Jewish Feast of Tabernacles

Monday (Oct 13) was the start of the eight important days of the Feast of Tabernacles which starts on Tisri 14 until Tisri 21. During this festival, the Jews were encouraged to build 'booths' or tents and stay in there as a reminder of their forefathers' journey from Egypt into the Promised Land.

The Feast was to remind the Hebrews of the Lord dwelling in their midst as they journeyed through a harsh land before they reached the Promised Land and how appropriate that our Lord Jesus Christ could have been born during this feast and not during Christmas on Dec 25. More research had been done and more and more people are coming to the conclusion that our Lord could not have been born in December during winter as it would have been too cold for the shepherds to be out in the fields looking after their sheep; a more likely time would have been autumn (as is now). Also it would be so like God to fit everything according to what He had already spoken beforehand in the written word of the Bible.

So what would the Jews be doing during this time while living in their tents? Lets look at Deuteronomy 31:9-13

9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel.
10 Then Moses commanded them: "At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles,
11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing.
12 Assemble the people--men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns--so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.
13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess."

So the whole week of the feast days were to be dedicated to the Lord in the reading of the word of God. And how appropriate that we read in John 7:37-38,

37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Isn't it so like Jesus to pick the exact timings and make the most profound of all statements for the occasion? What is my point? Jesus referred to the streams of living water flowing from within as the Holy Spirit Who indwells all the children of the Lord and He will guide us as we go about our daily lives and He will remind us of our position in Christ - sons and daughters of the Heavenly Father and joint-heirs with Christ in His kingdom.

Now I do not know about you but I am certainly excited knowing my inheritance in the Lord and no amount of turmoil in this world can shake that super-abounding inheritance we have in Christ.