18/10/2019
Dear Brethren,
We are celebrating Feast of Tabernacle!! You might ask, what is the Feast of Tabernacle and why do we celebrate it as Christians?
Feast of Tabernacles commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God protected them under difficult desert conditions. Feast of Tabernacles is also known as the Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths.
Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival and is sometimes referred to as Chag HaAsif, Ingathering... gathering after harvest.. ingathering in one accord.
In Leviticus 23:34
“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.
Leviticus 23:42
You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths,
Leviticus 23:43
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 23:44
So Moses declared to the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.
Leviticus 23:39
‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest.
This is indeed a feast where people gather and thank God for delivering His people from slavery to the promised land and all the challenges they have encountered while they were in the wilderness for 40 years.
But as Christians, why do we celebrate Feast of Tabernacles?
During the feast, two important ceremonies took place. The Hebrew people carried torches around the temple, illuminating bright candelabrum along the walls of the temple to demonstrate that the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles. Also, the priest would draw water from the pool of Siloam and carry it to the temple where it was poured into a silver basin beside the altar. The priest would call upon the Lord to provide heavenly water in the form of rain for their supply. During this ceremony, the people looked forward to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Some records reference the day spoken of by the prophet Joel.
In the New Testament, Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles and spoke these amazing words on the last and greatest day of the Feast: On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38 NKJV) The next morning, while the torches were still burning Jesus said, John 8:12
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12 NKJV)
Sukkot pointed to the truth that Israel’s life, and our lives too, rest on the redemption which is in Jesus Christ and his forgiveness of sin.
The Feast of Tabernacles of this year holds a special meaning and celebration for our church, There are so many answered prayers. One of which is the return of Sister Princes. Hallelujah, Praise the Lord Christ Jesus.
See you in the service and God bless Fellowship of the Nations in general and FOTN-Al Barsha in particular.
Kind thoughts with anticipation,
Ptr Rasky & Tita Auggie
