This Feast (today - October 13 - October 20) is known as Sukkot, or Tabernacles, or Feast of Booths. All Israelites were required to dwell in temporary shelters for seven days, to remind them of God’s provision during their forty-year journey in the wilderness after leaving Egypt and before arriving at the Promised Land. It is a reminder of God’s past provision during the wilderness journey, and God’s present goodness and provision to all who follow Him.
The first and seventh days are Sabbaths --- sacred days set apart during which no work is to be done. The 7-day Feast is a joyful time of harvest and eating and remembering. In ancient Israel it became the most prominent of the holidays and was referred to with great awe simply as “the holiday.” It was during the Feast of Tabernacles that Solomon dedicated the rebuilt Temple to the Lord. According to 2 Chron. 5:3, the glory of the Lord Himself descended from Heaven to light the fire on the altar and fill the Holy of Holies.
And all the men of Israel assembled to King Solomon at the feast (I Kings 8:2).
As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. 3When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever." (2 Chron. 7:1-10.)
The Lord will not only gather His people, but He will tabernacle with us during the coming messianic Kingdom.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Rev. 21:3).
