Why did they celebrate the feast of Tabernacles?

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The last festival of Israel’s religious calendar was the feast of tabernacles. Like the first, it looked in two directions: back to the nation’s historical experience, and forward to its ultimate fulfilment in Christ Jesus. The Passover commemorated deliverance from Egypt, but also anticipated the cross where ‘Christ our passover is sacrificed for us’, 1 Cor. 5:7. Tabernacles, following the final triumphant harvest ingathering, was a retrospective on the nomadic conditions of the wilderness journey, Lev. 23:42–43, but also a hint of kingdom blessings to come when Messiah would reign over His people in righteousness and peace. One can understand why Peter, overawed in the company of a glorified Lord flanked by celebrities like Moses and Elijah, thought instinctively of this feast, with its combination of spiritual satisfaction and unalloyed delight, Matt. 17:4.

Israel’s celebrations therefore fell into three groups, v. 16: (i) unleavened bread, which included the feasts of Passover and firstfruits as adjuncts; (ii) weeks; and (iii) tabernacles, which comprehended the adjacent feast of trumpets and the Day of Atonement. These were the annual convocations of the nation, requiring the presence of all males at God’s chosen centre. But there were conditions. ‘They shall not appear before the Lord empty’. God demanded of His people, first, their physical presence. The application to the meetings of the local assembly is obvious, where saints are expected to gather to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ not three times a year but at least every first day of the week, Heb. 10:25. 

Second, God looked for preparation. To come with something to give involved personal effort in the selection of a suitable offering which adequately reflected Jehovah’s material benevolence to His people, for ‘every man shall give as he is able’, v. 17. At the breaking of bread it is the responsibility of all to come with hearts full of thanksgiving for the Lord Jesus, and the special privilege of the males to express corporate gratitude on behalf of the whole company. Not every prayer need last twenty minutes. ‘As he is able’ indicates that the God who knows our capacities expects our adoration to be in proportion to our appreciation of His Son.

Author: Newell, D. (2007). November 12th: A Solemn Feast unto the Lord (Deuteronomy 16:13–17). In J. Bennett (Ed.), Day by Day: Paradise to the Promised Land (p. 335). Fareham, UK: Precious Seed.

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