Chapter 8
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
Before we begin our study of the Feast of Tabernacles let us first go before our God and seek His blessings on our study,
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Father thank You for the privilege of being able to enter into Your throne room so we can present to You our requests, petitions and thanksgivings. Father we ask that You would please reveal to us the teaching and foreshadowings that come from the Feast of Tabernacles. Father we thank You for listening to us and look forward to hearing Your Word.
Amen
BACKGROUND
The Feast of Tabernacles was the last feast that God established through the hand of Moses. The feasts of Purim and Dedication identified in the Bible were not established at the time of Israel's exodus from Egypt. These feasts were instituted much later in Israel's history. Since the Bible does not provide us with any detail descriptions of how the Feasts of Purim and Dedication were to be observed, they will not be the subjects of our Bible studies. However, for completeness and general information the following short descriptions of these feasts are provided.
The Feast of Purim (see Esther 9) was established around 473 BC by the people of Israel during their captivity to the Babylonian/Persian empires. The feast was instituted to serve as a reminder of how God, through Queen Esther and Mordecai, prevented Haman, from destroying them. Haman, who detested the Jewish people, was the head or leader of all King Ahasuerus's Persian princes. This feast is celebrated on the thirteenth and fourteenth days in the month of Adar, which corresponds to our present February/March timeframe.
The Feast of Dedication identified in John 10:22 was established by the people of Israel in approximately 165 BC. It was established to commemorate the cleansing and rededication of the Temple after it was desecrated by the Syrians. This feast was and is also known as the Feast of Hanukkah and/or the Feast of Lights. It is celebrated on the twenty-fifth day in the month of Kislev, which corresponds to our present December timeframe
1.INTRODUCTION
In our previous seven studies we found that the feasts God established through Moses served several purposes. As one might expect they were established to provide the people of Israel opportunities to gather together and offer Him worship, praise and thanksgiving. In addition, the feasts were established to remind the people of Israel of how He redeemed them from their bondage to the Egyptians and led them to the promised land of Canaan. God did this by establishing specific times and requirements for how each of the seven feasts were to be observed. These times and requirements were designed to bring to mind the various phases, ordinances and provisions that God brought about during their exodus. In these feasts we also discovered great and profound foreshadowings to help you and I better understand the good news of the New Testament. In other words, we discovered that these feasts were also established to be great foreshadowings to teach us about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the redemption from sin and Satan that He has purchased for all mankind.
As we study the Feast of Tabernacles we will discover that it is a summary of Israel's journey from the time God gathered them from the Egyptians to the time He led them to Canaan. To see this let us read a summary or overview of the instructions God gave Moses for the observance of this feast as recorded in,
Leviticus 23:33-36
"[33] The LORD said to Moses, [34] "Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. [35] The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. [36] For seven days present offerings made to the LORD by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the LORD by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work."
In the above summary or overview we find that there were three main features of this feast: (1) it began with a holy convocation or assembly, (2) it was to last for seven days and (3) on the eighth or last day another holy convocation or assembly was to be held. In our study of these three features we will,
Lastly, it is noted that after we complete our exploration of the purpose and meanings of the Feast of Tabernacles we will discover they also serve as foreshadowings to help us better understand our relationship with Jesus Christ and our spiritual journey to the promised land of Heaven.
With the above introduction in mind, let us now begin our study of,
THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
In the above overview we found that the Feast of Tabernacles began with a holy convocation or assembly. This assembly marked the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles which was also called,
The Feast of Ingathering
To see this let us begin by reading a further explanation of this gathering in,
Leviticus 23:39
""'[39] So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest."
In contemplating the above verse several points are noteworthy.
Since the Feast of Tabernacles began at the completion of the harvest, our Lord also identified it as the Feast of Ingathering. To see this let us read from,
Exodus 23:16
""[16] ... "Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field."
And again,
Exodus 34:22
[22] ""Celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year."
As we study the Old Testament we find that this was a time when the people of Israel were to rejoice and give thanks to God for the harvest. We find this in,
Deuteronomy 16:13-15
"[13] Celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days after you have gathered the produce of your threshing floor and your winepress. [14] Be joyful at your Feast--you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites, the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. [15] For seven days celebrate the Feast to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete."
However, more significantly as they gave thanks for the gathering in of their fruits from the land, this assembly was also the time when they were to remember and reflect upon the time when God gathered them to Himself and led them on their journey to the promised land.
To make this facet of the Feast of Tabernacles clear, God instructed Moses that the feast was to last seven days with the following two specific activities to be performed.
The Booths or Tabernacles
First, for seven days the people were to live in huts, booths or tabernacles. These dwellings were to be made from tree branches or leaves and could be likened to what we call today as lean-to's. To see this let us read from,
Leviticus 23:39-43
""'[39] So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. [40] On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. [41] Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. [42] Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths [43] so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.'""
