Counting the Omer
Sefirat HaOmer
ספירת העומר
Download a printable copy
What is an Omer?
An omer is literally, a sheaf, or about the
amount of barley that can be held in one’s fist. In modern measurements it is
equivalent to 2.3 quarts or about 2 liters of grain in volume.
It is important to mention that this year the dates of the omer count presented here match the dates on a typical Hebrew calendar whereas in most years this has not been the case. To learn more about the different views as to when to start counting the omer, see below. The view followed here is the Aristocratic Majority View, which is the view preferred most by the Messianic Community. The view followed by most Hebrew Calandars and also most popular in orthodox and mainstream Jewish communities, is the Hassisdic Majority view. The interesting thing to note is that although in most years these views result in a different starting date for the omer count, in 2015 and 2016, because Passover falls on the sixth day of the week – i.e., on a Friday, both views promote the same starting date and therefore celebrate Shavuoth (Pentecost) on the same date as well. It is not entirely uncommon for this similarity to occur. During the last 50 years this has happened eleven times. The last time it happened in back to back years was in 1991 and 1992 and before that 1964 and 1965. Nevertheless, it is truthful and at the same time sad to say that in the majority of years many are counting the omer on the wrong dates as far as the sovereign of the universe is concerned. Still in 2015, most will be counting on the correct day, at least those of us who are bothering to practice the mitzvah of counting the Omer.
Another thing to note is that the similarity in the pattern of the counting of seven sabbatical years, or 49 years in all, leading up to the declaration of the Year of Jubilee as explained in Leviticus 25:8-13, and the counting of the forty-nine days of the omer. This similarity may be of tremendous prophetic significance as we approach the time of Yeshua’s return and the prophesied day of Jacob’s trouble. Is it possible that just as the celebration and the various traditions associated with Passover prefigure the first coming of the Messiah and His atoning death on the cross, so the counting of the omer is a rehearsal of sorts foreshadowing His second coming and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom? …the advent of Ha Yovel Moshiac, Messiah’s Jubilee? I believe that the answer is most definitely YES!
When do we start to count the Omer?
It is important to mention that this year the dates of the omer count presented here match the dates on a typical Hebrew calendar whereas in most years this has not been the case. To learn more about the different views as to when to start counting the omer, see below. The view followed here is the Aristocratic Majority View, which is the view preferred most by the Messianic Community. The view followed by most Hebrew Calandars and also most popular in orthodox and mainstream Jewish communities, is the Hassisdic Majority view. The interesting thing to note is that although in most years these views result in a different starting date for the omer count, in 2015 and 2016, because Passover falls on the sixth day of the week – i.e., on a Friday, both views promote the same starting date and therefore celebrate Shavuoth (Pentecost) on the same date as well. It is not entirely uncommon for this similarity to occur. During the last 50 years this has happened eleven times. The last time it happened in back to back years was in 1991 and 1992 and before that 1964 and 1965. Nevertheless, it is truthful and at the same time sad to say that in the majority of years many are counting the omer on the wrong dates as far as the sovereign of the universe is concerned. Still in 2015, most will be counting on the correct day, at least those of us who are bothering to practice the mitzvah of counting the Omer.
Another thing to note is that the similarity in the pattern of the counting of seven sabbatical years, or 49 years in all, leading up to the declaration of the Year of Jubilee as explained in Leviticus 25:8-13, and the counting of the forty-nine days of the omer. This similarity may be of tremendous prophetic significance as we approach the time of Yeshua’s return and the prophesied day of Jacob’s trouble. Is it possible that just as the celebration and the various traditions associated with Passover prefigure the first coming of the Messiah and His atoning death on the cross, so the counting of the omer is a rehearsal of sorts foreshadowing His second coming and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom? …the advent of Ha Yovel Moshiac, Messiah’s Jubilee? I believe that the answer is most definitely YES!
What are the different views about when to count?
