"The Feast of Tabernacles"

"Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand." (John 7:2 KJV)

  "And the LORD said to Moses, "Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. Begin celebrating the Festival of Shelters on the fifteenth day of the appointed month - five days after the Day of Atonement. This festival to the LORD will last for seven days. On the first day of the festival you must proclaim an official day for holy assembly, when you do no ordinary work. For seven days you must present special gifts to the LORD. The eight day is another holy day on which you present your special gifts to the LORD. This will be a solemn occasion, and no ordinary work may be done that day. 

  ("These are the LORD'S appointed festivals. Celebrate them each year as official days of holy assembly by presenting special gifts to the LORD - burnt offerings, grain offerings, sacrifices, and liquid offerings - each on its proper day. These festivals must be observed in addition to the LORD'S regular Sabbath days, and the offerings are in addition to your personal gifts, the offerings you give to fulfill you vows, and the voluntary offerings you present to the LORD.)

  "Remember that this seven-day festival to the LORD - the Festival of Shelters - begins on the fifteenth day of the appointed month, after you have harvested all the produce of the land. The first day and the eighth day of the festival will be days of complete rest. On the first day gather branches from magnificent trees - palm fronds, boughs from leafy trees, and willows that grow by the streams. Then celebrate with joy before the LORD your God for seven days. You must observe this festival to the LORD for seven days every year. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed in the appointed month from generation to generation. For seven days you must live outside in little shelters. All native-born Israelites must live in shelters. This will remind each new generation of Israelites that I made their ancestors live in shelters when I rescued them from the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."" (Leviticus 23:33-43 NLT)

 Well then, it appears that God was pretty serious about the Jew's fallowing this Festival! Wonder what is going on now in the world? If you are, it might be just as important following the LORD'S reason for remembering this special week! There is always a reason the God makes special days, weeks, months, and years; most of which are to celebrate all the wonderful things that He has done for us! 

 Well, what if I don't feel like celebrating? What if I don't want have joy for seven days, because I feel like being sad and upset about something? See what kind of picture this might be representing! We are Jars of Clay, and God dwells with those of us that are filled with His Spirit! He Tabernacles in us, therefore His joy, the Joy of the Lord, resides within us. Once more, and more importantly, we get to reside in Him! So let the celebration begin and never end...

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:4-7 NLT)