We are in the midst of the biblical season of Sukkot. Such biblical appointed times are meant to be a dress rehearsal of events and principles the Lord will fulfill on that date some point in the future.
Sukkot translated as Feast of Tabernacles or Feast of the Ingathering, is the time of dwelling in booths as commanded by God in Scripture;
You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’” Leviticus 23:42-43
Notice that this is a command for native Israelites, it is optional for the rest of us I would surmise but all scripture is profitable for us so what can we learn from this holy day of the Lord?
The stated purpose of this time is to remember when the Lord brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and that they dwelt in booths. Okay, why is that? Just as the Lord uses the Passover Seder to teach us about sin and the Lord’s salvation while pointing back to this same point in history, Sukkot informs us of the temporary nature of life and of when we shall live with the Lord.
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1
Life is temporary and fleeting, to say the least. The Bible compares this life to a vapor or just a wisp of smoke. That is probably why Ecclesiastes is read during this season as this book of the bible is all about the futility of gathering wealth and erecting monuments in this life.
Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity. Ecclesiastes 1:2
It is also why Jesus cautions us not to lay up treasures on earth but in heaven.
Life matters, it is essential, but it is only temporary on this side of eternity. We currently live in tents, but we are told by our Lord that He has gone to prepare a place for us, a place that is eternal.
It is vanity to focus on ourselves and to think that living for ourselves will bring more than momentary satisfaction and pleasure. Even then there is no genuine satisfaction.
Solomon stated as much and keep in mind that he had all the wealth, toys and companionship life could provide. He built a great temple, the ultimate palace and everything one could conceive of building, and he had over a thousand women between his wives and concubines, he had chariots and horses, servants and all the stuff one man could gather to himself and still his life was empty.
The lesson in all of this is that there is more to life than what we see on this side of eternity. We have known nothing else but this tent of life, yet there is a more excellent dwelling place beyond the veil.