There are four different approaches or interpretations as to when we are
to begin counting the omer.[1]
The most popular up until the end of the second temple period was the Aristocratic majority view which held that
the waving of the omer wave offering
should be timed with the first day of the week, the day we call Sunday, after Pesakh (Passover). This view was based
directly on Leviticus 23:11 which commands that the omer offering should be waved on the day after the Sabbath
following Passover. They interpreted the word Sabbath to refer to the weekly
Sabbath. The result is that, the first day of the omer always falls on the
Feast of First Fruits, Habikkurim and the fiftieth day, being Shavuot,
always falls on the first day of the week. Unlike every other major festival, Shavuot,
according to this reckoning, does not fall on a particular day of the month in
the Hebrew calendar, in keeping with scripture.
Another related view, the Quasi-Aristocratic
minority view, interpreted the word Sabbath to refer to the weekly Sabbath that
would occur after the 7-day feast of unleavened bread. This results in the wave
offering being offered on the first day of the week after the end of the 7 days
of unleavened bread. One reason why this view has never gained much support is
that the counting of the omer could begin as much as 13 days after Passover
when Abib 15 (Nisan 15) falls on the second day of the week.
The view that is most popular today is the Hassidic majority view. In this interpretation the Sabbath referred
to is the high Sabbath festival day of Pesakh - Abib 15 (Nisan 15). According
to most Hebrew calendars today the Omer wave offering always occurs and the
counting of the omer begins on the 16th day of Abib (Nisan) no matter which day
of the week that might be. This system seems to have been put into place about
68 C.E. when the control of the Sanhedrin shifted from the Pharisees to the Sadducees,
however, it is supported according to some by Joshua 5:10-11.
The final view, the Quasi-Hassidic
minority view is similar in interpretation but like the Quasi-Aristocratic view
it holds that the Wave offering should be made after the festival of Unleavened
Bread is complete. Therefore in this view the Sabbath referred to in Leviticus
23:11 is the high Sabbath festival day occurring on the last day of unleavened
bread. This day is always Abib 21 (Nisan 21) no matter which day of the week
that might be. In this case it is a direct contradiction of Joshua 5:10-11.
In this guide we prefer the Aristocratic
majority view which was believed to have been the accepted practice during
temple times and is the only one which sets the start of the omer count on the
day associated with Yeshua’s resurrection and establishes Shavuot on the first
day of the week in keeping with the account of Pentecost provided in Acts 2. It
should be noted that when Passover falls on Friday (as it does in 2015 and
2016) nearly everyone will be in agreement about the day to start counting.
Why the Aristocratic Majority view is preferred
In this guide we prefer the Aristocratic majority view which was believed to have been the accepted practice during temple times and is the only one which sets the start of the omer count on the day associated with Yeshua’s resurrection and establishes Shavuot on the first day of the week in keeping with the account of Pentecost provided in Acts 2. A careful reading of the Hebrew text in Leviticus 23:15 supports this view as well. Read from left to right in this interlinear presentation of the verse:
The word-for-word translation reads: "And count from the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf wave offering, seven complete Sabbaths." Even if you interpret the first Sabbath reference to refer to the day of Passover as per the Hassidic majority view, the subsequent use of the plural Sabbaths can only mean the regular weekly Sabbaths. Otherwise the Hebrew word used here would be Shavuot – Weeks, not Shabbatot – Sabbaths. This clearly indicates that the regular weekly Sabbath is in view and could be the reason that the specific days of the month are never given in the text for the feast of Firstfruits and for Shavuot. Accoding to this interpretation, they will always fall on the day after the Sabbath – Sunday, regardless of what day Passover falls on.
It should be noted that when Passover (Nisan 14) falls on the Sixth day of the week - Friday, (as it did in 2018 and 2019 and will again in 2022 and 2029) nearly everyone will be in agreement about the day to start counting the omer.
 |
Days of the omer count in 2021, according to the Aristocratic majority view. Here we see only the days that we will be counting the omer and the corresponding dates of the Gregorian calendar. Beginning on the first day following the first Sabbath after Passover, we are to count forty-nine days – seven Sabbaths. The fiftieth day is Shavuot or Pentecost. |
How do we count the Omer?
