It is a good question to ask.
Why do we keep this particular celebration? Mainstream Christianity doesn’t even keep the weekly Sabbath or annual Holy Days which we do, and this particular celebration would also be rather strange to them.
We read in Exodus 12:40-42:
“Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years—on that very same day—it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations.”
Deuteronomy 16:1 adds:
“Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.”
It was during the Passover night—the night of the 14th day of the month—that the death angel passed over the Israelites who were in their houses (hence the name “Passover”), while killing the firstborn of the Egyptian households (Exodus 12:6–13). But it was on the 15th day, “on the day after the Passover” that the Israelites went out of Egypt, and it is on that day (at the beginning of the 15th day of the first month) that Church members celebrate the Night to Be Much Observed—“a night of solemn observance to the LORD”—when they gather together for an evening meal.
The Night to Be Much Observed is the start of the Days of Unleavened Bread. We know that leaven “puffs” things up and that is something that true Christians must eliminate from their lives which is a physical reminder for us to remove spiritual sin from our lives.
Rudyard Kipling, a famous English poet wrote:
“I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew);
“Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who.”
So, let us ask these questions about this celebration. We know about preparing for, and taking the Passover, and then getting rid of any leavened products and not eating them for seven days, but do we really think about the Night to Be Much Observed which occurs on the 15th Abib – which begins this year with Saturday evening, 12th April 2025.
And so, looking at these 6 questions and answering them, enables us to come up with all of the necessary explanations. The first question is:
WHAT:
- It is a time when Church members celebrate the Night to Be Much Observed—“a night of solemn observance to the LORD”—when they gather together for an evening meal.
- Even those who may keep the Passover at the correct time, may overlook the need to keep this “night of solemn observance” as we read in Exodus 12:42.
WHY:
- First of all, because it is an instruction from God.
- For true Christians, the Night to Be Much Observed is a time when we can rejoice, thanking God for His calling and acknowledge His marvellous intervention in our lives where we have been led out of the spiritual bondage to this world, out of “spiritual Egypt” and the spiritual exodus by Church members from their slavery of sin (Exodus 12:42).
- While we are not fleeing from the enemy of the Egyptian Pharaoh and nation, we are fleeing an even greater threat today with Satan and his demons who have influenced every society around the world, and who want to destroy us spiritually so that we will not be able to enjoy what God has promised us for being faithful to Him and His Way – that of eternal life in His Kingdom.
- On this night, the people of God can reflect on our wonderful calling which will end, subject to being faithful to the end of our lives (cf Matthew 24:13), in being a part of God’s Kingdom in the Family of God. Jesus prayed, as recorded in John 17:9-11: “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”
WHEN:
- At the beginning of the 15th day of the first month – the night AFTER the PASSOVER – this is when Church members celebrate the Night to Be Much Observed—“a night of solemn observance to the LORD”—when they gather together for an evening meal.
- We read further in Numbers 33:3: “They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians.”
- By keeping this at the correct time, we can concentrate on our ongoing “exodus” from this world where we can anticipate the soon-coming Kingdom of God when we will rule and reign in the Family of God.
- As this evening is also the start of the Days of Unleavened Bread, it is appropriate to commemorate this with a Sabbath-type meal as it is an occasion to appreciate the understanding that God has given us about the “Night to Be Much Observed” which the world has no understanding at all.
HOW:
- In previous generations, when there were larger congregations, the Night to Be Much Observed was usually held by having a number of different locations in the homes of members but this has changed in recent years in many cases where groups are now much smaller.
- We should, we must, keep this celebration in a respectful way—not just turning up for a meal with our conversation being just about everyday matters. What happened all those many years ago has profound implications for us today. This is not just a meal but a look back at a time when our forebears were looking to escape from Egypt – which is synonymous with us looking to escape from sin today when it surrounds us all the time.
WHERE:
- As stated above, in previous generations, the Night to Be Much Observed was more often celebrated in the homes of church members in small groups, but in more recent times, in many cases an alternative arrangement has been that of using a restaurant particularly where a private room can be made available.
- It should be noted that as this is also the start of a Holy Day, the first Day of Unleavened Bread, dress should be appropriate for the occasion, not a casual approach of jeans, shorts or other attire that are used for leisurely occasions. It is a special evening and one to be kept and honoured in a proper way.
WHO:
- The Night to Be Much Observed has been kept by Church of God members in modern times. The following rendition is taken from the Authorized Version as translated in Exodus 12:42: “It is a night to be much observed (“Shim-moor,” meaning night watch, watching, vigil) unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.”
- Of course, children and others in the family who may not be baptised members may participate in and keep this celebration, unlike the Passover which must only be kept by properly baptised members.
- The Church of God continues to keep this beginning part of the first Day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread—after sundown, which marks the start of the time God has established for His people to keep. Exodus 13, verses 3 through 10, explicitly casts God’s instructions as an ongoing regulation for those who seek to obey Him—note, in particular, verse 10: “You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.”
As is the case for all the Holy Days (which includes the weekly Sabbath), the Church of God meets together to worship God, to be taught and to fellowship. Christians are warned to carefully maintain the practice of meeting together on a regular basis: “…not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
This is another way, by obeying what was told to the ancient Israelites, that we can celebrate a time as per God’s instructions and help and encourage others as we look forward to the soon-coming Kingdom of God.
Lead Writer: Brian Gale (United Kingdom)