The Feast Of Booths

The seventh and final feast given to Israel by the Lord is known as Sukkot or "The Feast of Tabernacles," and also "The Feast of Booths" It is the most joyful and festive of all Israel's feasts. It is also the most important and prominent feast, mentioned more often in Scripture than any of the other feasts. The feast was celebrated with great joy. The joy was twofold, for it commemorated God's PAST goodness and provision during their wilderness sojourn, and it commemorated God's PRESENT goodness and provision with the completion of harvest.  It is both a picture of God's judgment upon Israel's enemies, a judgment upon her self-righteousness and a prophetic foreshadowing of Messiah's return. All nations of the earth will be required to keep this feast in the Millennium Kingdom or face destruction at the hands of God. When Messiah returns, it will truly be a day of a great hosanna! That day is approaching SOON!

 

By Chris McDonald

 

 

TEXT: Leviticus 23:34  - 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. 

 

        The seventh and final feast given to Israel by the Lord is known as Sukkot or "The Feast of Tabernacles." It is the most joyful and festive of all Israel's feasts. It is also the most important and prominent feast, mentioned more often in Scripture than any of the other feasts. This feast also served as the historical backup for the important teachings of the Messiah in John chapters 7-9. The Feast of Tabernacles is known by at least two names in Scripture. Most often it is referred to as Sukkot or "Tabernacles." The English word "tabernacle is from the Latin tabernaculum meaning "booth" or "hut." It acquired this name from the biblical requirement for all Israelites to dwell in tabernacles or temporary shelters during the holiday. The word "Sukkoth," means "booths," thus it is a "feast of the booths." This feast lasts for seven days and ends on the 21rst day (3x7) of the Hebrew month which is Israel's seventh month.

 

        Tabernacles begins five days after Yom Kippur on the 15th of Tishri and is a drastic change from one of the most solemn holidays in our year to one of the most joyous.  It's observed each year after ALL crops have been harvested and gathered by the agricultural community. Sukkoth is to be an annual reminder of God's provision as it commemorates Israel's 40-year wilderness sojourn when she lived in similar shelters. also known as the "Feast of Ingathering," it is the final and most important feast of the Biblical calendar. The importance of the festival is observed by the term, "this is to be a lasting ordinance." The divine pronouncement "I am the Lord Your God," concludes the holidays of the seventh month - Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur being the other two. It's significance is three-fold - agricultural, historical and prophetic.

 

Exodus 23:16 - And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field. 

Exodus 34:22  - And thou shall observe the feast of weeks, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end. 

 

The Historical

 

Leviticus 23:43
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.

 

        Historically, the feast was to be celebrated with great joy because in this celebration we commemorate God's PAST goodness and provision during their wilderness sojourn as it commemorated God's PRESENT goodness and provision in the wilderness during Israel's sojourn out of Egypt. For 40 years Israel wandered in the wilderness seeking to find it's place of rest. Traditionally, the sukkah was made of material that would not blow away in the wind. It was made of something that grew from the ground, cut off, such as tree branches, corn stalks, bamboo reeds, sticks and the like. The roof was open enough so Israel could see the stars and behold God, the source of Light, and the source of their provision. Inside they are decorated with colorful harvest fruits and vegetables. During the Feast of Tabernacles, Jewish families eat their meals in the booths, and the very observant even sleep in them, typifying Christ is our tabernacle or dwelling place where we have light, FRUITFULNESS, GROWTH, SUSTENANCE and ILLUMINATION.

 

Leviticus 23:43
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.

        All provision from God was given to us as believers today in the CROSS of Christ! The atonement gives us all things.  We have a TON to be thankful for as believers. When we grumble and complain about circumstances we short-circuit God's blessings on our lives. We may think we're accomplishing a good bit by murmuring but we are bringing judgment on ourselves. People who are in bondage to self always grumble and complain. People who don't know or have a clear revelation of what Christ did for us at the Cross grumble and complain. In view and light of the Lord's giving of His entire life for us, we should be the most thankful people on earth. We should also be the most worry-free people as well. Worry and faith never operate in the same game field! You can't say "I believe," and then worry about every thing that goes on around you. Fear is a killer and it will short-circuit the call of God on one's life if not dealt with through the power of the Holy Spirit. Israel was without a doubt not in the greatest place in God's plan during the 40 years of wandering BUT she was WHERE GOD WANTED HER TO BE. Some reading this may not be in their Promised Land right now, but if you will keep the faith, not just any faith, but THE FAITH (i.e. in Christ and what He did for you at the Cross) you will see that reality one day friend.

