RUSSELL SANDERS

9-16-2024

THE FALL FEASTS LESSON 7

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES – PART 3

SUKKOT - PART 2 - BOOTHS

____________________

The Feast of Tabernacles is called Sukkot, a word that means booth or hut. It is also called the Feast of Rejoicing because Israel rejoiced in the fact that God had “tabernacled” (dwelt) among them in the Most Holy Place of the Tabernacle of the Congregation (as it was called). The Ark of the Covenant dwelt in the Holy of Holies where God’s presence abode with them. This was cause for the rejoicing.

The Jews literally feasted on the fruit and produce of the land during this celebration which also coincided with the fall harvest. The last day of the feast was another holy convocation, a sabbath, called together by the blowing of the ram’s horns (shofar).

They lived in these sukkots (booths) the entire seven days of the feast, ending on the holy convocation of the eighth day.

The booths are made of the branches from citron (not the same as our citron melon), palms myrtle, and willow. Today these four are called “the four spices.” Each one carries its own special significance. A certain “prayer of blessing” is recited for each one of these four tree branches, thus blessing the sukkot and its people.

Tomorrow we will look at the special and unique significance of each one of these “four spices.”

HELEN SANDERS

9-16-2025

THE TORMENTORS

_______________

In lieu of the recent events that involved assassinating a well-known conservative Christian, I see a great divide has happened.

The hatred towards this man and his Turning Point ministry has elevated beyond anything that I have seen. Many are rejoicing in his death, and some of those people are calling themselves Christians. This hatred has spread like wildfire and unfortunately shows exactly the heart of these individuals towards God and His word.

At the same time, many conservatives are spewing hatred towards those that align themselves with this anti-God movement. 

Both of these situations are wrong. You must never hate a person. You hate sin, but not the sinner. We must remember that while WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ died for us. [Romans 5:8] He did not die for the godly, because there are none that are righteous without Christ. 

Because of this hatred and no forgiveness in their hearts, they will experience some unpleasant things. In Matthew 18 we see Peter asking Jesus how often he should forgive. Then Jesus shares a story about a man that owed a debt. It was so large that the king demanded he be put into prison. He begged for mercy, and the king forgave him of the entire debt. Then this forgiven man did not have any mercy on a man that owed him a small debt. The king learned of this and brought the first man in. He asked him why he did not have mercy on the man. Then, he demanded that the first man was turned over to the tormentors until he could pay the entire debt. 

This illustration spoken by Jesus is speaking of our sin debt. If we have been forgiven and DO NOT forgive others, then we are going to be turned over to the tormentors.  Those tormentors are demons.

Many are living in the place of torment because they have not forgiven. You can say you are a Christian, but if you do not forgive others, you are in a dangerous place. Do not let hatred and unforgiveness destroy your lives my friend. Forgive quickly.