Your response...
Your answer that it was used to determine the other appointed times doesn't make sense of the texts that describe it as an assembly, or the text that speaks of it having a Sabbath-like element, or even it being one of the appointed times in its own right, with its own sacrifices. Eze 45:17 It shall be the prince's duty to furnish the burnt offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the feasts, the new moons, and the Sabbaths, all the appointed times of the house of Israel And that summary statement, all the appointed times, following a list quite similar to Col. 2 should ring some bells.
Sure it answers your question. Your question was; what was the purpose of the new moons and why were they also a shadow law. According to the scriptures the new moons were used to determine the
times and the
seasons (Genesis 1:14) and also to determine when God's
appointed times (the Feast days) started. That is according to the scriptures the new moons of the old covenant beside have their own burnt offerings and sacrifices were used to determine the start of the year, and the months that God's feast days started by determining when they new moon started the beginning of the first day of the month then counting the days to when the feast days started.
Leviticus 23:4-44
[4], These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which
ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
[5],
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover.
[6], And
on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
[7],
In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
[8], But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
[9], And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[10], Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
[11], And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.
[12], And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD.
[13], And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour: and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
[14], And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
[15], And
ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete:
[16], Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
[17], Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD.
[18], And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD.
[19], Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings.
[20], And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest.
[21], And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
[22], And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
[23], And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[24],
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
[25], Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
[26], And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[27],
Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
[28], And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God.
[29], For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
[30], And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
[31], Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
[32], It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.
[33], And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
[34],
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
[35],
On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
[36],
Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
[37], These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
[38], Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
[39],
Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
[40], And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees,4= branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
[41], And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations:
ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
[42], Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
[43], That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
[44], And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.
................
As posted earlier, in the old covenant the new moons were used for identifying the times and seasons and God's appointed times (identifying the Feast days).
It is true they had it's own element in animal sacrifices and holy convocation but it's role was to determine the times and the seasons and the appointed time (feast days) and animal sacrifice for remission of sins. All aspects of the new moon feasts and their burnt offerings are fulfilled in Christ to who they pointed to and these laws for remission of sins and God's plan of salvation as outlined inm the new covenant are the "shadows" of things to come (
see post # 413 linked here for scripture support).
.................
If for example you look at Colossians 2:16 the context also uses the New moons in context to the Feast days where Pail is actually quoting old testament scriptures...
WHAT IS THE WITHIN SCRIPTURE CONTEXT OF
COLOSSIANS 2:16?
COLOSSIANS 2:16 [16] Let no man therefore judge you in
(1) MEAT, or in DRINK, or in respect of an
(2) HOLY DAY [FEAST DAYS], or of the
(3) NEW MOON, or of the
(4) SABBATH DAYS <plural GNP>
PAUL'S within scriptures CONTEXT and use of
COLOSSIANS 2:16-17 is in reference to the OLD TESTAMENT scriptures.
EZEKIEL 45:17 [17] And it shall be the prince's part to give
BURNT OFFERINGS, and
(1) MEAT OFFERINGS, and DRINK OFFERINGS, in the
(2) FEASTS, and in the
(3) NEW MOONS, and in the
(4) SABBATHS, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.
Note: the same order and context used to meat and drink offerings, the feast days, new moons and sabbaths (plural). The context is to the Feast days as all the above have some connection to the annual Feast days of Leviticus 23.
NUMBERS 28 [9] And on the Sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a
MEAT OFFERING, mingled with oil, and the
DRINK OFFERING thereof: [10] This is the burnt offering of
EVERY SABBATH, beside the continual
BURNT OFFERING, and his
DRINK OFFERING.
ISAIAH 1:10-14 [10] Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.[11] To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD:
I AM FULL OF THE BURNT OFFERINGS of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.[12] When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?[13]
BRING NO MORE VAIN OBLATIONS; incense is an abomination unto me;
THE NEW MOONS AND SABBATHS, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.[14]
Your NEW MOONS and your APPOINTED FEASTS my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
LEVITICUS 23:4 [4] These are
THE FEASTS OF THE LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. [5]
In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is THE LORD'S
PASSOVER. [6] A
nd on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread…… [13] And the
MEAT OFFERING thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the Lord for a sweet savour: and the
DRINK OFFERING thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin.
HOSEA 2:11 [11], I will also cause all her mirth to
CEASE, HER [ISRAEL'S] FEAST DAYS, her NEW MOONS, and HER SABBATHS, and all HER [ISRAELS] SOLEMN FEASTS.
It is putting an end to the sacrificial system and the annual ceremonial sabbaths (plural not the Sabbath of God's 4th commandment) which were "shadows of things to come" *
Colossians 2:17.
................
NEW COVENANT
Now that we know what
Colossians 2:16-17 is referring to let’s look at other scriptures by Paul on the same subject matter here…
HEBREWS 9:1-12 [1] Then verily
THE FIRST COVENANT HAD ALSO ORDINANCES of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.... [9]
WHICH WAS A FIGURE for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;[10]
WHICH STOOD ONLY IN MEATS AND DRINKS, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.[12]
NEITHER BY THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
HEBREWS 10:1-9 [1],
FOR THE LAW HAVING A SHADOW OF GOOD THINGS TO COME, AND NOT THE VERY IMAGE OF THE THINGS, CAN NEVER WITH THOSE SACRIFICES which they offered YEAR BY YEAR continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
[2], For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
[3], But in those
SACRIFICES there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
[4], For it is not possible that
THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS should take away sins.
[5], Why when he comes into the world, he said,
SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS YOU WOULD NOT BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME:
[6],
IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAVE HAD NO PLEASURE.
[7], Then said I, See, I come in the V
OLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME, to do your will, O God.
[8], Above when he said,
SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND BURNT OFFERINGS AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN YOU WOULD NOT, neither had pleasure therein;
WHICH ARE OFFERED BY THE LAW;
[9], Then said he, See, I come to do your will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.
NOTE: the LAW in reference here is NOT God's 10 Commandments but the law of sin offerings from the SHADOW laws of the MOSAIC BOOK of the LAW *
DEUTERONOMY 31:24-26 from the OLD COVENANT *
EXODUS 24:7
Hope this is helpful.