The highlight of the Fall Feasts in Israel is the week-long Feast of Tabernacles as ordained in Leviticus 23.

“‘Also on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruit of the land, you shall keep the feast of the Lord for seven days; on the first day there shall be a sabbath-rest, and on the eighth day a sabbath-rest.  And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.”

It is a time of remembering not only the Lord’s deliverance from Egypt and continual care and provision through the wilderness, but also a look forward to the day when the Messiah will return to tabernacle among His people. All over the country, small booths called ‘succot’ are erected in yards, on balconies and even on the sidewalks outside of cafes and restaurants. The purpose of these miniature tabernacles is for families and friends to sit together and share meals and rejoice in the blessings and promises of the Lord. It is considered a mitzvah, a good deed, to invite guests to join the festivities in the succah any night of the week. Some people even sleep in their tabernacles at night.

While not everyone may have a tabernacle in their garden, we can still celebrate this meaningful time by inviting people to sit around our table to hear the Good News of God’s love and provision for salvation. Who would you invite to sit in your tabernacle with you? Of course, loved ones and close friends would have an open invitation. But what about strangers? Or a person who is struggling through a difficult time? And above all, would the Lord Himself feel welcomed as a special guest at your table? He is already waiting outside your door!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)

Even more interestingly, God has invited us to sit with Him in His tabernacle! Jesus tells the story of a great supper He will host,

“‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind…compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.'” (Luke 14:21, 23)

“He yearns for close fellowship with all His children and rejoices over each sinner who repents and receives His open invitation to join Him in His heavenly tabernacle (see Luke 15:7). But not just anyone can barge into His tabernacle or sit in His holy presence.

“For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness,
Nor shall evil dwell with You.
The boastful shall not stand in Your sight;
You hate all workers of iniquity.
You shall destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. (Psalm 5:4-6)

You might say, “Well, that would exclude me!” But no! Continue reading verse 7:

“But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy;
In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.”

It is through God’s vast love and endless mercy that we are all invited to humbly and reverently enter into His presence and sup with Him and He with us. And once there He can do a work in our heart to make us worthy to dwell with Him forever and ever. And He will delight to have you sit with Him in His heavenly succah.

“The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

May we all revel in the joyous atmosphere of God’s succah during this Feast of Tabernacles and every day of the year!