Sukkot 14 Tishrei - 23 Tishrei 5785
Begins at sunset on Wednesday 16 October
and concludes sunset Sunday 24 October 2024
(Simchat Torah - outside Israel 25 October 2024)
Leviticus 23: 33-44
The Feast of Tabernacles - Sukkot (Succot/Succoth)
Say 'sue cot'
Leviticus 23: 33-44 (NKJ)
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
‘These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day — besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.
‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’”
So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. It is a sacred assembly, and you shall do no customary work on it.
‘These are the feasts of the Lord which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering and a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, everything on its day — besides the Sabbaths of the Lord, besides your gifts, besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill offerings which you give to the Lord.
‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest. And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year. It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’”
So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.
Sukkot: Names and Themes
1. The Season of Our Joy Zeman Simchatenu
2. The Festival of Ingathering Chag HaAsif
3. The Feast of the Nations Chag Hagoyim
4. The Festival of Dedication Chag Hanukkah
5. The Festival of Lights Chag HaOrim
2. The Festival of Ingathering Chag HaAsif
3. The Feast of the Nations Chag Hagoyim
4. The Festival of Dedication Chag Hanukkah
5. The Festival of Lights Chag HaOrim
The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot is the seventh and final festival of the year in the Hebrew calendar. The last of the three feasts where the men were expected to go up to Jerusalem with the first fruits of the harvest, this one being the Autumn/Fall harvest. Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) is held from the 15th-22nd of Tishrei and commemorates God's provision for the Israelites when He brought them out of Egypt and they lived in temporary dwellings as they traversed the wilderness for forty years. It serves as a reminder to all of the Hebrew nation for each generation to reflect on National deliverance in Moses day and looks forward to the day the prophet Jeremiah told them about - that there is a day to come where their deliverance will be even greater when God brings them back to the land of Israel from the lands of the North and the ends of the earth.
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”
(Jeremiah 23:7-8 (NKJ)
The eighth day of the Festival, Shemini Atzeret is called Simchat Torah, the rejoicing in the Torah. It functions as the conclusion of Sukkot, but it is also a separate festival. Together Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret combine to become “one long day.” A day in the bible is from sunset to sunset.
Understanding the Meaning of Tabernacles or Booths
The Hebrew word for tabernacle is ‘sukkah’ (‘succah). Translated into English it can be spelled several ways which accounts for the variations of spelling here. Whatever way it is spelled in English, It means a booth, a hut, a shelter, a covering, a pavilion or tent. The Greek word is sk’en’e, which also means a tent, hut or habitation. The context in which this word is used in the New Covenant (Brit Hadasha):
1. Yeshua tabernacled among us (John 1:14)
2. Peter spoke about his body being a tabernacle (2 Peter 1:13-14)
3. The apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) told us our earthly bodies were earthly houses or tabernacles (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).
4. The tabernacle of Moses (Moshe) was a tent of habitation (Acts 7:44; Hebrews 9:2-8).
5. Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzchak), and Jacob (Ya’acov) lived in tabernacles (tents)
(Hebrews 11:8-9).
6. The tabernacle of David was a tent or dwelling place (Acts 15:16; Amos 9:11). This tabernacle was the temple (HaMishkan) of Solomon (Shlomo). (1 Kings 5:2-5; 8:1-21).
7. Yeshua entered the temple on the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) (John 7:2; 27-29).
8. The Bible speaks of a heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:1-2; Revelation 13:6; 15:5). This heavenly tabernacle will come to earth (Revelation 21:1-3).
9. Yeshua was the true tabernacle (dwelling place, habitation) of God (Hebrews 9:11).
So the booth or sukkah was and is a temporary dwelling place.
Historically it was to remind the people of their exodus from Egypt.
Prophetically it points towards the future to the Messianic age, the Millennium.
Spiritually a sukkah is supposed to remind us that we are just strangers/sojourners and pilgrims on the earth.
This is a temporary dwelling place.
