Sukkoth: Feast of Tabernacles
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
Start Date: Sundown on Friday, September 25, 2026. [1, 2]
End Date: Nightfall on Friday, October 2, 2026. [1, 2]
Lev. 23:33-43
Sukkoth, the Feast of Tabernacles celebrates the harvest of the fruit of the land. During this Appointed Time, many people, both Jew and Christian, build tabernacles or huts. Generally, they spend at least part of each day during the seven days celebration in their tabernacle.
Sukkoth reminds us of the forty years Israel spent wandering in the desert and God’s provision. According to Nehemiah, during the forty years in the desert, the people’s clothes did not wear out. Along with manna and water, God provided for all the rest of the people’s needs.
After the return from the Babylonian Exile, Ezra read the law and led the Israelites in acts of repentance during the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:8-17). “So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.'' For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.''
"So the Levites quieted all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.'' And all the people went their way to eat and drink, to send portions and rejoice greatly, because they understood the words that were declared to them.
The dedication of Solomon's' Temple also took place during this feast (I Kings 8:2). Later, Josephus referred to the Feast of Tabernacles as the holiest and greatest of the Hebrew feasts.
We often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14, but few of us realize that the context of this passage was the dedication of Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem that took place during the Feast of Tabernacles. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
For Christians, Sukkoth can be a time when we rededicate ourselves as the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are His people, called by His name. If we want healing to come to our land, the Church must, individually and corporately, humble ourselves, pray and seek a deeper relationship with our heavenly Father. We must turn from our wicked ways, such as fear, anger, self-righteousness and division. Then God will hear from heaven and pour out His forgiveness and healing.
Sukkoth, Feast of Tabernacles, celebrates the completed harvest. The final crop, the fruit of the land, that has been gathered.
The Feast of Tabernacles looks forward to the final spiritual harvest, the great revival to come. The autumn harvest is a forerunner to that time in the Millennial Kingdom when all believers are gathered together and God tabernacles with us. Sukkoth looks forward to the time when believers will rule and reign with Jesus.
Zechariah 14:16-19 is a prophetic word describing the celebration of Sukkoth during the Millennium.
"And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles."
The following Psalm is one that God’s people sang as they passed through the Kidron valley and climbed the Temple Mount to worship during the Lord’s Appointed Times.
Psalms 122:1-9: “I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the Lord.'' Our feet have been standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built As a city that is compact together,
Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the Lord, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the Lord.For thrones are set there for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.'' For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, "Peace be within you.'' Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.
During this holy time, O Lord, we rededicate our lives to You and rejoice for what You have done, are doing and will do. Amen.
For His Glory
Calling to mind the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Thursday, September 17, 2026
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV)”
Thursday, September 10, 2026
10 Days of Awe: Meditating on the Atonement of Jesus Christ
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Thursday, August 27, 2026
Walking in the Spirit of Jabez
By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe
Although his story is told in only two verses in scripture, Jabez’ message is powerful, life altering and filled with world-changing hope.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10:
“Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name [Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain. ”And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested”
I Chronicles 4 lists the descendants of Judah. Judah was the fourth son of Jacob. As Jacob lay dying, he prophesied over each of his 12 sons. Judah’s prophecy is found in Genesis 49:8-12: “Judah, may your brothers praise you. May your hand be in the neck of your enemies. May your father's sons bow before you. Judah is a lion's whelp. My son, you have gone up from the prey. He stooped, he crouched like a lion; and like a lioness, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. And the obedience of the peoples to him. Binding his foal to the vine, and his ass's colt to the choice vine, he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes. His eyes shall be sparkling with wine, and his teeth white from milk.”
Judah’s tribe will be victorious over their enemies. The scepter signifies the kings in the line of Judah. David is the first; Jesus is the last. The feasting and the wine speak of prosperity.
Jabez was born into the tribe of Judah, the tribe of kings. Both Rahab and Ruth married into the tribe of Judah. David was a descendant of Judah. Joseph, Mary and Jesus were members of the tribe.
In spite of the promises that had been declared over the tribe of Judah, Jabez’ mother saw little hope for her son. He had been born in pain. She expected that pain to continue. Jabez means “he will bring pain and sorrow.”
We must be mindful of what we speak over our children and grandchildren. Likewise, we need to know who we are in the Lord and not take to heart what the world may say about us as Christians.
Jabez did not let the words of his mother limit his life expectations. He called on the God of Israel not only to bless him, but to bless him INDEED. He asked for a big blessing. He asked God to increase his territory, to increase his sphere of authority, to increase his ministry. Jabez knew that he could not move effectively in his increase without the covering and protection of the Lord. He asked for guidance (God’s hand.) He asked the Lord to keep him from evil. Remember that the Lord Jesus taught us all to pray for the Lord to deliver us from evil.
Jabez’ purpose for his increased territory and for the Lord’s intervention in his life is that he would not cause pain, that he would not walk in the curse that his mother had spoken over him. Jabez wanted to be blessed in order to bless others.
We can learn from Jabez.
--No matter what our background might be, no matter what others may have spoken over us, God still has a plan to give us a future and a hope.
Jermiah 29:11-12: “For I know the purposes which I am purposing for you, says Jehovah; purposes of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you shall call on Me, and you shall go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
--We cannot walk effectively in blessing without submitting to God’s authority over our lives.
Psalm 37:3-4: Trust in God, and do good; you shall dwell in the land, and you shall be fed on truth. Delight yourself also in God, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.
--Our desire must be a determination to walk away from evil—evil in both thought and action.
James 4:7-8: Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners; and purify your hearts, double-minded ones.
--The purpose of our enlarged territory must be to accomplish our calling without purposefully harming others.
We must ask ourselves some pertinent questions.
--Why do I want my domain to be increased?
--Am I willing to forgo my plans and to submit to God’s plans and purposes?
--Am I desirous of walking away from evil thoughts, conversations and actions?
--Can I honestly say that I do not wish pain on others?
God’s purpose is that we shine forth the glory, power, authority and holiness of our Creator.
Isaiah 60:1- 2: Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the LORD will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.”
Because He loves us and wants the best for us, God desires that we walk in the spirit of Jabez.