The Lord commanded Moses to instruct the Israelites, to observe seven feasts and sacred assemblies. The seventh of which is the Feast of Tabernacles. It is also commonly know as the Feast of Booths (Succoth) or the Feast of Ingathering. It was to be observed from the fifteenth day, of the seventh month, for seven days. And on the eighth day they were to hold a closing assembly. It coincided with the autumn harvest and began five days after the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).
The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work.’” (Leviticus 23:33-36)
God intended that through the observance of this ordinance, Israel would reflect upon the goodness, providence and mercies of the Lord. That they would remember throughout their generations, that it is He who gives them power to get wealth and waters their land with the dew of Heaven. They were not to be corrupted by the practices of the pagan nations around them, who worshiped the host of heaven and deified nature, rather than the Creator.
Thanksgiving ought to be “a lasting ordinance” not just for the Jew but for the gentile as well. O that gratitude were never lacking in our thoughts and conversation. As God is ever giving so we ought to be ever thankful. This was King David’s attitude. Notice in the Bible, that thanksgiving and praise are used interchangeably.
“Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.” (2 Samuel 22:50)
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 104:4)
All men enjoy the goodness and mercies of the Lord, whether they know it or not. The air that we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, springs, lakes, rivers, seas and oceans, the earth, rainfall, flora and fauna, seasons and sunshine are all God’s gift to man.
“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45)
The children of Israel were to express their gratitude through burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings. The Lord had blessed Israel with abundance. No one was expected to come empty handed. This was the agricultural aspect of the celebration.
” ‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 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. 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.’” (Leviticus 23:39-41)
There was also a historical aspect to the ordinance. It was to serve as a reminder of the wanderings in the wilderness – for forty years they dwelt in booths. They had not reached the land of promise and could therefore not build permanent structures in their unsettled state. This should be a lesson to all who look forward to a heavenly inheritance. Brethren, let us not get too comfortable in the world but like Abraham (our father), we should always bear this in mind that we are pilgrims.
“ Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 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.” (Leviticus 23:42,43)
There is also a prophetic significance to the Feast of Tabernacles, brought to view in Zechariah 14. Zechariah plainly states that all nations would be required to worship the King, the LORD Almighty and celebrate the Feast. There is punishment pronounced against all people and nations who disobey. It seems consistent with scripture and history to place the fulfilment of this prophecy sometime in the future. The first verses present a battle scene whose description is similar to Revelation 16:16; 19:11-16; 20:7-10. In Revelation 21, we are told that the Tabernacle of God shall be with men.
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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.” (Rev 21:1-3)
“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:16-19)
Jesus taught the Jews beginning midway through the feast, seeking to open the eyes of their understanding to a deeper revelation of Himself. Many believed but others were offended at His teaching. “Never man spake like this man.”
“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, of a truth this is the Prophet.
Others said, this is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?” (John 7:37-41)
As the Tabernacle in the wilderness dwelt in the midst of the camp of Israel, so “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”. Jehovah came to Tabernacle with the Jews but they did not recognize Him. He comes to Tabernacle with you today; will you receive Him?
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20)
May the Lord bless His word!
Dean Mudenda