By Katharine Weiss
Jesus kept all the Feasts during His earthly life. He did this as an observant Jew, as a model for us, and as the promised Messiah.
The season of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, is notable for several reasons. It is the seventh moed (appointed time) in the seventh month. It pictures fullness, or completion, or spiritual maturity. This is very appropriate as it is the prophetic view of “Immanuel, God with Us”.
When our children were young (they are now in college), they loved celebrating these holidays at our home. At Sukkot we would decorate our backyard awning with pretend fruits and vegetables, lights, and garnishes to simulate a sukkah (singular of sukkot) like the ones Myles knew as a youngster. We would fill our house with guests, in the tradition of ushpizin (generous deep hospitality) that opens the home and sukkah to anyone passing by or known well. We would teach about the Feasts and enjoy the warmth of the season in the midst of the fragility of life.
The Feast of Tabernacles reminds us that we are just “passing through,” as the Israelites did in tents in the wilderness. Our very bodies are temporary shelters that will also pass away.
In the midst of this awareness of weakness, we are commanded to rejoice above any other time of the year.
And why not?
The holiday is a prophetic pointer to the Millennial Age!
The day is coming when the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will set up His divine rulership and all the world will live under His benign monarchy.
The Feast of Sukkot looks back historically, is celebrated presently, and will be the most joyful 1,000 years imaginable!
Joy, Joy, Joy—simcha in Hebrew—beyond the birth of a child, the wedding, the pleasure and gladness that comes with the most important celebrations in life.
In Pslam 16:11, we read, “You will show me the path of life, in your presence is fullness of joy! At your right hand are pleasures forevermore!
Wow! Simcha, simcha, simcha—joy, joy, joy!
That is the lesson: when God is in the midst, joy is the operative emotion, and colors all of life.
So here is my hope for you today:
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! For the joy of the Lord is our strength! (Philippians 4:4)
Thank you for the above info on celebrating Sukkot!
I am Canadian Christian mom, desiring to observe Sukkot with my family.
Current events being what they are, have me diving deeper into the scriptures, prayer,
meditation to seek out God’s role for me in these times.
I want to share God’s reassurance for us as we look forward to the new millenium
I am inviting my young adult children over to celebrate this feast (tapa’s paired with scripture and teaching on Sukkot) and to pray for Israel.
under the full blood moon at our country property.
As I am not well educated on the Jewish feasts….Is this appropriate?…have I overlooked something? Is the feast to start at a specific time?
Open to any further guidance …: )
Those teachings are really so educating for people like me and the church. God bless you.