The Autumn Feasts
Three autumn Feasts occur close together in September / October. and can be considered prophetic Feasts. Scripture tells us that Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the pilgrim festival of Tabernacles. (John 7) in obedience and fulfilment of the call.
Rosh Hashana
Also known as Feast of Trumpets
Reflect afresh as to who you
have as King in your life, and give thanks for your relationship.
This is the New Year`s Day of the Jewish year! It`s not only the new year, but also the "Head of the Year" - the head gives vitality and direction to the body. The sound of the Shofar, the ram`s horn, is a distinctive sound of a wake-up call and reminds us to prepare by repentance and right living, repairing our relationship with God.
For “everyone who calls on the name
of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13
Examine your life, spiritually and practically in relation to Jesus the coming King.
The shofar (trumpet) announces the coronation of the King.
Oct-2021/2022 = 5782 in Jewish Year
The trumpet has often been used as a signalling instrument. The story of Joshua and the battle for Jericho comes to mind, but other battles ended with the trumpet of victory being sounded (2 Chron.. 20:28). Rosh Hashana is also prophetic of the last trump, when the Messiah returns in glory as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the
trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
Day of Atonement
also known as
Yom Kippur
The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord. Do not do any work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement, when atonement is made for you before the Lord your God.
Leviticus 23:27-28
In Nehemiah ch.8-9 the people assemble as Ezra reads the long lost Book of the Law. The people start to weep as they realise how they have not kept the Law, but Ezra and Nehemiah tell them not to weep but celebrate and be joyful. Repentance and atonement mark the day.
Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short
to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.
Isaiah 59:1
​
At the start of our heart-searching we remember who our gracious God is, and praise Him.
Where we are sorrowful for something, we confess and where possible atone and recompense for our actions or omission.
Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28
Choose Life
This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Deuteronomy 30:19
Pray: Assist us in REPENTANCE by helping us to turn away, walk away, stay away and to never look back
Tabernacles - Sukkot
Be joyful at your festival – …. For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.
Deuteronomy 16:14-15
Tabernacles, commemorates the time when the Israelites escaped from Egypt, had no permanent homes but pitched their tents (tabernacles) wherever they found sufficient water or grazing for their livestock as God directed them. (see Exodus 17:1).
As an autumn Feast it is also called the Festival of Ingathering and celebrates the grape, fig and olive harvest that had ripened during the dry summer months.
Jewish families live in temporary shelters or ‘booths’ during the festival that lasts for 7 days.
“Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month
and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the Lord.` Leviticus 23:34
The Feast is a joyful celebration of God`s goodness. Coming after a time of awe and repentance, the Feast represents God`s presence through redemption.
I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. Exodus 29:45
With God`s symbolic presence with the Ark in the tent of meeting, and later in the Temple, God revealed His desire to be involved and amongst His people. This culminated on the day of Pentecost (see Shavuot) when by His Spirit He came to His people individually.
Meditation & Prayer
Reflect - When do you take time out of busy schedules to pause, reflect and give thanks? Taking time out like a holiday serves as an extended rest from the pressures of life. More importantly it allows us to catch vision of His greater redemptive and eternal purposes moving into the future. God commanded His people to do so for 7 days. Can you put time aside to make it special? It doesn`t have to be exclusive - but intentional.
Beside erecting booths, the Jews decorated them and took four species that have their own symbolic and spiritual meaning.
On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches and river-willows, and celebrate in the presence of Adonai your God for seven days.
Leviticus 23:40 Complete Jewish Bible
They found written in the Law, which the Lord had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: "Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters"-as it is written. the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. Nehemiah 8:14-16
During the joyous celebration four species are used to decorate the booth, and also waved or shook as part of the synagogue service. The oral tradition specifying the species taken from the scriptures has been fulfilled for over 2500 years and help in fulfilling the teaching and commands by extolling the praise of God.
The Feast is one of celebration and thanksgiving for all God has done for His people including bringing the Israelites to a land flowing with milk and honey. (Exodus 3:8) - a prosperous, abundant land.
This was not the case during the exile, (Ezekiel 36:4,8) but an ongoing promise of God when His people took possession of the land.