In Jewish tradition there exists a very
orderly and well accepted way of fulfilling the MitzVah of counting the omer. Most
prayer books, or Siddurs, follow this formula. After sundown each day
one begins by reciting a prescribed blessing followed by the statement as to
the number of days of the omer count at that point. This is followed by reading
Psalm 67. In some cases a prayer is provided – usually the same prayer for
every day of the count – inserting the appropriate number for that day of the
count.
How this guide is organized
In creating this devotional for counting the
omer, I have followed a typical recipe for reciting the blessing, the day of
the omer and Psalm 67, but I have added several more activities for each day.
After the recitation of Psalm 67, another reading from the Psalms is sugggested,
in many cases selections that have been chosen by other authors on this subject.
A prayer for that day is provided which borrows also from Jewish tradition[2] followed
by the suggestion for a meditation that reminds us of the experiences of the
Israelites on that day and in some cases those of Yeshua’s talmadim following
His death and resurrection during the time leading up to Pentecost. The intent
is to draw a connection to your life and what God is trying to do in your
spiritual growth with the experiences of those in the historical accounts. Finally
I have included for each day the unique pairing of the sefirot reviewed
on page 8, which according to Jewish tradition, provide the basis for our
spiritual growth on that particular day of the omer count. Space is provided
for each day through the fifty days for recording your reflections on what you
are learning and how you are being changed by this experience.
As I have already mentioned, the counting of
the omer follows a pattern of seven sevens or seven weeks, culminating in a
major shift that is expected on 50th day, Shavuot. Each week has a
theme and a historical context in both the time B.C.E. and at the beginning of
the current era. Therefore in corresponding fashion this historical context as
well as the theme to which it relates and the seven aspects of godliness
(Sefirat) that correspond to each week are introduced at the beginning of each
week.
How to use this guide
Although not mandatory, many people find it
best to count the omer just after sundown each day. This is the
beginning of the day in terms of an Hebraic understanding, but you are free to
set the time that is best for you and then seek to keep this same time, or
appointment each day. If you skip a day, just resume the count for the day on
the intended date. It is important that you not delay the completion of the 50
days and therefore the arrival of Shavuot.
Allow
sufficient time to complete the recitation of the blessing, the day of the
count, read the selections from the Psalms, pray and meditate on what God is
doing or trying to do in your life – 20-30 minutes may be adequate – it will
depend on how much time you devote to personal prayer and meditation. You may
count the omer individually or together with others in your family or in small
groups, but be sure to also pray individually. Immediately following the
readings and prayer or later that day, reflect on and record what you have
realized about how God is working in your life or what He may want to change in
you. If you are doing this in a group setting, share your insights and
revelations with each other and then either record the results individually or
collectively. Allow extra time at the beginning of each week to read the
summary provided for that week. Each day there is a suggested activity for that
day. Acknowledging that we cannot get nearer to God or justify ourselves
through works or actions of any kind I would remind you that there is no
prohibition against doing good. The suggested activity is therefore merely a
way of thinking about how to stretch yourself in ways that may help you to
grow, positively impact the lives of others and exhibit the qualities of a
spirit-filled believer in Yeshua. Below
is a preview of the seven weeks for each of the historical contexts we have
chosen to highlight in this study.
Download a printable copy
[1] For a more on this subject, see Chapter 16
Counting Shabuath (Pentecost) published by Qadesh La Yahweh Press available at
the time of this printing at the following link: http://www.yahweh.org/publications/fsdy/fs16Chap.pdf
[2] Wording of the daily
prayer borrows from and includes paraphrased text from the Kehot Annotated
Siddur published by Merkos L'inyonei Chinuch (http://store.kehotonline.com/index.php?stocknumber=EP-STH.AB)
No comments:
Post a Comment