Notice in verse 43 we find that the reason for the booths was so the people would never forget how God gathered the nation to Himself and brought them out of the land of Egypt
The booths were also to serve as a reminder to them and us of how God provides for our needs. In this case, during Israel's journey in the wilderness, God protected the people from the elements of the weather by having them live in booths.
The second activity they were to perform was the offering of,
The Prescribed Whole Burnt Offerings
The instructions God gave to Moses for this facet of the Feast of Tabernacles is recorded for us in,
Numbers 29:12-34
[12] On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the LORD for seven days. [13] Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [14] With each of the thirteen bulls prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; [15] and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. [16] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. [17] "'On the second day prepare twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [18] With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [19] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings. [20] "'On the third day prepare eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [21] With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [22] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. [23] "'On the fourth day prepare ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [24] With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [25] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. [26] "'On the fifth day prepare nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [27] With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [28] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. [29] "'On the sixth day prepare eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [30] With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [31] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering. [32] "'On the seventh day prepare seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. [33] With the bulls, rams and lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [34] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."
I confess I do not know the true meaning of all these whole burnt offerings. Nor do I know the significance for the specific number of the animals in question. However, what is striking is how the offering of the bulls diminished with time. Specifically, on the first day of the feast the series of whole burnt offerings was to involve thirteen bulls, the second day there were to be twelve bulls and so forth. On the seventh day only seven bulls were to be offered.
In reflecting upon the offering of the bulls two things come to mind. First, as we saw in previous studies, the whole burnt offering was a symbolic offering to express total dedication to God. Secondly, in Leviticus 4:13-14 we find that the bull also was to be used for the sin offering when the whole congregation had unintentionally sinned against the commands of God. Thus, I believe that the bulls used in the whole burnt offerings during the Feast of Tabernacles were to be symbolic of the congregations dedication to the Lord during their journey to Canaan.
I believe that each day's decrease in the number of bulls to be offered was to remind the people that because of their forefathers initial unwillingness to follow God's command (Numbers 13:1-14:35) those who were 20 years old and older were not permitted to enter in the promised land. Thus, this diminishing of the bulls was a reminder of those who periodically perished on Israel's way to Canaan. Consequently, I believe this facet of the Feast of Tabernacles was to teach them and us the importance of listening to and obeying God's commands.
This now brings us to,
The Eighth and Last Day of the Feast
The instruction of how the people were to observe this day is recorded for us in,
Numbers 29:35-38
""'[35] On the eighth day hold an assembly and do no regular work. [36] Present an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. [37] With the bull, the ram and the lambs, prepare their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. [38] Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering."
Since there were no unique requirements for the sacrifices or activities to be performed for this gathering as compared to the others we studied, we may conclude that this assembly or gathering was to celebrate the end of the Feast of Tabernacles. Hence, it was also to serve as a reminder of when the travels on the wilderness of their forefathers came to an end and entry into the promised land was at hand.
Summary
Thus, we find that the Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering, which was the last feast established through Moses, was more than a time to thank and praise God for blessing their crops. We also found that because this feast coincided with the completion of the harvest it provided the people of Israel a vivid reminder of the time when God gathered their forefathers from their bondage and led them in freedom to the promised land of Canaan. Hence, the Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering was established to provide for all time an overview or summary of this miraculous deliverance.
As the previous seven feasts we studied were also found to be foreshadowings to teach us about our relationship with Jesus Christ and the spiritual journey to the promised land of Heaven, so is the Feast of Tabernacles. To see this let us begin with the following,
INTRODUCTION TO THE FORESHADOWING OF THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES
At approximately two and one half months into their journey from Egypt the people of Israel arrived at the Wilderness of Sin (Exodus 16:1). It was here that the people complained to Moses that they had nothing to eat. After hearing their complaint, the next morning, God provided them quails and bread to satisfy their appetites. For the next forty years God miraculously provided, on the wilderness floor, this bread, which was called Manna, for their physical nourishment ( Exodus 16:2-35). (As a side note, it was only the Manna and not the quails that God furnished for the forty years.) After they ate the quail and bread, under the command of God, the people of Israel resumed their journey. They left the Wilderness of Sin and camped at a place called Rephidim.
When the people arrived at Rephidim not only were they thirsty but there was no water in sight for them to drink. Hence, they again contended with and complained to Moses. With this background let us read what happened as recorded for us in,
Exodus 17:1-6
"[1] The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. [2] So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?" [3] But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" [4] Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." [5] The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. [6] I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel."
For this study let us pay particular attention to verse 6. Specifically, let us note that the Lord said He will stand before Moses by the rock at Horeb. Then, when Moses strikes the rock water will come out for the people to drink.
As we read and study the New Testament we discover that it was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who accompanied the nation of Israel during their exodus. We also discover that it He, Jesus Christ, who was there at the rock when Moses struck it. To see this, let us read from,
1 Corinthians 10:1-4
"[1] For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. [2] They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. [3] They all ate the same spiritual food [4] and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ."