Palms
The festival is a reminder of God's faithfulness in the wilderness and also God's soon promise for the Messiah to come. During Tabernacles the Jews declare:
Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you
Psalm 118 25-26
"Lord Save us" translates to "Hosanna." When you apply this to the passage, you get a greater picture of what was really happening that triumphant day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.
Citron
Traditionally this is the choice luxurious fruit possibly because of its flavour and fragrance. It is known to have been cultivated in the royal garden near Jerusalem during the time of the Persian empire, and possibly brought back from Babylonia by the returning exiles. In choosing a beautiful fruit, the people show their devotion to God.
Fruit mentioned in scripture can be used figuratively or express character. Fruit reflects the real character of the tree. It is the evidence that we have laid aside our desires and that the Holy Spirit is alive and active. Certainly a Goodly Fruit!
Myrtle
​
A scented plant
Instead of the thorn bush will
grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown,
for an everlasting sign, that
will endure forever.
Isaiah 55:13
Jesus replaces the briars and thorns with the flourishing tree of life in us. That is something to celebrate!
It has a fragrance that others can become aware of and enjoy.
Willow
The willow grows by water and is a reminder of the living water provided.
Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14
Like a tree planted by streams
of water, which yields its
fruit in season
Psalm 1:3
These `species` are held together as they are flourished (waved / shook) They reach out in every direction, north, south, east, west, up and down and drawn back towards your heart in thankfulness, joy and praise bringing God`s presence from every direction as He tabernacles with us.. A very symbolic act in a long held tradition.. Each species has a different attribute of smell, taste or none yet they are bound together, so everyone can play their part.
'These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the LORD, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. Leviticus 23:2
Come & Celebrate
As one of the Pilgrim appointed Feast it is an opportunity to be joyous together. This is in remembrance and thanksgiving of God`s faithfulness. Give thanks. - for all God has done for everyone and you personally
How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133
“I have heard your prayer and have
chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices.
2 Chronicles 7:12
After the dedication of the Temple, the Glory of God fell and a renewed relationship established.
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. 2 Chronicles 7:14-16
The Temple dedicated at Sukkot, revealed afresh God`s power and desire to be amongst His people. Previously in the wilderness, God`s Tabernacle revealed His presence as the cloud descended.
The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses
could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle. Exodus 40:34
The cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, v.38
At the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem God descended afresh in a cloud to be amidst His people
Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices,
and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1
At Pentecost, near the temple, the Holy Spirit came not on a place but on people as `tongues of fire`. God`s presence inhabited His people and would go where they went across the world.
what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1
As the Israelites travelled through the wilderness, living in tents, God led them. The shekinah Glory went with them day and night. Whatever they did, He did not give up on them.! He remained with them. He is gracious, long-suffering, with great forbearance. His presence manifests Himself amongst us.
The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Deuteronomy 31:8
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you;
I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Joshua 1:5
The Sukkot booths may be flimsy, insecure and not luxurious, but they speak of faith in God and His enveloping presence. God knows the change of seasons, and our need for times of refreshing revival
My beloved reached into me to unlock my heart.
The core of my very being trembled at his touch.
How my soul melted when he spoke to me!
My spirit arose to open for more of his touch.
As I surrendered to him, I began to sense his
fragrance— the fragrance of his suffering love!
It was the sense of myrrh flowing all through me!
Song of Songs 5:4 Passion Translation
Be joyful at your festival –
For seven days celebrate the festival to the Lord your God at the place the Lord will choose. For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands,
and your joy will be complete.
Deuteronomy 16:14-15
Scripture commands us to rejoice! Be happy! Those whose life means it is difficult to rejoice, for this appointed time need to focus on the big picture and express their joy in God
Jesus in Jerusalem for the Feast made two prophetic statements.
Read more about LIGHT and WATER.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory. the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Johnn1:14
Sukkot has a prophetic context, so who knows, we may need to take our tents to celebrate in Jerusalem when the Temple is built!
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem
will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and
to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles.
Zechariah 14:16
While the four spring feasts look back at what Christ accomplished at His first coming, the three autumn feasts point us toward the glory of His second coming. The first is the source of our hope in Christ and His finished work of atonement for sins, and the second is the promise of what is to come, eternity with Christ.
Look at the Easter week Reflection for more on the Passover