Two Loaves of Leavened Bread God’s instructions specified offerings for the Feast of Pentecost. Among them were two loaves baked with leaven and fine flour from the wheat harvest. The priest should present these loaves as a first fruits wave offering before the Lord. These two loaves show us a remarkable prophetic sign. The fine flour used in the loaves is a symbol of Jesus. The leaven is a symbol of sin. One loaf representing the Jews, and the other the gentiles, waved before God. God accepted both while they were still sinners. The leaven in the loaves at Pentecost speaks of the church that has not yet reached sinless perfection, even though we are filled with the Holy Spirit. In the Feast of Tabernacles, which we will learn about later, bread was made without leaven, representing a church perfected according to God’s awesome plan.
he Feast of Tabernacle Israel Shall Dwell in Booths for Seven Days Text: Exodus 23:16 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work.’” (Leviticus 23:33–36) You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress. You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns. For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. (Deuteronomy 16:13–15) Five days after Yom Kippur, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, comes the Feast of Tabernacle. It is also called the Feast of Booths or Succoth (Sukkoth). For seven days, the Lord said to keep the feast. The first day and the eighth day shall be a Sabbath rest. This eighth day was a great day of rejoicing in Jerusalem. After the harvest was gathered, the Israelites were to dwell in booths for seven days. The booths were to be built out of branches of the olive, palm, myrtle, willow, or other leafy trees. Each tree branch carried for the Israelites a symbolic meaning—the olive of anointing, the palm of victory, the myrtle of joy, and the willow of weeping. All the Israelites and their generations to come should know that God had them live in booths when he brought them out of Egypt. They were a reminder of the first Passover in Egypt and of their disobedience which resulted in forty years of wandering in the wilderness. They should never forget that it was God who provided for them all these years. It was He that had brought them, a stiff-necked people, into the land of promise flowing with milk and honey. The booths were purposely built loosely so that the stars could be seen. It would remind the Israelites that they were pilgrims in this present life. Since Sukkoth immediately follows the Days of Awe and repentance, it represents a time of restored fellowship with the Lord. The Tabernacle, and later the temple, represents God’s presence dwelling among His redeemed people (Exodus 29:44–45). The high holidays focus on the Lord as our creator, judge, and the one who atones for our sins. The festival of Sukkoth is the time when the Jews celebrate all the Lord has done for them. Because the Jews were commanded to rejoice for the blessing of God’s provision and care in their lives during the Feast of Sukkoth (Deuteronomy 16:14–15), it is considered today especially important to give charity during this time of year. Lulav & Ethrog Furthermore, it is said that King Solomon dedicated the temple during the festival of Sukkoth. (1 Kings 8:2,65) After Israel entered the land of promise, Sukkoth was associated with the fall harvest and came to be known as the “Festival of Ingathering (of the harvest).” Certain customs were incorporated into the observance of Sukkoth, such as decorating the sukkah (shelter), performing special “wave” ceremonies (lulav), circling the synagogue in a processional while singing hymns, and reciting various Hebrew blessings to sanctify the festival. The Lulav and Ethrog Part of the traditional celebration and rejoicing before the Lord was the lulav (a closed frond of the date palm tree) or branches waved in the temple during parts of the service. Furthermore, the Jews brought the ethrog or citrus fruits to the temple symbolic of the bounty of the promised land that God had given them. The last harvest of the year had been successfully brought in from the fields. The land and the people were at rest. It is, so to speak, Israel’s Thanksgiving festival. Note that the Midrash (an ancient commentary on part of the Hebrew scriptures attached to the Biblical text) says that the ethrog (the citron fruit, sometimes called the “Persian Apple”) was the fruit in the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve ate in disobedience, resulting in exile from paradise. It is significant for Messianic Jews during Sukkoth to reclaim and sanctify the very means of our downfall and greatly rejoice that our sins have been atoned for through Yeshua the Messiah. The Sukkah The festal of Sukkoth is celebrated for seven days during which the Jews “dwell” in their huts (sukkah). During this time, they will recite various blessings, eat meals, sing songs, and wave their lulav. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the people of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 23:42–43) There are four kinds of organic products mentioned in the Torah regarding the festival of Sukkoth. And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook, and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. (Leviticus 23:40) Today, the Jews typically use the frond of the date palm tree (lulav), myrtle (hadass), willow (aravah) and citron (ethrog). These four items (also called “species”) pertain to or are samples of the produce from the land of Israel. Some Jews like to purchase them through a Judaica merchant in order to have authentic species from the promised land. On the afternoon before Sukkoth begins, it is customary to weave the four species into a bouquet-like arrangement while standing inside your sukkah. The four items woven together are sometimes referred to as a “lulav.” The Pouring Of Water The Pouring of Water It was customary that the illumination of the temple and the pouring of water in the temple took place on this last day. This last day was called Hoshana Rabba which means the Day of Great Hosanna or “save now.” A priest would bring water from the Pool of Siloam to the temple in a gold pitcher. The high priest would pour this water into the basin found right by the foot of the altar as an offering. It is with this offering that the Jews prayed to God for rain. For the coming sowing season and a successful harvest, the farmers needed the rain to break the dry season. “The pouring of the