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The dates for 2010: 23 – 30 September. Hohana Rabba – 29th, Shmini Atzeret – 30th, Simchat Torah – 1 Oct.

Leviticus 23:39(NIV) 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.

Leviticus 23:42(NIV) Live in booths for seven days. All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 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.

This Feast is also known as Succot in Hebrew, Feast of Ingathering and Feast of Booths. This was at the end of the agricultural year and was celebrated with great joy, singing, dancing, eating and drinking. It was often just called The Festival.

During this Feast we are to look back to the forty years the Israelites had lived in the desert and take note that the Lord never left them. We are to remember that even in our own desert times of unbelief and disobedience, the Lord is still there. Every year the Jews and Believers build little shacks to stay in, even if only during the day or for meals, during the Feast. This temporary shelter reminds us that we live this life only temporarily. It is a time to humble ourselves, remember that we need the Lord, and that the Lord is the One Who Delivers, Jehovah Jireh. We must keep our eyes on the Lord who is our Redeemer, our Provider and our Covering.

Two ceremonies developed through the years that took place during the Feast of Tabernacles even before the time of Yeshua. The one is the Water-Drawing Ceremony. This was to remember the Lord’s provision of much needed water in the desert and the harvest. This ceremony took place every morning for 7 days during the Feast at the Temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah 12:3 would be shouted: With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. On the final day, which is also called the Great Day, or Hoshanah Rabbah, a climaz is reached and the people would call out “Please bring salvation now. Please, God, please, save and bring salvation now!” The Hallel or Psalms 113-118 would also be sung. Isaiah 44:3 is also remembered: “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”

Yshua, being Jewish, had to go to Jerusalem for these feasts. It was on this Great Day, Hoshanah Rabbah, that He said, as is written in John 7:37(NIV) 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.

John 7:38(NIV) Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

The second ceremony was the Illumination Ceremony. During the Feast the Temple was lit up and Jerusalem was illuminated for everyone to see from a great distance. The significance is that the people recognized the Lord as the true light as is written in Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? On this day with the Temple illuminating the night in Jerusalem, Yeshua said as is written in John 8:12(NIV) When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Saying this, the religious leaders who had said that a prophet does not come out of Galilee (John 7:52), had to recognize Isaiah’s prophesies as is written:

Isaiah 9:1b(NIV) but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.

Isaiah 9:2a(NIV) The The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

Isaiah 49:6b(NIV) “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine, for the light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

Many Believers have started celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles. There is a prophecy in this respect as is written in Zechariah 14:16(NIV) Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.

During this Feast of Ingathering the doors or openings of the booths are never closed. This is an invitation for anyone to join the family. Yeshua said in John 10:19(NIV) “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me ,he will be saved.” We should use the time of this Feast to intercede more heavily for our loved ones.

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For more info and reading:

Bible

The Jewish Festivals – Hayyim Schauss

The Torah Blessing – Larry Hugh

Christ in the Feast of Tabernacles – David Brickner

Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts – Dr Richard Booker

www.thewatchman.org

www.hebrew4christians.com

www.hebcal.com

http://www.templeinstitute.org/sukkot.htm

http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/sukkot/laws_and_customs.shtml