CELEBRATING THE LORD’S GOODNESS
Leviticus 23:33-45
V:33 The Lord said to Moses, 34 "Say to the Israelites: 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Lord's Feast of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven days present offerings made to the Lord by fire, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made to the Lord by fire. It is the closing assembly; do no regular work.
The Israelites left Egypt on the Feast of Unleavened Bread on the fifteenth day of the first
month of the Jewish year. Seven is the number of perfection. (See the calendar below)
The feast of the tabernacle was the time God set to Honor his grace and mercy in the desert.
The feast of the Tabernacle (Booths) was set for all of Israel to remember the 40 years
spent in the desert under God's control. He protected them and provided for them as they journeyed
to the promised land, This was commanded by God to be celebrated once a year so they would
never forget their deliverance from slavery, They were to construct tents and live in them
for seven days. This would be symbolized in the minds of generations to come the years spent in the desert.
We should constantly celebrate the grace and mercy of our Lord. The Jews were required to
come together as a nation to celebrate their freedom in the Lord. All believers have been freed
from the bondage of sin by the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We have the Lord
Jesus to celebrate.
Psalms 84:4
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
During the 40 years in the desert, the Israelites lived in tents.
This celebration took place 5 days after the day of atonement. The Israelites were commanded
to rejoice before the Lord. The first and the eighth day were days of rest. No work was
to do other than to eat or feed the livestock.
The eighth day was called in Hebrew “Shemini Atzeret” This was the day of holy assemble
ending the celebration.
The Church today has the same ordinances given by Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:26-27
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he comes.
Romans 12:1-2
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, given God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship.
V37 ("'These are the Lord's appointed feasts, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing offerings made to the Lord by fire — the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38 These offerings are in addition to those for the Lord's Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the Lord.)
The burnt offering was to show devotion and commitment to God. It means to ascend or
literally, go up in smoke.
The grain offering represented the Israelite's complete dependence on God to provide
their daily needs.
The drink offering was the promise of eventual victory and settlement in the promised land. Numbers 15:1
These offerings were made each day of the feast.
The freewill offering was the offerings made in addition to the commanded offerings
as result of believers' gratefulness.
Today we do not offer animals at the altar. We do claim the same offerings.
Jesus' death on the cross is our one-time offering for the atonement of sins,
Believers should be devoted and committed to the Lord.
We learn through experience that we can always depend on the Lord for all our needs
We celebrate the promise of eternal life.
We fellowship together in praise and worship of our Lord and Savior.
V:39 "'So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of rest, and the eighth day also is a day of rest. 40 On the first day you are to choose fruit from the trees, palm fronds, leafy branches, and poplars, and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Live in booths for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in booths 43 so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.'"
God wants our best. He commanded the Israelites to look for beautiful trees and take
the branches to make the booths. Palm leaves may have been used as the top covering.
Each family lived in the booths for seven days. These were temporary shelters before entering
the promised land. This is symbolic of our brief time on earth.
This time of rejoicing, and living together in fellowship is symbolic of the kingdom of God.
The seven days may represent our completion in the Lord Jesus.
V:44 So Moses announced to the Israelite's the appointed feasts of the Lord.
Moses read from the book of the law daily.
We should study Word daily. When we study the Word, we are communicating with the Lord.
We are expected to honor the Lord with our obedience to His commands. We honor the Lord
with love for each other.
2 John 6
And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands.
We currently wait for the second coming of the Lord.
Romans 15:13
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
from the Biblesay commentary
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