Earlier posts on this Moed explain what is revealed for us as Messianic believers.
What do the symbols of lulav – etrog, palm branch, myrtle and willow connected to Sukkot mean? Links at end.
Sukkot/ סֻכּוֹת is one of the
3 shelosh regalim
שלוש רגלים
which are the 3 pilgrim festivals:
Passover/Pesach,
Pentecost/Shavuot and
Tabernacles/Booths/Sukkot
All Israel was to observe these annually.
Tabernacles is also called Booths and in Hebrew:
Sukkot or Sukot
סוכות
Pronounced: sue-KOTE, or sue COAT or
SOOH-kuss (oo as in book).
It is the last great feast of Israel’s annual calendar:
Chag haSukot – feast of the tabernacles.
It is also called
Chag haAsif – feast of the ingathering
because it occurs at the outgoing of the year when you gather in the fruit of your labor from the field.
Shmot/Exodus 23:16
It is a Torah-commanded holiday celebrated for seven days, beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei; which is five days after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. This year 5784 it begins on the evening of Friday 29th September.
Sukkot is considered a joyous occasion and is referred to in Hebrew as Z’man Simchateinu (the time of our rejoicing), and the sukkah itself symbolizes the fragility and transience of life and one’s dependence on God.
Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and the primary feature is of course the sukkah or booth or tabernacle which is to be constructed from the various trees and nature surrounding Jerusalem. The purpose of the sukkah is to remind us that Adonai caused the people of Israel to live in sukkot when He brought them out of Egypt.
This week long feast commemorates the miraculous protection the Lord provided for them and the temporary shelters used during their wandering in the wilderness.
From this we can draw out the spiritual themes of
divine protection, deliverance and provision.
The temporary and flimsy nature of the sukkah itself should serve to remind us of our own weakness, fragility and temporary existence, and our dependance on our Heavenly Father as long as we dwell in our earthly tents/bodies.
These are the times of rejoicing and fellowship before the Lord as His treasured people – am segulah.
In Revelation 21:3 we are told that after Messiah returns
‘God shall tabernacle with them’; that is the truth for the highest condition of humanity, when the Tabernacle of God shall be with redeemed men in the new earth. ‘
God’s plan for mankind involves restoration. The Feast of Tabernacles symbolizes the restoration process, which will start with the return of Jesus Christ/Yeshua haMashiach.
New King James Version And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
All Nations will Worship the King 16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. 17And should any of the families of the earth not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, then the rain will not fall on them.…
This appointed time is important because of the meaning contained within the observances as part of celebration. it is the final time of year as the new civil year begins at Yom Kippur. The last of the seven spiritual appointed times which the life cycle begins again at Pesach/Passover in the spring. All sins have been forgiven and atoned for the previous year. So the celebration is filled with relief and thanksgiving. It has followed the 40 days of repentance, introspective preparation, teshuvah; now forgiveness and the covering of sin has concluded their response to God’s call to come close to Him.
For us John’s Gospel reminds us of Yeshua’s appeal to Israel to come to and freely receive the long promised living waters. John 7:37 – 38. This occurred during the water libation ceremony on the last day of the festival of Sukkot. Tabernacles/ Booths.
Tabernacles/Sukkot/Booths is a type and a shadow, a reminder of the temporary dwelling in the wilderness and of God’s presence with the Israelites.
A sukkah or succah Hebrew: סוכה [suˈka]; plural, סוכות [suˈkot] sukkot or sukkos or sukkoth, often translated as “booth”) is a temporary hut constructed for use during the weeks celbration.
This promise of future physical fulfillment and of the prophetic fulfillment is clear in Revelation 21:1 – 3.
He will live/ abide/dwell with them. They will be His people He Himself will be their God – Emmanuel – God with them.
Sukkot is our Heavenly Father’s provision completed –
prophecy fulfilled, and the theme of sukkot is joy.
As already noted, there are many distinct lessons we can learn from sukkot:
Our Heavenly Father’s provision.
His dwelling with His people; and
The joy of His spirit of holiness..
are all themes that draw attention to the plan in scripture.
However there is still a future element remaining to be fulfilled by the feast of Tabernacles/ sukkot. John states in his vision of final things that the reality of sukkot will be obvious to all. Again Jesus/Yeshua reminded us that He came to complete the teaching of Torah/ our Heavenly Father’s instructions for life; which is what we term as the law.
