THOU SHALT PARTY | WEEK 3 | HOUSEWARMING PARTY / CAMPING TRIP
INTRO
This is our last in a three-part series that looks at some of the festivals celebrated in the Jewish calendar, reminding us
that one of the characteristics of our God is the joy he brings through the rhythms of rest in our lives.
This series, ‘Thou Shalt Party,’ reminds us that God is all about celebration. It seems that joy, celebration, extended family
traditions and downright fun are a central characteristic of our generous and lavish God. If the second of the fruits of
the spirit is joy (Galatians 5:22), it is only because it reflects the nature of a joy-filled and joy-delivering God.
This week, we’re looking at the Feast of Tabernacles. Originally known as Sukkot to the Jewish people, the Feast
of Tabernacles (or Feast of Booths) was a reminder to the Israelites of God’s provision during times of transition.
Traditionally, the people would live in some form of temporary shelter for a week to remind them of the time spent in the
desert during their exodus from Egypt.
Question (for fun): Because we’ve called this week ‘The Camping Trip,’ describe to your group the most disappointing
vacation you’ve ever been on. It could have been a cruise with a thousand sick people, or just a weekend getaway with
horrendous traffic. What disasters can you remember?
SCRIPTURE FOCUS
During each of the weeks of this series, we’ve focused our attention on both an Old Testament passage, and then a
New Testament passage. First, we’ll look at the description of the Feast of Tabernacles as found in Leviticus 23:33-44.
The Festival of Tabernacles
33
The LORD said to Moses, 34 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the LORD’s Festival of
Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. 35 The first day is a sacred assembly; do no regular work. 36 For seven
days present food offerings to the LORD, and on the eighth day hold a sacred assembly and present a food offering to
the LORD. It is the closing special assembly; do no regular work.
(“ ‘These are the LORD’s appointed festivals, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies for bringing food
offerings to the LORD—the burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings required for each day. 38
These offerings are in addition to those for the LORD’s Sabbaths and in addition to your gifts and whatever you have
vowed and all the freewill offerings you give to the LORD.)
37
“ ‘So beginning with the fifteenth day of the seventh month, after you have gathered the crops of the land, celebrate
the festival to the LORD for seven days; the first day is a day of sabbath rest, and the eighth day also is a day of
sabbath rest. 40 On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy
trees—and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days. 41 Celebrate this as a festival to the LORD for seven
days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month.42 Live
in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 43 so your descendants will
know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.’ ”
39
44
So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the LORD.
Thou Shalt Party - Week 3 - Page 2
The second passage is from 1 Peter 2:10-12. It doesn’t specifically relate to the Old Testament scripture, but relates
to the temporary nature of our time on earth – a value that the Feast of Tabernacles described to us.
Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you
have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage
war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they
may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
10
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1.Read Leviticus 23:42 one more time. What kind of perspective shift would living in temporary shelters like
these offer to you if you did the same thing?
2.The original intent was to remind the Israelites of their past (v43). In what ways could this exercise remind us
of our future?
3.In what ways do you have a habit of seeing this life as the destination, not the next life? What might you need
to change?
4.Re-read those verses from 1 Peter 2:9-12. When you think of “foreigners and exiles,” what comes to mind?
How might we be referred to as “foreigners and exiles”? In addition, look up Hebrews 11:13-14 for an
extension of the theme. The phrase “foreigners and strangers” is used in the Hebrews passage.
EFLECT
R
As you consider the temporary nature of our being here on earth, spend a moment or two reflecting on what the
following verse from Philippians could mean to us. It talks about heavenly citizenship. Consider also, how it could
inform the way we view our earthly citizenship as Americans.
Philippians 3:20
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that
enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
CLOSING QUESTION / CHALLENGE
Is there something you should change in reaction to this week’s teaching? Do you need to be more grateful? Do you
need to not care so much about temporary or material possessions you had previously put a lot of stock in? What
would your response be?
PRAYER:
Ask God to remind us of his provision to us during dark times, to remind us that this earth is not our destination, and
to remind us that we have an eternal, permanent home.