Observing New Moons!
PROVE ALL THINGS BIBLE STUDY
OBSERVING NEW MOONS?
Why Should We Observe The New Moons?
Should We As God's People Observe And Worship On The New Moons?
1. What does new moon mean?
New Moon means month! The new moon is the new month.
Strongs #2320 in the New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Gesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon, page 294: new moon, month, I. (as something surrounding); II. conceal behind curtain, conceal, confine; iv. conceal oneself, also abide, stay, remain behind; 1. new moon = day, time, of a new moon, as a religious festival 2. month (as beginning with new moon, lunar month, (a) as measure of time.
2. What did God name each month?
God merely numbered His months. Later, names were added.
Exo. 12:2 "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."
2 Ch. 30:2 "For the king had taken counsel, and his princes, and all the congregation in Jerusalem, to keep the Passover in the second month. "
1 Ch. 27:1-15 lists all the months and the courses that the priest were to serve.
Neh. 8:2 "And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month." The first month was later called Abib, meaning ears or green ears.
Exo. 13:4 "This day came ye out in the month Abib." The names on the Hebrew calendar today came out of Babylon with the returning people of Judah.
3. What is the history of the new moon day observance?
God set in motion His Calendar from the beginning of creation.
Gen. 1:14 "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:"
Exo. 12:2 "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you." Moses, by God’s direction, included the new moon day in the days of worship found in Numbers 28 and 29 with the Sabbath and Holy Days.
Num. 28:1-2 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season."
Num. 28:11 "And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;"
Num. 28:14 (last part) "this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year."
4. Did the faithful people of God observe the new moon day?
King David observed the new moon day:
1 Sam. 20:5 "And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even."
1 Sam. 20:18 "Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty."
1 Ch. 23:30-31 "And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even: And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the Sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD:"
Solomon observed the new moon day:
2 Ch. 2:4 "Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel."
Elisha observed the new moon day:
2 Ki. 4:23 "And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him today? it is neither new moon, nor Sabbath. And she said, It shall be well."
Hezekiah observed the new moon day:
2 Ch. 31:3 "He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in the law of the LORD."
5. Did the loyal followers of God observe the new moon day when they returned out of Babylon?
Ezra observed the new moon day:
Ezr. 3:5 "And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were consecrated, and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD."
Nehemiah observed the new moon day:
Neh. 10:33 "For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God."
The Church at Colosse observed the new moon day:
Col. 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days."
6. What was the original purpose of the new moon day observance?
The original purpose for the observance of the new moon was to keep people in the remembrance of God's true calendar by observing the new moon month to month.
Num. 10:10 "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your God: I am the LORD your God."
Neh. 10:33 "For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God."
Eze. 46:1 "Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened."
Eze. 46:3 "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths and in the new moons."
Isa. 66:23 "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."
7. How should we observe the new moon day?
David was called to observe the new moon day by having a special dinner with King Saul.
1 Sam. 20:5 "And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even."
1 Sam. 20:18 "Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty."
In the 66th chapter of Isaiah, verse 23, God instructs the people in the Kingdom of God, during the millennium, to come and worship HIM on the Sabbath and the new moon.
Also see Ezekiel 46:1-3. The people will come and worship God at the gate of the temple, in the Kingdom of God, on the Sabbath and on the new moon.
8. Are we to keep the sacrifices and rituals as well when we observe the new moon day?
Jer. 7:22-24 "For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward."
Heb. 10:1-6 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou has had no pleasure."
In Colossians 2:16, we see that the Holy Days, the Sabbath and the new moon have not been done away, as have the rituals, sacrifices and offerings of the Old Testament.
9. Every time there was a national reform, did the people keep the new moon day observance?
Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty five years old, and he reigned in Jerusalem. He knew that his fathers had sinned against God. He set a revival in Judah.
2 Ch. 31:3 "He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is WRITTEN in the law of the LORD."
Ezr. 3:5 "And afterward offered the continual burnt offering, both of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of the LORD that were CONSECRATED (MEANING SET APART), and of every one that willingly offered a freewill offering unto the LORD."
Neh. 10:29 "They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and His judgments and his statutes."
Neh. 10:33 "For the shewbread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering, of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God."
Col. 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days:"
10. Is observing the new moon day, THE FIRST DAY OF GOD'S MONTHS, a command?
Gen. 1:14 "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons (times), and for days, and years:"
Exo. 12:2 "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you."
Num. 10:10 "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and IN THE BEGINNINGS OF YOUR MONTHS, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a MEMORIAL before your God: I am the LORD your God."
