So begins the commandment to take the lulav and etrog on the first day of the feast of Sukkot. The

Pesikta de Rab Kahana: A collection of midrashic discourses for special Shabbats and festival days compiled and organised during the fifth century; based on the Torah and Haftarah readings for the special sabbaths and holidays; lost sometime in the 16th century, rediscovered in the 19th

The feast of Sukkot was a time of great rejoicing and excitement in the city of Jerusalem as people gathered from all over Israel - from all over the known world by 2^nd Temple times. Bringing their tithes and offerings to the L-rd and bringing money to buy "whatever your heart desires" (D'varim 14:26), the people would sing, dance and rejoice far into the night as the feast built towards its climax on the last day. "Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshanna Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to Me and drinking! Whoever puts his trust in Me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!'" (John 7:37-38, CJB). The food and drink in the city were starting to run down, the resources even of Jerusalem were being exhausted by the mass of pilgrims and visitors, but Yeshua make the point that those who come to Him will never run out of resources for they will be tapped into the infinite resources of G-d. As G-d said through Isaiah: "For I will pour out water on the thirsty land and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and on your descendants" (Isaiah 44:3, NASB).

As we celebrate Sukkot this year - as believers in Messiah Yeshua, eagerly awaiting His return - we too must observe the traditions of the feast. We must come openly and honestly before G-d, having confessed our sin and sought His forgiveness in Yeshua. Each day we should surround Him - "give Him no rest" (Isaiah 62:7) - and cry out for the salvation of our people and the Land as we "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). We must not forget to intercede for the nations: that they should come to know Yeshua and that the gospel may reach to every corner of the world so that people "from every tribe, nation and tongue" (Revelation 5:9) can praise Him. Lastly, we should praise and acknowledge our G-d: not only does He reign, but He has done great things for us - we must proclaim His goodness "for His loving kindness is great towards us and the truth of the L-rd is everlasting" (Psalm 117:2, NASB).

Further Study: Isaiah 55:1-5; John 7:14-18

Application: As you celebrate Sukkot today, remember that you are taking part in a prophetic enactment both of events to take place in this age, and also in the Olam Haba - the world to come - our dependence on G-d and the return of Yeshua.

© Jonathan Allen, 2006