The Festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot), one of the seven Levitical feasts, seems to be the only major biblical festival that has no direct fulfillment or parallel in the New Testament. While the other major biblical festivals have a large degree of fulfillment, this one remains a festival of the future, clothed in symbolism and mystery. Nevertheless, like the other biblical festivals, it obviously should still have great significance for Christians.
An explanation of this festival can be found several places in the Bible. The most prominent references are: Leviticus 23:34-43; Deuteronomy 16:13-15 and Numbers 29:12-40. We understand from these passages that Tabernacles is to be a fall, harvest festival, occurring in September or October each year. The Israelites were not only commanded to build tabernacles (booths or sukkot), but they were commanded to dwell in them as a reminder of their sojourning in the desert with the Lord. The festival was to be a great season of rejoicing before the Lord.
For many years, my family and I studied this festival, and in the past we even built a small sukkah, mostly for demonstration and teaching purposes. However, a few years ago the Lord impressed us to build a normal-sized sukkah – one big enough to share with guests. What a blessing that turned out to be!
With the help of some friends, we sank four sturdy posts in the back yard. We then enclosed the tabernacle with cane matting and bed-sheets. Actually, almost any material will do so long as it is not of a permanent nature. We then covered the top with branches from our trees, taking care that we would still be able to see an occasional star through
this roof.
Inside the tabernacle, we placed a table and benches. Outside, we heaped up piles of ripe vegetables and fruits from the garden. Since Sukkot is the harvest festival, it signifies the ingathering of all the fruit of the earth (Lev. 23:39). It is thus a festival of the end-times. This is also brought out in the fact that the festival begins just a few days after the sounding of the trumpet of Rosh ha-Shana. For those who have an interest in biblical numerology, it is also of note that this festival commences in the seventh month and lasts for seven days. It ends on the 21st day of the month (3 x 7). One can hardly escape the idea of completion with such an obvious repetition of the number seven.
After finishing our tabernacle, we were anxious to show it off to as many of our friends as possible. We invited thirty or so people to attend our festival. When the people arrived, we reminded them that the festival was to be a time of pure joy and rejoicing (Lev. 23:40). Just as in the case of the other festivals, and even Shabbat (Sabbath), their troubles would have to be left behind, because it is forbidden to bear a burden on a festival day (Lev. 23:35). We all then began to sing and rejoice before the Lord. Later, we enjoyed plenty of food and fellowship, while our guests took turns sitting in the sukkah and visualizing the lessons from this flimsy dwelling of our past.
After our guests had gone, I took my own turn sitting and meditating upon the significance of the tabernacle. I sat there, feeling the night breeze as it rustled through the leaves, and occasionally I caught the twinkle of the stars above. It must have been midnight before my thoughts were all formulated. At last the Lord began to give me some understanding. Let me share a few things the Lord shared with me on that lovely fall evening.
WE ARE ALL SOJOURNERS
From the days of our father Abraham, we have been sojourners, strangers and pilgrims in the earth. God seems to desire it this way. It has always spelled disaster when God’s people grew too comfortable. This was undoubtedly one of the important reasons why God issued the command for the Israelites to dwell in tabernacles for a week each year, and why the custom is to be continued as a “statute forever,” as noted in Leviticus 23:41.
As sojourners (1 Pet. 2:11), we must learn to hold all things loosely. This is especially difficult in our materialistic age, where we are constantly held by what has been called the “tyranny of things.” Things control and manipulate us; they become masters, gods, and Baals over us. As the people of Israel were about to enter the land, God wished to impress upon them the message of Tabernacles, lest they be drawn away by the very affluence of the Promised Land. The message is still a good one today.
Finally, sojourning is a great equalizer. When the Israelites were wanderers in the desert they all lived in tents – rich and poor alike. The book of Deuteronomy speaks of all the people going to their tents. After the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the Book of Judges mentions tents and houses. By the time of the books of Kings, the author speaks of tents, houses and palaces. During Tabernacles, all men are equal before God as each one sits in his sukkah and considers the Creator rather than his own special status.
OUR FAITH REQUIRES FLEXIBILITY
We must be able to move when God moves. Christian history is littered with its “Ichabods” who all had too much vested interest to move when God moved. The tabernacle is a flimsy structure. It is almost a tent and can be put up or taken down in a few minutes. The structure is always sensitive to the wind which speaks of the Holy Spirit. It is open to the heavens; it is indefensible and cannot be closed off.
Throughout the Bible, it seems that a struggle has gone on between the concept of tabernacle (sukka or mishkan) and the concept of house (bayit). The whole episode of Stephen’s stoning seems to have revolved around this issue. Stephen told his hearers that David “…desired to find a tabernacle for the God of Jacob, but Solomon built him an house” (Acts 7:46-47 KJV). Certainly, the house is more attractive, more comfortable, more durable and appealing for us humans, but in the house, we lose the flexibility to follow the cloud. We lose the sensitivity to the wind. We also lose that intimate contact with the creation and the Creator.