 

Deut. 8:1-8
All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. [2] And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. [3] And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. [4] Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. [5] Thou shall also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. [6] Therefore thou shall keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. [7] For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; [8] A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;
 

        Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God. Jesus said, "consider the LILIES," they don't toil nor spin, yet they are clothed with greater glory than Solomon. He said, "look at the birds of the field, see how they never go hungry," and yet we who are much more valuable than a feathered animal, worry sometimes whether or not we're worthy for God to provide.

 

Matthew 6:25-30 - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? [26] Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? [27] Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? [28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: [29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?


        God told Israel that He was allowing her to wander to bring her into a "GOOD LAND."  He told her that all that she went through was to "chasten," her. The word "chasten," comes from a Hebrew word, "to instruct, and to correct." The Lord's chastening is never to destroy, it's always to correct. As many as I "LOVE," says Christ, "I rebuke and chasten." Same wording in Greek as in Hebrew.  The feast of Booths is a time for us to look inside our hearts and rejoice in the Lord's willingness to do what He has to do to correct us and keep us on the path of life.

 

        Ultimately, God wanted Israel to humble herself under His mighty hand so He could exalt her at a nation and a light to the Gentiles. That never happened. This was in essence the message of Messiah given to Israel at His appearance to her:

 

Luke 18:9-15
And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: [10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. [11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. [13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. [14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.

 

        The Feast of Booths is a lesson that teaches us that we must HUMBLE ourselves if we want to be exalted. The ministry today is so much a dichotomy of performances rather than servant hood. Shepherds no longer connect with their sheep and claim that the sheep must grow up and mature. That is true, but if a shepherd disconnects himself from the sheep, the sheep will not grow, but scatter and eventually wind up destroyed. Israel needed a shepherd and the good shepherd came to her. Her pride blinded her to this and she embraced religion instead of LIFE. The Pharisee in this story is a picture of many today - "trusted in themselves that they were righteous," and "despised others." When we have that type attitude believe me friend, it's not a pretty picture. We become a cesspool of iniquity instead of a conduit of grace. God help us and forgive us for that. I know I have been guilty of this so as I write this I point no fingers at you but to myself. We must REPENT of this arrogant, self-righteous, SMUG attitude of thinking we are the only ones God is pleased with.

 

        The church thinks it's saved because we're "better" than the sinner. NO, we're ALL sinners. If there is ANY goodness in the church it's because of Who the HEAD is - CHRIST. HE IS THE HEAD, we are the BODY. The body gets its LIFE from the HEAD. We are to grow up unto HIM, not some man. Pastors who build their churches around themselves usually wind up getting a mirror of them - flawed! I've seen it many times in my lifetime of being raised in the church. If the sheep are sheared and beat, it's usually a sign the pastor is one who is more worried about his own agenda than God's. God's agenda don't hurt people - it blesses people and encourages them. It transforms them. It empowers them. It changes them. It motivates them. I heard someone say the other day, "we need to keep our churches 'fun and exciting,' to keep our youth coming." If Jesus and what He did for us at the Cross is not exciting enough, neighbor we're LOST. Plain and simple - we're LOST, BLIND and in need of having the Lord heal our blindness!

 

Hebrews 12:11-19
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. [12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; [13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. [14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: [15] Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; [16] Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. [17] For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

 

        Friend, hear me. You may go through this life without chastisement and any type of correction, but if you do, you are a bastard spiritually speaking. God does not chasten the heathen in the sense He does His own. One day the heathen's ultimate end will be fire and brimstone if he don't repent but if you're a child of God, you'd better be careful how carelessly you live your life.

 

Hebrews 12:8-10
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. [9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? [10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

 

        Man was chastened, or corrected, by God at the Cross which restored fellowship between us through Christ. Christ took upon Himself the judgment of God for sin as our perfect Sacrifice. Once we place our faith there we become "sons of God." No son goes without chastisement from the Father of Spirits. The purpose of this is to "do us good in the end." The Father of Spirits has sent the HOLY SPIRIT to help us endure the chastening, the correcting, the instruction. To be without instruction is to refuse life friend. TO harden one's neck and heart from that which will benefit us in our Christian walk and lives is pure death. You will be cut off and that without remedy. It's not God's mercy will run out, but you by your own act of rebellion will remove yourself from God's mercy and place yourself under the domain of the enemy whose end is not GOOD! Satan's end for you and I is to steal, kill and to destroy. God's end for us is eternal life THROUGH CHRIST. IT'S MORE ABUNDANT LIFE. It's peace, joy, love, deliverance, freedom, honor, glory and restoration. Man cannot be restored any other way. Man cannot be saved any other way. Man cannot be free any other way. Man cannot be who he needs to be IN CHRIST any other way. CHRIST is our standard and His finished work is our harbor of safety during our wildernesses of life. HE IS THE ANCHOR OF THE SOUL.