To the believer in Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus The Messiah), our earthly physical body is only a temporary tabernacle. At the coming of Messiah (the return of Jesus) we will receive a new and heavenly house, a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:39-44, 51-57; 2 Corinthians 5:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
Sukkot foreshadows the Lord’s sheltering presence over Israel in the millennial kingdom. No longer will Israel be subject to the oppression of the nations, but God Himself will place His sanctuary in her midst. Israel will be the ‘head and not the tail’ of the nations and the word of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) completes the sacred festivals of the seventh month. In contrast to the sombre tone of Rosh HaShanah and the Day of Atonement, the third feast of Tishrei was a time of joy. Israel had passed through the season of repentance and redemption.
One reason it is called the Season of Our Joy is that after the season of repentance (Teshuvah) and the redemption of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) came the joy of knowing that your sins are forgiven and the joy of walking with, knowing, and being obedient to God. Historically Sukkot commemorates the days in the wilderness after coming out of Egypt. According to natural laws, the Israelites should have perished, however they were divinely protected by God. Prophetically, Sukkot is the festival that teaches on the Messianic Kingdom and the joy of that Kingdom.
The Joy of Sukkot was so great that it was known as “The Feast”. In non-Jewish circles, Sukkot is known as The Feast of Tabernacles. The word Tabernacle refers to a ‘temporary dwelling place’, which is the purpose of the Sukkah.
Yeshua (Jesus) was very familiar with the annual Mo’edim (appointed times) and with his family went up to Jerusalem and the Temple at the appropriate times to ‘keep the feasts’.
The Sukkah symbolises our need to depend upon God for his provision of food, water and shelter. This is also true in the Spiritual realm as well. The Sukkah (tabernacle, booth) is our physical body which is a ‘temporary dwelling place’ for our souls and spirits (1Corinthians 6:19-20). We need the food that the Word of God provides (Matthew 4:4; 6:11; John 6:33-35); the cleansing, rinsing and washing that the Word of God brings to our lives (Ephesians 5:26); and the shelter of God’s protection over our lives (Matthew 6:13; Psalm 91). Our physical needs will be provided for by God if we seek Him (Matthew 6:31-33).
“Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.”
(Jeremiah 23:7-8 (NKJ)
The eighth day of the Festival, Shemini Atzeret is called Simchat Torah, the rejoicing in the Torah. It functions as the conclusion of Sukkot, but it is also a separate festival. Together Simchat Torah and Shemini Atzeret combine to become “one long day.” A day in the bible is from sunset to sunset.
Understanding the Meaning of Tabernacles or Booths
The Hebrew word for tabernacle is ‘sukkah’ (‘succah). Translated into English it can be spelled several ways which accounts for the variations of spelling here. Whatever way it is spelled in English, It means a booth, a hut, a shelter, a covering, a pavilion or tent. The Greek word is sk’en’e, which also means a tent, hut or habitation. The context in which this word is used in the New Covenant (Brit Hadasha):
1. Yeshua tabernacled among us (John 1:14)
2. Peter spoke about his body being a tabernacle (2 Peter 1:13-14)
3. The apostle Paul (Rav Sha’ul) told us our earthly bodies were earthly houses or tabernacles (2 Corinthians 5:1-5).
4. The tabernacle of Moses (Moshe) was a tent of habitation (Acts 7:44; Hebrews 9:2-8).
5. Abraham (Avraham), Isaac (Yitzchak), and Jacob (Ya’acov) lived in tabernacles (tents)
(Hebrews 11:8-9).
6. The tabernacle of David was a tent or dwelling place (Acts 15:16; Amos 9:11). This tabernacle was the temple (HaMishkan) of Solomon (Shlomo). (1 Kings 5:2-5; 8:1-21).
7. Yeshua entered the temple on the Feast of Sukkot (Tabernacles) (John 7:2; 27-29).
8. The Bible speaks of a heavenly tabernacle (Hebrews 8:1-2; Revelation 13:6; 15:5). This heavenly tabernacle will come to earth (Revelation 21:1-3).
