SCRIPTURE BY DEBORAH HILLMAN
Scripture Lesson Text
Leviticus 23: 33-43
Related Scriptures: Numbers 29: 12-38; Deuteronomy 16: 13-17
Nehemiah 8: 13-18; Zechariah 14: 16-19
Our lesson this week tells us of the Festival of Booths, in which all the Israelites were to live in booths for seven days constructed from goodly trees, branches and boughs of thick trees and willows. They were to bring offerings of meat, drink and personal offerings of their own (freewill), to give unto the Lord for His protection in the wilderness and bring them into the Promised Land.
Numbers 29: 12-38 gives detailed instructions of the offerings that would be given unto the Lord at the Festival of Booths. Deuteronomy 16: 13-17 tells us that the Israelites must for seven days give unto the Lord the first of their harvests and that they are to give gifts according to the blessings given them by the Lord their GOD. Nehemiah 8: 13-18 reinforces the instructions given in Leviticus 23: 33-43. During the feast they lived in God’s word. They met, ate, and celebrated together. In obedience, they had a solemn assembly as required on the very last day.
Zechariah 14: 16-19 is the given text, but the full chapter can be divided into two parts. In the verses 1-15, the text describes the return of Christ and the defeat of His enemies. The latter verses ,16-21, portrays the establishment of Christ’s righteous kingdom over all the earth. A righteous reign meaning refreshment of peace and joy for those who submit to Jesus Christ.
SYNOPSIS BY LECHA PRICE
In our lesson today we learned of the Feasts of Booths “Tabernacles” known as Sukkoth. The Festival of Booths (also known as Tabernacles) was so named because during those days they were to construct booths in which to live. The festival happened five days after the Day of Atonement, which is known as the end of the year in the Hebrew calendar. The Day of Atonement allowed the Israelites to confess their sins, rejoice unreservedly and thank God for His blessings with pure hearts.
The celebration would commemorate the period of wilderness wandering in Israel’s history. It reminded the Israelites of when God brought them out of Egypt and how they dwelled in tents because they were a people without a homeland. This annual celebratory ritual caused the former wilderness dwellers to recollect their wandering and how God sustained them in temporary dwellings. During the feast, people worshipped God and offered prayers of thanksgiving for His provisions. Upon conclusion of their seven-day booth habitation ceremony, the people would gather for one last day of worship.
The Holy Convocation would follow the time of worship on the 8th day of celebration. The holy convocation was a solemn assembly of the people where they would spend the entire day in praise to God and no work was permitted. Just as the Israelites were to remember how the Lord brought them out of Egypt’s bondage, likewise we should remember how the Lord Jesus delivered us out of sin and from its consequences – past, present, and future.