 

Hebrews 6:18-20
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: [19] Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; [20] Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

 

Deut. 8:16-17
Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; [17] And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.

        Hear me child of God! Lift up your feeble hands and hold your head high - He's going to do you good in the end. The end may not be tomorrow or the next day, but it's coming! The end is going to happen. If you will keep trusting, keep believing - no matter how many times you may stumble and even fall - you will see this come to pass. The ones who never do are the ones who quit believing. If you won't quit on God, God will not quit on you. That's what the historical lesson of the Feast of Booths teaches us.

 

Feast Of Booths And Ezra

 

Neh. 8:14
And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:

        One quick note about the generation of Ezra and the Feast of Booths. After Israel had returned from captivity, the first thing Ezra the scribe did was look for the Law of Moses. One of the first things he restored as part of Israel's worship was the celebration the Feast of Booths! Friend, hear me and hear me closely. We're one generation away from a generation that does not know God. You hear me? That is why each generation carries with it an enormous responsibility and mantle to pass on to the next generation the leadership mantle God gives each individual generation.

 

        When one generation fails to fulfill it's destiny, the next generation either comes along and either fulfills what the previous one missed or it suffers as a result of the lack of teaching and discipleship given to it by the last generation's leaders. Bring that down to today. If we don't start recognizing the destiny that is on THIS generation, we're going to miss the harvest. We are raising a group of kids now that are more concerned about entertainment than they are Godliness. They are more concerned about convenience than they are sacrifice. We have taught the next generation that there is no suffering in being a Christian believer and that all that happens to us that is bad is not from God but the enemy. There is some truth in that but that leaves an impression on many young hearts that if they are suffering it just can't be the will of God.

 

        Many times the will of God in our lives is easy to know, but hard to do. Doing the will of God may cause loss of friends, job, relationships, etc. even though in the end we gain all those things back through Christ. But it's not a rosy, happy go lucky journey without peril. I wish it were! I don't understand how some believers zip through life without problems, then others of us struggle so hard some times. I don't think there is a real clear concise answer to that. But I will tell you this. If we're not careful, the Jesus we're presenting in THIS generation, will be the JESUS the next generation will carry on with them. Somehow, someway, the JESUS of the CROSS got lost in the annals of church politics and control spirits that rip into the heart and soul of the American church. It's said but it's something we must ponder on this Feast of Booth holiday in 2004.

The Agricultural

 

Leviticus 23:40  - And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, 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.

 

        Because of a conflict in interpretation branches were used in both the building of the booths and carried in the hands of joyful worshippers. Scripture mentions four types of trees used to fulfill this command: boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook. They are referred to as the "four species." The etog, a tree which produces small lemon-like fruit, is interpreted by the Jewish authorities to be the "beautiful trees." The lulav, or long branch of a date palm, is held to be the "palm trees." The hadas, or myrtle tree, with its tiny leaves, is believed to be the "leafy" trees. Usually three myrtle branches are held in the hand. The arava, or willow tree, is used in fulfillment of the "willows of the brook." Usually two willow branches are held since the scripture mentions them in the plural. The etog or citrus branch, is held in the left hand, and other three types of branches are bound together and held in the right hand. Israel was commanded to take these four plants and use them to "rejoice before the Lord."

 

        The six branches are bound together and referred to collectively as the lulav. The etrog is held separately. As in the Ancient Temple services, the branches are held while the Hosanna verse is chanted. (Psalms 118:25)

 

Psalm 118:25
Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

 

        With these four specicies in hand, one recites a blessing and waves the species in all six directions, east, south, west, north, up and down, making a sign of the CROSS, symbolizing, God's grace and mercy extends EVERYWHERE to all mankind. There is only ONE SOURCE and PROVISION for man's salvation and prosperity - the Cross. Oh, mercy me, that makes me shout. I can almost hear the prophet proclaim:

 

Isaiah 55:1
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

 