Num. 28:11 "And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;"
Num. 28:14 "And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year."
Eze. 46:3 "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths and in the new moons (new months)."
Isa. 66:23 "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."
2 Ch. 2:4 "Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ORDINANCE for ever to Israel."
2 Ch. 8:13 "Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles."
2 Ch. 31:3 "He appointed also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt offerings, to wit, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is WRITTEN in the law of the LORD."
11. Why don't we find new moon observance in Leviticus 23 along with the other days on which we are to keep holy?
When we read Lev. 23, we do not find the new moon mentioned. The new moon day is not a feast, a Sabbath or a holy convocation. Also when we read Deu. 16, where the Holy Days are listed, we do not find the complete list of Holy Days mentioned in Leviticus 23. When reading Exo. 34, we also find a partial list of the Holy Days. Each of these verses are a commentary on the other verses that talk about the feast and Holy days.
Isa. 28:9-10 "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:" Numbers 28 thru 29 is the only complete list of days on which we are to worship. The new moon day is like Passover. It's not a Holy Day, so we can do our daily work on it.
Ecl. 3:14 "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."
12. Will we be observing the new moon in the Kingdom of God?
Eze. 46:3 "Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the Sabbaths and in the new moons." Isa. 66:23 "And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."
13. From what location do we count time for the new moon day? Can we each count, from our own homes?
Eze. 43:7 "And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places."
2 Ch. 33:4 "Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, IN JERUSALEM SHALL MY NAME BE FOR EVER."
Isa. 2:3 "And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
We, the people of God, cannot take the law of God into our own hands and set the time for keeping the new moon day (month), the Sabbath day and the annual Holy Days from our own area. All these days are to be observed on the same day as they are in Jerusalem. God's ways are in harmony. Since we have been called and put into God's Church, and have been given His truth, we have been keeping the Sabbath and the annual Holy Days that have been calculated from the Jerusalem time zone.
Mr. Armstrong has said, "All these days were observed on the same day everywhere that they were observed at Jerusalem, when that day reaches them. Days are always calculated as of Jerusalem. If we live in a time zone that begins 10 hours later than the same does at Jerusalem, we observe the same day when that day comes to us, whether one or more hours before or after."
God's Word proves that the laws of God came from Jerusalem. If the Head of the Church is Jesus Christ under His Father, then we must follow the Word of God.
Jer. 3:17 "At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD: and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart."
Zec. 8:3 "Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain."
We must rejoice in the God of Truth!
Isa. 65:16-19 "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of Truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of Truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
TO KEEP UNITY IN THE CHURCH OF GOD AND TO WORSHIP GOD ON HIS SABBATHS, NEW MOONS AND HOLY DAYS, WE MUST USE JERUSALEM TO SYNCHRONIZE OUR TIME; JUST AS WE HAVE DONE FROM THE TIME OF OUR CALLING. IF WE DO NOT USE THE JERUSALEM TIME ZONE, WE WOULD BE WORSHIPPING ON A DIFFERENT DAY. ALL PEOPLE WILL COME TO JERU- SALEM TO KEEP THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES IN THE MILLENIUM. WE MUST KEEP THE DAY OF THE FEAST, WHEN IT IS OBSERVED IN JERUSALEM, AS THAT DAY COMES TO US.
14. Should the New Testament Church of God keep the new moon day as was observed in the Old Testament?
We see that Paul instructed the Gentiles at Colosse Church of God, not to worry about what other people said about them in keeping the Holyday, or the new moon, or the Sabbath days! Paul knew that the Jewish Christians already were taught from their youth to observe the new moon day (THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MONTH), the Sabbath day and the annual Holy Days. For the Gentile Church it was a different story. They had lived an entirely different way of life, by not observing days that the Jewish Christians had observed all their lives!
Col. 2:16-17 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
WE AS GOD'S PEOPLE TODAY SHOULD BE OBSERVING THE NEW MOON DAY (THE NEW MONTH DAY). THIS KEEPS US IN REMEM- BRANCE OF GOD'S TRUE CALENDAR. IF WE HAD BEEN KEEPING THE NEW MONTH DAY OVER THE YEARS, WE WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED GOD'S TRUE CALENDAR. WE HAVE BEEN KEEPING THE SABBATH AND THE HOLY DAYS FOR YEARS NOW AND YET WE HAVE NOT REMEMBERED WHEN A NEW MONTH ON GOD'S CALENDAR STARTS OR WHAT MONTH IT IS!
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