste of His Kingdom's blessings. Regarding offerings, God's instruction is to give during the holy days, specifically during the three pilgrimage feasts, as we are able, according to the blessings He has given us. We split these offerings across the seven annual holy days, voluntarily determining the amount to reflect our appreciation for His loving care, fostering a deeper gratitude toward Him. Keeping these festivals year after year builds layers of understanding of God's plan and process, preparing us for His coming Kingdom, and though the church's customs may initially seem strange, they become trusted companions in our yearly worship of Him.

We are commanded to rejoice in the keeping of God's feasts, as seen in Deuteronomy 16:13-16, where it is emphasized that we shall rejoice in the Feast of Tabernacles along with family, servants, Levites, strangers, the fatherless, and widows in the place the Lord chooses. This rejoicing is not merely for personal enjoyment but is tied to the purpose and spiritual intent of the feast, reflecting God's own ability to rejoice in both blessing and judgment, as shown in Deuteronomy 28:63 and 30:9. Leviticus 23:40 further instructs us to rejoice before the Lord our God for seven days during the Feast of Tabernacles, highlighting that this rejoicing involves a deliberate brightening up in anticipation of God's reasons for commanding His feasts. However, rejoicing at the feast is not to be misunderstood as a mere celebration or vacation. God's command to rejoice includes a sense of satisfaction in doing what is right, even in difficult circumstances, mirroring His own rejoicing in fair judgment. Amos 5:21-24 reveals God's disdain for feast days kept with wrong attitudes, where despite offerings and songs, He rejects their observance due to a lack of justice and righteousness. The feast does not occur in isolation; it is connected to our conduct and attitudes throughout the year, impacting how we experience and contribute to the feast. Sacrifice and rejoicing are intrinsically linked in the observance of God's feasts, as evidenced in Deuteronomy 12:10-12 and 17-18, where we are to bring offerings and rejoice before the Lord in the chosen place. Numbers 29:12-13 underscores the importance of sacrifice during the Feast of Tabernacles, requiring more sacrifices than all other feasts combined, symbolizing giving up something at a cost to oneself for the benefit of another. This principle of sacrifice as the essence of love is vital to proper feast-keeping. Moreover, we are not to come before the Lord empty-handed, as reiterated in Deuteronomy 16:16-17. Psalm 126:5-6 illustrates that those who sow in tears shall reap in joy, bringing their sheaves—symbols of prosperity—to share with God and others at the feast. This sharing extends beyond physical offerings to include spiritual fruits, such as love, joy, peace, and kindness, as outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. We are to bring and share these spiritual profits at the Feast of Tabernacles, fulfilling the command to bear one another's burdens and serve through love, as seen in Galatians 6:2-4. The Feast of Tabernacles is not expected to be problem-free, yet we are commanded to rejoice amidst challenges, recognizing that this attitude is subject to our will. It is an opportunity to practice imitating God by giving, serving, and sharing, reflecting His outgoing concern. By actively engaging in these actions during the feast, we align with God's purpose, ensuring that our observance is not in vain but contributes to spiritual growth and mutual edification.