Celebration of The Feast of Tabernacles

Topic: Thanksgiving
Passage: Leviticus 23:33–44

January 6, 2023

Commentary

Israel as a nation has not only been a scattered people and a sinful people, but they have been a suffering people. However, one day their suffering will be turned into joy. Like our Thanksgiving day in the United States the “Feast of Tabernacles” was a time of feasting, rejoicing, and giving thanks to God for His bountiful gifts (Duet. 16:13-15).

We must remember that the “Day of Atonement” preceded this feast. People who want happiness without holiness are sure to have disappointment. The “Feast of Tabernacles” was the final and most important feast of the year. It lasted for seven days (from the 15th through the 21st of the seventh month).  The feast was not only an agricultural thanksgiving at the end of the fall harvest but also served as a celebration of God’s protective care during Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the wilderness living in tents (vv. 33-34).

On the first and eighth day of the “Feast of Tabernacles,” the Israelites were to have a sacred assembly and were not allowed to do any occupational work (v. 35). The offerings to be given were the most elaborate and impressive of the entire year (Num. 29:12-38) The foliage from the trees may have been used in constructing the booths in which the people were to live for seven days. This was a reminder of the tents they lived in when they first came out of Egypt. The “Feast of Tabernacles” pictures the future kingdom that God has prepared for Israel when the Messiah comes (vv. 36-43). For Israel the best is yet to come. The scattered people will be gathered; the sinful people will be cleansed and the sorrowing people will rejoice. This is how Moses instructed the people of Israel to celebrate the Lord’s festivals (v. 44).

Application

Just as the “Feast of Tabernacles” was a time to remember and offer thanks for all God had done for the Israelites I need to be thankful for all that God has done and is constantly doing for me and be sure to express this through my prayers.

Leviticus 23:33– 44 (NET)

33 The Lord spoke to Moses: 34 “Tell the Israelites, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the Feast of Shelters for seven days to the Lord. 35 On the first day is a holy assembly; you must do no regular work. 36 For seven days you must present a gift to the Lord. On the eighth day there is to be a holy assembly for you, and you must present a gift to the Lord. It is a solemn assembly day; you must not do any regular work.

37 “‘These are the appointed times of the Lord that you must proclaim as holy assemblies to present a gift to the Lord—burnt offering, grain offering, sacrifice, and drink offerings, each day according to its regulation, 38 besides the Sabbaths of the Lord and all your gifts, votive offerings, and freewill offerings which you must give to the Lord.

39 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather in the produce of the land, you must celebrate a pilgrim festival of the Lord for seven days. On the first day is a complete rest and on the eighth day is complete rest. 40 On the first day you must take for yourselves branches from majestic trees —palm branches, branches of leafy trees, and willows of the brook—and you must rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 You must celebrate it as a pilgrim festival to the Lord for seven days in the year. This is a perpetual statute throughout your generations; you must celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 You must live in temporary shelters for seven days; every native citizen in Israel must live in shelters, 43 so that your future generations may know that I made the Israelites live in shelters when I brought them out from the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’”

44 So Moses spoke to the Israelites about the appointed times of the Lord.