Restoration

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

TRUTH AND PURPOSE

Life will take us through times of loss and despair. 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 joy; and how He has planned for our eternal joy in His presence.

God appointed the feast of Sukkot, 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. In pointing forward to an eternal relationship with God, Tabernacles serves to give God’s people hope “until the times of restoration of all things” (Acts 3:21).  

RELEVANCE

As the Pilgrims who came to America were looking for a way to express their gratitude towards God for their survival and for the harvest, it was this feast described in the Scriptures that inspired their celebration—what has become the American tradition of Thanksgiving. 

Messiah Jesus expressed the love of God in a grand new way. He satisfied the debt for our sins.  He redeemed us from dead works.  He lifted the burden of guilt and condemnation.  He invited all who believe to be joined with Him, and receive His peace.

“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)

REFLECTION, REALITY AND RESPONSE

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

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Unless otherwise specified, all Scripture references are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scriptures marked JNT taken from the Jewish New Testament. Copyright © 1979 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. Scriptures marked NLT are taken from New Living Translation Holy Bible, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.