Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles

Sukkot: The Feast of Tabernacles

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Lev. 23:33-43

September 18, at sundown, marks the beginning of the feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles. During this feast the Jewish people build tabernacles or huts because Sukkot is a memorial of the forty years that Israel spent wandering in the desert and God’s provision for them. According to Nehemiah, during the forty years in the desert, their clothes did not wear out.  God provided for all the people’s needs.

The dedication of Solomon's' Temple also took place during this feast (I Kings 8:2).  It was after Solomon’s prayer of dedication that the Lord spoke the following from the heavenly throne room. (2 Chronicles 7:14) “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.”  Sukkot reminds us that if God’s people, the Body of Christ, if we will humble ourselves and repent of the wickedness within God’s tabernacle (that’s us again), He will hear from heaven and heal our land. 

 

After the return from the Babylonian Captivity, Ezra read the law and led the Israelites in repentance during the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:13-18).  

Jesus fulfills this feast as he does all the others. He provides for us, if we seek the kingdom, and He will protect us. Matthew 6:31-33 (NKJV) “Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the unbelievers seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Another scripture of provision:  Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

The Feast of Tabernacles is a celebration of the harvest of the fruit of the land.  In that regard, it looks forward to the final harvest, the greatest gathering of God’s people, that time when all believers come together, and God tabernacles with us. Revelation 21:1-4 (NKJV)  “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." 

Psalm 118:15-17 (NKJV) “The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents (tabernacles) of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD.”

During the eight day celebration of Sukkot, let’s praise God for His provision, His protection, His desire to tabernacle with us and in us through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.   Because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ, we, literally, “live, move and have our being in Him” (Acts 17:28).  Sukkot celebrates that relationship.