Why We Keep the Feast of Tabernacles—2023

(Welcome to the FOT)

Fred R. Coulter—September 29, 2023

- Video |  - PDF | Audio | [Up]

Greetings, everyone, welcome to the Feast of Tabernacles 2023. What a great Feast this will be. The Feast of Tabernacles has many, many meanings for all the world, for all the nations of Israel and for the Church.

Quite a thing, isn't it? We know in Exo. 25, the reason that God had them build the tabernacle was so that He could dwell among His people. We find that that's the whole story of the Bible, beginning with Adam and Eve. He was dwelling with them, but they didn't want that. They wanted their own way!

God then dwelt with Abraham and then Isaac and Jacob and the 12 tribes. Then had the tabernacle built so there would be that special place that they would know that God put His presence there and that they were the people of God.

Today we're going to see  that's the same basic principle.

Let's look at a lot of the Psalms, because have the do with David understanding that he was going to live with God! Of course, that comes down to us as well. We're going to be looking at quite a number of Psalms, and these will tell us:

• what God wants
• what He's doing
• what He's preparing
• what He's making for us

This is what God wants! When we come to the Feast of Tabernacles, we're able to be together in groups and we're able to have fellowship with one another.

When that occurs and everything is according to the Spirit of God, the way that God wants it, then we can read Psa. 133 and see how we make every Feast the best ever.

Psalm 133:1: "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

You can add on to that love, because we'll see that's what Jesus said a little later.

Verse 2: "It is like the precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, Aaron's beard, that went down to the hem of his garments; like the dew of Hermon that descended upon the mountains of Zion, for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life forevermore" (vs 2-3).

Where is Christ going to return to? Right to that very place! That's quite a thing!

Let's see some interesting Psalms about how the presence of God and the dwelling place of God goes together. Psa. 27 is quite a Psalm when you read the whole thing and go through it verse-by-verse, Let's see how we're going to get to the dwelling place of God.

Notice how he starts out. Notice that it's all having to do with:

• conversion
• faith in God
• trusting God
• relying upon Him

Psalm 27:1: "The LORD is my Light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

Keep that in mind with the difficult days we have coming ahead of us!

"…The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (v1).

• Isn't that true?
• Isn't God with us?
• Doesn't He protect us with His angels? Doesn't He intervene to heal us when we're sick?
• Doesn't He open doors when we need help?
• Doesn't He answer our prayers?

All of that is true!

Verse 2: "When the wicked, my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell."

• Isn't that true?
• Doesn't that happen all the time?

Yes, indeed!

Verse 3: "Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not be afraid..."

If God is for you, who can be against you? Not even losing your physical life!

"…though war should rise against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I have desired from the LORD, that I will seek after…" (vs 3-4)—

You have to seek it! That's the whole purpose of having the Spirit of God and being in the Church of God.

"…that I may dwell in the House of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His Temple" (v 4)

That's the goal that we're looking for. We'll see that David had many things along those lines that helped him.

Verse 7: "Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice; and be gracious unto me and answer me. When You said, 'Seek My face,' my heart said to You, 'Your face, O LORD, will I seek'" (vs 7-8).

We will have that in our lives, too, especially at the resurrection!

We will look at several different Psalms here. Very important for us to know and see David constantly looked for that very thing:

• being in the House of God
• being in the presence of God

Isn't that what Jesus said? 'Father, I prayed that those that You gave Me may be with Me where I am.' Think about that!

Will not Jesus' prayers be answered? Of course! That's the whole Plan of God!

Psalm 65:1: "Praise waits for You, O God, in Zion; and to You shall the vow be performed. O You Who hears prayer, unto You shall all flesh come" (vs 1-2)—showing the whole Plan of God!

David had glimpses into all of this in his lifetime!

Verse 4: "Blessed is the one whom You choose and cause to come near You, that he may dwell in Your courts; we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, even Your Holy Temple."

Now, that's something I want you to keep in mind! At the end of the Feast we're going to come to the point where we will be in New Jerusalem and God the Father and Jesus Christ will be there, and there won't be any need for a temple.

Verse 5: "By awesome works in righteousness You will answer us, O God of our salvation; You are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of those of the distant sea."

