SUKKOT – THE JEWISH FEAST OF TABERNACLES – PART D
October 18, 2008
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Leviticus 23:39-43 – Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. [40] And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God
seven days. [41] And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year.
It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. [42] Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: [43] That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Tents – sukka – temporary dwellings)
During the time of the earthly ministry of Christ, on the last day of the feast, a special priest would leave the temple mount and proceed south to the old city of David, under which a spring flowed through the old tunnel of Hezekiah into the Pool of Siloam. Fresh, flowing spring water that flowed throughout the year was looked upon as providing a source of water that provided life year round, as opposed to springs that dried up during the non-rainy season. So it came to symbolize something that provided eternal life. The special priest would collect two p ints of water
in a golden vessel, and then carry it back upon the temple mount. It would then be carried to the top of the very high altar that stood in the court of the men in front of the steps that led up to the door of the temple’s Holy Place. In the southwestern corner of the altar a small hole had been made that led down under the altar into the subterranean cavern under the temple. This particular feast is a very joyous one, and as the people waved palm leaves they would cry out to the priest on the southwestern corner, “raise your hand, raise your hand,” to show he had poured the water, finally cheering and shouting for joy when he did. The water would proceed under the temple southeastward in a conduit that emptied into the Kidron Valley for drainage of the blood from the sacrifices.
It was a picture of living water, which symbolized the living Spirit of the God of Israel going out from the belly of the temple into the world.
It is very interesting to note the words of Jesus on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, probably uttered immediately after the priest poured the water.
John 7:2,37-39 – Now the Jews’ feast of tabernacles was at hand. [37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. [39] (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
During the time of Christ, the presence of the Spirit of God in the temple’s Holy of Holies was to be proclaimed by Israel throughout the world. It was a single, local, visible temple. Today there are many local temples that God recognizes individually as His local, visible, temples. And it is from these individual bodies that the power of the Spirit is to go forth throughout the world. The first such church was formed and organized by its head and foundation, Jesus Christ, during His earthly ministry. This church, which already existed as a local church of about 120, was empowered by the Spirit at Pentecost after Jesus was glorified. And, just as the water flowing out of the belly of the temple into the world was a symbol of the Holy Spirit, so does the same Spirit flow out of churches of the same like faith and order as the first the Holy Spirit empowered at Pentecost.
All believers are indwelt by the living Spirit of God and make up the family of God, and truly their witness of the Spirit is to flow out from within them into the world, but a local church that teaches, preaches, and practices the faith once delivered to the saints is also indwelt by the same Spirit in a special way, and its testimony that goes out into the world is to proclaim the truths of all the Word written by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:22 – In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
John 4:24 – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Leviticus 23:42,43 – Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: [43] That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Thus was the simplistic broad reason for God’s actions given in Leviticus 23:42. But later Jewish philosophers and rabbis gave some interesting interpretations as to its spiritual purpose for the believer. Some of these interpretations that I like, and agree with allegorically, are as follows.
Philo (Hellenistic Jewish Philosopher who lived in Alexandria during the days of the Apostles) – He says that “setting in the sukka is to remind us of how far we have come, and leads us to praise God and thank God for all the kindness he has bestowed upon us.” This would blend well with the two following verses of Scripture involving sitting in a local New Testament church body and worshipping God.
Hebrews 2:12 – Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise
unto thee.
Ephesians 5:19,20 – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
The Rashbam, one of Rashi’s famous grandsons, lived in France in the 12th century, in his commentary on Leviticus 23:43, gives another reason for setting in the sukka. He says: “The sukka is a lesson in humility; it comes to prevent a swelled head. God commanded us to sit in the succa precisely in the season of the harvest when we are congratulating ourselves for our efforts in the successful harvest and our fancy homes. The humble succa reminds us that everything you eat and everything you own comes from God.” This invokes the principles found in the following New Testament Scriptures.
Galatians 6:3 – For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
James 4:13-16 – Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: [14] Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. [15] For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or
that. [16] But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Matthew 6:33,34 – But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. [34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought
for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is
the evil thereof.
Rabbi Yizhak Aboab lived in Spain in the 15th century.
In his writings, concerning sitting in the sukka, he says: “The main point of living in the sukka for seven days is to increase our faith in God.
When we live in a sturdy house, we are protected from the elements; rain and cold and heat do not harm us.
As a result we h
ave faith in our homes, not in God. Likewise, we tend to place all our trust in men, especially influential rulers and leaders. By living in a flimsy sukka for seven days, exposed once again to the elements, we realize that ultimately we must put our trust in God, who rules over our houses, the elements, and all human rulers.” This reminds me of the ideals expressed in the Psalms and the New Testament.
Psalm 2:10-12 – Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. [11] Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
[12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Hebrews 13:5-6 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. [6] So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
I Corinthians 2:2,5 – For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
[5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, in his 19th century book Horeb, says: “the sukka is a symbol of universal peace and brotherhood, as we recite in the evening service on Shabbat and festivals – Spread over us your sukka of peace.” This reminds me of the great 1000 year umbrella of peace that Messiah will bring following the final battle of Armageddon, as detailed in Revelation, Zechariah, and Malachi.
And so it will be on this earth during Messiah’s millennial reign as King of kings following the tribulation period.
Revelation 20:6 – Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,
and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Zechariah 14:9,11,16 – And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. [11] And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. [16] And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which 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.
Malachi 4:2,3 – But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
[3] And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.