Daily Bible Reading - November 28, 2018

Today's Reading:

Galatians 3:19-4:20

Lamentations 1-2

Psalm 145

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Thoughts and Commentary on Today's Reading   

In today's reading, we have Galatians chapter 4. This just happens to be one of the most often-misquoted Scriptures to support the idea that keeping Yahweh's Feasts (listed in Leviticus 23) is not only unnecessary, but "weak" and "beggarly"! We simply must look at Galatians 4:9-11 and see what message Paul intended, in context. First, let's focus on the misconstrued verses: 

Galatians 4:9-11 "But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."

Galatians 4:9-11 is commonly interpreted to mean that since the Feasts of Yahweh are observed days and times, they must be the days and times Paul is referencing as "weak" and "beggarly". If so, the keeping of them puts Christians "in bondage" and caused the apostle to feel that his work for such souls was wasted time ("labour in vain"). Strong words! It is a powerful warning!

As Christians, we certainly do not want to return to any "weak" and "beggarly elements" or former "bondage"! So, we want no part of keeping whatever days are being observed that produce such spiritual weakness! But the meaning of Paul's words here is escaping many, because they do not read Galatians 4:9-11 in context. To read these verses in context, we must consider the meaning of the verses surrounding them in Galatians 4. To discover whether or not Galatians 4:9-11 is warning us against keeping Yahweh's Feasts, or some other days, we must take notice of verse 8. In verse 8, just one verse prior, we find the key to identifying the days and times which are "beggarly elements":

Galatians 4:8 "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods."

In the context then, we see that the Christians are being warned against the service of the "no gods" - which is idolatry. Returning to keeping the unholy days and times of the "no gods" (idols) is what Paul said was returning to the "weak" and "beggarly elements". Paul wasn't talking about Yahweh's holy days at all. 

The days of the "no gods" are the days which come from ancient sun worship. One of these is Christmas, as I have already shown in my blogs (November 17-20, 2017). 

So what does the Bible teach about the Feasts of Yahweh? To answer this, I invite you to read our doctrinal Study Guide (#4). It is available online and in printed form (which you may request through contacting me). 

May our Heavenly Father bless us in staying strong and free in Him. May we never return to any weak and beggarly elements, which are keeping the pagan days like we used to when we unknowingly served the "no gods". Shalom and blessings!