9. Yeshua was the true tabernacle (dwelling place, habitation) of God (Hebrews 9:11).
So the booth or sukkah was and is a temporary dwelling place.
Historically it was to remind the people of their exodus from Egypt.
Prophetically it points towards the future to the Messianic age, the Millennium.
Spiritually a sukkah is supposed to remind us that we are just strangers/sojourners and pilgrims on the earth.
This is a temporary dwelling place.
To the believer in Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus The Messiah), our earthly physical body is only a temporary tabernacle. At the coming of Messiah (the return of Jesus) we will receive a new and heavenly house, a glorified body (1 Corinthians 15:39-44, 51-57; 2 Corinthians 5:1-6; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
Sukkot foreshadows the Lord’s sheltering presence over Israel in the millennial kingdom. No longer will Israel be subject to the oppression of the nations, but God Himself will place His sanctuary in her midst. Israel will be the ‘head and not the tail’ of the nations and the word of the Lord will go out from Jerusalem.
The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) completes the sacred festivals of the seventh month. In contrast to the sombre tone of Rosh HaShanah and the Day of Atonement, the third feast of Tishrei was a time of joy. Israel had passed through the season of repentance and redemption.
One reason it is called the Season of Our Joy is that after the season of repentance (Teshuvah) and the redemption of Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) came the joy of knowing that your sins are forgiven and the joy of walking with, knowing, and being obedient to God. Historically Sukkot commemorates the days in the wilderness after coming out of Egypt. According to natural laws, the Israelites should have perished, however they were divinely protected by God. Prophetically, Sukkot is the festival that teaches on the Messianic Kingdom and the joy of that Kingdom.
The Joy of Sukkot was so great that it was known as “The Feast”. In non-Jewish circles, Sukkot is known as The Feast of Tabernacles. The word Tabernacle refers to a ‘temporary dwelling place’, which is the purpose of the Sukkah.
Yeshua (Jesus) was very familiar with the annual Mo’edim (appointed times) and with his family went up to Jerusalem and the Temple at the appropriate times to ‘keep the feasts’.
The Sukkah symbolises our need to depend upon God for his provision of food, water and shelter. This is also true in the Spiritual realm as well. The Sukkah (tabernacle, booth) is our physical body which is a ‘temporary dwelling place’ for our souls and spirits (1Corinthians 6:19-20). We need the food that the Word of God provides (Matthew 4:4; 6:11; John 6:33-35); the cleansing, rinsing and washing that the Word of God brings to our lives (Ephesians 5:26); and the shelter of God’s protection over our lives (Matthew 6:13; Psalm 91). Our physical needs will be provided for by God if we seek Him (Matthew 6:31-33).
The Covering of the Sukkah
The Wedding Chupah (A Sukkah)
Sukkot is a remembrance of the time when God provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness. The wilderness experience was a picture of the Millennium because there was a supernatural environment for the people in the wilderness. The covering was the cloud (Exodus 13:17-22; 14:16-20; 16:10; 19:1,9,16; 24:12-16; 40:1-2, 25-28). This is known spiritually as the immersion (baptism) into the cloud (1 Corinthians 10:1-2; Hebrews 6:1-2). The cloud was a covering shelter and protection by day, and was a pillar of fire by night. It was warmth, light and protection. The cloud was seen as a chupah, a wedding canopy. Daniel 7:13 refers: “… the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven ….” This is also mentioned in Revelation 1:7-8 and Jude 14. In this depiction we can see that the clouds are the believers in Messiah or the righteous ones. Hebrews 12:1; Revelation 1:7; Isaiah 60:8 and Acts 1:9-12. The cloud doesn’t only refer to the believers in the Messiah; it was also seen as a chupah, a wedding canopy (still used today in Jewish wedding ceremonies). Isaiah 4:2 speaks of ‘the branch of the Lord’ and further defines the branch as being Yeshua. In Jeremiah we are able to see that a marriage is being performed. (Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16).
