New Moon Sighting Affects Holiday Observances

[Trish]

Something that is new to me this year is learning about how the observances of some holidays depend on the sighting of the new moon. I am curious to learn more about this because there seem to be staunch supporters from both ends of the spectrum. Also, then, does the observance of Shabbat also depend upon the sighting of the new moon, counting every 7th day from the sighting (meaning it would sometimes fall upon a Tuesday according to the standard calender, or other day of the week)? This whole subject makes my mind swim! I've read up on both opposing POVs to some degree but that is only frustrating me more. Can anyone give me SCRIPTURAL backup for your reasons as to why you celebrate according to the rabbi's dates or according to the actual sighting of the new moon? Thanks!!!!

[Jody]

Shalom, One thing which I believe is confusing most of you, is that the first day of the month (new moon day) is NOT a Sabbath. It is also NOT a work day. Everywhere in Scripture you see these days mentioned, the New moon day, and Sabbath days are spoken of separately. The new moon day was considered a worship day, and did have special sacrifices, but that is not the same, nor were the sacrifices the same, as those offered on Shabbat. These two days are completely separate. In Scripture we are told that from one New moon day to another, AND from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, says YHVH.
The first day of every New moon cycle is this day. So therefore, the first work day was on the second day of the moons lunar cycle, making the seventh to be the eighth day of the moons lunar cycle.
It looks like this
New moon (Chodesh) 1-2-3-4-5-6 Sabbath; 1-2-3-4-5-6 Sabbath; 1-2-3-4-5-6- Sabbath; 1-2-3-4-5-6 Sabbath.
New Moon (Lunar day 1) 2-3-4-5-6-7 Sabbath (Lunar day 8); 9-10-11-12-13-14 Sabbath; (Lunar day 15); 16-17-18-19-20-21
Sabbath (Lunar day 22); 23-24-25-26-27-28 Sabbath (Lunar day 29); New moon day.
At least 72 times in Scripture the weekly Sabbath is pinpointed. The first time in Scripture the word Shabbat is mentioned it was on the 22nd of the second moon and He said it is the rest of the Qodesh Shabbat. See Shemoth (Exo 16:1-23) When YHVH gave the Yisra'elites manna.
I am not a very good teacher, and it would take pages to give all the proof texts (72) so if I may I will simply post a link for those who would like to read a teaching with those texts so they can look them up and see for themselves. But as it has already been stated, there is proof that this is the time keeping method used by Y'shuah. NOT the 7 day continuous cycle used today in the modern calendar. The modern/roman calendar started around 46 BCE under Julius Caesar and yes it was mainly instituted for ease of commerce. The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia acknowledges this saying that the Sabbaths were originally by the phases of the moon. Philo, who lived at the same time as Y'shuah also acknowledges that the weeks were by the moon alone.
So here is a link (just one, there are many) to a teaching, with the Scriptures and examples given to point you to the Truth.
http://www.lunarsabbath.com/articles/conclusive_evidence.htm

[Trish]

Thanks Jody, I'll definitely be checking that article out! The way I'm understanding your explanation is that the New Moon was, in a sense, a feast day of it's own, sort of like the other holidays, no work to be done but separate from the normal sabbath. Then from there we count 7 days and the 7th would be the Shabbat. And this would also make that last day of the month a shabbat, but then there will always be at least 2 days off from work because of shabbat and the new moon day, and possibly one day more if the new moon is not spotted. Is that a correct understanding?

[Shalom2Uall]

new moon festival day/worship day is when U can't see the moon at all, at the end of the 4 wkly Sabbath, when U see the moon again(a sliver cresent moon), then a new month begins, which begins the first work day of the wk/month. so the first Sabbath falls of day 7, the only time the wkly Sabbath falls on day 8 and day 15 is in the 7 month b/c of the Feast of Trumpets(a Sabbath-special appointed time mentioned in Lev, is day 1 and starts the first work day on day 2, It is explained really well in the "Holy Time" Book with examples in Scripture of the Moon festival, also read about Ezra, He traveled on the first day of the month. He was Torah Oberervant, also explained in "Holy Time" Book

Hope that helps
Rebecca

[Chandni]

my understanding of the article is that the new moon is the first day of the month and then you start counting from there, day 1, day 2... day 7 is 8 days from the new moon so the sabbath is always the 8th, 15, 22, 29th days of the month and line up with the moon phases. That's how they were able to march around jericho without having to stop for the sabbath, they started on the new moon.