water” ritual was accompanied by great celebration. The priest would blow the trumpet, and the Jews would wave palm branches and rejoice with the singing of Psalms 113–118. The singing carried the words “save now, I pray, Lord” and “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Their prayers were directed toward God’s salvation through the messiah. Now fast forward to Jesus’s time. We find the same picture by Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21). The Jews waved palm branches celebrating his coming. They cried out “Hosanna to the Son of David,” which means, “Save us now, we pray, Son of David,” and “blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Into this “pouring of the water” celebration, we find Jesus addressing the Jews with the words found in John 7:37–39, “Anyone who is thirsty come to me.” Jesus is answering their very prayers! He would give living water to anyone who believes in Him—the Holy Spirit. The Illumination of the Temple and Jerusalem The Illumination Of The Temple Sunshine is also part of a successful harvest. The Jews would pray to God for the needed sunshine in the ritual of the illumination of the temple. We find also here that the Jews would pray to God for spiritual life by the messiah. The giant golden candlesticks in the temple would be lit. Jews from all over would bring lit torches to the temple, making so much light that both the temple and Jerusalem itself would be illuminated. It was during the illumination of the temple that Jesus addressed the Jews with the words found in John 8:12, “I am the Light of the world!” Jesus is proclaiming that he is the light of the world. By following him, they would not be in darkness. They would have the light that would lead to life. Simchath Torah Torah Scroll In the early centuries, a customary system of reading the Law was established among Jewish communities. The Law was read over a period of one year in the synagogues. The last portion of the Torah is read and celebrated on Simchath Torah by reading the blessing of Moses over the tribes of Israel. On the following Sabbath, the Jews would start reading in the beginning of Genesis. Torah translated literally means the Five Books of the Law of Moses. Simchath Torah is a special day, set apart to rejoice over the Law or specifically “rejoicing in the Torah.” On this special day of celebration, the Torah scrolls would be taken out of the ark (receptacle or ornamental closet, generally located on the wall facing Jerusalem, which contains each synagogue’s Torah scrolls) and carried throughout or around the synagogue in a joyful procession seven times. Apples holding candles were placed on poles having varies decorative symbols. The children march in this parade also. Typically, they would carry flags and banners or bags with candles. Based on Psalm 19:8–10, the commandments of the Lord are sweeter than honey, so the children would be given bags of candy. The Jewish understanding about Simchath Torah is that it cannot be celebrated at Pentecost (Shavuot), because the Torah requires our response; nor can it be celebrated on the Feast of Trumpet or on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), since this represents a time of judgment and atonement. Therefore, the Jewish people wait until the end of the climactic Feast of Booths (Sukkoth) to celebrate the Torah, wherein it is said, “You will be completely joyous.” For seven days, you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful. (Deuteronomy 16:15) As joyful as this celebration may appear, it misses the true joy. Isaiah speaks about it in the following words: All the future events in this vision are like a sealed book to them. When you give it to those who can read, they will say, We can’t read it because it is sealed.” When you give it to those who cannot read, they will say, “We don’t know how to read.” And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man–made rules learned by rote. Because of this, I will once again astound these hypocrites with amazing wonders. The wisdom of the wise will pass away, and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear. (Isaiah 29:11–14) The Jewish people are still waiting until Jesus will fulfill and open their eyes, when the seal will be broken, and their vision undimmed. On this day of fulfillment, the Jews will recognize Jesus Christ as the messiah. This day will then be a true Simchath Torah celebration of joy. Jesus and the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus Christ made it possible. In Him and through Him, we can tabernacle with God. In Jesus, we experience the dwelling place and fullness of God. There is a rest found in His presence. The book of Hebrews reminds us that we must enter this rest. In order to be able to enjoy God’s rest here on Earth, we have to walk with Him in loving trust and obedience (abide in Him). Hebrews 3:7, “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” The Israelites failed to enter God’s rest. Their rebellious hearts resulted in forty years of wilderness. What a special blessing for the soul that God has awaiting for those found in Jesus at Tabernacle until we will enter our heavenly rest. The final completion of the Feast of Tabernacle is revealed in the Book of Revelation chapter 21. John saw a new heaven and a new earth. The old had passed away. The New Jerusalem is coming down out of heaven. A voice from the throne of God said in Revelation 21:3, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people.” God Himself will be with them and be their God. Zion—Jerusalem In the “Intermezzo,” we already touched on different traditional views concerning the end-time events. Now I want to direct our attention to a Messianic Jewish view that awaits fulfillment in the Festival of Sukkoth. Note that God has not forgotten His holy city Jerusalem and His chosen people. Here the “Day of Ingathering” of the harvest, Sukkoth, prefigures the gathering together of the Jewish people in the days of the Messiah’s reign on earth. Yet the time will come when the Lord will gather them together like handpicked grain. One by one he will gather them—from the Euphrates River in the east to the Brook of Egypt in the west. In that day the great trumpet will sound. Many who were dying in exile in Assyria and Egypt will return to Jerusalem to worship the Lord on his holy mountain. (Isaiah 27:12–13) “In that day,” says the Lord, “when people are taking an oath, they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who rescued the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.’ Instead, they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the people of Israel back to their own land from the land of the north and from all the countries to which he had exiled them.’ Then they will live in their own land.” (Jeremiah 23:7–8) All of the nations of the earth that survive the Great Tribulation will come together to worship the Lord in Jerusalem during the Feast of Sukkoth. In the end, the enemies of Jerusalem who survive the plague will go up to Jerusalem each year to worship the King, the Lord of heaven’s Armies, and to celebrate the Festival of Shelters. Any nation in the world that refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of heaven’s Armies, will have no rain. (Zechariah 14:16–17) This view of Sukkoth also foreshadows the Lord’s sheltering presence over Israel in the millennial kingdom. No longer will Israel be subject to the oppression of the ungodly nations of the world, but God Himself will place His sanctuary in her midst. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy” (Ezekiel 37:26–28) We know that Yeshua, our messiah, did indeed come to “sukkah” or “tabernacle” with us in order to purge our sins and redeem us to Himself. So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. (John 1:14) With eyes of faith, we see the glory of the divine presence of the Lord God Almighty in the person of Yeshua, our beloved and holy anointed one. With eagerness, we await His return to establish His kingdom and “tabernacle with us” again. At that time, Yeshua will set up His everlasting Sukkah, so that we may know, love, and abide with Him forever. Time With God Freedom Sukkoth reminds us that slavery to our old sinful life is not an option for the redeemed people of the Lord. God wants us to be free from the bondage of our past. We must leave behind our old identities and dependencies on anything other than God Himself; that is, brought forth and refined in the wilderness experience of faith. God calls us to walk in the presence of His love, not in the fear of man. We are a new creation in the Messiah, reborn to take possession of the promises God has given to us. Our citizenship is in heaven from which also we eagerly wait for a savior, Jesus Christ, Yeshua, the Messiah, our Lord who will transform the body of our humiliation to be like His glorious body according to the working of His power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself (Philippians 3:20–21). What an incredibly awesome time that lies ahead of us when we meet Jesus Christ, our savior. May the joy of the Lord overshadow you while you join in the singing and rejoicing of these two songs. Days of Elijah Mark Robin These are the days of Elijah Declaring the word of the Lord. And these are the days of Your servant Moses Righteousness being restored These are the days of great trials Of famine and darkness and sword Still we are the voice in the desert crying Prepare ye the way of the Lord! Say, behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call Lift your voice, year of Jubilee Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes. And these are the days of Ezekiel The dry bones becoming flesh And these are the days of Your servant, David Rebuilding a temple of praise And these are the days of the harvest The fields are all white in Your world And we are the laborers that are in Your vineyard Declaring the Word of the Lord Say, behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call Lift your voice, year of Jubilee Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call Lift your voice, year of Jubilee Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes There’s no God like Jehovah! (12x) Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call Lift your voice, year of Jubilee Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes Behold He comes, riding on the clouds Shining like the sun at the trumpet’s call Lift your voice, year of Jubilee Out of Zion’s hill, salvation comes. Jerusalem Alpert Herb John saw a city that could not be hidden John saw the city, oh yes he did John caught a glimpse of the golden throne Tell me all about it, go right on Around the throne he saw the crystal sea There’s got to be more, what will it be I want to go, to that city he saw New Jerusalem Jerusalem I want to walk your streets that are golden And I want to run where the angels have trod Jerusalem I want to rest on the banks of your river In that city, the city of God John saw the lion lay down by the lamb I want to know everything about that land John saw the day but he did not see night The lamb of God well, he must be the light And he saw the saints worship the great I am Crying worthy, worthy is the lamb I want to go to that city he saw New Jerusalem Jerusalem, Jerusalem Sing for the night is over Hosanna in the highest Hosanna forever Forever more Jerusalem I want to walk your streets that are golden And I want to run where the angels have trod Jerusalem I want to rest on the banks of your river In that city, the city of God The city of God Jerusalem, Jerusalem The city of God, is the city of God The Feast of Tabernacles/Practical Guide Practical Guide This is a great opportunity to build a hut (shelter/sukkah) with your family. Use some branches to loosely cover the roof and sides of your hut. The huts are small and hastily built. Since the sukkah is intended to serve as your “home” for the next eight days, it is customary to decorate it with palm branches, flowers, fruit, or vegetables, etc. Make sure that you are able to see the stars through the roof at night. You may even enjoy eating your Tabernacle dinner in your hut. The children will love to sleep in the hut and listen to the story of Tabernacle. A sukkah may be built in a yard, on a flat roof, or even on a balcony. Those who live in apartments or in locations where it is impossible to build a sukkah often help their congregation or another family decorate their sukkah during this time. The Jews rejoice over the law at Tabernacle by having a Torah procession. How much more reason do we have to rejoice over having the Word of God, the Bible. We too can have a procession in our home or around our house. Sing some praise songs with your children as you march with your Bible in hand. Unlike other holidays, Sukkoth has no traditional foods other than kreplach. Any dish incorporating the harvest of one’s own region is appropriate for Sukkoth.
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