        No wonder blind Fannie Crosby would pen those immortal words "THIS IS MY STORY, this is MY SONG - PRAISING MY SAVIOUR ALL THE DAY LONG!!" Friend, I feel this all over me. She was blind and could not see yet she wrote with such joy in her heart because she had saw more with the eyes of her heart than millions do who have their natural sight. She had blessed assurance that the CROSS extended to ALL humanity including her and for that reason she could rejoice and then rejoice more. Child of God, get up out of the dirt and cesspool of your complaining and grumbling. Jesus Christ is alive. Jesus Christ has set man free from sin. Jesus Christ has paid the debt we owed to God. Jesus Christ has conquered every single foe, every power of darkness, every sin, every shackle, every bondage. Man is free! Man can be saved. Man can be delivered! Mankind is forgiven through the BLOOD. This is not the season to be grumbling, it's the season to be rejoicing! Harvest time is here.

 

        The etrog was a fruit that would never ROT, signifying the believer who remains in CHRIST will never ROT. The lust of the world is passing away, but the word of God endures forever. Heaven and earth will pass away but my word will NEVER pass away, says God. All that is in the world, the pride of life, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, is not of the Father, but of the world and it too is passing away. All that we see with our natural eyes is perishing under the weight of fallen humanity. But for the child of God, this world is NOT our home, we're just a passing through; our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me to heaven's open door, and we can't feel at home in this world anymore. There is no ROT in Christ. That's why you don't give up on the child of God. He may stumble, fall, and at times look like he's totally defeated, then the next minute - VICTORY!

 

        I hope you caught that friend. Some of you right now are going through some of the most terrible circumstances of your life right now and the enemy has convinced you that you're not going to make it. Wave the Lv'lav, and scratch the "etrog," and tell the devil HE was the one defeated at Calvary. You're not going to rot. You're going to come through this with the help of God's grace and faith in CHRIST.

 

        In the natural, Sukkoth was a time when Israel could rest from her labors and enjoy the benefits of 6 long months of work in the fields. All the barley and wheat harvest had come in and it was time to "shout" sort to speak. It was time to rejoice. It was time to praise God. It was time to clap your hands. It was time to dance a little probably. It was time to raise the roof off your ceilings and let heaven know you were thankful for all blessings one had received. Many Americans upon seeing a decorated sukka for the first time remark on how much the sukkah (and the holiday generally) reminds them of our American holiday, "Thanksgiving." The American pilgrims, who originated the Thanksgiving holiday, were deeply religious people. As they were trying to find a way to express their thanks for their survival and for the harvest, it is quite possible that they looked to the Bible for an appropriate way of celebrating and based their holiday in part on the Feast of Booths, or Tabernacles!

 

Leviticus 23:39
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.
 

        I'm going to make a confession here to you. I murmur and complain WAY too much and don't praise God HALF as much as I should! I know exactly when Chris McDonald's heart is not where it needs to with God because it's at the times I feel the closest to the Lord is when I'm the most thankful to Him for what He has done for me and WHO HE IS - irregardless of what He "does" for me! It's the mandate of the New Covenant - REJOICE!:

        Many times people, even believers, become very cynical at life which is very easy to do seeing all the NEGATIVE around us, including that which is in the body of Christ. The enemy is astute as getting us into a pity party and gripe session when we should be allowing the Holy Spirit to get us into a "joy" session. Oh praise God. Oh hallelujah. Glory to the Lamb of God forever. God is for you, Jesus is praying for us and the Holy Ghost is living and working through us.  No need to belly ache on that one. No need to grumble on that one. No need to be a sour puss on that one. No need to look around and say "it's all falling apart," on that one. No need to hold our heads down in defeat. This is celebration time. This Feast of Booths was Israel's camp meeting hour. I mean friend, you'd been hard pressed to find gossiping, slander, backbiting and all other type talk going on. I mean it was one of the most powerful moments in Israel's history. God commanded her to "REJOICE." God said, "your labors are over, REJOICE!"

 

        In Christ, our labors are over friend - REJOICE! REJOICE! AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE! Some of your reading this haven't praised God and clapped your hands in 20 years - why don't you just pause right now and count your blessings, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE, AND SEE WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE AND REJOICE IN HIM! My Lord, demons will leave when you do that. Depression goes when you do that. Oppression leaves when you do that. The Mulley grubs go when you do that. Sorrow and anger LEAVE when you do that. Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. The price has been paid and we are set free by His Blood! No wonder they sing "HOLY HOLY HOLY" 24 hours a day in heaven. NO wonder John wept when he saw no man worthy to open the book. But when the LAMB STEPPED FORTH TO OPEN THE BOOK, HEAVEN REJOICED!