In Isaiah 4:5 it is written, Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. (Hebrew: chupah, the marriage canopy). Isaiah 4:2-6 connects the branch in verse 23 with the cloud in verses 5-6 and duty that is performed in the wilderness. Isaiah is now talking about how this would happen during the Messianic Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-4; 4:2-3). Those written among the living in Jerusalem actually have their names recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12,15; 21:27; Philippians 4:3’ Daniel 12:1; Psalm 69:28; Exodus 32:31-33).
In Isaiah 4:5 it is written, Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. (Hebrew: chupah, the marriage canopy). Isaiah 4:2-6 connects the branch in verse 23 with the cloud in verses 5-6 and duty that is performed in the wilderness. Isaiah is now talking about how this would happen during the Messianic Kingdom (Isaiah 2:2-4; 4:2-3). Those written among the living in Jerusalem actually have their names recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12,15; 21:27; Philippians 4:3’ Daniel 12:1; Psalm 69:28; Exodus 32:31-33).
The return of the King!
Isaiah 4:2 speaks of the fruit of the earth and those who have escaped. Sukkot is also known as the festival of ‘Ingathering’ and the fruit harvest. We read in Revelation 7:9-17 of those who have come through the great tribulation period (also known as the ‘birth pangs of the Messiah or Chevlai shel Mashiach), and who became believers in the Messiah at that time. In Revelation 7:15, they “dwell´ with them.
The clouds in the wilderness are called “the clouds of glory” and the wilderness experience is a picture of the future Messianic age, the Millennium. The sukkah was built to teach and understand the thousand-year millennial reign of the Messiah, the Messianic age, the Millennium, or the Athid Lavo in Hebrew eschatology.
The clouds in the wilderness are called “the clouds of glory” and the wilderness experience is a picture of the future Messianic age, the Millennium. The sukkah was built to teach and understand the thousand-year millennial reign of the Messiah, the Messianic age, the Millennium, or the Athid Lavo in Hebrew eschatology.
Lulavim - Etrog, Hadas, Arava
Lulavim
The Four Species (Arba Minim)
Leviticus 23:40
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.
The four species are interpreted as Lulav (Lulavim pl.) and Etrog (Palm branches and citron).
Today these are represented by Lulav (date palm fronds), Hadas (Myrtle), Arava (willow), and the Etrog which is a citron, a sweet citrus fruit.
The three branches/fronds are woven together and held in the right hand, the etrog is held in the left. Together the Lulavim are waved east, south, west, north, up and down. The whole ceremony called the waving of the lulav.
The branches of palm fronds, myrtle and willow represent the Jewish people, the Etrog represents the non-Jewish believers. At the start of the ceremony for Sukkot, the etrog is held in the left hand upside-down meaning before we came to God, we were in a state of being upside-down. During the ceremony it is turned right side up and joined to the 3 branches. This represents a marriage taking place. The meaning being that after we are turned right side up and turn to God, we are then joined to Him in marriage.
Deuteronomy 16:14 represents the etrog as the stranger. The Gentile who has joined themselves to Israel (Ephesians 2:11-13). This is symbolic of the great congregation of non-Jewish believers in the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
The Etrog tastes sweet and has a delightful aroma – symbolising those with knowledge of Torah and good deeds. The Lulav comes from the date palm which tastes sweet but has no fragrance – symbolising those have knowledge but do no good deeds.
The Hadas (Myrtle) has a nice fragrance but no taste – symbolising those who do good deeds but without true knowledge. The Arava has neither taste nor smell – symbolising those who are lacking in both knowledge and good deeds. James 2:17 – “Faith without works is dead”.
This is a festival of much joy and rejoicing.
Jews all over the world begin building their sukkot straight after Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). There is much excitement and fun decorating the booths with pomegranates, grapes/vines, dates, Autumn harvest fruits, and various decorations with all the family being involved collecting the materials for the festival.
The Celebration of Water Pouring (Simchat Beit HaShoevah)
Also known as the “water libation ceremony’. This temple ceremony is not mentioned in the Torah however it was given in the ‘Mishnah’ - Succah 5. (Oral tradition).