Sukkot was always known as the appointed set apart holy day that commemorates God dwelling with His people. This is very fitting because the Kingdom of God as it is now, is within us, and is therefore partially fulfilled. When it fully comes upon His return to the redeemed earth, it will be considered the ultimate fulfillment of this Holy day. God Himself will finally dwell with His people in all His fullness. The booth/ sukkot/ tabernacle is said to be the first and foremost celebration of this age yet to come.
Zachariah prophesied in 14:16 “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”
Everyone remaining from all the nations that came to attack Jerusalem Yerushalayim will go out every year to worship the king -Adonai Tzva’ot and to keep the festival of Sukkot. If any of the families does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King no rain will fall on them.
John 1:14uses the words
dwelt among His people,
to describe the visible manifestation of the invisible God of creation. John was describing Messiahs incarnation, His first coming to His people and the most obvious picture was sukkot, the holy day that celebrates the dwelling of God with man.
There was a custom that developed during the 2nd Temple period; on this day a priest would take a water pitcher down to the pool of Siloam, dip it in the water and carry it back to the Temple.
People formed a procession behind the priest and as they entered the Temple mount they were dancing and singing the Hallel which isPsalm 113 – 118.
For each of the first six days of sukkot they would circle the Temple altar one time and on the 7th day there would be 7 processions around the Temple to increase the joy and celebration.
The high point of the ceremony was when
the priest poured out the water on the altar of the temple,
to which all the people responded with overwhelming joy. It became known as rejoicing of the house of drawing water. Hoshana rabbah.
What was the significance of such rejoicing at this water pouring ceremony?
It was more than just rejoicing in the hope of future winter rains for Israel, even though that was very important. That was a deeper truth in Isaiah 12:3 concerning this ceremony:
then you will joyfully draw water from the springs of salvation.
Salvation in Hebrew is yeshua, the name of the Messiah and He is also our High Priest and His life was poured out along with His Blood which resulted in our salvation.
More than the outpouring of the water in Israel,
the rejoicing of the house of drawing water – Hoshana rabbah;
was to prophetically picture the days of Messianic redemption, where the waters of His Holy Spirit would be poured out on all Israel.
Our Heavenly Father will finally build His habitation with His people when the Kingdom is established under Messiahs rule.
In John 7:37 – 39 he explains the next connection to Sukkot.
37Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! 38He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” 39But He was speaking of the [Holy] Spirit, whom those who believed in Him [as Savior] were to receive afterward. The Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (raised to honor).
It may help us to try and imagine the scene: Sukkot was already six day in and great joy filled the crowds. Then, on the great and final day – Hoshana Rabbah – the people were filled with expectation for the Messiah and the Spirit of Holiness He would bring. To everyones amazement, at the exact moment of the water drawing ceremony, Yeshua/Jesus made this bold and unashamed statement.
If anyone desires what this Bet Ha-sho-evah symbolizes, let him believe in Me and come to Me.
He was saying:
Do you really want the living waters of Holy Spirit?
Do any of you understand the true significance of the ceremony?
I am the Messiah Who will pour out My Holy Spirit on Israel.
2Peter 1:10 – 14
Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by [f]doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.
12Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth which is [g]held firmly in your grasp. 13I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you, 14knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
Time is short and soon we will all be laying aside these earthly tabernacles- dwellings. Knowing the truth is not enough, we have to remember it and use it while we still can.
The feast of ingathering/sukkot/booths/tabernacles will soon come to an and this Sukkah/body in which we now live will not stand forever. So while we live in our earthly dwellings let us diligently secure our calling and selection but also be acting on the things we know, this is the truth that will bring in a harvest.
Let us stop looking anywhere else for salvation that in Messiah, is already ours; let’s rejoice in the fact that whether we are in times of abundance or drought, those who believe in Messiah Yeshua/Jesus will never thirst again.
Click links below for previous posts covering so many more aspects of this wonderful celebration.
Shalom aleikhem chaverim and mishpachah! Peace to friends and family. Shavua Tov, Have a blessed week. Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer, Savior, Lord and soon returning King and that you have a personal relationship with Him. It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion. You are very precious in His sight. Not sure ..you can be… SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW… Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past. I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
13 ‘The feast of booths thou dost make for thee seven days, in thine in-gathering of thy threshing-floor, and of thy wine-vat;
14 and thou hast rejoiced in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy handmaid, and the Levite, וְהַלֵּוִ֗י levivy and the sojourner hag ger וְהַגֵּ֛ר
and the fatherless, and the widow, who ‘are’ within thy gates.