 

Rev. 5:4-8
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. [5] And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. [6] And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. [8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

 

        When they rejoiced they sung a new song, saying "THOU ARE WORTHY!" Man is not worthy, except through the blood to do ANYTHING friend. ONLY CHRIST IS WORTHY to do it through us and in us!

 

Rev. 5:9-10
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; [10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
 

        Everyone of us had an open book of charges against us. Man was GUILTY, he as damned to hell forever. He was lost and not knowing where he was going - till one day the LAMB stepped forth and opened the book! The Lamb has opened the book and for that reason we need to rejoice child of God. His work on the Cross has opened heaven's gates and windows and now instead of judgment falling upon us - GRACE FLOWS TO US in the LOVE of JESUS CHRIST, son of the Living God.

 

        Muslims, listen to me. Mohammed is not the way to God. The one they call "SHILOH" is the WAY. The one known as the Son of Man, Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha'maschiah, loves you. Mohammed never loved you. All the hatred you have in your heart right now for Christians and the Jewish people is from the enemy known as Satan, not God. Allah is not God. Allah is not the one you will one day stand before in judgment. His call to you today is "repent," and come to Him. Let Him take that hatred out of your heart today. Let Him take the power of the enemy out.

 

        As stated, this feast falls in the autumn of the year. On the Hebrew calendar it occurs on the 15th day of Tishri, the seventh month (usually late September to mid-October), only five days after the solemn Day of Atonement. The Feast of Tabernacles lasts for seven days. The first day and the day after Tabernacles (the eighth day, known as Shemini Atzeret) are considered sacred assemblies, or Sabbaths. (Lev. 23:36, 39). As such, no work or any kind is permitted on these days.

 

Deut. 16:15
Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose: because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

 

Leviticus 23:36, 39  - 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. 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. 

 

        Three portions of Scripture outline the biblical observance of the Feast of Tabernacles. The people were to live in booths and rejoice before the Lord with branches. (Lev. 23:33-43). There were to be many daily, sacrificial offerings (Numbers 29:12-39). In a sabbatical year, the Law was to be publicly read during Tabernacles.

 

Leviticus 23:33-43  - 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, 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.

 

        Because of the joy associated with the Feast of Tabernacles, it became the most prominent of Israel's holidays. It was referred to simply as "the holiday" by the ancient rabbis. It's important to also not that the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles) was one of the three pilgrim feasts, Passover and Pentecost being the other two. Three times during the year, all Jewish males were required by the Lord to appear before Him in the Temple (Unleavened Bread, Feast of Weeks, and Tabernacles). These were known as Pilgrim Feasts because of the required pilgrimage to Jerusalem. During the Feast of Tabernacles, the people brought their tithes and offerings to the Temple, for they were not to "appear before the Lord empty-handed"

 

Deut. 16:16  - Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty: 
        We cannot afford to appear before the Lord "empty" in these last days friend. We must have our hearts so full of CHRIST and His love that no enemy will ever be able to disrupt that flow.

 

       This fact is seen in the great number of required sacrifices during the feast week. Each day one goat, 14 lambs, two rams, and number of bullocks (13 on the first day, decreasing by one each day) was offered in the Temple. Each of the sacrifices were offered with its appropriate meal offerings (flour and oil) and drink offerings (wine). All 24 divisions of priests shared in the sacrificial duties during the week. In the days of the Temple, the Feast of Tabernacles was viewed with great awe, for it was during the Feast of Tabernacles that Solomon dedicated the newly built Temple to the Lord. At that ancient observance of Tabernacles, the Shekinah glory of the Lord descended from Heaven to light the fire on the altar and fill the Holy of Holies. 

 

2 Chron. 5:3  - Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. 

1 Kings 8:2  - And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. 

 2 Chron. 7:1-10  - Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house. [2] And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. [3] And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures for ever.  [4] Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. [5] And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. [6] And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endures for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. [7] Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the Lord: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.  [8] Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt. [9] And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days. [10] And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the Lord had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people. 

        The Feast of Tabernacles occurs at Israel's change of seasons and marks the beginning of the winter rainy season. One may be surprised to learn that Jerusalem receives as much precipitation as London, England (20 inches). The major difference is that Jerusalem's rainfall occurs between November and March. These refreshing rains bring necessary moisture for working the soil and the sprouting of new crops. If for some reason the weather patterns are such that several weeks of rainfall are missed, a dire water shortage can quickly develop for the coming year's crops. Because the Feast of Tabernacles is observed at this important junction when the anticipation of rain is at its highest, the two have become inseparably connected. Even today, the prayers of rain remain an important part of Tabernacles' observance.

