Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, begins today at sunset. This Jewish holiday, one of seven feasts instituted by God himself, is a seven or eight day celebration depending on if you are celebrating in Jerusalem or outside Israel. In the distant past it could be difficult to know what day exactly the celebration was held on as, like most of the feasts, it starting day was determined by the phase of the moon. If it were a cloudy night, for example, the moon could not be observed, leading to some allowances for those who could not make the journey to Jerusalem. This year it is celebrated during a blood moon.

This holiday is celebrated by building and living in booths (tents that are not secured to the ground with rope) or “tabernacles” in which the participants will largely live over all eight days. These booths, called “sukkah” in Hebrew, are made of palm leaves and branches of trees and represent the kind of temporary quarters the children of Israel lived in during the 40 years of wandering the desert. This type of dwelling is consistent with the purpose of the holiday, which has both a historic and prophetic inspiration.

Historically Sukkot is a reminder of the wilderness wanderings, a time when the Hebrews lived in sukkah’s and God dwelled (or “tabernacle”) with them. God’s very presence was known to them through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night, as well as in the Tent of Meeting where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.

In the Gospel of John chapter seven we read of Jesus celebrating this very feast. On the last day of the feast, the day that the priests would pour water and wine on the alter and the people would pray for rain and the coming of the Messiah and indwelling Rauch Hakodesh (Holy Spirit), Jesus stood and shouted, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the Scripture says from within him will flow rivers of living water.” Jesus was pronouncing that he himself was the one for whom they prayed.

In this sense, Sukkot is also a reminder of the future when God will once again reside with man on earth. This is the thousand year reign of Jesus following the deposing of Satan and the anti-Christ and before the great white thrown judgment. This feast will continue even during his reign (Zechariah 14.16-.18).

Tonight women and girls will light candles in the “sukkah” in order to usher in the holiday. The rest of the days will be marked with worship services and much singing, dancing and laughter. While the temple is gone and with it the sacrifices and other wonderful traditions of the feast, the holiday is still celebrated and remembered. During this time followers of Yeshua (Jesus) should daily take the time to remember God’s great work in their lives and look toward the day they will serve in his presence as priests and judges. For he whom we serve today in his absence will one day return and may he find us ready to rejoice.