Finding the Significance of God’s Appointed Times of Restoration by Relating with God through the Lord’s Feast of Tabernacles

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

The Feast of Tabernacles provides an appointed time and also a visual aid of God’s way of restoration.  How so? Life will take us through conflict and hard times. We will experience loss and despair. Consequently, such things cause us to lose our peace and joy. God, however, is in the business of restoration! He takes pleasure in seeing His children experience various kinds of restoration-specifically our peace and joy! The love feast of Tabernacles serves to illustrate the significance of how God provides ways of restoring His concept of life more abundantly in Him– in His presence– on earth as it is in Heaven.

So God appointed the Feast of Sukkot, a/k/a Feast of Tabernacles, to serve as an eight-day celebration at the end of the harvest season to mark a time of rest, remembrance and reflection on God’s divine sovereignty and providence, His goodness, and power. It also remembers the forty-year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert living in temporary shelters until the time came to enter the Promised Land– or better yet, Promised Life.

Furthermore, it points forward to an eternal relationship with God. The Feast of Tabernacles, therefore, serves to give God’s people hope “until the times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21).

RELEVANCE

As people of faith have ventured back to the land of Israel to realize God’s promises, people have looked for ways to express gratitude towards God for His faithfulness and hope for future restoration.

Messiah Yeshua-Jesus expresses God’s love and hope for restoration in a grand new way. He satisfied the debt for our sins.  Consequently, He redeemed us from performance based dead works that keep us from living in the grace and liberty He envisioned.  He, therefore, lifted the burden of guilt and condemnation.  In addition, He invited all who believe to be joined with Him, receive His peace– and hope for new dimensions of restoration.

“Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.? 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  (Matthew11:28-30 JNT)

So during this special time, we reflect on God’s goodness and amazing grace. We also have the opportunity to receive a fresh pour of His love through the Holy Spirit to carry us forward to experience further times of refreshing and restoration– for our good and His glory.

REFLECT AND RELATE

How much rest time do you devote to remembering and reflecting upon all that the Lord has accomplished for you, and all the ways God has blessed you?

In what ways do you apply the Lord’s yoke and truly rest in His love?

What specific times can you appoint in your day and week to devote to resting in God’s love, reading His word, and receiving His encouragement, peace and refreshment?

REFERENCES

Leviticus 23:33-44; Psalm 63:6; 77:6-12; 119; Matthew 11:28-30;  Hebrews 3:7-4:13

NEXT STEPS

Vertical movement: As you appreciate the Lord’s plan of redemption and restoration, the Holy Spirit draws you deeper to give you more insights into the fullness of His rest. In addition, you see the Feast of Tabernacles as rehearsals of His heavenly banquets and ultimate feast– the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Horizontal movement: The more you experience the Lord’s redemption and restoration, the more you come to realize His greater purposes. One main purpose of God, which begins the cycle of many purposes, is the principle of sacrifice.

Return to Pathways to Glory main page.