Living in Peace: The Feast of Tabernacles
You may have heard that Israel and some other countries have made peace agreements in recent years. Israel is always trying to make peace with their neighbors, but they live in a very tough neighborhood.
At midnight on May 14, 1948, the minute Israel became a state, they were surrounded and attacked by Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. Against all odds, they won, and have since defended themselves against hostility, while at the same time desiring peace with their neighbors. Israel...a tiny island of Jewish democracy surrounded by an ocean of largely hostile Muslim countries. Will others in the region follow in the UAE’s footsteps and agree to peace with Israel? Will this will be a lasting peace?
We certainly hope and pray for peace in the Middle East. God commands us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Ps 122:6). But according to biblical prophecy, we know that there will continue to be wars and rumors of wars. When we pray for peace, we must look forward - beyond the temporary solutions of programs, politics and peace deals.
The Feast of Tabernacles
What is true peace? An upcoming seven day Jewish holiday gives us a picture of a present, and future, kingdom of peace. Sukkot means “tabernacles” or “booths.” In Leviticus 23 God commands the people of Israel to dwell in booths, or tabernacles, to remember the time that they wandered in the wilderness.
“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. Live in booths for seven days; all native born Israelites are to live in booths so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in booths when I brought them out of Egypt.” Lev 23:41-43
God protected the Israelites as they wandered. The booths remind us of his covering. And as they wandered, the Tabernacle of God moved with them. “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle...so the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and the fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of the house of Israel during all these travels.” Exodus 40: 34-37
Meaning of Tabernacle
The word for tabernacle in Hebrew is the word “mishkan.” It comes from the root word “shachan” which means “to dwell, to abide, to reside, to settle down.” This is the root from which we derive the modern Hebrew words for “neighbor” and “neighborhood.” The Tabernacle is a tangible sign of God’s desire from the beginning: to dwell with us, to literally settle down in our neighborhood. And us in his!
In Old Testament times, the presence of God dwelled in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. This is why the Western Wall is the holiest place in the world for Jewish people - many believe it is the closest they can possibly get to the Divine presence. To the literal place closest to the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant.
Peace is Found in a Place
Physical places are significant. Many of us have those spots. Perhaps a quiet place in the woods, by a lake, at the ocean, or in the mountains. I have those places. I’m sure you do too. A place to remember, to think, to touch, feel, see, and smell. A place where senses come alive and you just know...this is the place. Taking people to Israel is meaningful because the land is important. When one’s feet touch the ground the sites, sounds, and fragrances, become real. God’s shalom (peace) is tangible.
God gave the Israelites a place. His home. The Tabernacle as they wandered in the wilderness and the Temple when they settled in Jerusalem. God’s presence dwelt in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Yeshua (Jesus) promised us that through his indwelling Spirit the place of his presence and peace resides in us!
We actually have another place today. A place to meet Yeshua, and to meet with Yeshua. It’s anywhere one has their bible open! You are then with Jesus and he is open to you. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us...we have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1-2, 14
God dwells with us today in our hearts by his spirit and through his word. It is one place where we can meet with Jesus today. Our hope is that many more Jewish people become more familiar with the word, the word of God, the bible, and the Word who became flesh, Yeshua (Jesus).
Peace is Found in a Person
God became a man. He came as a servant. In the person of Yeshua (Jesus) we find peace and rest. “Who, being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Phil 2:6-7 Fully God and fully man. God met with humanity in Yeshua.
He took on human form. Entered the earth as an infant. He was born to his mother Miriam (Mary), who was, as prophesied by the Jewish prophet Isaiah, a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He was born in Bethlehem as prophesied by the Jewish prophet Micah (Micah 5:1-2). He was born in a humble situation, in a cave for animals. His first visitors were shepherds, not kings. It pleased God the Father to become a man, Yeshua (Jesus), meaning “God is our salvation.” He is our peace.
Peace is Found in His Presence
When someone passes away there are many around the world, both believers and unbelievers, who will often say, “they are in a better place.” Even the world says to those who pass away, “rest in peace.” Eternal yearning to be in God’s presence and for God’s peace is common to most religions of the world. And is common to the heart of man.
For those who know Jesus, we know he is the only way to eternal life in God’s presence and peace. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” The only way to the Father. Jesus dwells among us, and by his Holy Spirit, by grace and through faith, those who believe are indwelled with his presence.
Now and not yet.
Though he dwells in a place, and his presence is with us and in us...we wait for him. As a bride waits for her groom. We wait. For the ultimate Kingdom of Peace. Sukkot, or Tabernacles is a picture of a future dwelling. Whether one believes in a literal 1000 year reign of Jesus from his throne in Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom (my personal position) or if one believes in a future figurative “millennial kingdom” we know that Yeshua is coming back!
“His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives will be split in two...” (Zechariah 14:4) He will walk down a hill, across the Kidron Valley, and into the Eastern Gate of the Old City of Jerusalem. He will take his place on his throne and he will reign. He will tabernacle with us, and us with him...forever.
“The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” Zechariah 14:9 Jerusalem will have peace. “It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure.” Zechariah 14:11
After that time we read in Zechariah, as well, that in his kingdom we will be celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16)! The celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles is mentioned 3 times in 3 consecutive verses in Zechariah 14:16-19. Amazing!
Through the Holy Spirit, those who believe in Jesus have access to the presence of God wherever we go! He “does not dwell in temples made by human hands.” (Acts 17:24) Those who know Messiah celebrate Sukkot with this truth in mind: Jesus tabernacles with us now by the indwelling Holy Spirit, and one day he will return and establish his kingdom, and “the tabernacle of God will be with man.” (Rev 21:3)
Our hope is not in Middle East peace treaties. It’s in a person. And in his presence. It’s also our hope that many more Jewish people will come to know the hope and peace, both now and eternally, in Yeshua. Please pray for us as we continue to take Jesus back to the Jewish people. Thank you for sending us out to the “Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.” May you have a blessed celebration of the Festival of Tabernacles! Whether you have celebrated it before or not, rejoicing in HIS presence and indwelling, always brings peace.