Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles
Leviticus 23:34 (New American Standard Bible)
"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the LORD.’”
A holiday of joy and celebration (representing the millennium); occurs right after the high holy days, with their somber mood of repentance and judgment (representing the tribulation).
True of this life in general:
Psalm 30:5 (New International Version)
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Called the “Season of Our Joy”: joy in knowing that one’s sins were forgiven following the season of repentance and redemption of YK
Historically commemorates the days in the wilderness following Egypt where they were divinely protected by God; prophetically represents the Messianic Kingdom on earth.
Spiritual Application: The sukkah, or booth, symbolizes the physical body, which is a temporary dwelling place for our souls and spirit. It also symbolizes our dependence upon God for provision of food and water (the Word of God) and shelter from the evil one.
Matthew 6:31-33 (New International Version)
31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
In the wilderness, God appeared as a cloud by day, and a fire by night. The cloud has multiple meanings; it refers to: (1) believers in the Messiah (Daniel 7:13, Revelation 1:7), (2) wedding canopy or chupah
Isaiah 4:2-6 (New International Version)
The Branch of the Lord
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
The Branch is Jesus:
Jeremiah 23:5-6 (New International Version)
5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
The Millenium is analogous to the wedding feast. Revelation 7:9-17, 7:15: God will spread His tent over them…
The word for tabernacle, booth, or dwelling in Greek is skenos, which is the same word used in John 1:14 to speak of Jesus.
John 1:14 (New American Standard Bible)
14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
And the same word found in Revelation 21.
Revelation 21:3 (New American Standard Bible)
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
Other references to “tabernacle” refer to a temporary dwelling place o 1 Peter 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 5:1-5: our bodies o Hebrews 9:11: Jesus o Multiple references to actual tents Observance:
Leviticus 23:40-43 (New International Version)
40 On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.' "
Called the Feast of the Ingathering because it marks the time of the harvest, the final ingathering of produce before the oncoming winter; perhaps a foreshadowing of the final ingathering of believers before Satan is destroyed for good.
Jesus defines the harvest as the end of the age:
Matthew 13:39 (New American Standard Bible)
39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
People who have not yet accepted Christ as Lord and Savior are in the valley of decision:
Joel 3:13-14 (New American Standard Bible)
13 Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe Come, tread, for the wine press is full; The vats overflow, for their wickedness is great. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
Jeremiah 8:18-20 (New International Version)
18 O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me. 19 Listen to the cry of my people from a land far away: "Is the LORD not in Zion? Is her King no longer there?" "Why have they provoked me to anger with their images, with their worthless foreign idols?" 20 "The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved."
Also called the Feast of Dedication because Solomon dedicated the temple during Sukkot (1 Kings 3) Also called the Feast of Nations; it will be celebrated by all nations during the Messianic Age; the sacrifices and promises associated with this holiday are imprinted with the number 7 or multiples of 7 speaking of a perfect kingdom
The Four Species
4 branches waved during the ceremony 3 branches (palm, myrtle, and willow) held together in the right hand; known as the Lulav 1 held in the left hand, known as the etrog or citron, was a thorny evergreen shrub (lemon fruit) Etrog held upside down initially, then turned right side up and joined to the other 3 Together all 4 are then waved before the Lord Symbolic of gentiles (initially in a state of being upside down) joined with Jews in marriage to the Lord
Daily Ceremony
3 divisions of priests: 1st division: slaying sacrifices at the altar 2nd division: pass thru Eastern Gate (EG); cut willows; form rows; march to the EG swinging the willows back and forth simulating the wind = Ruach (in Hebrew) = spirit; symbolic of the Holy Spirit coming upon Jerusalem 3rd division: pass thru Water Gate (WG); collect water from the pool of Siloam in a golden vase; water known as the living water; priest’s assistant carries a silver vase filled with wine; carry these items back to the WG
There is a link b/t water and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit:
Isaiah 44:3 (New International Version)
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Festival of Lights
After the incident of pouring the water and blood on the altar, the focus was on the pool of Siloam. It was here that the blind man was healed.
John 9:1-7 (New International Version)
1As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3"Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. 4As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man's eyes. 7"Go," he told him, "wash in the Pool of Siloam" (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.
Spiritually speaking, the light represented the Shekinah glory that once filled the temple where God’s presence dwelt in the Holy of Holies, which brilliantly lit the temple. As such, the temple was referred to by the Jews as “the light of the world”.
Israel was chosen to be God’s light to the world, but failed miserably. It was a corporate failure, not an individual one; otherwise we would not have a Savior or a Bible. Also, it is not a permanent failure, but only a temporary setback. Her destiny is to be a blessing to all nations during the Messianic Age, the Millenium.
Malachi 3:12 (New International Version)
12 "Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land," says the LORD Almighty.
Ezekiel 34:23-30 (New International Version)
23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken. 25 " 'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. [a] I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD.
Zechariah 8:11-15 (New International Version)
11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past," declares the LORD Almighty. 12 "The seed will grow well, the vine will yield its fruit, the ground will produce its crops, and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an inheritance to the remnant of this people. 13 As you have been an object of cursing among the nations, O Judah and Israel, so will I save you, and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong." 14 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Just as I had determined to bring disaster upon you and showed no pity when your fathers angered me," says the LORD Almighty, 15 "so now I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid.
Until that time, believers in Christ are to be His light.
Matthew 5:14 (New International Version)
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Aside on the topic of: Rain
Feasts intimately associated with seasonal rains, since they are concentrated in the Spring and Fall Associated with obedience to the covenant established at Mount Sinai; obediencerain; disobediencejudgmentno rain Likened to the Holy Spirit, Word of God, righteousness Jesus is the rain that came down from Heaven Also speaks of revival, restoration, and returning to God God has declared that He will pour out His Spirit during the 7th month; so far, there has been only showers of blessing, but the greatest outpouring is still future. God will pour out His Holy Spirit at the end of the age, manifesting as signs and wonders, gifts of the Holy Spirit, revelation and illumination of the Word The Messianic Age (Millenium) will be a time of joy for all believers, and will be the age of Israel’s glory