Tabernacles

 

 

Tomorrow begins the Feast of Tabernacles. It is a commanded feast of the LORD. He wanted His people to celebrate, come rejoicing every year, in every generation (Lev. 23:34-43). As solemn as the recently observed Yom Kippur feast is, this feast is for rejoicing. Many things can and have been said about the Feast of Tabernacles, and every detail involved in the Tabernacle of the LORD, as shown to Moses, is very important. To me, the beauty of Tabernacles is the picture of the love of God that it embodies. The prophetic image of the Tabernacle promises us that it is, and always was, the Father's intention to dwell (tabernacle) among men, whom He so dearly loves. To Moses, God said:

"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell (let oneself down, to settle down, to lie down, to dwell, abide, be inhabited) among them. According to all that I show you, that is the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it."  

                                                                                                               Ex. 25:8-9

In His design of the Tabernacle, God required that the twelve tribes of Israel be encamped on every side of the Tabernacle, so the presence of God could dwell literally in their midst. Everything about the Tabernacle, its outward design and its interior furnishings, were pointing prophetically to the way which our Father had provided for man to come into His presence- through His Son, Jesus. According to rabbinical tradition, the three entrances of the Tabernacle, into the Outer Court, into the Holy Place, and finally into the Holy of Holies, were named "THE WAY", "THE TRUTH", and "THE LIFE". Jesus identified Himself in this same manner (Jn. 14:6), as the only living path to His Father. None of the world's "religions" present as their awesome privileged goal the manner of approach into the personal presence of the Almighty Creator, the Highest, Himself. Yet, God wants this more than anything else. He deeply desires this company and fellowship with man as His greatest will and plan. 

The sukkah (booth, tabernacle, tent) that is built by a Jewish family as they observe the Feast of Tabernacles is to remind them of when Israel dwelt in the midst of the presence of God after He miraculously delivered them out of the bondage of Egypt. It represents His provision and protection, His loving care for them. The Tabernacle and Presence in the midst of man as protection and provision are expressed in scripture:

"Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion ("sukkah") from the strife of tongues."   Ps. 31:19-20

And:

"...then the LORD will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming (gleaming, polished point of a weapon or spear) fire (supernatural fire, altar fire) by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle ("sukkah")  for shade (shadow, a defense) in the daytime from the heat (desolation, drying heat, dagger, cutting weapon), for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm (inundate, overwhelm) and rain."  Isa. 4:5-6

When Jesus came to us in the flesh, He came as a Tabernacle, to dwell among men, who could then be in the presence of His glory:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."  Jn. 1:14

Through His coming in the living flesh, His sacrifice, and  His resurrection, Jesus fulfilled the purpose of the Tabernacle. This allowed the subsequent infilling of the Holy Spirit to "dwell" in each believer on His name. We also then became living, spiritual tabernacles (1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:16) of the presence of the glory of God in the midst of men for their provision and protection, and for the purpose of being a living "signpost" (Zion) to all men of "THE WAY" to the Father through His Son (Christianity began as a Jewish sect called "The Way".) 
The Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands (Acts 7:48), but in living Tabernacles: the sukkah must be constructed of living branches and leaves. In the beginning, God planted (fastened) a living Sukkah to the earth in the form of the Garden of Eden, and then placed man within it (Gen. 2:8-9). The LORD walked in the midst of that living sukkah, and fellowshipped personally with the man.

We see the eternal will of God for tabernacle among men at the close of the Book of Revelation:

"And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Rev. 21:3-4

Can you imagine Almighty God gently wiping the tears from each of our eyes? This is the love He wants to express in His Tabernacle, and the intimate, personal fellowship He has always desired with each of us.

This is the picture of God's profound love that I find in the Feast of Tabernacles. Can there be any greater reason for remembering it with rejoicing?

 

Our Father desires to tabernacle with men.