15 Seven days thou dost feast before Jehovah thy God, in the place which Jehovah doth choose, for Jehovah thy God doth bless thee in all thine increase, and in every work of thy hands, and thou hast been only rejoicing.
16 ‘Three times in a year doth every one of thy males appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which He doth choose — in the feast of unleavened things, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths; and they do not appear before Jehovah empty;
17 each according to the gift of his hand, according to the blessing of Jehovah thy God, which He hath given to thee.
A sukkah
is also called
סֻּכֹּֽת
a booth – a tabernacle – temporary dwelling,
depending on who you ask.
(There are several alternate spellings of the Hebrew word.)
It is only for 7 days and when it is described as a
temporary dwelling,
it’s because the
sukah/sukkah
construction itself is
temporary,
it is not a permanent structure.
For 7 days each year all who are native born in Israel
are to live in these sukkah
made of tree boughs branches and leaves.
The flimsy sukkah
is not really able to give much shelter from
the heat of the sun or the wind rain and dust;
nor does it provide privacy.
There’s no protection from criminal activities and by itself it’s totally ineffective for a long term dwelling place.
The point is that, for 40 years this is how the children of Israel lived as they travelled through the wilderness...
and it serves as a reminder to all subsequent generations, and the grafted-in-believers, how our Heavenly Father
protects and shelters His children
as we continue on our wilderness journey to His promised land..
We would opt for a more sturdy building of wood, brick and concrete with locks on our doors, if we were given a choice; yet is this any more permanent and reliable than a sukat/sukkah when the forces of nature are unleashed against it?
It only takes a moment, to look at the aftermath of deadly hurricanes and floods, for us to see the devastating results.
All who are native born ……sons of Israel.
Leviticus 23
40 and ye have taken to yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palms, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of a brook, and have rejoiced before Jehovah your God seven days.
41 ‘And ye have kept it a feast to Jehovah, seven days in a year — a statute age-during to your generations; in the seventh month ye keep it a feast.
42 ‘In booths בַּסֻּכֹּֽת ye dwell seven days; all who are natives in Israel / Yisrael יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
dwell in booths,
43 so that your generations do know that in booths בַּסֻּכֹּֽת
I caused the sons of Yisrael / Israel יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
to dwell; in my bringing them out of the land of Egypt; I, Jehovah, ‘am’ your God.’
44 And Moses speaketh ‘concerning’ the appointed seasons of Jehovah unto the sons of Israel.
The sukkah reminds us
that our faith/trust should
NOT
be in
so called permanent structures
that have been built by human hands;
but instead
our faith/trust should be in the
One Who
has the power to protect us
in every situation and circumstance
and all adverse conditions.
We are to
abide and remain
in the
shade of shaddai….
the
shadow of the Almighty.
לְצֵל־ lezel – shade/shadow
שַׁדַּי shaddai/shadday –
strongs #5996
צל של שדדאי
shade of shaddai
צל – shade
אל שדי el shaddai the almighty
Strongs# 7706. Shadday: Almighty
Original Word:שַׁדַּי Part of Speech:Noun Masculine Transliteration:Shadday Phonetic Spelling:shad-dah’-ee or sha’da eye
Almighty: Shaddai.
Masculine noun.
Strong’s 7706.
Root: שַׁדַּי
Pronounced: sha’dah-ee.
Meaning: My Destroyer, My Protective Spirit, My Rainmaker.
Self-Sufficient, Who Is Abundantly.
From the verb שדד ( shadad ), to destroy,
or the noun שד ( shed ), protective spirit,
or the verb שדה (shadah), to moisten.
God Almighty
El Shaddai – ale shad-dah’-ee. אל שׁדי
Genesis 17:1 HEB: אֲנִי־ אֵ֣ל שַׁדַּ֔יהִתְהַלֵּ֥ךְ לְפָנַ֖י NAS: to him, I am God Almighty; Walk KJV: and said unto him, I [am] the AlmightyGod;
And when Abram was ninety nine years old and the LORD appeared to Abram, and he said to him, I am El Shaddai, walk before me, and be perfect Genesis 17:1
God Almighty
El Shaddai – ale shad-dah’-ee
letters: YDSLA – al shdy
Hebrew Letters:
alef, lamed, shin or sheen, dalet, yud or yod.
אל שׁדי
The Aleph is the picture of an ox head
and illustrates: the strength of an animal.
