Rejoice in the LORD*

This week, the Feast of Tabernacles ends after a seven day observance. The next day, the Eighth Day, is Shemini Atzeret. The eighth day is also called Simchat Torah, or "Rejoice in the Torah": "Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein." (Lev. 23:36). It is interesting to know that acording to Jewish custom, a marriage supper doesn't occur until after the newly married couple enters their chamber for seven days at the time of the wedding. On the eighth day following the marriage, the bridegroom brings the bride out of the chamber for the marriage supper celebration. The Eighth Day is a time for rejoicing. Eight is also the number of "new beginnings". The phrase "Rejoice in the LORD" occurs thirty-six times in scripture. From the New Testament: "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord...Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil 3:1, 4:4-7). A type of shutting in, like that which occurs for seven days within the wedding chamber mentioned above, appears in prophetic scripture, and again, it leads to rejoicing: "...Thy dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing ye that dwell in the dust...and the earth shall cast out the dead. Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For behold, the LORD cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." (Isa. 26:17-21, excerpt). These verses speak of the raising of the dead, and the punishment of the wicked, while the LORD's people are enclosed safely in their chambers with the doors shut. We see this also with Noah being shut up in the ark, with God Himself shutting the door. In this way, Noah was kept in safety while the earth was flooded in judgment of the wicked. The parable told by Jesus of the five foolish virgins who were unprepared for the arrival of the bridegroom (Mt. 25), found that they were left outside the shut door as a result. Isaiah prophesies of a strong city in Judah, whose walls and defenses are salvation. Its gates are open to the entrance of the righteous nation that keeps the truth. For those who trust in the LORD, there is perfect peace and everlasting strength (Isa. 26:1-4). In this, Isaiah wrote that he will exalt and praise God: "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine...well refined. He will destroy in this mountain...the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the LORD God will wipe away tears from off all faces...And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us...we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation." (Isa. 25:1-9 excerpt). There is also great rejoicing regarding the coming marriage of the Lamb: "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints....Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb...These are the true sayings of God." (Rev. 19:7-9). In these verses, first we have the marriage of the Lamb, and then the marriage supper of the Lamb. This fits into the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles, and the rejoicing on the Eighth Day, following it. Rejoicing also accompanies the anticipation of the coming of the LORD: "Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD. And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee...And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again." (Zech. 2:10-13, excerpt). As the LORD promise here to "dwell in the midst" of His people, this is the essence of the Feast of Tabernacles. The LORD will not forget His promises to Israel, Judah and Jerusalem, of which we see one example here in these verses. The Church does not replace Israel in the plan and promises of God, although this false "Replacement Theology" doctrine is believed today by some. The LORD will fulfill His Word regarding Israel and Jerusalem, and all of the nations of the earth will also be benefitted as a result. The LORD is jealous for His land, and its people: "Thus saith the LORD, I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain." (Zech. 8:1-3). Through this fall feast season, we have come through a time of fasting, self-examination and repentance, as found in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. From that cleansing, we enter into the rejoicing of Tabernacles and Shemini Atzeret, the Eighth Day. The prophet Joel wrote of the same thing. The people were to call a solemn assembly to seek the LORD with their whole hearts, fasting with weeping and mourning (Joel 2:12-17). Even the bridegroom and the bride were to come out of their marriage chamber to join the assembly in repentance. As a result of this repentance of His people, the LORD would turn again and have jealousy for His land, and pity upon His people. He will bless with abundance, and restore what was destroyed (v. 18-25). Joel wrote: "Fear not, O land, be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things...Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God..." (v. 21, 23). After this, the LORD gave His great prophecy where He promises: "I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh...I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth...before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call." (v. 28-32). The LORD also promises that in that day, He will bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem (Joel 3:1). We do not react and judge based upon current outward appearances, but we bring all thoughts and imaginations into the obedience of Christ, who is the Word of God (see 2 Cor. 10:1-7). It is time to rejoice in the LORD: "Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Hab. 3:18). Are we going to believe the report of the WORD, or the report of the world? *Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 9/26/21 message to the church. To contact us, to make a prayer request, to give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX 76705, or by email at Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us, including the complete video of this message, on Facebook and Twitter. You can find information about Dr. Stevenson's newest book, "NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling" at endtimeschool.com.