COUNTING THE OMER

Leviticus 23:15 -16 "From the day after the day of rest, that is, from the day you bring the sheaf for waving, you are to count seven full weeks, until the day after the seventh week; you are to count fifty days; and then you are to present a new grain offering to ADONAI."

Beginning after Passover, we count forty-nine days until the fiftieth day, the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot. On this day, two loaves of leavened bread made from new flour were to be waved before HaShem in the Temple (Lev. 23: 15, 17; Num. 28:26) This was one of the four times a year when the "first fruits" of the ground were to be offered.

These four times included: The Early Firstfruits--this was observed the day after the Passover Sabbath, then seven weeks later on Shavuot. Following Shavuot was the Feast of Tabernacles ((Ex. 23:16, 34:22), and then the tithe, where everyone was required to consecrate a portion of their firstfruits harvest to G-d (Ex. 22:29, 23:19, 43:26; Num. 25:30, 21)

The Early Firstfruits occurred by Passover. Traditionally, a barley sheaf was waved before the Lord with accompanying sacrifices. From there, one began counting down the days in great anticipation of Shavuot. While standing at the evening prayers, one recites, "Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, Ruler of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments, commanding us to count the omer." The days are counted thus: "Today is the first day of the Omer." "Today is the second day of the Omer." "Today is the third day of the Omer." After one week, one says, "Today is the seventh day. This is one week in the Omer." Psalm 67 is often recited during these days because of its numerical value corresponding to the days of the counting of the Omer; it has seven verses and forty-nine words (in Hebrew).

Even though we cannot wave the sheaf or the leavened loaves due to the absence of the Temple, we can perform the mitzvah (good deed/commandment) to count the days. Most Jewish observers begin counting from the second day of Passover, the day after Unleavened Bread.

While there is joy during this forty-nine day time of counting, it is also considered a time of semi-mourning because of things that befell the Jews this time of year. Accordingly, orthodox Jews do not shave, cut their hair, or perform weddings during this period.

Yeshua is the firstfruits of those who died (1Cor. 15:20). His resurrection is the firstfruits and promise of our resurrection, when, at the End of Days, the dead in Messiah will rise first. John 12:24 says, "Yes, indeed! I tell you that unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain; but if it dies, it produces a big harvest." When Yeshua was resurrected, many other righteous dead were resurrected as well, and He took them before His Father in Heaven. They were the firstfruits of His harvest. This happened during the time of the omer counting. The root of bikkurim (firstfruits) in Hebrew is bekhor, which means firstborn. Indeed, Yeshua was the firstborn of all His brethren, the firstborn of the firstfruits of HaShem.

After Yeshua's ascension, the Believers observed Shavuot. There they received the Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit.