Jesus in the Old Testament 015: Jesus and The Feast of Tabernacles

Jesus in the Old Testament 015:

Jesus and The Feast of Tabernacles

Thesis: Sukkot celebrates many Christological themes.  Among those themes is the sheltering mercy of God over His people. God desires to shelter his people and invites them to see His goodness in this way.  In response, we are to shelter others in His name.

1. Nutshell w/kids
1. When you go camping, what is different then versus living in your homes?
2. Have you ever gone camping and slept outside without a tent?  What do you think that would be like?
3. Why is it important to have shelter?
4. Feast of Tabernacles celebrates lots of things, but we are going to be talking about God as our shelter.  What do you think that means?
5. God wants to be our only source of peace, comfort, and confidence.  He is our ultimate shelter.
6. God also wants us to be a shelter for those around us who need physical help or haven’t heard about the love of God for them.

2. Deeper w/ Adults
1. Overview of Sukkot:
1. One of Six Biblically-Commanded Jewish Feasts, one of Three Pilgrimage Feasts.
2. OT Commands:
1. Lev 23:33-36
2. Num 29:12-28
3. Deut 16:13-17
3. Celebrates many things:
1. God’s presence with His people (last time)
2. Fulfillment of the harvest (precursor to Thanksgiving)
3. Fulfillment of God’s word (Simchat Torah)
4. Fulfillment of God’s plan (first and last)
5. Joy after judgment (Wiping the tear)
6. Universal love of God for the nations (70 nations in Gen 10-11, 70 bulls sacrificed; “Peace to you and Joy to the nations”)
2. Shelters
1. Hebrew word: Sukkah, סֻכָּה çukkâh, sook-kaw'; feminine of H5520; a hut or lair:—booth, cottage, covert, pavilion, tabernacle, tent.
2. Commanded to build as a part of the holiday
1. Lev 23:42
2. Neh 8:13-17 from the branches of “goodly trees” that were mentioned in scripture.
3. Temporary shelter, a dwelling “on your way”
1. They were originally on their way to the promised land.
2. God also dwelt in a tabernacle, a tent (Ex 33:7)
3. When Israel was permanently settled, it was a time to look back to the God who was with them on their way and also a reminder that not even this life, settled though it may be, is a permanent dwelling for their soul (Lev 23:43).
4. Paul picks up on this idea in 2Cor 5:1-10.
5. Greek word: σκῆνος skēnos, skay'-nos; from G4633; a hut or temporary residence, i.e. (figuratively) the human body (as the abode of the spirit):—tabernacle
3. Verbal use: “to shelter”
1. The same root that is used as a noun in “tabernacle” or “booth” can be used verbally: סָכַךְ çâkak, saw-kak'; or שָׂכַךְ sâkak; (Exodus 33:22), a primitive root; properly, to entwine as a screen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protect:—cover, defense, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up.
2. This word has a similar word, nearly a synonym contextually, in: צָלַל tsâlal, tsaw-lal'; a primitive root (identical with through the idea of hovering over (compare H6754)); to shade, as twilight or an opaque object:—begin to be dark, shadowing.
3. These two words together are what underlie the usage of “shelter” in a verbal sense in the OT.
4. Gen 19:8 first use.  Terrible story.  The visitors are more worthy of protection than Lot’s daughters because they have come under his shelter. 
5. Num 14:8-9.  Here “protection.”
4. God as our shelter.
1. God sheltered the children of Israel during the exodus so that their tents, clothing, and shoes were miraculously sustained during 40 years in the wilderness.
2. He used that picture to represent what he does for his people in numerous other ways.
3. The shadow of his blessing:
1. Psa 17:8
2. Psa 36:7
3. Psa 57:1
4. Psa 63:7
5. Psa 91:1-4
4. God desires to be our only source of shelter and protection. Isa 30:1-3.
5. When God protects us, we need not fear the wrath of man. Isa 51:12-16
6. Sukkot in Heaven Rev 7:9-17
1. Dressed in white
2. Palm branches
3. Wipe away every tear
4. God shelters them.
7. The Millennial kingdom
1. Isa 4:2-6
2. Isa 16:1-5, specifically mentioning gentiles grafted into the Messianic Kingdom.
3. Ezek 17:22-24, also specifically mentioning gentiles.
5. What does this mean for the church today?
1. We are to rest in the sheltering protection of God and not seek it from outside sources: Government, etc.
2. We are to shelter others with the sheltering we have received from God.
1. Luke 6:32-36
2. Jas 2:14-17
3. Jas 1:27

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think of God as a shelter?
2. How does God’s desire to be a shelter for you help you see Him differently?
3. How have you enjoyed the shelter of God recently?
4. How have you been a shelter for others in His name recently?
5. If you haven’t, how can you make concrete plans to be a shelter for someone soon?