It can mean: strong, power, or leader.
The Lamed is a picture of a shepherd’s staff.
The shepherd used the staff to
exercise authority over the sheep to direct or lead them.
It can mean: teach, lead, yoke, move forward, or authority.
The Shin represents two front teeth
and can mean: sharp, eat, consume, separate, or destroy.
The Dalet represents a tent flap or door.
It can also mean:
back and forth movement as in going in and out of a door.
The Yud represents an arm and a hand.
The picture can mean: work, throw, worship
or it can simply mean: arm or hand.
The Aleph and Lamed form the root word
El which means: God or strong controller.
The Shin, Dalet, and Yud
form another root
Shad meaning breast.
Together they reveal:
The One mighty to nourish and
supply all our needs!
We live safely NOT because we have a well built house,
but because our Heavenly Father is
protecting us
and is also
providing for us
and caring for us each and every day.
Even the most reliable building is really just a
sukkah
because one day it will no longer exist.. BUT…
we will have a permanent dwelling place forever with Him.
Let’s allow Him to teach us to put our trust
only in Him
and to know that He shields us from harm because
He is our provider and protector.
This time of reflection towards our dwelling place and where we live and rest, reminds us ofPsalm 91:1-4because it’s related to the fact of not being reliant on a physical place in a natural sense….. It has the elements of a protective sinnah – shield,
and the shelter and shadow/shade/lezel
of the Almighty/Shaddai
…because is the secret place of
עֶלְי֑וֹן
El’yon
pronounced:el yown
which is
the shield and surrounding wall of His truth.
This is not a metaphorical description, it’s a real place;
as real as we allow it to be to us.
How so?
Because if we don’t believe it’s there or that it exists, how can we go there?
And if we don’t ever go there, how can we rest there habitually as the Psalmist says?
He who dwells in the shelter of Elyon,
will abide in
the shadow of Shaddai.
It’s very real, yet sometimes hard to find…
Is it because we’re looking for the wrong kind of structure?
When we read the word secret, do we think it’s hidden by some kind of camouflage?
The verse says it’s a stronghold so do we think its made of some indestructible material?
Does the shield part make us think we can’t see through it and that the surrounding wall may be so high and wide that we can’t get around or over it?
So we are looking for something our minds can relate to and in looking from the
Shade of Shaddai
we make our relationship with Him so complicated that we miss His provision, especially when it’s right where we are?
How can that be right?
Because His truth IS a shield
and the surrounding wall for us,
without the need for any additional support or fortifying;
and all we need to do is recognize that truth and
rest in the shadow of His Word – Jesus/Yeshua.
This is where we will find all the comfort and shelter we need.
With Isaiah and David the Psalmist, let’s state clearly….and not just for this week.. but going forward each and every day….
Father, YOU are our strength, our stronghold, our God and we trust in You. We are not looking for a natural fortress that’s impenetrable but we are resting habitually in Your protection, in the
shade of shadai/shaddai
because You are our
everlasting sukah/sukkah
and will one day tabernacle with us for ever.
If you haven’t already please take the time to read earlier posts focusing on the week of Sukkot/Tabernacles/Booths.
Please don’t leave here without assurance of your salvation because
one of these days we will leave behind this personal, physical
body/tent/temporary shelter/sukkah….
and dwell for eternity in one of two places..
either with, or without, the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Not sure ..you can be…
Make certain Messiah Jesus/Yeshua is your Redeemer,
Savior, Lord, and soon returning King
and that you have a personal relationship with Him.
It’s all about Life and Relationship, NOT Religion.
You are very precious in His sight.
SIMPLY SAY THE FOLLOWING MEANING IT FROM YOUR HEART..don’t delay one more minute, SAY IT RIGHT NOW…
Heavenly Father I come to you in the Name of Jesus/Yeshua asking for forgiveness of my sins for which I am truly sorry. I repent of them all and turn away from my past.
I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus/Yeshua is your Son and that He died on the cross at calvary to pay the price for my sin, so that I might be forgiven and have eternal life in the kingdom of Heaven. Father I believe that Jesus/Yeshua rose from the dead and I ask you to come into my life right now and be my personal Savior and Lord and I will worship you all the days of my life. Because your word is truth I say that I am now forgiven and born again and by faith I am washed clean with the blood of Jesus/Yeshua. Thank you that you have accepted me into your family in Jesus’/Yeshua’s name.
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