Eight things Scripture says about the Feast of Tabernacles:
1. It is for all generations. -Leviticus 23:41
This isn't just a holiday for the people that lived in Bible times, or in the future once the Messiah returns. It is for you, today! No matter what part of the world you live in or your family history, YHWH wants you to set apart his feasts.
2. There are eight days of festivities, and you don't work on the first or last day. - Leviticus 23:35-36, 39
Have you ever gone on vacation and stuffed your itinerary so full that you came home exhausted? I think our Creator saw that tendency coming and purposefully set aside a couple of days of rest for us during this special time. For most of Sukkot we are permitted to do professional work, errands, and whatever else needs done. However on the first and last days we are asked to set those things aside in order to rest and focus on YHWH.
3. We should dwell in booths during Sukkot. -Leviticus 23:43
The Hebrew word for booths is sukkah, the plural of that is Sukkot which is where we get the name for this holiday. Sukkah means a temporary dwelling. Scripture does not elaborate on exactly what this looks like, so I think there is room for self expression. So part of the Feast of Tabernacles is stepping out of our normal living arrangement. Take a road trip, pitch a tent in your backyard, go to the lake, put up a canopy to eat meals under, etc. Make it a point to not stick to business as usual this week.
4. We should rejoice. -Leviticus 23:40
Like the Israelites rejoiced in Nehemiah when they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles for the first time in generations after rediscovering Scripture's instructions, we should be overjoyed that we have instruction from the Living God on how we are to live! And you know what else? This holiday is not a burden or drudgery, it is genuinely fun! It's nice to be able to take off from work and spend time outdoors, and maybe even travel. It's also a time when we can grow more joy inside of ourselves. Keeping Scripture's instructions for the Biblical holidays and the Sabbath has made me a more joyful person in my daily life. Couldn't we all use more joy? This is a tangible way to promote that in ourselves and our families.
5. It is a reminder that YHWH made the children of Israel dwell in booths when he brought them out of Egypt. -Leviticus 23:43
Another reason we keep the Feast of Tabernacles is commemorate the history of YHWH's people, and to learn more of the Bible. The hands-on method of learning can help cement those truths in our hearts. Going to living history museums teaches children more about the ways of the past than just reading about it. Same thing with Scripture! By camping out during the Feast of Tabernacles, we learn a little bit what it was like to journey to the Promised Land. This time calls to mind the miraculous stories of YHWH's provision for his people, and teaches us to trust him more.
6. We should guard the Feast of Tabernacles. -Exodus 23:15-16
We shouldn't approach this time haphazardly, maybe celebrating if it works out. We don't get to say, "I know we should celebrate it but we are so busy/my friends aren't interested/my workplace won't cooperate." We are to guard this time. That means it's up to us to make space on our calendars and prioritize celebrating Sukkot. Be proactive and intentional about setting aside the time and resources needed to keep Scripture's instructions. Guard what is important!
7. We shouldn't appear before YHWH empty-handed, but we should present an offering according to what he has given us. -Deuteronomy 16:16-17
Though we no longer sacrifice animals, we can still give an offering during the feast. If YHWH has given you more than you need, then give to his Kingdom. Donate money to a ministry or support a missionary. Do you have more possessions than you need? Give them away during this time. This can be a meaningful part of the feast as you look for ways to meet needs and learn more about the impact ministries and missionaries are having around the world.
8. It will be celebrated in the latter days. -Zechariah 14:16
Not only will the Feast of Tabernacles be kept when the Messiah is ruling on earth, but those nations that don't celebrate it will be cut off from rain. This shows how important this time is to the Messiah! He gives blessings to those who keep his set apart times.
I wanted to offer a free printable as an easy way to decorate for the Fall Feasts. This captures a bit of the essence of all the fall holidays, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, so you can keep it around for the entire season.
We fall for:
tabernacles and trumpets
sukkahs and shofars
pumpkins and prayers
leaves and laughter
fires with friends
autumn anticipation
the fall feasts.
The we fall for the fall feasts printable is free for your personal use. Click here to download.
Have an amazing time of joy as you celebrate our Creator's set apart times!
