Shavuot/Pentecost

The people all responded together, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD. — Exodus 19:8

Today is the second day of the Jewish holiday, Shavuot.

Every Jewish holiday has a focal point, a symbolic item or action around which the observance revolves. Passover hasmatzah and the seder. Rosh Hashanah has its shofar.Hanukkah has the lights of the menorah and Sukkot has the temporary huts that we live in. But what about Shavuot?

Shavuot is one of the three major holidays the Bible commanded the children of Israel to celebrate. It’s the Festival of Weeks, which celebrates the monumental event of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Yet, despite its importance, in comparison to other Jewish holidays, Shavuot seems to be lacking. What is its symbol? What do we do on this day that is unique, special for this holiday?

To help us answer that, let’s review the pivotal moment in the Shavuot narrative.

Moses had come down from Mount Sinai with a message for the children of Israel from God: “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5). And the people responded, “We will do everything the LORD has said.” 

Why is this such a critical moment?

Because this is the marriage, if you will, between God and His people. God said, “Will you be mine?” and the people said, “Yes!” Then the Torah was given and the story unfolded. However, it all hinged on that one moment when the children of Israel said “yes” to God.

When you think about it, though, the Israelites didn’t actually do anything. They simply expressed their desire to do whatever God asked of them. And this is what the holiday is all about — not doing, but desiring. It’s about realizing how much we lack, how much we need God, and wanting deeply and passionately to be His.

This is so critical for receiving God and His Word in our lives. You can’t add water to a bucket that’s already full. It has to be empty, lacking, in need of water, in order to receive the water. The Torah is often compared to water by the Sages, and we can only receive it if we have an empty place inside for the water to collect.

In Judaism and Christianity, we believe that even if we are given everything we need physically, without God, we have nothing. We are empty, lacking, and incomplete. However, many of us look at life in the opposite manner — we focus more on what we are lacking physically, and don’t even consider that we are incomplete without God. This Shavuot, let’s realize the truth of what we need and don’t need. Let’s realize what we truly lack. We all possess an emptiness that can only be filled by God. So let’s long for Him, desire Him, and receive Him in our lives.

With prayers for shalom, peace, Your Watchman on the Wall - Al