How does Exodus 34:23 connect with the New Testament call to gather regularly? The Original Gathering Mandate – Exodus 34:23 “Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD GOD, the God of Israel.” • A literal command, binding on the covenant people of Israel. • Purpose: present themselves before the LORD, offer sacrifices, remember redemption, and renew covenant loyalty. • Frequency: a built-in rhythm—Passover/Unleavened Bread, Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles—anchoring every season of life in worship. • Audience: not merely individuals, but the whole community represented by its men; worship was never meant to be purely private. Built-In Rhythm, Built-In Lessons • Worship is scheduled, not random. • God Himself establishes the calendar; Israel arranged life around His appointments. • Corporate presence matters—“appear before the LORD” meant showing up physically and wholeheartedly. • Blessing promised (see v. 24); gathering brings divine protection and provision. Shadows Fulfilled in Christ • Colossians 2:16-17 teaches the feasts are “a shadow of the things to come, but the body belongs to Christ.” • Jesus fulfils Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7), firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20), and Tabernacles (John 1:14, “dwelt among us”). • The underlying principle—regular, covenant-wide assembly before God—remains. The New Testament Pattern of Regular Gathering • Luke 4:16 – Jesus’ own habit of synagogue worship models consistency. • Acts 2:42, 46 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship… Each day they continued to meet together.” • 1 Corinthians 16:2 – “On the first day of every week” shows an early, weekly rhythm. • Hebrews 10:24-25 – “Let us not neglect meeting together…” Heightens the urgency “as you see the Day approaching.” • Revelation 1:10 – John is “in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,” evidencing an established day of corporate focus. • Matthew 18:20 – Christ’s promise of presence “where two or three gather” echoes the Exodus assurance that God meets His assembled people. Parallels Between Exodus 34:23 and the Church’s Call 1. Divine Command – Old Covenant: appear three times yearly. – New Covenant: gather continually; still a Lord-given obligation, not a human suggestion. 2. Covenant Renewal – Israel rehearsed redemption from Egypt. – The church rehearses redemption in Christ through Word, prayer, and Lord’s Supper. 3. Community Identity – Israel’s unity was displayed before the sanctuary. – The church’s unity is displayed in the local congregation (Acts 4:32). 4. Witness to the Nations – Pilgrimage feasts drew outsiders to Israel’s God (1 Kings 8:41-43). – Consistent Christian assembly testifies to the reality of the risen Christ (John 13:35). Practical Takeaways for Today • Prioritize the Lord’s Day; plan life around worship rather than squeezing worship around life. • Treat attendance as appearing “before the LORD,” not merely attending an event. • Expect covenant blessings—spiritual growth, mutual encouragement, divine protection—tied to faithful gathering. • Encourage one another; Hebrews 10 links gathering with stirring up love and good deeds. • Look ahead: every assembly previews the ultimate gathering of “a great multitude…standing before the throne” (Revelation 7:9). In Exodus 34:23, God hard-wired His people’s calendar with worship appointments. The New Testament widens the frequency but keeps the principle intact: redeemed people meet their Redeemer together, regularly, joyfully, until the final, eternal assembly. |
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