Reading Scripture is an important part of preparing for any of the Biblical holidays! Since the Creator's holidays don't get the hype of the cultural ones with sections of decorations in stores or songs on the radio, saturating yourself in the pertinent Scriptures is a great way to build anticipation for these special times and to calibrate yourself to our Creator's calendar! Here are Scriptures to read for Yom Kippur. They would also be great to study on the day of or to have children act out as part of the festivities.
Yom Kippur Scripture Reading List:
Leviticus 16 - instructions for Yom Kippur.
Leviticus 23:27-32 - talks about Yom Kippur being a day of rest.
Numbers 29:7-11 - details the offerings to be presented to YHWH.
Psalm 32 - a Psalm about the blessings of having our sins be covered.
Isaiah 53 - prophecy of the Messiah being killed for our sins.
Jonah - this is traditionally read on Yom Kippur. The topic of repentance and forgiveness coincides with this set apart time.
Acts 27:9 - here is a mention of New Testament believers paying attention to the Biblical holidays, long after Yahusha ascended into Heaven.
Romans 5 - the Messiah's blood justifies us, and we are forgiven of our sins through him.
Hebrews 9-10 - this is a passage with many details on the Messiah's sacrifice and priesthood. It also calls for perseverance of our faith.
Hebrews 13:11-13 - talks about how the Levitical high priest would offer sacrifices on Yom Kippur and compares that to the Messiah's work. Calls our attention to Yahusha's priesthood over the Levitical.
1 Peter 1:2 - says that we are sprinkled with the Messiah's blood.
1 Peter 2:24 - says that the Messiah bore our iniquities on the tree and quotes from Isaiah 53.
1 John 2:2 - the Messiah is the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Is it legalism to celebrate the Biblical holidays?
If you are someone that keeps the Creator's set apart times, then chances are good that someone has told you that you're being legalistic. Or maybe you've heard about the Biblical holidays but you've always thought keeping them would be akin to picking up a giant burden of legalism?
I have been told by many well-meaning Believers that celebrating Passover, Sukkot, and the rest of the feasts is a burden that is just too heavy to bear. And that sure, while it's in the Bible, YHWH never intended us to be so excessive as to actually observe these times. And to be honest, I guess I used to feel that way too. But that was before I started celebrating. Now that I have experienced these things for myself and know the joy that comes from that I wouldn't want to go back to ignoring the times Scripture says to set apart. I don't find anything legalistic, overbearing, or unpleasant about them. It is meaningful and joyful to celebrate the holidays given to us by the Creator.
Every year I marvel at how many churches and ministries have special events going on during the Feasts. There are retreats and fall festivals during Sukkot. Ice cream socials and special worship nights happen on Shavuot. Every year a church down the road from us has a beef and noodle dinner (unintentionally) on Yom Teruah.
I could literally give you a hundred examples of things like this. Churches host potlucks and concerts. Youth groups camp out during Sukkot. Ministries have fund raising events or volunteer appreciation night. Does anyone think going to one of these things is being legalistic?
Really, do you think it's legalism to put together a special event? What if it's an event intended to honor YHWH or to bring his people together? Do you feel like that's something that shouldn't be done or something that the Creator wouldn't want?
If you don't currently celebrate the Biblical holidays, you should know that the celebrations are a lot like the above events. A night of worship, a beef and noodle dinner, or carnival activities would all be great ways to spend one of the set apart times...and if you don't have a problem with doing those things at other times of year, why is it a problem to do them when Scripture tells us to?
Recently there was a social media post by a popular Christian author about how excited she was for Labor Day and how she could get behind any holiday that calls for a day off. Well good news for her, there are seven days in Scripture where we are told to rest. (In addition to the weekly Sabbath.)
I truly believe that our Creator put a longing deep within each of us to celebrate his festivals, and that's why people go so nuts for Fall, are overjoyed at the thought of Springtime approaching, and are so ready for summer by the end of May...these are all times he has set apart for us. But if we don't know what his holidays are, or if we have believed the lie that these days are somehow bad, then that desire might end up manifesting as a love for pumpkin spice lattes, cute sweaters, and the leaves changing colors, or being excited for Labor Day. That longing is there for a purpose and The Creator has more for us at these times of year.
More on the Biblical set apart times:
You are invited to keep the Feasts!
What are the Biblical holidays?
Celebrate Yom Teruah
Honoring Yom Kippur as a Believer in Messiah
Why I started celebrating the Biblical holidays
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