The Feast of Sukkot and the God who Tabernacles with Us

As I write this, it is the 2nd day of the week-long biblical Feast of Sukkot (it’s usually in September or October). You may have also heard of it as the Feast of Tabernacles, or Booths. Last night, at its beginning, the moon gleamed full and bright, illuminating the angel-wing clouds around it. I haven’t seen the unveiled brightness of the moon like that for months. Partly because it’s still rainy season here in Thailand with heavy cloud cover most days, but also partly because I haven’t been outside much–both physically and spiritually–turning my eyes heavenward.

I hate to admit it, but that’s more than likely the reason for my sense of weariness that often gives way to crankiness. Anyone with me in that? There’s more than enough worry and busyness to keep our eyes downcast, our hand to the plow, our nose to the grind, or whatever idiom you prefer that denotes focused attention on work and sorrow. But two phrases that the Spirit keeps whispering to my heart and blatantly putting in front of my face are:

“Keep your eyes on Me, beloved.”

And, “I will satisfy you.”

KEEP YOUR EYES ON ME

Whatever you feed will grow. I find that saying to be painfully true. Worries and anxieties swell quickly when I watch the news. Peace and hope abound when I read the Word. Bitterness and complaints roll off my tongue when I spend time around others with a discontent spirit. Thankfulness and praise are quick to my lips when I spend time in worship. 

Where I fix my gaze and what I give my attention to matters immensely.

As creatures prone to wander, we need frequent reminders of where to turn our eyes and our thoughts. God knows this. Therefore, He calls us to regular acts of remembrance, communion being the most commonly recognized one among Christians. And, in this season, the Feast of Tabernacles.

I WILL SATISFY YOU

During the week-long Feast of Sukkot, the Israelites of the Bible and the Jews of today, build temporary shelters, or tabernacles, to eat, pray, and often sleep in. It’s a joyous celebration at the end of the harvest to both look back on the time God led them through the wilderness, and look forward to the Messiah who would dwell with them. It is incredibly rich with symbolism and prophetic imagery. One of my favorites shows up in John 7.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

John 7:37-38

Earlier in that chapter, we’re told that the festival referred to here is Tabernacles. Jewish custom at the time was for the priest to draw “living” water from the Pool of Siloam and pour it on the altar of the temple each day during Sukkot. On the last and greatest day of the feast, they circled the altar seven times and asked the Lord to bless them with rain for the coming season.

Do you see the beautiful and shocking parallel Jesus draws between himself and the rain? The living water and the Holy Spirit? His promised presence and the harvest of souls?

Here, as in countless other scriptures, I see Jesus declaring that he is enough. He, the Word who became flesh and tabernacled among us, promises himself. He is Living Water, Bread of Life, Good Shepherd, and Prince of Peace. What else could offer sustenance and shelter to my soul?

A MARRIAGE SUKKAH

Christ is my tabernacle.

And yet, in an almost incomprehensible twist, I am also his. 

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

There, in that mysterious joining of my life to Christ’s and Christ’s life to mine, I find the deep satisfaction of intimacy with my creator. We can even see the imagery of a traditional Jewish wedding, with its own form of a Sukkah, called a chuppah, and seven days of rejoicing, clearly in the Feast of Tabernacles. Here’s an intriguing article from a Jewish perspective that describes just such similarities.

And so, dear Bride of Christ, look at your Bridegroom. He is coming for you. He gave you the engagement ring of the Holy Spirit. In him, you have all you’ll ever need–now, yes, yet even more so in eternity to come when you see him face to face and he dwells among us. 

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 21:1-6

For more on the Feast of Sukkot, check out this explanatory article and this excellent video. My family will cook a meal around the campfire and have a “campout” in our living room this weekend! If you’ll be celebrating Tabernacles in some way, let me know. I’d love to hear how you bring its meaning into your worship this week.