The water pouring became a focus of the joy that the Torah commanded for Sukkot. This is the only festival where the people were commanded to be joyful and as a result Sukkot became known as “the season of our joy”, just as Pesach (Passover) is known as “the season of our freedom” and Shavuot (Pentecost) is “the season of the giving of the Torah” (also the ‘birth of the church’ with the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit).
Simchat Beit HaShoevah (“the rejoicing at the house of water-drawing) took place every day except for the first day of Sukkot. A description of venerable sages juggling lighted torches and performing somersaults as part of the celebration depicted in Jewish writings gives just a hint of the joyfulness of the occasion. They sang praises to God as they danced in procession accompanied by the harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets of the Levites. What a celebration indeed!
Leviticus 23:40
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.
The four species are interpreted as Lulav (Lulavim pl.) and Etrog (Palm branches and citron).
Today these are represented by Lulav (date palm fronds), Hadas (Myrtle), Arava (willow), and the Etrog which is a citron, a sweet citrus fruit.
The three branches/fronds are woven together and held in the right hand, the etrog is held in the left. Together the Lulavim are waved east, south, west, north, up and down. The whole ceremony called the waving of the lulav.
The branches of palm fronds, myrtle and willow represent the Jewish people, the Etrog represents the non-Jewish believers. At the start of the ceremony for Sukkot, the etrog is held in the left hand upside-down meaning before we came to God, we were in a state of being upside-down. During the ceremony it is turned right side up and joined to the 3 branches. This represents a marriage taking place. The meaning being that after we are turned right side up and turn to God, we are then joined to Him in marriage.
Deuteronomy 16:14 represents the etrog as the stranger. The Gentile who has joined themselves to Israel (Ephesians 2:11-13). This is symbolic of the great congregation of non-Jewish believers in the Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).
The Etrog tastes sweet and has a delightful aroma – symbolising those with knowledge of Torah and good deeds. The Lulav comes from the date palm which tastes sweet but has no fragrance – symbolising those have knowledge but do no good deeds.
The Hadas (Myrtle) has a nice fragrance but no taste – symbolising those who do good deeds but without true knowledge. The Arava has neither taste nor smell – symbolising those who are lacking in both knowledge and good deeds. James 2:17 – “Faith without works is dead”.
This is a festival of much joy and rejoicing.
Jews all over the world begin building their sukkot straight after Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). There is much excitement and fun decorating the booths with pomegranates, grapes/vines, dates, Autumn harvest fruits, and various decorations with all the family being involved collecting the materials for the festival.
The Celebration of Water Pouring (Simchat Beit HaShoevah)
Also known as the “water libation ceremony’. This temple ceremony is not mentioned in the Torah however it was given in the ‘Mishnah’ - Succah 5. (Oral tradition).
The water pouring became a focus of the joy that the Torah commanded for Sukkot. This is the only festival where the people were commanded to be joyful and as a result Sukkot became known as “the season of our joy”, just as Pesach (Passover) is known as “the season of our freedom” and Shavuot (Pentecost) is “the season of the giving of the Torah” (also the ‘birth of the church’ with the giving of the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit).
Simchat Beit HaShoevah (“the rejoicing at the house of water-drawing) took place every day except for the first day of Sukkot. A description of venerable sages juggling lighted torches and performing somersaults as part of the celebration depicted in Jewish writings gives just a hint of the joyfulness of the occasion. They sang praises to God as they danced in procession accompanied by the harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets of the Levites. What a celebration indeed!
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Fun video for Sukkot "Living in a Booth" Published on Sep 12, 2012 by einpratfountainheads Follow them on Facebook! http://facebook.com/Fountainheads A musical parody by The Ein Prat Fountainheads from the Ein Prat Academy, Israel http://foheads.com. For lyrics click "Show more" |
Simchat Beit HaShoevah
The Pool at Siloam
Each day the high priest takes water from the well of Siloam in a golden vessel, takes it to the temple and pours the water over the altar whilst praying for rain. At the same time the Levites encircle the altar waving palm branches. On the last day of the feast they encircle the altar seven times waving the palm branches crying “Hoshana” (Hosanna) and reciting Psalms (Tehillim) 113-118. The High Priest then thanks God for the previous year’s harvest and prays for rain for the next harvest. This day is known as Hoshana Raba, or the Great Salvation! The eighth day of the celebration ends one day later with Simchat Torah (The Joy of the ‘Law’) and the two days are considered to be “one long day.”
