Links for today’s readings:
Read: Numbers 29 Listen: (5:05) Read: 1 Corinthians 3 Listen: (3:05)
Scripture Focus: Numbers 29.12
12 On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days.
Leviticus 23.39-40
39 “ ‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate the festival to the Lord for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.
Reflection: From Passover to Tabernacles
By John Tillman
What festival are you in?
The Passover festival began the year by celebrating the beginning of Israel as a nation. In many ways it was the most important festival, but the biggest festival by popularity, length, number of sacrifices, and prominence was Tabernacles.
Passover celebrated the journey out of slavery. It freed Israel, identified them as God’s priestly nation, renewed their purpose of bringing God’s blessing to the world, and gave them a destiny in a land that was promised to them.
Tabernacles celebrated the wilderness journey. It reflected on peace and security by looking back to the wilderness when, by the world’s standards, they had neither peace nor security. As homeless migrants and outcasts, they were hated, feared, and attacked by every nation whose borders they approached or land they crossed.
As Christians, Passover also defines our identity, purpose, and destiny. Jesus redefined that festival’s symbols to institute the Lord’s Supper and his “new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22.19-20)
We see salvation in Passover yet, in Tabernacles we see a picture of life in this world. Tabernacles is the “already and not yet” festival. Israel was promised a place of peace, rest, and plenty. They were sheltered in God, yet not permanently sheltered. Representing this, the instructions for shelters say, “take branches from luxuriant trees…” (Leviticus 23.40) With these luxuriant limbs, their shelters represented resting “under their own vine.” (Micah 4.4)
We live between Exodus and the Promised Land. We live in the festival of Tabernacles, sheltered by the Holy Spirit, but not yet in our heavenly dwelling. (2 Corinthians 5.4-9; 2 Peter 1.12-15) But the end of Tabernacles is coming.
Tabernacles was an eight day festival. In Hebrew thought, the eighth day represented a re-beginning of creation when God made all things new. This last day of the festival is when Jesus raised his voice, saying, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7.37-39)
Our eighth day is coming. Our wilderness sojourn will end. Our desert will flow with living water. Our temporary tabernacles will be transfigured into the permanent places Jesus went ahead of us to prepare.
But many are not ready for the eighth day. Raise your voice to call the outcasts, wanderers, sinners, and the lost. Build luxuriant tabernacles for them and invite them to pass through Passover to join you in Tabernacles.
Rest in your shelter. But work for and await the eighth day.
Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; it is good for the just to sing praises.
For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are sure.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, on those who wait upon his love.
Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.
Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, for in his holy Name we put our trust.
Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, as we have put our trust in you. — Psalm 33.1, 4,18-22
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime
by Phyllis Tickle
Read more: The Eighth Day
Christians as well as Jews, did not believe that the repetitive cycle of a new week following another, and a new year following another, would be endless.
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