[Chandni]

It does actually make sense. The article gives a lot of evidence though It'd take a while to sit down and really study it. However, I just wouldn't be able to keep the sabbath that way because I have to work and so does my husband. We couldn't take off one day each week to keep the sabbath. I believe God honours that we do our best to keep his set apart days, even if they're on the wrong day. We see how when the temple was rededicated during Josiah they kept Passover at the wrong time but God blessed them. One day God will restore things to his timing, but we do have to live in this world. In a way we are slaves to this world and slaves are exempt from time bound laws (not that we're exempt from the law, but that God makes allowences). I don't think we can say God won't meet with us if we don't keep his appointed time on the right day because his word says, "Where two or more are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them". But it's good to know and keep in mind.
Perhaps keeping the festivals by this dating method would be possible. Or just keeping record of it and knowing what day it actually is is good

[Trish]

I agree completely, Chandni! I think even if we can't completely keep everything on the right day, it is good to know the days that would be correct. Thanks for your comments and blessings to you!

[YAHaloma]

Here I have to disagree. If we KNOW the days to be correct, we can't go making our own day to celebrate instead of the KNOWN day, appointed day, to do so. Picking our own day is no better than letting the churches pick Sunday!

I totally sypmathize, though, with those who observe lunar shabbos, and work. I can't imagine there being very many understanding bosses out there who will let you start changing your day of the weeks around that you need to take off. On the flip side, some businesses wouldn't mind so long as you are available most weekends to work, when so many others won't. And perhaps He would see us as being slaves, and being exempt from the time bound laws in this case. But, we should be striving to break free of those bonds!

I also believe so long as there is confusion about which days ARE the correct days, for an individual, or the community, YHWH is gracious, and will understand how feeble our understanding is. But, we have to be VERY careful with this 'excuse', as we should with any. If it can be proven, through study, we should be on fire to find that proof, and to live by what we KNOW to be Truth, regardless of the world's understanding of it.

Just my 2 cents.....

Shalom

[Trish]

That is true, we need to be diligent to do what is right. For some of us, though, we are not part of a community who even remotely keeps Torah, nor are we the spiritual leaders in our household in which our spouses do not keep Torah. It is not simply a work issue for many of us... In order to keep lunar shabbos, one must be able to totally revamp the calender around which their life revolves and when you are the only one doing so in the world in which you live, it simply does not work. When spouses/families are not on board, and when we have school and jobs to contend with in addition to that fact, the barriers are only heaped upon us. Ideally, yes, we would all be free to do so, but unless we have the power change the world around us and the system by which is operates, we must rely on our Creator to be graceful toward us until He makes these changes possible.

[YAHaloma]

Am doing that. My daughter, son and I are the only ones who believe. My husband, mother, father (whom live next door and own the property we live on) are tolerant, but our 'days' cause much strife. We are learning to stand firm where it is warrented, but avoid being dragged into arguements, etc about the issues. We homeschool, so school days are not an issue. I think there ARE ways to revamp your life to fit a Torah life, it just depends on if you are ready for that kind of commitment. Yes, there are times when it will take years to gradually ease everyone else around you into accepting this IS the way you will live. I've been working on it for 6 years now, and am only now getting the family to the point where they don't pester us as much about Christmas, etc. If we decide that Lunar Shabbos is the right way to go, it's going to be interesting, but I WILL do it.

And, again, I agree that YHWH will be gracious, but that doesn't mean that we should expect Him to pardon us if we don't put out the best effort we can to live His ways, regardless of the possible consequences. I mean, really, many gave up their LIVES, the right to BREATHE, to keep His ways. It's the least we can do to try to move forward, constantly, towards being totally Torah observant, even if we each have our own pace we must move forward at.