Jesus healed the blind man at the Pool of Siloam (John 9), some theologians believe that this took place on the Sabbath during Sukkot.
In New Covenant (New Testament) times Sukkot was a major celebration often referred to simply as “The Feast”. It incorporated great ceremonies using water and light. When Jesus made His proclamation in the temple during Sukkot (John 7:37-39), He was challenging the system in a very relevant and pointed way.
Jesus the giver of the water of life (Heb. Mayim Chayim).
These were radical statements and they created quite a stir in the Temple on that occasion. (See John 7:40, 41)
Isaiah12:3 (NKJ) says “therefore with joy shall you draw water from the wells of salvation”
The New American Standard Bible puts this way:
Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3 (NIV): With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
‘Salvation’ in Hebrew is ‘Yeshua’ the name of the Messiah.
This prophetically illustrates the days of messianic redemption when the water of the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon all Israel and God will ultimately dwell with His people when the kingdom is established under Messiah’s reign.
Jesus statement claiming to be the promised Messiah of Jewish Scriptures at the very time of the water drawing ceremony was very radical. “Do you truly want the living waters of the Holy Spirit? Do you understand the true significance of this ceremony? If you desire what this symbolises, then believe in me. I AM the Messiah who will pour out the Holy Spirit on Israel!”
When properly understood, the festival of Sukkot should lead us all to believe, like many in that first century crowd that Yeshua (Jesus) is who he claimed to be; God dwelling in our midst! (Immanuel – God with us!).
To sum up, there are many striking lessons to be learned from Sukkot. God’s provision, his dwelling with His people, the joy of the Holy Spirit. These are all bringing attention to the plan written in Scripture. Yet there is still a future element remaining to be fulfilled by ‘The Feast of Tabernacles. (Sukkot). The apostle John tells us in his vision of final things that the reality of Sukkot will be obvious to all (Revelation 21:1-3):
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
God Himself will finally dwell with His people in all His fullness. The Sukkah of God will be amongst us when Messiah Yeshua dwells as the ruler of the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom!
All the Feasts of the Lord have their own particular lessons to teach. Yet, because of its latter day fulfilment, Sukkot seems to be the very top of all other appointed times (Mo'edim) of God. Of all the Biblical holy days, Sukkot is the premier celebration of the Millennium. As the prophet Zechariah predicts in Zechariah 14:16-17:
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
The judgement for not celebrating Sukkot in the Messianic Kingdom will be the withholding of rain. Sukkot is the time to begin praying for the winter rains essential for the harvest for the following year, therefore very important to agriculture.
When Jesus (Yeshua) returns to establish the Millennial Kingdom, everyone redeemed by His sacrifice will gladly celebrate Sukkot in all its fullness and what a celebration that will be. Jews and Gentiles grafted into one people of God waving the lulav and chanting: Ana Adonai Hoshiana! (Lord, do save us!) Amen.
With the close of Simchat Torah (rejoicing in the law) we reach the end of the High Holy Day season.
I will end this page with a quote from Barney Kasdan, a Messianic leader who writes about the relevance of these ‘appointed times’ (Mo’edim) to both Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus):
It is, I believe, a tragedy that the Christian community has not understood, for the most part, the rich heritage on which its faith is built. Many believers, however, rediscovering these connections, are wondering just how they can understand the Jewishness of their faith in a practical way. These feasts were revealed by God for His own particular reasons, and through them all believers can be blessed, Jews and gentiles.
