Sukkot
“Three times a year you shall make a festival to Me.” Exodus 23:14 (J. Green)
Festival – Tonight as the sun goes down the worldwide Jewish community will begin the festival of Sukkot. For the next few days, people who honor this commandment will live outside in shelters. This experience is a remembrance of the time in the wilderness when God delivered His people from the hand of bondage in Egypt. This festival is thousands of years old. It recalls God’s faithfulness, compassion, reliability and provision.
While Judaism has celebrated this festival as long as historical memory can recall, many Gentiles who have been grafted into the commonwealth of Israel are only recently discovering the power in this memorial. Its biblical authority rests on texts like Leviticus 23:35, 40 and 42 and Deuteronomy 16:14. Sukkot begins on the 15th day of Tishri, the 5th day after Yom Kippur. It is the last of the three pilgrim feasts, the other two being Passover and Shavu’ot. Sukkot is the Hebrew word that means “booths.” These are the temporary shelters (singular: Sukkah) constructed according to tradition as memorials to the days of wandering in the desert. The mistaken English translation “feast of Tabernacles” suggests that this festival is connected to the Tabernacle. A Sukkah is not like the Tabernacle. It is designed to be temporary while the Tabernacle was the permanent place of God’s presence.
There is a rich history and tradition accompanying Sukkot, but the most important part of this festival is its emotional tone. This is a time of rejoicing in God’s goodness during the years of wandering. It is a time of undoing the bitterness and complaints of the actual wanderers by reflecting on God’s provision and unwavering grace in our lives and in the lives of those who have come before us. While Israel exhibited a lack of gratefulness in those forty years, Sukkot today is a time of great thanksgiving when the community as a whole honors God’s fulfillment of His promises and looks forward to the completion of His redemptive purpose. But more than anything, Sukkot is a festival!
The Hebrew word is hag from the verb hagag (to feast). It involves dancing, celebrating, eating, leaping, feeling giddy and making a pilgrimage. Imagine the joyous activity that occurs on this evening and the days to come. Did you realize that God commands us to celebrate, to dance, to revel in His goodness, to jump up and down with joy. Don’t be afraid you Baptists, Episcopalians and Presbyterians. Let a bit of Pentecostal revelry into your life. The children of Israel have known about this for millennia. So hold hands with those you love. Sing a song of praise to God. Let yourself move. Feel the breeze and the fleeting warmth of the sun. And enjoy Him!
Topical Index: Sukkot, Sukkah, festival, hag, Exodus 23:14
“Rejoice in the LORD always and again I say rejoice!” -Not only three times a year, but always!-
Is this possible? Or has G-d given unto us this “command” only to tease us or to say unto us -we are not where we should be in our alijyah- our journey- our pilgrimage.
Life (on this planet) is temporary. Or to fill this out more completely, R.W. is right: “life is a test, life is a trust and life is temporary. And we will have trials and tests, “guaranteed.” Why? Yeshua said, (we do pay attention to His words,-right?) “in this world -you will have tribulation.. (the bad news), but (a word of turning)- be of good cheer, (Let not your heart be troubled), “fear not”- (only repeated three hundred sixty six times is all..) I have (already) overcome the world.”
In the O.T. G-d had a temple for His people, in the N.T. G-d has a people for His temple. “Do you not know that you are the Temple of G-d, and that The Breath of G-d dwells within you?” 1 Corinthians 3.16)
“..Christ in you- the hope of glory..” (Colossians 1.27). – Is this not a cause of great rejoicing? “Greater (so much greater!) is He who is in you- than he who is in the world..”
No wonder I’m a Catholic Baptist Jewish Pentecostal! “In Christ” we are a new creation.. Jars of clay, temporary tabernacles, only dancing on this earth for a short while, but “in Christ” we have cause for great rejoicing, both today (while here) and tomorrow (when there..). – Have a lovely day friends!- “This is the day which the LORD has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it..”- why? (it’s okay to ask why..)- because (once again..)- “this is the day which the LORD has made”- It all belongs to Him! He is “both” the Day-Maker and the Day Planner. My job description?- “to walk worthy of the LORD, unto all pleasing..” “Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer.” Amein!
Isaiah 55:6-13 NASB –
6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”
This passage speaks to me today, since for the second time in five days, we have received abundant rain in our drought-laden area. Praise the LORD!
It gets my attention, though, from the very first verse. He is near to us now, because He has told us this is the time He will meet with us. In looking at the Hebrew meaning for EVERLASTING, I see that it goes back to a root that means HIDDEN. Makes me think of “hidden in plain sight.”
Shalom! I grew up as a secular Jew and never experienced the joy of Sukkot until a few years ago. It’s hard to describe but, the first time, I had a meal in a Sukkah was life changing. I felt a deep connection to ancient Israel as I experienced the beauty of the celebration. A few years ago my husband and I purchased a Sukkah kit that we decorate with grape lights, Biblical banners, and fruit. It is an absolute joy to make the wave offering with the lulav and etrog. We also try to invite people over to share a meal in the Sukkah, especially those who don’t have a Sukkah or who have never experienced being in one.
After the powerful liturgical services of Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, it is a tremendous gift to enter into the season of our joy. If any of you live near a Jewish population, I urge you to try to experience the joy of Sukkot. Some synagogues will put a Sukkah on their property for people to use. Hey, my local bagel shop even puts up a Sukkah in the parking lot.
Remember, Yeshua and all of his talmidim ate and slept in a Sukkah. It’s a wonderful way to connect more deeply. Chag Sameach and may each of you be filled to overflowing with the abundance of His love and harvest. Skip is right–don’t forget to dance and let His joy fill your soul.
Sukkot is totally new to me. I would like dip my toe in the water,… would a tent work? Is there a good online source for the basics?
I love this Feast celebration and look forward to dancing & celebrating with my Yeshua
Shalom to all
Rejoice and dance to this by Paul Wilbur, “Mountains of Israel”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDKKRG5DSLI
“Come like a Mighty Lion, roar with Your glory and Your fire
Come now with Your power
Bo Yeshua Mishecheynu Your people wanna see You”
Got to hear Paul Wilber sing it live last night here in Bradenton, Florida. He will be here tonight as well-singing and ministering. Very annointed praise. Come join us! Let the Feast begin and the people of YHWH rejoice in Him!! Halleluyah.
Cyndee,
“Mountains of Israel”
From the beginning to the end it’s been*
This way Your promises they never change
Your people will never be put to shame
From the desert to the endless sea
Shores of Egypt to the eastern hills
The earth and the sky tremble at Your will
Wake up and call on the name of the Lord
Weak be made strong you have now been restored
Oh the darkness is light
Oh Your kingdom is now in sight
Lord God of Israel arise
Consume us now with Your fire
Every people and tribe
Mountains of Israel come alive
It’s time to bring forth new wine
From now to the end of time
Spirit pouring out from all around
Living waters now they’re raining down
The day of the Lord is at hand
Can you hear the voice in the desert calling out
Prepare the way
The way for the Lord make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God
Come like a mighty lion roar with Your glory and Your fire
Come now with Your power
Bo Yeshua Mishecheynu Your people wanna see You
Oh the darkness is light
Oh Your kingdom is now in sight it’s now in sight yeah