What Is Holy Convocation
The term "holy convocation" appears in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of Leviticus, and refers to gathering together for sacred purposes. The term is derived from the Hebrew word "miqra," which means "assembly" or "rehearsal."
In Leviticus, God commands the Israelites to observe various feasts and celebrations, many of which involved a holy convocation. For instance, Leviticus 23:2-4 states, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.'"
These holy convocations were times of special significance when the community would gather together to worship God, learn from the Scriptures, and offer sacrifices to Him. The holy convocation took place on the Sabbath day, and no work was to be done on that day; it was a day of rest and reflection.
In Christian practices, the concept of a holy convocation is still present in the celebration of communal worship, where believers come together on a regular basis to worship God, pray, learn from the Bible, and receive Holy Communion. The terminology is not used as frequently, but the practices of a holy convocation can be seen in both individual and corporate worship today.