The whole world needs the Feast of Tabernacles and that's what it pictures. There will be the reign of a thousand years.

Notice how David keeps seeking after God and His way. Psa. 84—you'll find this in many other Psalms, as well. But here's what he says about the Tabernacle of God, and you can look forward to this being the Tabernacle of God, which is New Jerusalem.

Psalm 84:1: "How lovely are Your tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!" That's why we keep the Feast of Tabernacles!

Verse 2: "My soul longs, yea, even faints for the courts of the LORD…"

That's how much that he desired to see God. These are tremendous Psalms, especially to encourage us in these days and difficulties we're going through right now.

"…my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God" (v 2).

In other words, another way of explaining that is this way: What is the first commandment of all commandments? 'You shall love the Lord your God. With all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, with all your being.'

Here, David says, "…my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God."

Verse 3: "Yea, even the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young, even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God… [that is right there at the temple] …Blessed are those who dwell in Your house..." (vs 3-4).

Think about that blessing, and think about all the blessings that will come when we are raised from the dead and all of us meet Christ in the air on that Sea of Glass.

Then all of the good things that happen on the Sea of Glass. Then we come back to the earth on Trumpets. On Atonement Satan is locked up. Then Rev, 20 we reign with Christ for a thousand years!

Verse 4: "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You. Selah. Blessed is the man whose strength is in You; Your ways are in their hearts" (vs 4-5).

Even in times of trouble, even in times when it looks like all hope is lost, it's not!

Verse 6: "Who passing through the valley of weeping… [talk about great and heavy sorrow] …make it a place of springs; yea, the early rain also clothes it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, every one of them appearing in Zion before God" (vs 6-7). That is tremendous!

So, here we all are appearing before God. Feast of Tabernacles, a wonderful time, indeed!

• we get to know each other
• we get to love each other
• we get to fellowship with each other
• we get to eat with each other

All of that is combined with Christ in every one of us and the Holy Spirit of God making it occur! It's a wonderful thing!

Verse 8: "O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah." Yes, God hears! God answers!

Verse 9: "Behold, O God, our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed, for a day in Your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather stand at the threshold of the House of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness" (vs 9-10).

This whole Psalm is dedicated to the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles. Quite a tremendous and wonderful thing!

What you can say is this. You look at this, a great deal of the time of David's thoughts were always only on coming to God in His presence and in his house, and to be with Him forever.

• think about what it's going to be like when we're there
• think about what it's going to be like with all the singing that will be going on
• we will be singing
• the angels will be singing
• God the Father and Jesus Christ will be singing

Going to be a joyous time indeed!

So, all of this that we go through in whatever difficulties we're facing in this life will just disappear as if they never happened!

Psa. 100:1—the introduction to Psa. 101: "Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth."

I don't know how that goes, but even God says the trees will sing. So, imagine what kind of peace that is going to be:

• peace and harmony
• love and togetherness
• families
• husbands and wives
• all of us together
• all nations in peace
• all people serving God

Verse 2: "Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God. He has made us, and we are His; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture" (vs 2-3).

What is God doing for us and in us? Remember what Paul said" Oh foolish Galatians, I'm praying over you until Christ be formed in you!

This shows that the work of God with His Spirit in our mind and heart, and everything that we do is preparing us to be spiritual beings. That's why God made us in His image in the first place.

Verse 4: "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; give thanks unto Him and bless His name."

We will be in a relationship with God dwelling with Him in New Jerusalem with all of the saints, all of the patriarchs!

Verse 5: "For the LORD is good; His steadfast love is everlasting; and His faithfulness endures to all generations."

• every word of God is true
• every word of God is going to come to pass
• everything that God has said is going to take place

That's quite a thing!

Psalm 101: 1: I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praise. I will behave myself wisely in a blameless way. O when will You come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart" (vs 1-2)—that's conversion!

What is it that God is doing with us, with His Spirit? He is what perfecting us; the whole purpose of everything (Eph. 4)! The ministry and all people and everything is for the perfecting of the saints! That's us, brethren, so that we can live with God forever!

