Feast of Tabernacles
Pastor Phil Derstine 10-1-23
- Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”
- Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
God Chose Israel
- Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be His people, His treasured possession. (7) The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. (8) But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”
- Genesis 17:7 (Abraham) “And I will establish my covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (8) And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
- Romans 9:4 (NIV) “The people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. (5) Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.”
We are Abraham's Seed
- Galatians 3:6 “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness, (7) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (8) And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”
- Galatians 3:13 “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
- Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus (29) And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”
Circumcision of the Heart
- Romans 2:28 “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: (29) But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
Citizens of Israel
- Ephesians 2:11 (NIV) “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)-- (12) Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (13) But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
- Ephesians 2:14 “For He himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. (19) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”
The Feast of Tabernacles
- Leviticus 23:34 “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. (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.”
- Historically: Commemorates 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness, living in makeshift shelters; God’s presence marked by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by might.
- Today: Jews build booths outside their homes, roofed with branches, remembering wilderness-life of their ancestors.
- Prophetically: The coming of the Lord and His presence with His people forever.
1. Dwelling in Booths
- Feast of Sukkot (Heb.) – huts, booths, or tabernacles
- Leviticus 23:42“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.”
- The temporary booth symbolizes the need to depend upon God for His provision of food, water, shelter.
- God wants to "Tabernacle" with us (dwell in our hearts permanently)
- John 1:14 “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” (Gr) Skenoo: to tent or encamp
- Ephesians 3:16-17 “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Gr) Katoikeo: to house permanently, inhabit.
- Psalm 22:3 “The Lord inhabits the praises of His people.”
2. Rejoicing before the Lord
- Singing, dancing, clapping - Processionals, pageantry
- Deuteronomy 16:14 “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."
- Nehemiah 8:10 “…For the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
3. Celebrating the Harvest
- Feast of Ingathering - Unusual number of sacrifices
- Leviticus 23:37 (NIV) “These are the LORD’s appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the LORD by fire–the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day.
- Deuteronomy 16:15 (NIV) For seven days celebrate the Feast to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will chose. 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. (16) No man should appear before the LORD emptyhanded: (17) Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the LORD your God has blessed you.”
- John 7:37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
