Galatians 4:9-11 Observing Times
One of the most popular claims against observing the Leviticus 23 Festivals comes from Galatians 4:9-11.
9But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
The claim is that Paul is telling the Galatians not to observe the Hebrew festivals, because this would be returning to the beggarly elements. On its own, Galatians 4 seems to be telling the reader that believers need to move on to the newer and better festivals. However, as with all passages in the Bible to understand the text, it must be read in the original context of the author.
Galatians 4:8
8Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
One must remember who the Book of Galatians was written to and Paul’s purpose. The Galatians were not former Jews who then became believers. They were former gentiles, heathens. The Galatians, like all non-Jews of the time and even today, were not previously observing Leviticus 23 festivals. The only ones that were observing Leviticus 23 festivals were Jews and proselytes.
So the question becomes, what is Paul referring to? Remember Paul was a rabbi that studied under Rabbi Gamaliel. Paul knew the Hebrew scriptures. Paul was referring to something other than what many assume, Deuteronomy 18:14.
14For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, Yehovah thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
To observe times was specifically called out in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was among many things that were specifically prohibited by God. This can be easily seen in Deuteronomy 18:9-14:
9When thou art come into the land which Yehovah thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12For all that do these things are an abomination unto Yehovah: and because of these abominations Yehovah thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13Thou shalt be perfect with Yehovah thy God. 14For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, Yehovah thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.
This is what Paul was referring to in Galatians 4:10. It was the heathens that were observers of times. They were sky watchers and astrologist. Observing of times was never something God commanded the Children of Israel to perform. This is also cited in Leviticus 19:26.
26Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
In Galatians 4:10, Paul was referring to observer of times as God referred to observer of times in the Hebrew Scriptures. When one studies in context, it is evident that the Galatians were trying to adopt pagan customs into Christianity. Oddly enough that is still done to this day. Easter is dated as the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the Spring Equinox. That is observing times. God’s feasts are by God’s word, set on specific dates based on the agricultural cycle. They have nothing to do with observing times or star gazing.
Read what else is in Leviticus 19, Leviticus 19:26-29.
26Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times. 27Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard. 28Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am Yehovah. 29Do not prostitute thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness.
Why did God mentions theses along with observer times? These were ancient heathen religious practices that were prohibited by God. This included using enchantments, eating blood, pointy beards, cutting their flesh, tattoos and prostitutes in the heathen temples. These were an abomination and denigrated worship. This was a list of don’ts. Then after listing the don’ts, God states in Leviticus 19:30:
30Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am Yehovah.
So after all the don’ts, God specifically commands the observance of the Sabbath. Further, God defines the context that heathen traditions are in opposition to sanctified worship. Then God goes back to the don’ts in Leviticus 19:31:
31Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am Yehovah your God.
It is important to realize that God states don’t do this stuff, yet observe My sabbaths. Observer of Times has nothing to do with the Hebrew Leviticus 23 Festival. This is especially evident when one considers that 4 chapters later, God tells the Children of Israel to observe the festivals.
When Christians associate Galatians 4:10 with Leviticus 23 Festivals, one ought to ask the question, what traditions are they trying to protect?