With the above in mind let us now read what Jesus said to the people on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles. It is recorded for us in,
John 7:37-39
"[37] on the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." [39] By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified."
What an amazing event! Let us recall from our short study of this feast that this was the time when the people of Israel were to remember and reflect upon their forefathers' journey in the wilderness. Among other things they were to also bring to mind and reflect upon how God miraculously provided for their needs. Now, their Lord and God, Jesus Christ, who accompanied their forefathers' during their journey, physically returns and tells those who thirst to come to Him and drink. Can there be any doubt in our minds that the Feast of Tabernacles or Ingathering is a foreshadowing to help us understand our relationship with Jesus Christ and our spiritual journey to eternal life with Him?
And so let us now explore,
THE FORESHADOWING
In the remainder of our study we will discover that each of the four main facets of the Feast of Tabernacles provide us with a more in-depth understanding of our relationship with Jesus Christ and our exodus from sin and death to the promised land of eternal life.
First, there was the fact that the Feast of Tabernacles was also called
The Feast of Ingathering
Let us recall that this name helped the people of Israel remember how God gathered their forefathers and hence them from their bondage to the Egyptians. This is also a foreshadowing to teach us that through Jesus Christ we too are gathered together for our spiritual journey to the promised land of eternal life. Let us recall it was Jesus Christ who was with Israel throughout their exodus. Well, it is the same with us. In other words, it is in Jesus Christ that we are delivered from our bondage to sin and Satan and are led on our journey to the promised land of eternal life, that is Heaven. To see this let us read what Jesus once said to the Jews who believed Him.
John 8:30-36
"[30] Even as he spoke, many put their faith in him. [31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." [33] They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" [34] Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. [35] Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. [36] So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Perhaps put another way we find that because of the Grace and Mercy we have received in Jesus Christ sin is no longer our master.
Romans 6:14
"[14] For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace."
Furthermore the Bible teaches us that it is only through Jesus Christ that we can enter into or be gathered to the promised land of Heaven, that is receive eternal life. We find this truth recorded for us in,
1 John 5:11-12
"[11] And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. [12] He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."
The second facet of the Feast of Tabernacles was the requirement for the people to dwell in,
The Booths
Earlier we found that the living in the booths served as a reminder for the people of Israel of their forefathers journey. In addition, the booths themselves were to demonstrate the fact that on their journey or exodus God provided for all their needs.
This too is a foreshadowing. In our spiritual journey to the promised land of eternal life we find that we are pilgrims and strangers in this wilderness of the world's corrupt system. To see this let us recall how the Holy Spirit through the apostle Peter addresses the born again Christians in,
1 Peter 2:11
"[11] Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, ..."
We also find that as Jesus provided for the needs of the people during their exodus from Egypt, He also is the source of spiritual nourishment for our journey. As we saw earlier, He is the Person to whom we are to go to quench our spiritual thirst, that is our thirst for righteousness and holiness. In addition, Jesus is also our spiritual bread to strengthen us on our journey. This is revealed to us when He taught the people after He fed 5000 of them with only five barley loaves of bread and two fish. To see this let us read how Jesus responded to those who wanted to know what they must do to do the works of God. It is recorded for us in,
John 6:28-35
"[28] Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" [29] Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." [30] So they asked him, "What miraculous sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? [31] Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" [32] Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. [33] For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." [34] "Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread." [35] Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty."
In other words, in Jesus Christ we have everything we need to live the life, that is complete the journey, that our Lord has called us to. To see this, let us prayerfully read from,
2 Peter 1:2-4
"[2] Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. [3] His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."
The third facet of the Feast of Tabernacles that we discussed was the,
Whole Burnt Offering of the Bulls
In this section we found that the offering of the bulls represented the dedication and commitment to God that was necessary for the successful completion of Israel's journey. This too is a foreshadowing of our journey and the necessity for us to abide in Jesus Christ and His Word. Perhaps the best way to see this is through the Parable of the Vine. This parable is recorded for us in,
John 15:1-11
""[1] I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. [3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [4] Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [5] "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. [8] This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. [9] "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. [11] I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."
The fourth and last facet of the Feast of Tabernacles that we explored was,
The Assembly Held on the Last Day of the Feast
This is a foreshadowing to teach us that when we complete our spiritual journey there will be a great feast and gathering to celebrate our arrival in the promised land, that is the Heavenly Household of God. This feast is called the marriage supper of the Lamb, that is Jesus. It is described for us in,
Revelation 19:1-9
"[1] After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, [2] for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." [3] And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." [4] The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!" [5] Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!" [6] Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. [7] Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. [8] Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.) [9] Then the angel said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!'" And he added, "These are the true words of God.""
CONCLUSION
As one reflects upon these things what else can be said? How can a person summarize all what God has done for us in Jesus Christ? Perhaps the best way for us to close our study is by reading what the Apostle Paul wrote to end his letter to those living in Rome. It is recorded for us in,
Romans 16:25-27
"[25] Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, [26] but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- [27] to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."
Amen and Amen