Weekly Scripture portion: Vayikra.
Leviticus 1:1 – 6:7 Offerings & Sacrifices
Isaiah 43:21 – 44:23 Israel as GOD’s witnesses, Idolatry. Adonai is the First and the Last.
Romans 8:1-13 Spiritual life.
Hebrews 10:1-14 & 13:10-16 New Covenant.
First Fruits (Bikkurim): Leviticus 2:14-16
Point-by-point emphasis of the text yields the following:
- The green heads of grain: We also love to eat “groen mielies” (sweet corn). It is symbolic of
uncontaminated, innocent youth. As we become cynical with age, be reminded to believe
with the naive innocence of a child because we cannot comprehend GOD or HIS Master plan
for all creation.
- Roasted on fire: Fire purifies us. Let us therefore rejoice in the midst of our narrow places,
because we know that our redeemer lives. Let us keep our eyes on our Redeemer and
glorify HIM within our tribulations. GOD is growing us into the Men and Women HE desires
us to be. Endure and trust HIM.
- Grains beaten from the heads, not rubbed out by hand: Life will beat us about. Even when
we feel not ready for it, like green wheat and green barley, but ultimately we will become
pleasing to GOD. Our prayers will be a pleasant aroma before HIS throne. Whilst grain
offerings are usually ground into a fine flour, these verses does not indicate whether the first
fruit grain offering will remain as groats (e.g. like stampmielies or oats flakes (which is rolled))
or whether a grinding process follows. I think that, because of the high water content of
these green first grains, it may not be suitable for grinding as it may clog together and its
moisture content certainly makes it unsuitable for storage as mould will soon grow on it.
- The first grain offering is anointed with oil. The oil is poured on it. Nothing is the text
indicate a sparing use of the olive oil, but rather the richness of the oil mixing with, coating
and binding the groats together. It will blend into a delicious dough and reminds me of
“mieliebrood”. (I was not hungry when I started typing these notes, but now I am.) GOD
promise to anoint HIS children with oil after they remained true to HIM in their endurance
through the “rough patches”.
- Lay Frankincense on it to blend with the rich odour of the oil: True believers will emit a
heavenly fragrance unto the LORD.
- (Remember the salt): We are called to be the Salt of the earth. To bring flavour to the
masses of people where we live.
- A handful is burnt as a burnt offering unto GOD, and the rest goes to feed the Levites.
First fruits are of a voluntary amount, but not less than 1/60’th of the anticipated harvest. When
the first stalks are harvested as first fruits, the farmer cannot say with certainty exactly how big the
harvest will be. He is still exposed to late rains, the end of season cold fronts, pestilence, fires and
even invading enemy armies who come to devour his harvest. The point is exactly that – to trust
GOD for preparing a harvest that will be more than enough: “Dayeno!”
When you engage in casual reading about the Biblical harvest festivals, it is easy to become confused:
Are there 3 feats or only 2. Is First Fruits the same feast as Shavuot? Upon closer inspection you’ll
notice that authors from traditional Christian Churches would typically only consider 2, grouping
First Fruits together with Pentecost / Shavuot. On the other hand, Messianic believers consider 3
harvest festivals, with First Fruits falling on “resurrection Sunday”. From my study of Biblical texts, I
believe that this 3 festival view is the correct one. Therefore, the Feast of First Fruits is celebrated
on the 8th day of Pesach. After this day, there awaits another 7 weeks in which the harvest ripens to
its fullness, before Pentecost aka Shavuot.
Taking a step back:
The Book of Leviticus contains instruction for the Priests. It also contains instruction on how to live
holy. However, neither the tabernacle nor the Temple exists in our day. Are these instructions still
valid?
The Book of Leviticus has always been the first to be taught to Jewish children. That makes this Book,
the First Fruit of the Torah. It also confirms its teaching as First Fruits offered to the children, their
guide for holy lives. On the other hand, these young students are also dedicating their “first fruit”
years to study the Book of Leviticus. With first all around, surely the Book of Leviticus is of great
importance and not invalid because there has been no earthly temple in Jerusalem for the last 2021
– 70 = 1,951 years. No, we are the Temples of the Holy Spirit! Therefore the Book of Leviticus
containing the teaching of how to live holy lives, are of utmost importance to us. Whilst the sin
offerings and the guilt sacrifices has been fulfilled by Yeshua the Messiah, we can and must bring our
“first fruits” of youth, of the early morning and of the new moon to honour HIM. HE rewards us with
a refreshing Shabbat rest in HIM in return, until HE leads us to our green pastures for eternal rest.
There are (at least) 6 kinds of First Fruits:
1. The first harvest – the physical first produce of the winter harvest as well as the summer
harvest.
2. The nation of Israel is GOD’s First Fruit between the 70 nations on earth. That is why
Israel is called to be holy unto HIM, roasted, beaten but also anointed and fragrant.
3. The first believers also became first fruits. Even today, our new birth in the Messiah is
the first fruit of our live-time as HE prepares us for the day on which HE will make all
things new.
4. The HOLY SPIRIT is the first fruit we enjoy of our salvation. Its tastes of the cleanliness,
the holiness we long for.
5. Yeshua is the prophetic fulfilment of First Fruits. As HE overcame death, HE became the
First Fruit of the victory over the enemy.
6. When HE returns for HIS bride, those carried away in HIS arms to HIS Father’s house will
be the final “first fruits” of HIS harvest.
