Special holiday reading for Sukkot - Day 1 on 15 Tisrei, 5765 - September 30, 2004 Sukkot Aleph: Holiday Torah reading Leviticus 22:6 to 23:44; Maftir: Numbers 29:12-16; Haftarah: Zechariah 14:1-21; Mei Kituvim: Nehemiah 8:1-18; Brit Chadashah: Revelation 21:1-27; 22:1-21

The Bagel: Adonay as guest. Abraham hosted Adonay in his tent (Genesis 18). True, it was a special visitation in the form of three men, but the dialog between one of those men and Abraham is that of Adonay and Abraham. Apparently, the other two men were the two angels that went down to Sodom and Gomorrah after the visit with Abraham (Genesis 19). The readings exhibit the idea of hosting Adonay as a guest.

Torah:
Leviticus 22:6 to 23:44. In the Sukkot Aleph Torah reading, in the command to observe the yearly feasts, including Sukkot. The reason for this yearly remembrance of Sukkot is that the Israelites in the desert hosted Adonay in their tent. That tent was called the Mishkan or Tabernacle. It was the suitable way to entertain (host) the G-d of Israel. His glory was clothed as it were in the layers of skin and fabrics that covered the Tabernacle. This is reminiscent of Adonay being clothed in a form of a human body when He was hosted by Abraham.

The children of Israel hosted Adonay with daily peace offerings. There were festivals that were for the purpose of honoring the Special Guest in the midst of Israel's encampments. When Israel entered the Land and setup their national existence, the yearly holidays were also setup to maintain that yearly hosting of Adonay.

Haftarah:
Zechariah 14:1-21. In the Haftarah reading, there was great difficulty in the Land after the Jews returned from Babylon. The Temple was not reconstructed. There was no place to entertain Adonay. The holidays were truncated without Adonay's Presence in Jerusalem. The book of Zechariah addressed that crisis. Today's reading holds forth a promise for the great and future day of messianic redemption. It will be the time of Israel's greatest hosting. For it will be the time when Sukkot will not be just a Jewish holiday week. It will be an international mandate. The day will come when the world will host Adonay. This will be the time of the rule of the Messiah over the world from Jerusalem.

The first Sukkot took place in the desert. It was a sort of portable oasis in the midst of barren dryness and emptiness. In that glorious future day a reverse scenario will take place. Those who refuse to host Adonay in Jerusalem will experience the turning of their own land into a barren wasteland, a desert: "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain" (Zechariah 14:16-17 KJV). Those who do honor the King will see their own lands bloom as the rose.

Mei Kituvim:
Nehemiah 8:1-18. In the reading of the Kituvim, the other problem of Jerusalem's wall that had been broken down was solved. The walls were rebuilt and the city was secured. Now, there was time for getting back to basics. The people gathered for a national Bible study. It the midst of the study they rediscovered the need to host Adonay. It was a time of celebration and the people were full of joy. They heard the reading about Sukkot from the Torah and set about to make ready their own homes and the city to celebrate this festival of hosting. If Abraham could have appeared on that scene, he would have been a welcome guest in any of those Sukkahs: "Then all the people went to eat and drink and send portions and make great merriment, for they understood the things they were told" (Nehemiah 8:12 Tanakh JPS). Are you hospitable to Adonay?

Brit Chadashah:
Revelation 21:1-27; 22:1-21. When we get to the Brit Chadashah, we see the ultimate goal of Sukkot, which is to host Adonay in a permanent and eternal way. This will be the time of the Eternal State where those who are redeemed will enjoy hosting and being a guest of Adonay forever and ever: "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God" (Revelation 21:3 KJV). Being redeemed requires the action of the Redeemer to save them. Yeshua accomplished this on the cross at Golgotha. Now, anyone can host Adonay in their heart by receiving Yeshua as their Redeemer, who redeemed them from the penalty of sin.

Cream Cheese: Yeshua the greatest guest anyone can have in the home of their heart.


Special holiday reading for Sukkot on 15 Tisrei, 5765 - September 30, 2004 Sukkot Aleph: Holiday Torah reading Leviticus 22:6 to 23:44; Maftir: Numbers 29:12-16; Haftarah: Zechariah 14:1-21; Mei Kituvim: Nehemiah 8:1-18; Brit Chadashah: Revelation 21:1-27; 22:1-21