Sukkot…. Feast of Tabernacles…
Do these titles mean anything to you?
Leviticus 23:33-36 Adonai said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of Sukkot for seven days to Adonai. On the first day there is to be a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work. For seven days you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai; on the eighth day you are to have a holy convocation and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai ; it is a day of public assembly; do not do any kind of ordinary work.
This festival began Sunday night and it continues for seven days (plus one). Monday will be the final day of celebration and then Monday night they will re-roll the Torah Scroll and begin reading from Genesis again. This holiday was given to the Hebrew people when they were wandering in the wilderness. God gave them this one so they would remember.
“Remember what?” you may ask.
I have found that as much as God wants us to move forward and let go of the past, He wants us to REMEMBER what HE has done for us. The appointed times that He set up were for His people to do exactly that – Remember Him.
Many of us know how to do this during Passover. Most of us are not aware of how we can Remember Him during the fall festivals. I have spoken about Rosh Hahshana and Yom Kippur. Let’s take a look at Sukkot.
During these seven (plus one) days of celebration, we are to remember all He did for us while we were in the wilderness. He provided places to live, food to eat, and even the shoes did not wear out while the Hebrew people were wandering for 40 years. Most of us have probably not faced a wilderness season in our life quite like the Hebrew people did, but we have experienced struggles and trials and our own form of a wilderness. Sometimes they feel like they are going longer than we want. The days of this festival we are to take time to be thankful for His provision during those times. We are to take time to tabernacle with Him. We are to take time to REJOICE!
This festival is the only one that God commanded the people to be JOYFUL.
Deuteronomy 16:14 Rejoice at your festival — you, your sons and daughters, your male and female slaves, the L’vi’im, and the foreigners, orphans and widows living among you. (CJB)
Today, following the command given by God, the Jewish people build a “sukkah” which they use for meals, and some even sleep in them. They are to be three sided, and the top is to be covered with something like palm branches (open to be able to see through) so they can see the majesty of God in the heavens.
Sukkah means “covering.” God wants to be their covering. God wants His people to recognize that HE is taking care of them and that all they have need of is in HIM. As they eat and fellowship in their “temporary dwelling” they remember that God is majestic and watching over them.
There are other significant pieces to this holiday. When you are in Jerusalem you see them carrying a “lulav.” There are four pieces they carry and wave each day. Each has its own spiritual significance. It is easy to google and read about this. Some of this is tradition, but it is based on the verse:
Leviticus 23:40 On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of Adonai your God for seven days. (CJB)
Our family has always found Sukkot to be fun. Rosh Hahshana has been celebrated as a remembrance of WHO God is and that He will be coming back as KING over all the earth. Yom Kippur is our reminder that HE is our atonement and we are forgiven when we TRUST in Him.
Sukkot is now our time to FELLOWSHIP with Him and ENJOY all His blessings! It is a time to GIVE THANKS and celebrate meals together and FUN. Do you realize that we will have a table feast with HIM someday when we tabernacle with Him forever? What a day to look forward too!
In Zechariah 14:16 it is prophesied that one day ALL nations of the world will be in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. I believe this is something to ponder on…
Finally, everyone remaining from all the nations that came to attack Yerushalayim will go up every year to worship the king, Adonai-Tzva’ot, and to keep the festival of Sukkot. (CJB)
If you have not taken the time to learn about these appointed times and seasons that HE has blessed us with, I encourage you to read and ask Him to show you the secrets that can take you deeper in your relationship with Him. Take time to sit and REMEMBER all that He has blessed you with. Tabernacle with Him. Feast with Him. Let Him be your covering.
As you discover His secrets, you will find REST in Him. You will RESTORE yourself to Him. You are then REFRESHED to walk forward day to day.
Love and blessings,
Rose Horton
visit our website at www.tbgrace.org
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