"THE Feast of Booths," or Tabernacles, was given as a companion to the Feast of Harvest, or Pentecost. The Lord had a beautiful truth to teach the children of Israel in this, something which would enable them to see the work of Jesus for them and the world, and make the hearts of the people rejoice. The account of this festival is found in Leviticus, as follows:—
"And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles [Hebrew, "booths"] for seven days unto the Lord. On the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord; it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein." Chap. 23:33-36.
"Thou shalt observe the Feast of Tabernacles [Hebrew, "booths"] seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine; and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man servant, and thy maid servant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose; because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice." Deut. 16:13-15.
This feast was a time when the people were to dwell in booths in the place God should select for them; they were to bring the fruits of their harvest, and to rejoice abundantly in the goodness of the Lord for all he did for them in causing their land to produce so abundantly. We see then in some respects this is similar to the feast of Pentecost,—there they rejoiced in the gathering of the first-fruits, here they rejoice in the gathering of the last fruits. It was a time to rejoice because they had received an abundant yield of all their labors. How beautifully does the Lord thus teach truths to his children! And, O, how sad it is that the children of men are so slow to learn the lessons!
As time elapsed in the Jewish economy, other features were added to their feasts, which tended to enhance these services. But instead of his people seeing the beautiful spiritual truths taught by these services,—means in God's hands to some great end,—they perverted the6truth into false ideas, building up barriers of tradition between themselves and God, that they might have the preeminence, instead of giving God the glory.
In the days when Christ was on earth, this feast had changed to a great extent from what it originally had been. In the seventh chapter of John, verse 2, we have an allusion to this feast, and its universal observance by the Jews. One of the customs during these days is brought out in the last part of the chapter:—
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" Verses 37-39.
Another writer has given a vivid description of the feast as it was kept at that time; and so we quote:—
The feast lasted one week, and during all that time the temple was a festal scene of great rejoicing. There was the pomp of the sacrificial ceremonies; and the sound of music, mingled with hosannas, made the place jubilant. At the first dawn of the day, the priests sounded a long, shrill blast upon their silver trumpets; and the answering trumpets, and the glad shouts of the people from their booths, echoing over hill and valley, welcomed the festal day. Then the priests dipped from the flowing waters of the Kedron a flagon of water, and, lifting it on high, while the trumpets were sounding, he ascended the broad steps of the temple, keeping time with the music with slow and measured tread, chanting meanwhile, "Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem!"
He bore the flagon to the altar, which occupied a central position in the temple court. Here were two silver basins, with a priest standing at each one. The flagon of water was poured into one basin, and a flagon of wine into the other; and the contents of both flowed into a pipe which communicated with the Kedron, and was conducted to the Dead Sea. This display of the consecrated water represented the fountain that flowed from the rock to refresh the Hebrews in the wilderness. Then the jubilant strains rang forth: "The Lord Jehovah is my strength and song;" "Therefore with joy shall we draw water from the wells of salvation!" All the vast assembly joined in triumphant chorus with musical instruments and deep-toned trumpets, while competent choristers conducted the grand, harmonious concert of praise.
This service had become largely one of show and pomp; the real worship of God had been partially lost. But Christ took advantage of the situation to impress upon their minds the great truths he designed to teach them, tho they had sought to depart from God's observance of the feast. And so he uttered the truths contained in verses 37-39, as before quoted. Their traditions kept accumulating on this subject, until it became buried beneath the rubbish of tradition, so that to-day it is a meaningless ceremony, and observed by orthodoxy because the "Fathers" told them to keep it. The merit now is in having a booth of a given length, and staying therein a given time. In the prayer-book referring to this matter, it is written:—
It must be four cubits long, and four cubits broad; but if it be less, it is profane; that it may render the people of Israel meritorious.
In the same chapter, after describing the feast in paradise of Leviathan and the salted Behemoth, it adds that this festival is to be the great point to be taken up in the judgment, whether the Gentiles shall have eternal life.
All nations will come to be judged in the presence of Him who sitteth upon the throne of judgment; in righteousness will he judge us. The nations (Gentiles) will then say, Give us the order of thy precepts, and we will perform them, that we may be equal with those in happiness, O thou who art great in power, dwelling on high. The Most High, who judgeth all in truth, will cause them to hear, and understand his words, saying, I have one small precept; its name, tabernacle (booth) and its ordinations; four sides, and a shade over it; fail ye not to observe it. They will then make the shadowy booths to abide under,
but the sun will shine so hot as nearly to burn them, when they will spurn at it with their feet. The Holy One will then pour out his wrath upon them, and cast them into gehimom without mercy, into the lowest part with confusion.—
Thus, instead of making it a feast of great rejoicing, as the Lord designed, to everybody, it is taught to the people that it will be the test when the Gentiles will all be damned. We wonder not that Jesus said the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to another nation (Gentiles), who will bring forth fruit. Matt. 21:43. We little appreciate what Jesus had to contend with while endeavoring to break down the barriers of tradition, which the rabbis had bound around the people, and bring the Word of God home to the minds of the simple ones, who longed to take him at his word.
In the orthodox synagogue to-day, when the last day comes, the people are given various kinds of sweetmeats and fruits, and different kinds of wines are used, to represent the water and the wine in the days of the temple. Volumes might be written just on the traditions of this festival. But thanks be to God that the light of truth is shining brightly.
There is another very impressive truth taught by these feasts which will have an especial interest in the people of God for these latter days. The Pentecost was the gathering of the first fruits, and, as already noted, was typical of the outpouring of the Spirit of God at the beginning of the Gospel work. This also was the same as the outpouring of the early rain; for the early rains fell at the time of the first harvest. The Lord, speaking to his people at the present time concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, says, "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." Joel 2:23. "And he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3. When the first-fruits were gathered, there was some rejoicing; but when the final harvest was gathered, then there was great rejoicing. Everybody was told to be glad and rejoice. Thus it will be fulfilled. When the Lord pours out his Holy Spirit in these latter days, we shall have it in great abundance, and the harvest of God will be gathered from all parts of the earth, and every one among the redeemed will heartily unite in rejoicing for the abundance of the fruits which the Lord has gathered in his garner. We shall have a great feast of tabernacles, in which the Lord will again participate, at this time to look upon the fruit which has come as a result of the travail of his soul. He will then surely be satisfied. Dear reader, do you not want to be there and enjoy some of the fruit? This is the time to sow. Soon the rain will come, and the harvest then will quickly ripen. May we ripen with it. May we cast aside all the traditions of men which the apostate people of God have been binding upon us these years, and enjoy the fulness of his Spirit, and do his will. And as we have opportunity, let us remember God's ancient people who are bound in chains of darkness, and may they see the truth as it is in him, and be liberated from all error, to become the free sons of God.