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Teaching on  Dedicating Every Month to the Lord   ©by Kathy Black 

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                The Old Testament Dedication of the month was done at the sighting of the new moon.    The new month is called Rosh Chodesh in Hebrew, which means Head or First of the Month.  This is the very first commandment given to the entire nation of Israel, an indication that the concept of Rosh Chodesh, or the New Moon, is very meaningful. 2        

Why would Believers Want to Participate in Worship at the New Moon Today?

Colossians 2:16. So don’t let anyone criticize you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating Jewish holidays and feasts or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these were only temporary rules that ended when Christ came. They were only shadows of the real thing—of Christ himself. 

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How was celebrating the New Moon a shadow of Christ?  The new moon ceremonies showed that Christ would provide new beginnings; a freedom from slavery to sin, reconciliation, renewal and life.

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Even though this verse says that a believer should not be criticized by others for celebrating, or not celebrating,  the Jewish holidays, feasts and new moon ceremonies, Jesus himself would have worshiped during the new moon in Jerusalem as all Jewish believers of His day did.

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At this time only believers are present with him, there is a new heaven and a new earth but still His people, Jew and Gentile alike, will enjoy starting their month together by worshipping Him at the beginning of the month as God decided it would be marked, at the New Moon.

Isaiah 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, says the LORD. 

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Here the Lord through the Prophet Isaiah prophesies that when Jesus makes a new heaven and earth when He returns to live with his people we will still mark the days of worship starting with the new moon.   (For more references on the new heavens and earth see Isaiah. 65:17;  2 Pet. 3:13; and Rev. 21:1–4.)

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Why would believers in Jesus want to celebrate the new month at the time of the New Moon after he returns and we have a new heaven and earth?  It will give us a chance to esteem, honor, praise, thank, and show respect for what God has done for us in the previous month.  It is a time we will worship before the King of Kings in person, to inquire of Him, to feast with Him, and to receive His blessing and to sanctify the new month.

Who Celebrated the new moon festivals in the bible: 

1 Samuel 20:5 And David replied, "Tomorrow is the beginning of the celebration of the new moon. Always before, I’ve been with your father for this occasion, but tomorrow I’ll hide in the field and stay there until the evening of the third day. 

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David before he was King.

2 Chronicles 2:4. "I am about to build a temple for the Lord my God," Solomon told Hiram. "It will be a place where I can burn incense and sweet spices before God, and display the special sacrificial bread, and sacrifice burnt offerings each morning and evening, and on the Sabbaths, and at the new moon celebration and other regular festivals of the Lord our God. For God wants Israel always to celebrate these special occasions. 

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This is King Solomon speaking

Nehemiah 10:32. We also agreed to charge ourselves annually with a Temple tax so that there would be enough money to care for the Temple of our God; for we needed supplies of the special Bread of the Presence, as well as grain offerings and burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moon feasts, and the annual feasts. 

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This appears to be Nehemiah speaking

2 Kings 4:23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor Sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. 

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The Shunammite woman.  People of the day went to inquire and see the prophets on Sabbaths and New Moons.

Excerpted from the Quest Study Bible: The New Moon was both a religious and a civil festival. It was celebrated at the beginning of each month and is often mentioned in the Old Testament along with the Sabbath (for example, Isaiah 1:13). It was a day of celebration (Hosea 2:11), of rest (Amos 8:5), of increased offerings (Numbers 28:11-15), Ezekiel 45:17) and of worship (Isaiah 66:23; Ezek, 46: 1-7)

Book Excerpted: The Feasts of Israel (Seasons of the Messiah) by Bruce Scott published by Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry

Under the law of Moses, the new moon was marked by blowing two silver trumpets (Numbers 10:10) and sacrificing a burnt offering and a sin offering (Numbers 28: 11-15). Later, the beginning of each month took on additional characteristics. 

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The people feasted (I Sam 20:5), 

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closed their businesses (Amos 8:5) 

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and some went to the prophet of God for inquiry and instruction (2 Kings 4:23).

