Between the time of the Passover and Pentecost, the Jews developed a tradition called “Counting the Omer.” The tradition came from a passage telling the faithful to count the days and the weeks following the Passover. Let’s set the stage just a bit to help us understand.
My grandmother had a habit of counting things. “Count to ten,” she would say.
Whenever I would forget something (which was often) and have to go back inside the house to retrieve it, she would say, “Count to ten before you go.” Counting was supposed to help me make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything else.
Whenever I was about to lose my temper and get angry (which was often), she would say, “Count to ten before you do anything.” Counting was supposed to help me cool off before I said or did something I would later regret.
If I was having a difficult time falling asleep, she would say, “Count your sheep.” Counting sheep was supposed to be boring and put me to sleep. I have no idea where the sheep came from, how they orderly jumped over a fence, or where they went after they were counted.
Counting Slows Us Down
Counting things makes a hectic lifestyle slow down so that you can pay attention to the details.
Faithful Jewish believers have a habit of counting things also. Every spring they perform a ritual of counting the Omer. The Omer is a period of seven weeks – 49 days – from the Passover Seder to the holiday of Shavuot.
Since the Second Temple was destroyed, Jewish tradition has evolved so that the days are counted each evening in a particular way. Non-Jews, like myself, are invited to join with all of Israel with a little modification. At the close of the column, we will craft a ritual that we Christians can recite. Here are the steps in counting the Omer.
- Jews proclaim the blessing: “Blessed are you, LORD our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by his commandments and commanded us concerning the Counting of the Omer.” (Gentiles would not recite this sentence.)
- Declare the count:”Today is April 11th, nine days, which is one week and two days, of the Omer.”
- Pray for the Temple to be rebuilt: “May the Merciful One restore unto us the service of the Beit HaMikdash to its place, speedily in our days. Return your Dwelling Presence to Zion, your city, and send us Yeshua our Messiah. Let him reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem, your holy city. Amen. Selah.”
- Read Psalm 67.
- Pray for purification and sanctification in preparation for Shavu’ot.
The inclusion of both the day (nine days) and the week (one week and two days) stems from a rabbinic argument about whether the Torah mandates counting days or weeks. The text of the Old Testament instructions both (“you shall count fifty days” and “you count seven complete weeks”) so this compromise position makes sure both bases are covered.
Omer Refers to Offerings to God
Why is counting the Omer significant? The period of time always marks a transitional moment from the season of spring into the season of summer. When the Temple still stood in Jerusalem, this was the period of time when Jews brought the “first fruits” of the new barley crops as a sacrificial offering. The word “omer” literally means “sheaf” (remember the old hymn, “Bringing in the Sheaves”) and refers to these offerings.
But the Omer is bigger than just the crops from the farms. The Omer connects the anniversary of the Exodus (the Passover) with the festival that remembers the giving of the Torah (the Ten Commandments) on Mount Sinai (Shavuot).
Count the Omer with Me
So, are you ready to count the Omer with me? Counting will slow down our lives and help us remember the blessings God has given us – especially through His Law. Each Saturday, we will count how many days we are from April 2nd on until we get to 50. We will have a prayer of blessing borrowed from the Apostle Paul, a counting of the Omer, a peek at a Scripture from Psalm 119 about God’s Law, and a prayer for the Lord’s Return. Here is our count for today:
- “He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Even so, Lord Jesus, come quickly!
- Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ and to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!
- Today is April 11th, nine days, which is one week and two days, of the Omer.
- We are grateful that the God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth. He does not live in temples build by human hands but istead delights in His dwelling among us.
- Psalm 119:7 – I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.