The Bible looks forward to a time of purer and simpler religion. The prophet Amos speaks of the end-days as a time when the Tabernacle of David will be restored (9:11). That flimsy tent with its glorious worship and fellowship with God has probably touched both Judaism and Christianity more than any of us realize. The worship by David, his Psalms and ecstasy before God has surely influenced the various outbreaks of revivalism in Christian history. It is noteworthy that some of the great revivals actually were held in tents and in brush arbors, closely resembling the ancient tabernacle. I can well remember attending revival meetings in these structures when I was a child.
With this in mind we can better understand the movement of the last days spoken of by John in Revelation: “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (21:3 KJV).The tabernacle may have been a flimsy and unsightly structure, but there was never a time so long as Israel dwelt in it, that they could not look out the tent door and see the glory of God hovering over them in the pillar of cloud and fire. We can hardly say the same about the subsequent history of Israel and the church.
WE MUST REMEMBER THE FRAILTY OF OUR OWN LIVES
As I continued each evening to sit in my tabernacle, I watched the wind rustle the leaves overhead. Some of the leaves were now drying up and falling around me. Just a few days before they were fresh and green. The verse of Isaiah became especially clear, “We all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away” (64:6).
The New Testament writers often refer to our bodies as a sort of “tabernacle” (2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Pet. 1:13). Like the tabernacle, we are flimsy and frail, and soon begin to fade. That great man of God Moses cried to the Lord speaking about the frailty of our days: “they quickly pass and we fly away… Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps. 90:10, 12). With the “house” concept it is easy for us to feel permanent and to lose sight of our very brief sojourn on the earth. The tabernacle ever reminds us of our frailty- that we are but flesh.
As Tabernacles drew to a close that special year, I sensed that there was much more God wanted to tell us all through this festival. Hopefully this year all of us can pause to think about its significance. Perhaps some would even like to construct a tabernacle. In a day when we are constantly searching for new teaching tools, we may have allowed a wonderful biblical tool to escape our notice. The tabernacle is guaranteed to be a blessing for ourselves; our family and friends. Like so many things in our Hebrew heritage, it is certain to be a big hit with the children.
– Jim Gerrish
TRY BUILDING YOUR OWN SUKKAH
It is considered to be a mitzvah (good deed) to build one’s own sukkah. Actually it is not such a difficult job. One will need to start planning early though, in order to begin construction as quickly as possible after Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. In Israel, some devout Jews begin construction soon after the sun is down on the actual day of
Yom Kippur.
Since the sukkah is not to be an elaborate or permanent structure, the most inexpensive materials may be used. One will need four sturdy posts (2 x 4s in the US) for the corners, 4 smaller poles (2 x 2s) for the roof. All of these boards should be approximately 7 or 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length. To cover the roof one will need several slats or small boards capable of holding up light tree branches. For the sides, old bed-sheets seem to work well. Other materials like canvas, cane matting or even light plywood are also fine. Enough will be needed to enclose three sides, with a drape for the entrance. For the top, one simply needs to trim a few trees in the back yard.
Now for the actual construction. The tabernacle can be almost any size so long as it is large enough to sit in. We are recommending a seven foot cube (2.5 meters), since this will allow plenty of room for guests. First, the builder will need to sink four holes in the ground for the four upright corner poles. In lieu of this, one may anchor the uprights in the holes of stacked concrete blocks, or design other sturdy legs for them. If one desires to do it the easy way, he may use an existing building for one side of the sukkah.
Once the uprights are firmly in place then the horizontal rods at the top along the outside may be attached. With this finished, the slats or other small support boards that make up the roof can be put in place. The next step is to drape the bed-sheets or other coverings around three sides. In the front, a bed-sheet attached on a wire track works quite well for a door. Finally, place the tree branches on top, but not so thick as to obscure the stars shining through.
The sukkah can now be outfitted to the individual taste. A table and chairs are a must. One may wish to decorate the walls with pictures or Bible verses. Fruit may be hung from the ceiling; paper chains and other decorations may be hung on the walls. Brightly colored Christmas-type tinsel works wonderfully well and a similar thing is used a lot in Israel. The builders may use their imaginations, and by all means, let the children participate.
All that is left now is the enjoyment. Invite friends to see the masterpiece and rejoice with you. Try a meal out in the sukkah, or even spend the night there. It will be an unforgettable and blessed experience.
-Jim Gerrish
These updated articles are presented courtesy of Bridges For Peace, Jerusalem (original publication dates, 1989).