[Trish]

I agree. However, in discussing lunar sabbaths with my husband, this is where he draws the line...and a very firm one at that. I cannot change his heart. My desire to homeschool has been a huge issue in our home but he will not allow that either, nor will he allow me to pull my children out of school to observe Shabbat (or feast days) in the middle of the week, so that is also out. So the best my children and I can do at this point is to be aware of the days that are correct. Work is not an issue for me personally because I make my own schedule, but I know there are others who cannot. It is amazing the grace we have been afforded by YHWH, but fellow believers are so quick to judge our hearts and assume we are not giving it our best. I am fully willing to revamp my life and have already done this once to be able to observe where I am at now, but my husband is drawing the line there. Please don't judge, I am fighting these battles and am doing all I can at this point in my life. We are, after all, to submit to those that YHWH has placed in authority over us.

[Mary]

I don't think those who keep Saturday as the Sabbath are "picking their own day". They are trying to keep what has been accepted as the 7th day. I would love to be able to keep the lunar sabbath but just the above messages show that there is a difference of opinion as to whether they are the 7th day of the month or the 8th, 14th or 15th, etc. Until all things are made clear (by the Messiah), we have to do the best we can. I work as a registered nurse in the ER. Unfortunately, that is a job that is open 24/7. Right now I am off every weekend. That could change at any time if the nurse who works every weekend decides to change or quits. My schedule is made out a month in advance. I already have a schedule for February. I don't have the option of waiting for the new moon to know what days to ask off. My employer has been very gracious about giving me feast days off when I request them and I do believe that YHVH gives us grace when we are trying to follow his commandments. He looks at the heart. Another 2 cents.

Shalom,

Mary in WY

[YAHaloma]

This isn't what I was saying. Those who keep the Friday/Saturday shabbos are doing what they believe is correct, according to what they were taught, and feel is in line with Torah. IF however, they come to the frame of mind that it may be incorrect, and that the Lunar Shabbos is more in line with scriptures, they really SHOULD change, or else THEY are choosing, in spite of the evidence that shows them other wise. Clear as mud?

I, myself, am a F/S shabbos keeper at this time. It is what I've been convicted of up to this point. But, I do feel that YHWH wants me to be looking into this, just the way the whole subject has been playing out over the past few months. I've had the question of HOW the 7th day became accepted (most likely a HUMAN decision, not based on Torah) planted firmly in my head, and why on earth wouldn't we follow the moon, as it is most likely what the Hebrews have done since the beginning of time. Not to say He is expecting me to change, but that He has shown me over my entire life span Truths AND lies by having me study them, even experience them to a point. He is moving me to understand the Shabbos days in this manner as well. We will see what I become convicted of.

The arguments I am seeing here against a Lunar shabbos all evolve around personal issues. Not whether it might be the wrong thing. This isn't the right frame of mind, folks. If we truely want to grow spiritually, we have to live spiritually focused lives, regardless of what the world tries to push on us. I know, I know, you all are going to say "it's UNREASONABLE!!" Of course it is!! Do you think that living a spiritual life is going to be reasonable in a fleshy world? I do believe the trick is that we have to stop making excuses and do our utmost to find ways to make it work! It may take us YEARS to get to the point in our spiritual growth where we can actually make ourselves embrace this frame of mind, and that's okay!! THAT is where YHWH's grace comes in. But, we must NOT let the world's way STOP us in our tracks, and keep us from actually trying to move forward in our spiritual growth with bondage of worldly things.

I am not sure that I can get this across very well. Of course, if you aren't in the frame of mind that will accept this way of thinking, no matter how I paint it or say it, it's not going to make sense right now. Perhaps someday, for those of you who don't agree with me, it will make sense another time in your life. I am NOT trying to put anyone down, cause distention, only trying to help push you to move FORWARD on your spiritual walk. But, if you aren't ready for the nudge, it won't do any good, and I apologize to those who may feel offended.

Shalom.....