Verse 3: "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes. I have hated the work of those who turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." We have to be:

• single-minded
• single-hearted
• single-purposed

following in God's way!

Verse 4: "A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know no evil thing."

In today's world, that's a difficult thing to do. So much evil all around us, so we have to be:

• close to God in prayer
• close to God in study
• close to God walking in His way

because

• His Way is perfect
• His Law is perfect
• His love is perfect
• everything that God does is perfect

to the perfection of the saints!

Verse 6: "My eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, so that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a blameless way, he shall serve me. He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not remain in my sight" (vs 6-7).

That shows you there will be that time of no more evil!

To show how serious God is in all of this. Let's see what He did, because when He came to the earth, He came as God manifested in the flesh and there's no such thing as '100% God 100% man'; that's an impossibility! But He was God manifested in the flesh. Let's see what God did because:

• God loves us
• God has called us
• God deals with us
• God forgives our sins
• God is working with us
• God is developing us

We're growing in grace and knowledge! To make that happen, He had to come and be a human being.

John 1:14: "And the Word…[the One Who became Christ] …became flesh and tabernacled among us… [temporarily lived] …(and we ourselves… [all the apostles] …beheld His glory..."

Didn't Peter, James and John go up to the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and He appeared to them in His glory, not all of His glory, because they couldn't be in that presence and live. It was a vision of what it will be like to be a spirit being.

"…the glory as of the only begotten with the Father), full of grace and truth" (v 14).

Now let's jump ahead with all of this. There are many other verses, so I want you, during the Feast of Tabernacles, to go ahead and study through the book of Psalms and see how many times it refers to:

• the House of God
• the Courts of God
• the presence of God
• the wings of God
• the shield of God

Now let's see what Jesus said because He is doing this right now, and He has been doing it all along. For all of those who are going to be in the Kingdom.

John 14:1: "Let not your heart be troubled…." Don't let anything:

• shake your faith
• diminish your love
• keep you from serving God

 "…You believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father's house…" (vs 1-2).

That's where we're going to dwell, in the Father's house, and that will be New Jerusalem. We'll get to that at the end of the Feast of Tabernacles.

Verse 2: "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were otherwise, I would have told you…. [he told the apostles] …I am going to prepare a place for you."

What is that going to be like? Special for each and every one of us!

Verse 3: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; so that where I am, you may be also." That's quite a thing!

Let's take some other words of Jesus that go clear back to where we started in Psa. 133, 'how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity,' and let's add the word love to it.

Now, let's see. Through this face of the Tabernacles, let's really apply what we are covering right now in the introduction.

John 15:7—Jesus said: "If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you, you shall ask whatever you desire, and it shall come to pass for you."

Providing it's the will of God because He said, we are to ask, 'Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'

Verse 8: "In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples."

Notice what God wants with us and between us and for all of us so that we can

• attain to the Kingdom of God
• attain to New Jerusalem and the very House of God forever

Verse 8: "In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you..." (vs 8-9).

Think about that regardless of what you may think about anyone else. This is true.

So, He says, "…live in My love" (v 9). Let's see if we can do that this Feast of Tabernacles!

Verse 10: "If you keep My commandments, you shall live in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and live in His love. These things I have spoken to you, in order that My joy may dwell in you, and that your joy may be full" (vs 10-11). How is that joy going to be full?

Verse 12: "This is My commandment: that you love one another, as I have loved you."

That's what God wants. The ultimate of what God wants is love backed up by:

• obedience
• faith
• belief
• works
• whatever we do

Then we can come to live in the House of God. That's the great spiritual meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles, that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!

So, brethren, have a wonderful Feast. Make this a joyous Feast. Make it a time that is going to be a memorable Feast so that it will carry you through to the Passover time next spring!

Enjoy the Feast, love one another, and fulfill the Word of God and have a great Feast of Tabernacles!

Scriptural References:

• Psalm 133:1-3
• Psalm 27:1-4, 7-8
• Psalm 65:1-5
• Psalm 84:1-10
• Psalm 100:1-5
• Psalm 101:1-4, 6-7
• John 1:14
• John 14:1-4
• John 15:7-12

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Revelation 20
• Ephesians 4

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/30/23

Copyright 2023—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.