Sukkot

This last weekend we celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles or known also as Sukkot. We have started a tradition at our congregation of camping out. We have a large lot behind the building. We had somewhere around 18 tents set up. It was a lot of fun. I even forgot to take some pictures of some of the happenings!

If you are not familiar with The Feast of Tabernacle. I will tell you a little about it.

  

The Feast of Booths, better known as “the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot” falls on the 15th to the 21st of Tishrei (the 7th Biblical month corresponding with September/October of our calendar year.) 

Scriptural references: Leviticus 16:33-44; Deuteronomy 16:13-15; Zechariah 14:16-19; and John 7:2-52

The Feast of Tabernacles is the last of the seven Biblically celebrations. It is the festival where all of Israel was commanded to ascend to Jerusalem. It is also the most joyful; in fact it was the only one in which the Israelites were commanded by God to rejoice (Deut. 16:14). It celebrates the final harvest of the year, and God’s great provision for His people.
 
During this feast, the Israelites were required to leave the comfort of their homes and to live in tabernacles or booths. They would remember how their ancestors had lived in booths or tents when they came out of the slavery of Egypt.

In the New Testament times Sukkot was a major celebration, often referred to simply as “The Feast”. It incorporated great ceremonies using water and light. Yeshua made His proclamation in the Temple during Sukkot as He stood and cried out “If any one is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever puts his trust in Me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being” (John 7:37-38).   

In modern Israel, many families start building and decorating their “sukkah” right after Yom Kippur, in their yards or on their balconies. They spend as much time there as possible, eating their meals and even sleeping. 

 

Zechariah says that, in the Millennium, all nations will come up to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, or they will incur God’s wrath (Zech. 14:16-19). The ultimate fulfillment of this feast will come after the return of the Lord, when God will once again dwell, or “tabernacle” with His people.

I believe that Sukkot is the Festival when Yeshua was born. This festival is the Feast of Tabernacles when the Lord was dwelling with us, since Yeshua is Emmanuel (meaning God with us) (Matthew 1:23 and John 1:14). 

This is the Sukkah that we had set up in front. Everyone decorated it with fruit, greenery, and fresh flowers. We had another one which I planned on getting a picture of that was absolutely beautiful that a very talented young man built.

Bug is having fun decorating the Sukkah.

We had a mini field day. Throwing water balloons to each other. Bug wasn't so sure about the balloons busting all around her.

Running the soap bar into the bucket- relay style. 

Gunny sack races. Which Little Man informed me later was hard to race in!

Little Man and his cousins getting ready for another round of races.

The games just weren't for the little kids but for the grown kids. My beloved joining in when his son gave them those eyes.

Being 6' and in a gunny sack proved to be harder than it looked.

Little Man and Daddy in the two legged race. Bug disappeared in the bouncer!

Daddy had to carry him by the arm almost to keep himself upright.

My favorite picture was our Messianic Rabbi in the bouncer with the kids. He was visiting with Bug.

When the sun set the kids went inside and made Sukkahs.

Little Man showing off his creation before he ate it up. Lots of sugar to keep them going late into the night.