SUKKOT | THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
The Lord Dwells With Us


SUKKOT | THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES

"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." -Leviticus 23:41-42

Sukkot, translated means "Tabernacles", occurs for seven days. There is a quick transition from the high holidays, with their somber mood of repentance to a holiday of rejoicing and celebration, for which the people are commanded to build a hut (Sukkah; plural, Sukkot) and make it their home. The Torah identifies the Sukkah (booth) with the temporary dwellings in which the Israelites lived in the wilderness after they left Egypt on their way to the Promised Land.

The Feast of Tabernacles completes the sacred festivals of the seventh month. In contrast to the somber tone of Rosh HaShanah and the Day of Atonement. Israel had passed through the season of repentance to redemption.

There are four plants that are associated with the observance of Sukkot. The Hebrew name for these four plants is arbah minim (four species). Each species is different from the other and has its own special significance. The four consist of the lulav; myrtle (three sprags of hadasim); the willow; and the etrog. On Sukkot, people hold the four species together and say a special blessing over them in the Sukkah. This is sometimes known as "Benching Lulav and Etrog". The Lulav is a tall green palm branch. It may have been the national emblem of Israel at one time. Its upright shape is said to represent righteousness. During the holiday of Sukkot, a person can express his happiness and gratitude by lifting up the Lulav towards God.

The Sukkah or Booth, symbolizes man's need to depend upon God for all his provisions. This is true in the spiritual realm as well. The booth is the physical body, which is a temporary dwelling place for our souls and spirits (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We need the food that the Word of God provides (Matthew 6:11; 4:4; 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. Sukkot reminds us that the Lords promises and love for us are true. Because of His sacrafice we can pass from death to eternal life. He, Yeshua (Jesus) dwells with us.Throughout history, and into the future, He sustains, rescues, redeems, shelters and delivers his people.