Shavuot: The Holy Spirit & His Tri-Union Oneness with God
Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks is the central Feast Celebration in the Almighty’s decreed cycle.
The Christian Church calls this day Pentecost which is Greek for “fiftieth” as this day concludes the counting of the Omer as instructed in Leviticus. While the Christian Church lays aside the Lord’s Feasts, this day is notable to the church since it marks the giving of the Holy Spirit as evidenced in the tongues of fire that descended upon the apostles as they were gathered in Jerusalem. Yet this Feast Day was prescribed by the Almighty from the beginning, knowing that He would perform this great feat upon this appointed day. The apostles were in Jerusalem to observe this Feast, as well as per Messiah’s instruction. Shavuot is one of the pilgrimage feasts where the men are required to journey to Jerusalem which is why there were so many people in the city on this day.
This day not only marks the giving of the Holy Spirit but also the giving of the Torah on Sinai. The giving of the Torah is a far-reaching event—one that touches Hashem’s people who are called by His name in and for all times. It was in all respects a wedding between God and His people. Interestingly, Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day God swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him as our forefathers stated, “all that you say, we will do.”
Today as we celebrate this Feast, let us renew our commitment to do all that He says and incline our hearts to walk more ardently in His ways. We can only do this through the indwelling Spirit which He gives to each of us upon acceptance of His gracious gift of redemption.
Today, as we observe this wonderful Feast, we will consider the God head, it’s unity and the Spirit’s role in our lives which is critical in our walk as end times Torah observant saints.
It’s not unusual to think that the Holy Spirit doesn’t show up until the New Testament, yet in fact, His existence is eternal. His work, His influence, His power which is the power of God is evidenced from the beginning. In Genesis 1:2 we read that the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. He has, is, and will always be an active participant in the Godhead. Truthfully this is the mystery of the Divine, who is at once One, yet Father, Son, and Spirit. If we try to unravel this mystery, we inevitably end in error. We cannot get our brains around the infinite awesomeness of God. If we are His, we must accept Him as He is. That is why it is called faith. Mysteries are not problems to be solved, but rather places where we should fall down to worship. Rather than believe only what we can comprehend, we have faith in Gods testimony.
Many, many scriptures refer to the Godhead which we will look at. At this junction, it is important to understand that we are monotheistic, we do not serve multiple gods. We serve the One true God of Israel who in Deuteronomy 6 proclaims that He is One God. Echad in Hebrew. Masculine. He is One. United, altogether. It is the same word used in Genesis 2:24 when referring to the sacred bond of marriage, when a man shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one. Echad. A oneness in plurality. Two joined as one. For God, three in One. Patrick, the Catholic patron saint of Ireland used the shamrock to explain this profound mystery of the trinity. The shamrock, its three leaves are part of one plant, similarly the three Persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, are part of one Supreme Being.
Does scripture bear out this oneness? Rather than refer to the trinity, we will refer to the tri-unity of God. This Tri-unity is never explained, it is assumed and revealed in scripture. Yeshua Himself quoted from Deuteronomy 6, stating “Hear Oh Israel, the Lord our God is One Lord” in Mark 12:29. If God were to be referred to in the singular, the word yachid would be used in Hebrew. This word is used when referring to Isaac when the Almighty was speaking to Abraham in Gen 22:2; Take your son, your only (yachid) son. Yachid is never used when referring to God!
From the beginning God is Elohim in Hebrew, im is a plural ending in the Hebrew language. The Triunity is not a contradiction of the oneness of God, but rather the best explanation of His oneness! To know the Triune God is to know the One Who is eternally relational. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are fully God and in community with one another from eternity past.
Scripture points to this eternal relationship and cooperation. Referring back to the creation account, God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gen 1:26). When Isaiah was being commissioned for the Lord’s work as a prophet, the Almighty asked, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" (Isa 6:8). In Isaiah 48 the prophet is proclaiming a treatise to Israel in which He states: v 12-13 “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together. V 16-17, Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there. And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.” These references from the TANAK illustrate our Triune God in action on our behalf.
The renewed covenant expounds on this relationship. When promising the Holy Spirit to His followers, Yeshua as recounted in John chapter 14 says; "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” Here we see all three members of the Godhead referenced together in one verse. The word Helper used for the Spirit is translated from the Greek Parakletos which is where we get the word Paraclete. An intercessor, consoler, advocate, or comforter. He is the one who comes alongside, to strengthen, encourage and advise us.
The battle of the Spirit versus the flesh is unrelenting and our fleshy nature can never be subdued by human thinking. The indwelling Spirit guides us; thus, we know we are sons and daughters of the Most High God! Rom 8:14 states, “For all who are led by God's Spirit are God's children.” and Gal 5:16 admonishes us to “live by the Spirit, and you will never fulfill the desires of the flesh”. While we cannot see the Spirit, we can see His effects in our lives as we walk in the fruit produced by His inner workings. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and faithfulness and self-control! Do we exhibit these qualities with ever increasing measure as time goes on? We ought to. If not let us ask, for He will provide the strength to do so.
When Yeshua was baptized by John the Immerser we read in Mat 3:16 & 17 “immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Again, all three members of the Triune Godhead referenced together in one verse.
Additionally, Mathew’s Gospel concludes with Yeshua’ s command to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
These scriptures illustrate the connection the Father, Son, and Spirit share. As God, all three point to the same end, have the same goal, & desire the same outcome. Salvation and obedience for all who are called to be a son or daughter of the Most High God. The Father planned your salvation prior to creation, the Son provided it through His sacrificial death and the Spirit applied it when you received the good news!
Truly, the Oneness of God’s Triunity is expressed in our very lives as we walk in salvation and obedience, the two high points of this Feast of Shavuot. May you be strengthened and renewed as you ponder these great truth’s this day. Shalom.