Leviticus 23:1-44; Leviticus 24:1-23; Leviticus 25:1-553. Sacred Seasons (Leviticus 23:1-44; Leviticus 24:1-23; Leviticus 25:1-55) Every religion has its feasts and festivals. They are necessary to its existence. They keep alive its memories. We are so prone to forget what we do not see. There is religious enthusiasm in numbers. We are justified alone; we are sanctified together. Judaism and Christianity are no exceptions to this religious tendency. God would have His people know that there is such a thing as the consecration of time. Of course, all time is sacred and belongs to God, and that is the reason why the number “ seven” is so often mentioned in these chapters: the seventh day of the week, the seventh week, the seventh month, the seventh year, and seven sevens of years. Time is probably the hardest thing we are called upon to give to God. The sacrifice of time is the crown of all the sacrifices. It is easier to give money and things than to give time. Many who think it wrong to steal money do not have any conscientious scruples about stealing time from God. Will a man rob God? Yet we rob Him of time-time for devotion, for family worship, for service. Do we take vacations for the building up of the Christian life and for prayer? We have national holidays, why not religious holidays? Is Christ less than Washington or Lincoln? Is Calvary less than Bunker Hill? Is Christmas day less than the Fourth of July? Fraternal orders, for example, have their conclaves. Why should not Christians have their conferences? This is the thought contained in that hymn: Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in endless praise; Take my intellect, and use Every power as Thou shalt chooseThe setting apart of certain time for God is a prevention of covetousness, and shows that a man really believes that he does not live by bread alone, and that “ a man’ s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). (a) The Names of the Sacred Seasons They are called “ set times,” rather than feasts, for some, like the Day of Atonement, for example, were days of mourning. A “ feast” was sometimes a “ fast.” Not always are we led by still waters and in green pastures. We have shadows as well as sunshine, but all ends in a perfect day, the Sabbath of God. These “ set times” are also called “ feasts.” The dance and joy are connected therewith. Six of these feasts are for joy; one for mourning, thus indicating the characteristic of all true religion. Christianity was born in a song. The command is “ rejoice evermore,” not “ weep evermore.” These sacred times were called “ holy convocations.” They were not to be idle days, but busy days-busy with God and the things of God. They are called “my feasts.” What a contrast is suggested by the words of Jesus, “ The feasts of the Jews.” These sacred times are occasions through which God speaks to the soul and by which He arouses and assembles His people. We are usually so busy that God has no time to speak to us. We need to “ give ourselves,” or as we may say, “ take leisure, a vacation, for prayer.”