 

       I firmly believe we are living in a season when the rain is going to return to the Body of Christ and the glory of God will once again be our guide. We can't really say that is happening right now but it's coming friend. It's happening in some parts of the world, but not here in America - at least not yet. There is a SOUND of the abundance of rain though and if we will allow Christ to "tabernacle" among us, we will see His power manifest to us. Rain must come before we have harvest. The rains of the Spirit must FALL and "fill every vessel," if we are to see the final plan of God made manifest in these last days.

 

The Prophetic

 

        The Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Feast of Ingathering, a prophetic foreshadowing of the coming final harvest of judgment.

 

Hosea 6:11  - Also, O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I returned the captivity of my people. 

Joel 3:13  - Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 

Matthew 13:39  - The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 

Rev. 14:15  - And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 

        This harvest is a future Day of Ingathering when God gathers His people unto Himself and burns the wicked like the chaff and stubble.

 

Malachi 4:1-2  - For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.  [2] But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 

 

        The Feast of Tabernacles is tied to Israel's FUTURE as well as her past. When the Messiah sets up His millennial Kingdom, He will gather the remnant of Israel back to her land. Isaiah described this event as the harvesting of olives. Tree branches are beaten with rods and the olive berries gathered once they fall to the ground:

 

Isaiah 27:12-13  - And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel. [13] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem. 

Isaiah 11:11-12  - And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. [12] And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. 

Jeremiah 23:7-8  - Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord lives, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; [8] But, The Lord lives, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land. 
        

        The righteous among the Gentiles too, will be gathered to the Lord. In that day, the Gentiles will pray in Jerusalem:

 

Zech. 14:16-17 - And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. [17] And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain. 

        The Gentile nations that refuse to keep the Feast of Tabernacles in the millennial Kingdom will receive no rain upon their lands. This passage provided the biblical basis for the tradition of praying for rain during the Feast of Tabernacles. The Lord will not only gather His people, but He will TABERNACLE in their midst during the coming Messianic Kingdom:

 

Ezekiel 37:27-28  - My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [28] And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. 

Rev. 21:3  - And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

        The sign of God's presence, the Shekinah glory, will be seen in Zion again. It will appear as a shining fire over the whole of Mount Zion. It will be like a tabernacle, providing protection and refuge for the nation after centuries of persecution and the time of Jacob's sore trouble. That is not far off in the distant future- MESSIAH IS COMING!

 

Isaiah 60:1,19  - Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.  19 - The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 

Zech. 2:5  - For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. 

Isaiah 4:5-6  - And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense. [6] And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain. 
 

        Prophetically, the Feast of Tabernacles is right around the corner. Rapture, Tribulation, Rest. Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles. The three fall feasts of Israel are God's prophetic time clock that is ticking as we write this. Violence has erupted in the Middle East unlike at any time in nearly 10 years. The rumblings of thunder are being heard. A distant cry is being heard that is telling the church to get herself ready for the rapture and be prepared to meet the bridegroom for He is coming very SOON. Another cry is being sent to a dying world that time is short and destruction is sure for those who fail to repent. It's not God's will that ANY perish but ALL come to eternal life through CHRIST. It's not God's will that mankind suffer in a devil's hell. Hell was never made for man, never. God weeps over every soul that is lost. There is no joy in heaven over the death of the wicked. All souls are precious in the sight of God. But friend, if we refuse to heed His call, we will suffer the same fate as Satan and that is the second death in the lake of fire.
 

        Yeshua is our tabernacle, or BOOTH. He is the only shelter from the coming great days of tribulation that are ahead not only for Israel, but the entire world. It's getting late neighbor. It's getting late. Do you know that you know that you know that you know that Jesus lives within you today. Does He tabernacle with you at this moment? Are you washed in the precious blood of the Lamb. Many believe Yeshua was born during this Feast because He was born in the late fall in a "booth." This is why we call it "the season of our Joy." Neighbor, you need to make your calling and election SURE. Don't play around with eternity. It's forever. Celebrate the feasts of the Lord this holiday season and rejoice during the Feast of Booths. Shalom, and blessings.

 

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!"

Apples and honey are two main dishes during Rosh Hashanah celebration seasons including Sukkot.

 

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