Tabernacles and the Day of the LORD*

This evening begins the Feast of Tabernacles. There is a direct connection in scripture between the Feast of Tabernacles and "the day of the LORD'. This is the commandment of the LORD regarding the Feast of Tabernacles: "And the LORD spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. 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. These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD...every thing upon his day." (Lev. 23:33-37). The word "tabernacles" is the Hebrew word sukkah, meaning "booth, pavilion, lair (of a lion), cover". (A root word, sakak, means "fence about, protect, defence, shut in, overshadow, stop the approach, weave together, cover with armor".) The pictographic ancient Hebrew letters form the meaning "Behold, a hand to cover, supply, lift up, or suppress". In Deuteronomy, the LORD explained the Feast of Tabernacles further through Moses: "Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine. And thou shalt rejoice...thou...thy son...thy daughter...thy manservant...thy maidservant...the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates." (Deut. 16:13-14). The Feast of Tabernacles was to include all with rejoicing after the fall harvest that God had provided them. In the same spirit of tabernacles, the LORD commanded Moses to appoint just judges and officers throughout all of the tribes, who will not practice favoritism, nor receive bribes nor falsely accuse the righteous. This just treatment of all is so that they may live in the land that God has given them (v. 18-20). We see a lack of justice everywhere today, while God is calling His people to be just and righteous. We discover that the neaning of the Feast of Tabernacles is also revealed in scriptures regarding the coming day of the LORD: "He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion (sukkah) round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail-stones and coals of fire. The LORD also thundered in the heavens...he sent out his arrows, and scattered them...Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils. He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me." (Ps. 18:11-17). Just as Noah was drawn out of many waters, the LORD's pavilion draws us out of the hands of our enemies. What looks to the enemies like a covering of thick dark clouds, to us is the pavilion or tabernacle of the LORD. It is "the hand that covers, supplies, lifts up and suppresses". As Psalm 31 declares the greatness and goodness of God towards those who trust Him, it says: "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion (sukkah) from the strife of tongues." (v. 19-20). Those who walk in the righteousness of God, and in His Word, are continually judged in this world by the strife of tongues of accusation. However, God has provided a pavilion in which to hide us. As Isaiah prophesied the blessings of God under the Messiah, he wrote of beautiful fruitful branches, excellent and comely fruit of the earth for the remnant who escape. Those that remain will be called holy - every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem. The LORD will wash them of filth, purged by the spirit of judgment and burning (Isa. 4:2-4). "...and the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle (sukkah) for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain." (v. 5-6). There is a hand to cover and provide our pasture in the tabernacle, but it is shadow, darkness, and clouds to others. The prophet Zephaniah describes the day of the LORD as a day of wrath, of trouble, distress, wasteness and desolation, "a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm...and I will bring distress among men...because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust...Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy..." (Zeph. 1:14-18). The prophet Amos also spoke of the darkness of the day of the LORD, saying, "Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD!" (Amos 5:1-18-20). In this case, the very people who were looking for the day of the LORD would be the first to experience the darkness rather than the sukkah tabernacle. The LORD condemned them because He said that He hated their feasts and offerings, "But ye have born the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun, your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves." (v. 21-26). Their tabernacle was a tabernacle to false demonic gods, who demanded child sacrifices, and were filled with worthless idols. The LORD holds His people to a different standard than the standard that the world practices and values. His standard is the righteousness of God. Joel also wrote about the day of the LORD as being "a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness", and of a fire that devours and a flame that burns. (Joel 2:2-3, 30-31). He called the people of God to sound the trumpet of alarm, to call an assembly of all the people, from the youngest to the oldest, because "the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand." (2:1, 16). The people must repent with fasting and weeping and consecrate themselves: "...rent your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." (v. 12-13). The priests especially, as those who were the spiritual leaders of the people, were called upon to lead the congregation in repentance by repenting themselves, crying, 'Spare thy people, O LORD." The LORD has not destined His people for His wrath, but providing them instead a tabernacle, a pavilion, a hand that covers if they will set themselves apart to enter into it. If the people will repent in their hearts, the LORD says that He will pity His people: "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things...he hath given you the former rain moderately...and the latter rain in the first month." (v. 21,23). The LORD promises to remove the attacking northern (hidden, secret, covered over) army, and to add the blessing of abundance in their land, restoring all that the devouring locusts have destroyed (v. 20-26). One of the celebrations associated with the Feast of Tabernacles is the abundant harvest, the fruit of the land, like the fruit of trees and the vine, as we see here (v. 22). "And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed". As part of this blessing, the LORD promises to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh, regardless of age or status. (v. 27-29). In Nehemiah, Ezra the scribe caused the Word of God to be read and taught before all of the people. Then they obeyed the Word that they had heard by building their booths from beautiful branches to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, as had been commanded by God (Neh. 8:13-15). When we honor God and His Word, He honors and blesses us. Zechariah prophesied about a plague that comes upon the people in which their flesh is consumed away: "...in that day,...a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them." (Zech. 14:12-13). It is a day when the LORD has gone to fight against the nations that have come against Jerusalem. Those among the nations who survive this terrible day of destruction, will have to come to Jerusalem yearly : "...to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." (v. 16). This prophecy is talking about the rule of Messiah, Jesus Christ, on earth. Those nations that refuse to tabernacle with the LORD in Jerusalem will receive no rain, and will be smitten by the plague. In Jerusalem there shall be found the things that are HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD, "and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts." (v. 16-21). The Word of God says to keep His feasts in "all your generations". There is a place where the hand of God covers, supplies, lifts up, and suppresses, especially in connection with the day of the LORD, as we have seen. This place is found in His tabernacle (sukkah). *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 10/9/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, theshroudofturin.org, and END TIME SCHOOL, also on Facebook.