By the time of the Second Temple, the sighting of the new moon had become a festival in itself. Because only the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem had the authority to set the calendar, the sighting of the new moon was reported to them. Sumptuous meals were prepared in a large courtyard to encourage the people to serve as witnesses to these sightings. They gathered and waited their turn to be intervened by the religious leaders. Upon examination of two reliable witnesses, the Sanhedrin declared. 

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"The new month is sanctified--it is sanctified! The celebration then began. The people were jubilant as the prescribed sacrifices were offered.

Meanwhile, the high priest lifted his hands and blessed the people: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. (Numbers 6: 24-26)

The Sanhedrin also gave three blessings. One over the holiday wine, one thanking God for revealing the Jewish calendar; and one expressing the desire that the Messiah come, along with his forerunner, Elijah the Prophet.

        Scriptural references regarding Setting 

Aside the beginning of the month for special worship.

Numbers 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.

Numbers 28:11-15 "Also, on the first day of each month there shall be an extra burnt offering to the Lord of two young bulls, one ram, and seven male yearling lambs—all without defect. Accompany them with nine quarts of finely ground flour mixed with oil as a grain offering with each bull; and six quarts of finely ground flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for the ram; and for each lamb, three quarts of finely ground flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. This burnt offering shall be presented by fire and will please the Lord very much. Along with each sacrifice shall be a drink offering—six pints of wine with each bull, four pints for a ram, and three pints for a lamb. This, then, will be the burnt offering each month throughout the year. Living Bible

Hosea 2:11 I will also cause all her mirth to cease, her feast days, her new moons, and her Sabbaths, and all her solemn feasts.

Ezra 3:4. And they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles as prescribed in the laws of Moses, sacrificing the burnt offerings specified for each day of the feast. They also offered the special sacrifices required for the Sabbaths, the new moon celebrations, and the other regular annual feasts of the Lord.

Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.  Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. RSV

Ezekiel 45:17 And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the Sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel. 

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It appears to be a good time to thank God for reconciling us through the blood of Jesus and to pray for reconciliation and salvation for those who have not yet experienced reconciliation to our Lord.

Ezekiel 46:1-4 & 6.  The Lord God says: "The inner wall’s eastern entrance shall be closed during the six work days but open on the Sabbath and on the days of the new moon celebrations. At the new moon celebration, he shall bring one young bull in perfect condition, six lambs, and one ram, all without any blemish. With the young bull, he must bring a half bushel of flour for a meal offering. With the ram he must bring a half bushel of flour. With the lamb he is to bring whatever he is willing to give. With each half bushel of grain he is to bring three quarts of olive oil. 

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There are different offerings on the new moon--that appear to me more costly? And they worshipped at the eastern entrance where the Prince came to worship and offer royal sacrifices.

Amos 8:5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat...

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It appears that all commerce was stopped for a few days at the beginning of the month as well.

Psalm 81: 3-7.  Sound the trumpet! Come to the joyous celebrations at full moon, new moon, and all the other holidays. 

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For God has given us these times of joy; they are scheduled in the laws of Israel. 

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He gave them as reminders of his war against Egypt where we were slaves on foreign soil. LB

Praying Together as Families to Dedicate our Month and Pray for the House of Israel On the New Moon

Dedicating the new month to the Lord,  at the new moon during a special worship service, could also be a very strategic time given to us by the Holy Spirit at this special season in church history.  

bulletIt gives us a time to pray for our Households and to stand together for the House of Israel--for ALL to be saved. 
bullet We could also, in faith, celebrate and inquire of God to ready us for the month ahead.  
bulletComing into the month in the way the Lord told the Israelites to observe the new  month will start our months off the way the Lord instituted them and connect the our Sabbaths to the new month that was dedicated to the Lord.

1 Hillel, The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life website quote.

2 Mesorah Publications' Stone Edition of the Chumash