What Is The "Feast of Tabernacles"?
The Feast of Tabernacles is one of the seven annual Biblical festivals (Holy Days). It was introduced at the time of the Exodus ( Lev 23:34-44 and others). It was one of the annual "Pilgrimage" festivals for which the people journeyed from all over the nation of Israel to keep the feast in Jerusalem. It was to be a joyous celebration.
All of the annual Holy Days are rich with meaning and symbolism. Taken together they reveal the progressive fulfillment of God's Plan for mankind and similarly they present the framework or "model" for the individual believers growth and salvation. A study into the annual Holy Days can be both fascinating and rewarding. (For a list of potential study resources, click HERE )
The Feast of Tabernacles (also referred to as the Feast of Booths, Feast of the Ingathering, and Succoth) represents the following:
At its most basic level, it is a celebration of the abundance of God's blessings in connection with the ingathering of the Fall Harvests.
It is a memorial to the Exodus, when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, living in tabernacles or booths (i.e. temporary dwelling places) in route to the Promised Land. It is therefore a representation of Faith in God's protection and promises.
It looks forward to the great ingathering of Believers after the resurrection and judgment which ushers in the millennial rule of the Messiah on earth.
The Messiah, at his first coming as the suffering servant, was apparently born during the Fall Holy Day period. Just as the booths represented temporary dwelling places, the Messiah was made manifest in a temporary dwelling (body) as He came to tabernacle among us (Jn 1:14). The symbolism of Tabernacles (the 7th Festival) may ultimately be fulfilled when He returns at His second coming to again tabernacle among us as King of Kings and millennial ruler from New Jerusalem, to finally provide a "Sabbath Rest" for all mankind and the earth.
Interest in the annual Holy Days and the deep meaning contained in their rich symbolism has enjoyed somewhat of a revival in recent years. More and more groups and individuals are re-discovering the Holy Days and are attempting to recognize and observe them in some fashion in order to learn and benefit from them as instructional aids of the deeper truths of God.
Many of the various Sabbatarian "Churches of God" have been observing these Holy Days, including the Feast of Tabernacles, for a number of years. Their method of observance may not be ideal, but few who have participated would say that they have not benefited or been blessed by the experience.
The basic tradition currently extant among most of the "Churches of God" groups involves an 8 day observance (including 7 days of Tabernacles plus an 8th day commonly referred to as "The Last Great Day") held at designated sites around the world. Site attendance may range from a few dozen to a few thousand, depending on location. The object of meeting at designated sites is in part to emulate the "Pilgrimage Festival" when the people left their homes to meet together as one before God. It also provides for a corresponding symbolism with the idea of living in temporary dwelling places for this period of time.
The daily format is typically one of a congregational service (usually in the forenoon) consisting of a pattern of "song service, a short "sermonette", more songs and announcements, main message, closing songs and announcements". A few of the smaller groups sometimes include a more interactive format. Afternoons are usually free for individuals to spend the time as they wish with their families. There are usually a variety of optional activities scheduled throughout the week, sometimes including Workshops, Bible Studies, Talent Shows, Fellowship Evenings, Dances, special Youth events/activities, etc.
Some of the smaller groups, and especially the Hebraic Roots oriented groups, inject a bit more creativity into their schedule of activities. Rather than the conventional "sermon" format, many of the "teaching sessions" are conducted more like a seminar, providing some opportunity to interact and to ask questions of the presenter. Depending on the group, additional activities might include such things as: building a sukkah (booth), daily Torah readings, Davidic Dance instruction, instructional re-enactments of some of the Festival-related events of the 1st Century (such as the "Water Pouring Ceremony" during which Yeshua presented his "Living Water" message), or perhaps an "Israel Night" banquet, providing an opportunity to sample some traditional foods and to learn more about "The Land" and people of Israel.
Many FOT sites are located in areas that can serve a variety of needs in terms of lodging, from campgrounds to cabins, lodges, and conventional hotel/motel rooms (or even condos). A few sites are designed primarily to accommodate those who camp.
The calendar observed for determining the Holy Days is usually the traditional Jewish calendar (i.e. for the year 2002, the Feast of Tabernacles begins at sundown on September 20, with the Last Great Day concluding on September 28th). A few groups take exception to the method of calendar calculation and may meet on different dates.
If you would be interested in joining one of these groups in their observance of the Feast of Tabernacles this year, click HERE for a listing of site locations and contact information.
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