Autumn is my favorite season. I simply love the splashes of yellow and orange against an azure sky. I love picking apples and baking pies and drinking cider. I even enjoy the crisp weather and switching over to cozy sweaters and warm socks. Yet amongst all these delights, what tops the list are the fall holidays of the Lord. There are three: the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh HaShanah), the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), and the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). These fall festivals provide a cycle of repentance, re-commitment, and rejoicing that I look forward to every year. This year we celebrated the Feast of Trumpets with our friends in Kansas City – hearing the ram’s horn cry out, “Wake up! Repent! Seek God! Be alert, for the King is coming!” And then 10 days later we celebrated a day of fasting and prayer – sitting on my mom’s deck, thanking God that the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, has made atonement for my sin and I am now welcome to enter the very throne room of God. Our names are written in the Book of Life! Amazing! And now we’re back in Michigan, just in time for my favorite feast – Sukkot. Dave helped me erect our little “tabernacle” on our back patio and for the last few days we have enjoyed sitting under the sukkah and meeting with God. Yes, it’s just PVC pipe with sheets attached for walls and pine branches draped across as a roof – but somehow, as we dedicate this temporary structure to God and ask Him to come, He does. Actually, He’s the one who set the date, so He has been waiting to meet with us. We eat, pray, read, sing, rejoice, gaze on the moon and stars, and contemplate the reality of God’s presence. The Ancient of Days has been faithful to dwell among His people throughout the ages – and now He dwells within us through His Spirit. Jewish people throughout the world are celebrating this festival under their “sukkot;” it’s a time of joy and thanksgiving. Dave and I pray that just as Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, Jesus will reveal Himself to his brothers during this special holiday. We long for the day when both Jew and Gentile will honor Him as the Messiah and all nations will go up to Jerusalem (Zech. 14:16-19) to celebrate my favorite feast.
1 comment:
Though being a Christian, these holidays seem to be the forgotten group that don't tend to be brought to the forefront. Thanks for sharing, interesting post.
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