Sukkot: Feast of Tabernacles
Sukkot or Feast of Tabernacles is the last of the fall festival commanded by GOD in the scriptures. It is a time the FATHER has designated that we come before HIM and celebrate HIS provision in our lives. Yes, we have an appointment with GOD!
Sukkot is a recognition of how GOD provided for the Israelites for the 40 years that they wandered in the wilderness and lived in temporary dwellings following the exodus from Egypt. They never went hungry and the clothing and shoes did not wear out. It is an annual reminder of God’s provision for His people and it celebrates HIS present day provision in our lives today.
It is a fall celebration a lot like Thanksgiving except, it is celebrated for 8 days and the focus is on GOD not the turkey and football. We give thanks for many things that we are blessed with everyday – like food and shelter, our health and families, our jobs and businesses. This appointed time by GOD celebrates HIS yearly provision of the harvest (grain and other food), which takes place in the fall in Israel, the Holy Land.
Sukkot, (Feast of Tabernacles) follows right after Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement and it represents renewed fellowship with God. We are to step away from our worldly daily routines and spend some out in nature giving thanks to the Creator for all that HE provides for us. Many congregations will spend this time together at a beautiful lakeside campground surrounded by nature. It is tradition to building a temporary dwelling in your backyard and celebrate there.
I have attended feast celebrations at hotels and resorts areas. I have family who have spent it on a cruise ships and vacation venues in the Caribbean. The point is to get away, come out of the world and leave your troubles behind. Rejoice in the Lord!
For me, I always think that this is what it will be like when the Messiah returns to earth. We will be happy and joyous and focus on HIM!
The word “Sukkot” means “booths,” and refers to the temporary dwellings that we are commanded to live in during this appointed time in memory of the period of wandering. The Hebrew pronunciation of Sukkot is “Sue COAT,” but is often pronounced in Yiddish as “Sukkos.”
The sukkah can be great fun for whole family. The commandment to “dwell” in a sukkah can be fulfilled by spending as much time in the sukkah as possible during the week, eating your meals there as well as sleeping in it.
“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.” (Leviticus 23:40, see also Nehemiah 8:15)
In Judaism and the Messianic community believers faces east toward Jerusalem and prays while waving the lulav and the etrog in his sukkah. The etrog (in the left hand) and lulav (in the right hand) are held together in the traditional fashion and waved or shook toward the east, south, west and north.
Zechariah 14: 16-19 Finally, everyone remaining from all the nations that came to attack Jerusalem will go up every year to worship the king, Adonai-Tzva’ot, and to keep the festival of Sukkot. 17 If any of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the king, Adonai-Tzva’ot, no rain will fall on them. 18 If the family of Egypt doesn’t go up, if they refuse to come, they will have no [annual] overflow [from the Nile]; moreover, there will be the plague with which Adonai will strike the nations that don’t go up to keep the festival of Sukkot. 19 This will be Egypt’s punishment and the punishment of all the nations that don’t go up to keep the festival of Sukkot.
