2025.10.06. STUDY NOTES. Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) – The Feast of Ingathering
GOD’s Presence, Provision, and Promise – Past, Present, and Future
William Akehurst, HSWC
BIG IDEA: The Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Ingathering, celebrates God’s faithful provision, His abiding presence, and the ultimate promise that He will dwell (tabernacle) forever with His redeemed people.
Scriptures: Leviticus 23:33-44, Exodus 23:16, Deuteronomy 16:13-17, Psalms 16:11, John 1:14, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, John 7:37-39, Revelation 21:3
The Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, is one of the seven appointed Feasts of the LORD, and is also called the Feast of Ingathering, marking the end of the harvest season.
It reminds GOD’s people of HIS provision in the past, HIS presence in the present, and HIS promise for the future.
REMEMBRANCE – GOD’s Provision in the Wilderness
Leviticus 23:42-43 42 You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, 43 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.’ ”
• Israel was commanded to dwell in temporary shelters (sukkot) for seven days.
• This commemorated their 40 years in the wilderness when GOD provided food, water, and protection.
• Living in booths reminded them and reminds us of dependence on GOD, not man.
PAUSE: Modern Day Israel uses this time for Camping outdoors with celebration. (We are reminded of the tragedy on October 7th 2023 during Sukkot at the music festival – Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and Israel, and that this conflict would be soon resolved)
APPLICATION: We must remember that every blessing and every breath comes from Him. Gratitude keeps our hearts humble.
REJOICING – The Feast of Ingathering
Exodus 23:16 and the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field; and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you have gathered in the fruit of your labors from the field.
Deuteronomy 16:14-15 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates. 15 Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your GOD in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your GOD will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.
• This was the final and most joyful feast of the year, celebrating the end of the harvest.
• It was a time to thank GOD for His abundant provision and rejoice in His faithfulness.
• Known as Chag HaAsif, the Feast of Ingathering symbolized both physical and spiritual harvest.
APPLICATION: Rejoice in the LORD’s goodness. Celebrate His blessings and recognize that every harvest, both crops and souls, comes from Him.
REJOICING IN GOD’S PRESENCE
Deuteronomy 16:14-15 14 And you shall rejoice in your feast…15 Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the LORD your GOD in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your GOD will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.
• The people were commanded to rejoice before the LORD using palm branches, willows, and other greenery.
• GOD desires His people to live in joy, not fear.
• His presence brings fullness of joy.
Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
APPLICATION: True joy is not found in possessions, but in the presence of GOD.
FULFILLMENT in Christ – The Living Water
JESUS is the fulfillment of the Living Water, the outpouring of HOLY SPIRIT.
John 7:37-39 37 On the last day, that great day of the feast (sukkot), Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
• During the Feast of Tabernacles, the priests performed a daily water-pouring ceremony, praying for rain and symbolizing life.
• Jesus stood and declared, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
• He revealed Himself as the source of Living Water, symbolizing the Holy Spirit.
APPLICATION: Only Jesus satisfies the thirst of the soul. Come to Him daily for living water that never runs dry.
GOD Tabernacling Among Us
John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and dwelt (literally tabernacled) among us.”
JESUS is GOD’s Presence dwelling among HIS people = the true Tabernacle.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 …know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God…
THE FUTURE – The Final Ingathering
Zechariah 14:16-1916 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Prophetically, Sukkot points forward to the Millennial Kingdom and ultimately to the New Heaven and New Earth when God will dwell permanently with His people.
• In the Millennial Kingdom, all nations will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
Revelation 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of GOD is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. GOD Himself will be with them and be their GOD.
• It also represents the final harvest of souls; the great ingathering of the nations into the Kingdom of GOD, when GOD will dwell permanently with His people.
APPLICATION: Sukkot reminds us of our eternal hope. One day, GOD Himself will dwell among HIS Redeemed forever.
SELF REFLECTION
• Remember GOD’s faithfulness in the past.
• Rejoice in His presence today.
• Rest in the promise of His eternal dwelling.
FINAL THOUGHT:
The Feast of Tabernacles (the Feast of Ingathering) calls us to live with hearts of gratitude, joy, and hope as we await the day when the LORD will dwell with His people forever.
Let’s Pray,
Heavenly Father,
We come before YOU with grateful hearts, remembering how YOU have carried us through every wilderness and blessed us in every harvest. YOU are the same yesterday, today, and forever; our Provider, Protector, and Sustainer.
LORD, as Israel dwelled in booths to remember YOUR Faithfulness in the desert, we too pause to recall the many times YOU sheltered us in our seasons of need. YOU were our cloud by day and our fire by night. When we thirsted, YOU brought forth living water. When we hungered, YOU fed us from heaven’s storehouse.
YOU have been faithful in every trial, merciful in every failure, and steadfast in every promise.
Even when we were faithless, YOU remained faithful, for YOU cannot deny YOURSELF.
Today we rejoice in YOUR presence and give YOU praise for the harvest — not only of the field, but of the soul. YOU have gathered us into YOUR care, and YOUR goodness overflows in our lives.
Teach us, LORD, to dwell in contentment and joy, to trust YOU daily for provision, and to live as people who know their GOD is faithful. Let our lives become living tabernacles of YOUR presence — a continual testimony that our GOD keeps HIS Word.
And as we look forward to the day when YOU will dwell among us forever, keep us faithful, thankful, and filled with joy.
We remember. We rejoice. We rest in YOUR faithfulness.
In JESUS’ Name, Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