For further information about Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) check out one of the following links:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/default_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Holidays.htm
http://heartofwisdom.com/biblicalholidays/2010/10/12/messiah-in-sukkot-or-tabernacles/
Jesus healed the blind man at the Pool of Siloam (John 9), some theologians believe that this took place on the Sabbath during Sukkot.
In New Covenant (New Testament) times Sukkot was a major celebration often referred to simply as “The Feast”. It incorporated great ceremonies using water and light. When Jesus made His proclamation in the temple during Sukkot (John 7:37-39), He was challenging the system in a very relevant and pointed way.
Jesus the giver of the water of life (Heb. Mayim Chayim).
These were radical statements and they created quite a stir in the Temple on that occasion. (See John 7:40, 41)
Isaiah12:3 (NKJ) says “therefore with joy shall you draw water from the wells of salvation”
The New American Standard Bible puts this way:
Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3 (NIV): With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
‘Salvation’ in Hebrew is ‘Yeshua’ the name of the Messiah.
This prophetically illustrates the days of messianic redemption when the water of the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon all Israel and God will ultimately dwell with His people when the kingdom is established under Messiah’s reign.
Jesus statement claiming to be the promised Messiah of Jewish Scriptures at the very time of the water drawing ceremony was very radical. “Do you truly want the living waters of the Holy Spirit? Do you understand the true significance of this ceremony? If you desire what this symbolises, then believe in me. I AM the Messiah who will pour out the Holy Spirit on Israel!”
When properly understood, the festival of Sukkot should lead us all to believe, like many in that first century crowd that Yeshua (Jesus) is who he claimed to be; God dwelling in our midst! (Immanuel – God with us!).
To sum up, there are many striking lessons to be learned from Sukkot. God’s provision, his dwelling with His people, the joy of the Holy Spirit. These are all bringing attention to the plan written in Scripture. Yet there is still a future element remaining to be fulfilled by ‘The Feast of Tabernacles. (Sukkot). The apostle John tells us in his vision of final things that the reality of Sukkot will be obvious to all (Revelation 21:1-3):
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
God Himself will finally dwell with His people in all His fullness. The Sukkah of God will be amongst us when Messiah Yeshua dwells as the ruler of the 1000 year Messianic Kingdom!
All the Feasts of the Lord have their own particular lessons to teach. Yet, because of its latter day fulfilment, Sukkot seems to be the very top of all other appointed times (Mo'edim) of God. Of all the Biblical holy days, Sukkot is the premier celebration of the Millennium. As the prophet Zechariah predicts in Zechariah 14:16-17:
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain.
The judgement for not celebrating Sukkot in the Messianic Kingdom will be the withholding of rain. Sukkot is the time to begin praying for the winter rains essential for the harvest for the following year, therefore very important to agriculture.
When Jesus (Yeshua) returns to establish the Millennial Kingdom, everyone redeemed by His sacrifice will gladly celebrate Sukkot in all its fullness and what a celebration that will be. Jews and Gentiles grafted into one people of God waving the lulav and chanting: Ana Adonai Hoshiana! (Lord, do save us!) Amen.
With the close of Simchat Torah (rejoicing in the law) we reach the end of the High Holy Day season.
I will end this page with a quote from Barney Kasdan, a Messianic leader who writes about the relevance of these ‘appointed times’ (Mo’edim) to both Jewish and non-Jewish believers in Yeshua (Jesus):
It is, I believe, a tragedy that the Christian community has not understood, for the most part, the rich heritage on which its faith is built. Many believers, however, rediscovering these connections, are wondering just how they can understand the Jewishness of their faith in a practical way. These feasts were revealed by God for His own particular reasons, and through them all believers can be blessed, Jews and gentiles.
For further information about Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) check out one of the following links:
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday5.htm
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/default_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Holidays.htm
http://heartofwisdom.com/biblicalholidays/2010/10/12/messiah-in-sukkot-or-tabernacles/
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Published on March 17, 2016
Merv and Merla Watson have lived in Israel for more than 40 years. They founded what has become the largest Christian celebration of any feast in Israel: The Feast of Tabernacles. Root Source interviews them to learn how it all came about. |