שמח חג הסוכות

Happy Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)!  Celebrations are going on in Jerusalem and around the world.  (New York, Tulsa, and Los Angeles, among other American cities)   In fact, while camping with friends this weekend, a local Messianic congregation was celebrating Sukkot in our campground!  Christian worship and traditional Jewish music caught my ear, then goose bumps arose as I heard a shofar blow at sunset!  As much as I wanted to, other circumstances kept me and others in our group from “crashing the party” and joining in the celebration.  However, it was a constant reminder each night that Jews and friends of Israel are celebrating the most joyous Jewish holiday of the year.

Israel, of course, hosts the most and the largest Sukkot festivities.  The International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem hosts the largest one, and is streaming their celebrations daily October 10-14, so you still have a chance to join in the celebration!  Video is archived, so you can catch up on previous sessions if you would like.

In the Old Testament, the Lord chose to dwell with His people in a tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9).  Today He dwells in the hearts of believers (Ephesians 3:17).  But in the future, here is what Revelation 21:1-4 tells us about the Lord’s presence with us:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.  And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

I’m ready for THAT celebration…how about you!?!

For more information on Feast of Tabernacles, check out Celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) and Jesus: The Fulfillment of Every Jewish Feast.