4/25 Devotions in Exodus

Exodus 23 The Feast of Communions

“Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.” (v. 14)

Although these chapters contain many varied thoughts and commands, one cannot help but see the importance of “feasts” in the Old Testament. Note first though how often the poor are mentioned in this particular chapter, as well as in the entire Bible. Not only are they often mentioned, but always provided for, probably more than any other class of people in the scriptures. There is no other group of people that we are admonished to go to more than to the poor; we are to take the Gospel to them, making sure their needs are met.

“Three times” a year Israel was to keep a feast unto God. There were several feasts mentioned in the Bible, and all of them have significance, but in the church of today, they are all combined in one,--the Lord’s supper. “Communion”, as the Bible most often calls it, entails all the feast of “unleavened bread” and the “Harvest” and the feast of “ingathering” (vs. 15,16). These are “memorial” feasts, commemorating great things that God has done for Israel. The Lord’s Supper is also a “memorial” commemorating what Christ has done for His church. These three feasts are all seen in one great feast, at communion, this “trinity” of feasts become one, and represent the Godhead. The three do not lose their distinction, but being manifest in One, which is Christ. This is the depth of what communion is, a triune feast, commemorating God, and Calvary. “This do in remembrance of Me”. Just as Israel was to keep certain feasts unto the Lord, we are to keep the “feast” of communion in remembrance of what the Lord has done for us. These feasts came up once a year, but there is no law, or rule for communion, but “as often as ye do it..” is the command (1 Cor. 11:24,25) For more on Communion, see Gen. 14, and the devotional there.