“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles begins and it lasts for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:34)
Be enriched and renewed with a Spirit-filled and joyful Sukkot!
Here in Jerusalem, multitudes of Christians from the nations have come to worship and celebrate the Lord this Sukkot. We are happily welcoming groups from every inhabited continent. We’re witnessing a beautiful alignment of the ekklesia with Israel, and a growing “one new humanity” in Messiah (Ephesians 2:15)!
MESSIANIC DEVOTIONS FOR SUKKOT 5786
We hope you’ll be blessed by these brief devotions for Sukkot 5786. We encourage you to read the Scriptures below and prayerfully meditate on each of the eight devotions, one for each day of this special feast.*
- Dwelling in a sukkah (Lev. 23:42) tangibly engages us with the reality of God’s sheltering and secure provision throughout our journey on earth. Meeting with Him at this appointed place and time renews loving trust in His never-ending goodness and grace.The sukkah is a gateway to intimacy with God.
- Sacrificial offerings (Lev. 23:36-38; Deut. 16:17; Num. 29:13-39) are an integral aspect of Sukkot. As New Covenant believers we offer our bodies as living sacrifices in worshipful service to God (Romans 12:1). Because Sukkot is the feast of final harvest, we also give a special offering from the many blessings we’ve received during the past season of growth.
- Sabbath rest (Lev. 23:35-36, 39) is given us as a gracious gift on the first and eighth days of the feast. On those days we put aside our usual busy-ness. We’re intentional about resting in His presence. Then the Lord of the Sabbath saturates our bodies, souls and spirits with His heavenly shalom.
- The adornment of creation (Lev. 23:40) is a biblically mandated component of Sukkot. God tells us to celebrate with choice fruits and beautiful branches from specified trees. Rabbis have interpreted this command to mean the sukkah is to be adorned with natural plantings reflective of the beauty of Creation. Also by tradition, an etrog and lulav are waved before God in a type of prophetic intercessory act. (An etrog is a fruit resembling a large lemon that grows year-round, while a lulav is a sampling of branches and leaves tied together.) Through this ritual we reconsecrate to the Creator all that He’s graciously stewarded to us: land, people, fruitfulness and more.
- Yeshua’s birth likely took place on or near Sukkot. Based on a compilation of Old and New Covenant Scriptures, we (and others) have already shared much about this in the past. Every Feast of Tabernacles, we praise and thank God for the One who “became flesh and tabernacled among us.” (John 1:14)
- Prophetic fulfillment (Zechariah 14:16-19) of Sukkot will occur at Yeshua’s return when He ushers in the Messianic age, fully converging the kingdom of heaven with earth. At that time all things will be marvelously restored. Our Bridegroom-King will rule and reign in holy love. We celebrate Sukkot as a foreshadow and deposit of that glorious day when He literally tabernacles among us. This Sukkot, “the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come’!” (Revelation 22:17)
- Rejoicing before God (Lev. 23:40; Deut. 16:14) is a key feature of Sukkot, for it is the only feast on which God commands us to rejoice. Our Father desires to share the joy of His own heart with us! Despite our circumstances, we remember that joy is important to Him and a fruit of His Spirit. Sukkot is an ideal time to be refilled with the joy of the Lord.
- Israel’s final harvest (Lev. 23:39; Deut. 16:13) or ingathering is celebrated at Sukkot. In biblical times the final ingathering of Sukkot was associated with Israel’s agricultural harvest. Today, as we approach the end of this age, we understand the feast’s future, prophetic connection to God’s final ingathering or harvest of souls. Therefore, on this final day of the fall feasts, we pray especially for Israel’s salvation. (Romans 10:1) “On the last and greatest day of the feast, Yeshua stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him’.” (John 7:37-38)
*Note: The seven days of Sukkot are followed by an eighth day of assembly known as Shmeni Atzeret. The eighth day has long been observed – traditionally but not by Scripture — as Simchat Torah (Joy of Torah). It was on Simchat Torah that Hamas brutally attacked Israel, launching a war lasting two years. As a result, Simchat Torah will be remembered with a degree of sobriety for many years to come. On that day, we will weep with those who weep. But we will also rejoice in the certainty of God’s Word and promise of glorious restoration.