God's Divine Calendar: The Month of Sivan - New Levels in GodWatch and Pray

The month of Sivan is the third month on the Biblical calendar, counting from Nisan. In Exodus 19:1-2, this month was referred to as “the third month”. However, its name was changed, sometime after Israel’s Babylonian captivity. The word Sivan roughly means, “season” or “time” and usually coincides with May-June on the Gregorian calendar.

About Shavuot

Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai and is celebrated on the sixth of Sivan. The word “Shavuot” means “weeks” because it marks the Israelites’ seven-week journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. Another meaning for Shavuot is “oaths” which refers to the covenant God made with the Israelite nation.

God’s Covenant with Israel in the Month of Sivan

The Israelites entered the desert of Sinai on the first day of the month of Sivan. Then, they set up camp at the base of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:1-2). A few days later, God commanded Moses to prepare the people for His appearance (vv. 10-11).

Following the Israelites’ preparation period, God descended upon Mount Sinai on the sixth day of Sivan (50 days after the exodus), according to Jewish tradition. On Mount Sinai, God spoke directly to the Israelite nation and gave them the Torah (which included the ten commandments) to guide them (Exodus 20). God also made a covenant with the Israelites and promised to bless them, if they followed His laws. They agreed to the terms of God’s covenant and promised to obey His commandments. As a result, they became God’s “kingdom of priests and holy nation,” (Exodus 19:6).

The Month of Sivan and the Feast of Harvest (Weeks)

Shavuot also commemorated the end of the spring harvest. In the Bible, the name Shavuot is also referred to as “the Feast of Harvest” (Exodus 23:16) and “the Feast of Weeks” (Exodus 34:22-23). Moreover, it was one of the three pilgrim festivals mentioned in Deuteronomy 16:16. During ancient Bible times, Jewish men were expected to travel to Jerusalem and bring the first harvest (first-fruits) of their crops to the Temple. It was a joyous festival and an offering of thanksgiving to God for His provision.

However, after the destruction of the Temple (70 A.D.), the Jews could no longer bring the first fruits of their harvest as offerings. So, the rabbis decided that the focus of Shavuot would be God’s giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Today, the Jewish community celebrate Shavuot by attending synagogue services and reaffirming their commitment to obeying God’s Law. In addition, some stay up the entire night studying and learning the Torah.

The Month of Sivan and the Feast of Pentecost

While the Jewish community celebrate Shavuot, the Christian community celebrate Pentecost. The word Pentecost is a Greek word meaning, “50”. This special day is celebrated 50 days after Easter Sunday. Pentecost commemorates the giving and receiving of the Holy Spirit. Also, it memorializes the birth of the Church in the New Testament (Acts 2).

Jesus directed His disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came (Acts 1:3-4). At the same time, Jews from various countries were arriving to celebrate the Feast of Weeks (Harvest). It is interesting to note that in the New Testament, the Greek speaking Jews referred to the Feast of Weeks (Harvest) as the “Feast of Pentecost.”

Acts 2 tells the account of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the 120 disciples and other Jewish believers (Acts 2:1–31). The Holy Spirit convicted the crowd, through the disciples’ teachings, and a harvest of souls (some 3,000) were gathered and added to the church that day (Acts 2:41).

The month of Sivan represents the provision of God, both naturally and spiritually. The spiritual provision of this month include both the giving of the Torah and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Both God’s instructions and the Holy Spirit are needed to worship God the way He desires us to worship Him. God’s instructions give us our guidelines for living, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to stay within those boundaries.

CLICK HERE: Jewish-Gregorian Calendar