The Joy of the L-RD's Presence in the Midst of His People

By Richard Sison | 2014

Sukkot is a biblical pilgrimage festival that occurs in autumn on the 15th day of Tishrei (late September to late October). The holiday lasts seven days, including Chol Hamoed. In Judaism it is one of the three major holidays known collectively as the Shalosh Regalim (three pilgrim festivals also known as appearance Feasts), when historically the Jewish populace traveled to the Temple in Jerusalem and the Jewish men are required to present themselves before the L-RD.
Since the Feast came during the time of final harvest, Sukkot was regarded as a general thanksgiving for the bounty of nature for that given year.

The word Sukkot is the plural of the Hebrew word sukkah which means booth or hut. Sukkah is reminiscent of the type of huts in which the ancient Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. During this holy day, all the Jews are commanded to construct and reside in booths. Here families would eat their meals, entertain guests, spend family time, and share the Scripture with their children and even sleep.
This is a reminder to all that we only live a temporary dwelling here on Earth and we have to look forward to a permanent dwelling coming from the L-RD Himself. Yeshua promised that He will prepare a place for us (John 14:3). Abraham gave us also an example that though he was a rich, he did not build a walled city but rather looked for a city with eternal foundation (Heb 11:10).

The L-RD also tabernacle with His people in the person of Yeshua when He came as a man during the first century. To even emphasize the point was that Yeshua was born on this Feast as will be discussed shortly.

Three of many interesting facts about Sukkot in this message are:

• On Sukkot the people would march around carrying palm leaves. The people did the same when Yeshua entered in Jerusalem for the time of His death, on the Feast of Pesach, connecting both Feasts, the first and the last one as Yeshua is the Aleph (the First) and the Tav (the Last).
• Yeshua was born in the Feast of Sukkot taking as a reference the time of conception of Yochanan (John) the Baptist, when it was announced to Zechariah during his service in the temple.
• John the Baptist was born in the time of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which we are just celebrating and it is about to finish.

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