Sukkot: Tabernacles

 

The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is the third fall feast of the LORD. It is observed for seven days, with an additional holy convocation on the eighth day. No servile work (meaning work of any kind, but especially work associated with bondage, captivity, or slavery) is to be done on the first and eighth days of the feast (Lev. 23:33-36). During the seven days of this feast, the Israelites were commanded to dwell in booths, or sukkot (tents or tabernacles). They were to observe this feast with booths for ever (v. 42-43). The booths are a reminder that after delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, the LORD set His tabernacle in the midst of them, and His presence continually dwelt with them defending and providing for them. Tabernacles is a joyous feast, celebrating God's bountiful deliverance, provision and protection.

The haftorah readings from the books of the prophets during the LORD's Feast of Tabernacles show the connection between deliverance from the enemy, and Tabernacles. The portion from Zechariah 14 read for this feast includes:

"Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations (who come against Jerusalem), as when He fought in the day of battle."  v. 3

In this prophesied battle, there is a great event that will split the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. That moment is when the Lord, Himself, the Messiah, will set His feet on the Mount. He then establishes His kingdom:

"...and the LORD My God shall come, and all the saints with Thee...And the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and His name one."  v. 5b,9

At that time, living waters are released (v.8), and a plague destroys the enemies of God's people (v. 12).

In the Messianic kingdom established at that time, all the nations of the earth will be required to come yearly to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles:

"And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles...whoso will not come up...even upon them shall be no rain."  v. 16-17

We can see that the Feast of Tabernacles is directly associated with this great victory over the enemy, and prophetically, with the reign of Messiah on earth. Not only that, but Zechariah clearly identifies Jesus as that Messiah:

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one who is in bitterness for his firstborn...In that day, there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." 

                                                                                            Zech. 12:10, 13:1

The defeat of the enemies of Israel in the battle that the LORD fights in the passages from Zechariah above, is the battle of Armageddon. It is also referred to as the war against Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38:18-23. Rabbis teach that this war will occur during the fall feast season, and often refer to it as "the Tishri war". We can imagine the great joy of God's people as they celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, as the LORD, Himself, descends and intervenes against the enemies of Israel during this horrific battle. We currently see in the events of today, the very same nations of which the prophets spoke, lining up against the nation of Israel.

In describing the deliverance of His people from the enemies around them, the LORD says that He does it by His "mighty hand, and a stretched out arm" (Deut. 4:34, 26:8, Jer. 32:21)

He associates that mighty hand and outstretched arm of deliverance with His name of "LORD" (Ex. 6:6). His name is written with the Hebrew letters yod, hey, vaw, hey. The pictographic meaning of these Hebrew letters is "Behold the hand, Behold the nail". The LORD's great hand that delivers is a pierced hand, according to His name. The bared arm of the LORD in deliverance is associated in scripture with salvation, or "yeshuah", Jesus (Isa. 33:2, 52:10, 63:5).
Finally, in scripture, David brings together the tabernacle of the LORD with deliverance from his enemies:
"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple (sanctuary, prevail, victor, overcome, strength). For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion (booth, protection, hedge, fence about, defend): in the secret of His tabernacle (dwelling, to shine) shall He hide me; He shall set me upon a rock. And now mine head shall be lifted above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD."  Ps. 27:4-6

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