The Festival of Tabernacles
prepared by Stephen Eastman
Succoth, or the Festival of Tabernacles is the Hebrew thanksgiving holiday prescribed in Leviticus 23:39-43. It is a festival rich with meaning for both Jews and Christians alike. This holiday follows the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) by five days.
In this celebration there are many object lessons and spiritual symbols with great significance for today's Christians. here is a brief summary of some of the festival symbols and explanations of their significance to Christians.
1. Booth--called "succah" Temporary building built from branches lashed together. Represents the temporary dwellings of the Hebrew Children after they left Egypt and wandered in the desert for 40 years.
Christian application: This world is not our home, we're just passing through. Our citizenship is in heaven. We are in this world, not of it! (Philippians 3:20).
2. Lights--the booth is constructed in such a way as to allow light to filter in through the top. Also, it is a long tradition to bring lights to the celebration in the succah.
Christian application: While we dwell on earth in temporary dwellings, Jesus the Messiah dwells within us as a light to the world. Jesus said: "I am the light of the world."
3. Lulav--Palm, myrtle and willow branches bound together and brought to the service in the booth along with the citron. The lulav was waved as a sign of praise to God during various parts of the service, and during the singing of Psalms, particularly Psalm 118 during the verses 1 and 25.
Christian application: Does the waving of palm branches and shouting Hosanna sound familiar? In the story of the Palm Sunday events, the people in Jerusalem that spring day were borrowing from this autumn holiday and praising Jesus as their Messiah!
4. Citron--was a citrus fruit brought with the lulav to the service. Palm fronds and citrons were laid on the altar. This was symbolic of the harvest ingathering and reminded them of God's provisions. (The green and gold of the palm and fruit are the colors of the feast.) You may wish to set up a display table with an American style harvest: pumpkins, gourds and other fresh garden vegetables.
5. Offering--Participants brought fruit from their harvest to share with the less fortunate. Everyone would share from God's goodness. You may wish to ask a week in advance that people bring pantry donations to this service.
6. Visitor--or guests: An ancient tradition assumes you will always invite guests into the succah.
Christian application: What good is the Gospel without bring others along? We have been greatly blessed without merit of our own. Share it.
7. Invisible Guests--Called "ush-piz-in" are the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who, according to tradition, are unseen guests who attend the feast. They are the predecessors in the faith.
Christian viewpoint: We too sense our common bonds with predecessors in the faith. We celebrate thanksgiving for God's goodness to us today and his faithfulness to His own through the generations. Not just Old Testament saints, but also the presence of Peter, John and Paul is felt through their foundational influence in our faith.
8. Poured Water--A gold vessel brought water from the pool of Siloam and poured water into a basin. The pouring during the service had a two-part significance. 1) It represented the rain for the crops. The pouring was a prayer of thanks for the rain and a prayer for rain for future crops. 2) The pouring had a prophetic significance too. It represented their Messianic hope because of the outpouring of God's Spirit expected during the reign of Messiah king. John 7:37-38 makes the Christian aspect of this even clear. Jesus claims that believing on him will cause streams of living water to flow from within the believer. This is a clear claim of Jesus' Messiahship.
Conclusion--Zech. 14:16-17. The Festival of Tabernacles is a time to show our gratitude to God for His bounty. It is a time to give. It is a time to pray for His continued goodness. If we forget or refuse to pray, (v. 17) God will not send rain and will not bless us. If by the same token, we refuse Jesus Christ and do not believe, there will be no outpouring of the Spirit of God in our lives. let us continue to meet in Thanksgiving. Let us acknowledge Christ as the life-giver. One day we will meet with all believers everywhere in grateful thanksgiving. Rev. 7:9-10 records a future celebration of tabernacles all believers will celebrate together when Jesus returns. LET'S REHEARSE TODAY FOR THAT EVEN TOMORROW!
One of the many ways to construct a succah for a service.
Lash the branches together with a cord.
(Try not to cheat and use nails!)