The Festival of Tabernacles

Welcome back to afaithtalk.com. The final festival in Scriptures, it begins the evening of Sunday, October 9th and lasts a week.

Once again you can find these feasts in Leviticus 23. Sure, they’re mentioned in other books, but all of the details are recorded in Leviticus 23.

Before we read about it, let’s pray:
Lord the things you have set for us both now and in the future are so benevolent, so wonderful, such blessings. Help us as we read and study these words to know how we can celebrate now and what it might foretell for the future too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Deuteronomy 16:16 AMP
“Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover) and at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and at the Feast of Booths (Tabernacles), and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

Leviticus 23:33-44 NIV
The Festival of Tabernacles
33 The Lord said to Moses, 34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present food offerings to the Lord, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to the Lord. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.
37 (“‘These are the Lord’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food offerings to the Lord—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38 These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.)
39 “‘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 sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—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 temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”
44 So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the Lord.

Seven days, capping it on the eighth day with a Sabbath Rest, and a Sacred Assembly. And Joy, Joy, Joy, all through it. 

After reading all of that, what do you think the ‘males’ should have in their hands (vs. empty hands).

You surely saw that the harvest would be done at this point. This one has another name too, it’s the Feast of Ingathering. Because the fruit harvest has been completed. And in some translations it’s called the Feast of Booths, referring to the temporary shelters. It’s a festival of thanksgiving and a rejoicing. 

“When we look at the Feast of Tabernacles, from the spiritual perspective, we can see that it has three purposes for the people. First, it brought joy that their sins were forgiven (during Yom Kippur). Second, it reminded them of God’s provision and presence during the Exodus. Third, it reminded them that God was still present and provided for all their needs. Also, it should be noted that in Nehemiah 8, the Israelites celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles for the first time since the days of Joshua. Ezra, the scribe, read from the book of the law of God each day during the celebration. What a reminder it is that when we as believers worship together, the Word of God is to be the center focus!”*

*Norten, Michael. Unlocking the Secrets of the Feasts (pp. 91-92). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

I can not more highly recommend that book. 

There is a preponderance of evidence that Jesus was born during the Festival of Tabernacles. (Which means John the Baptist was born during Passover. i.e. six months before Jesus.)

Makes sense since we know He came to dwell with us. His name is Immanuel, God with us. 

Which means Jesus was conceived during the festival of lights, Hanukkah, and born during the Show of Lights which is yet another name for the Festival of Tabernacles. Another of His names, Light of the World. 

Does that make the light that shines in your heart a little brighter now? 

“On the eighth day, the Jews would stop and pray for rain for the future harvests, but it also was a more intimate time with the Lord. The number eight has often carried the symbolic meaning of “new beginning.” Since the Feast of Tabernacles celebrates the millennial reign of the Lord, the eighth day, being a convocation of its own, looks toward fellowship with God for eternity and a new beginning.”*

*Norten, Michael. Unlocking the Secrets of the Feasts (p. 102). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. 

Most certainly is this ever a festival to celebrate. One day we all will.

Joy, Joy, Christ is born! He’s come to dwell with us!
Shine Shine Jesus Christ, He lives in you, He lives in me.
Joy to all the world be known for He is our King.
Light and Life to all He brings, Jesus Christ our Lord.