by Dwight A. Pryor
SUKKOT, WITH ITS EMPHASIS UPON JOY, is the quintessential Jewish festival. It alone is called “The Feast” by the Sages. Perhaps this is because Judaism takes seriously the command to “serve the LORD b’simchah, with joy” (Ps 100:2).
Significantly, of the three great appointed times of the LORD, Sukkot is the least easily accommodated within the classical Christian worldview. Passover, with the redemption of the Lamb of God, and Pentecost, with the revelation of the Spirit of God, are readily acknowledged. Why then is Sukkot different?
A couple of reasons come to mind.
FIRST, CHRISTIANS SOMETIMES OPERATE with a view of the material world that is not biblical. Sukkot’s focus in Jewish tradition is on Creation. It is a time for celebrating nature’s abundant harvest, of dwelling outdoors in temporary “booths” made of natural elements, gazing upon the starry heavens, of waving the Four Species before the Creator in thanksgiving, and even of dancing with all one’s might before the Lord as David did. Sukkot reminds us to truly rejoice over the good things in this world that God has given us the capacity to enjoy.
For traditional Christians this festival is just too “earthy” to be spiritual. They will celebrate in Heaven, thank you, and wait to dance on golden streets in the Jerusalem which is above!
From its earliest centuries, Christendom was adversely influenced by Greek and Gnostic dualism, with material things and the world viewed as evil while all things true, good and beautiful were “spiritual” (i.e., nonmaterial and otherworldly). Paul was read wrongly to reinforce this dichotomy in his contrast of the spirit and the “flesh”.
The lingering even unconscious effects of this unbiblical thinking can leave devout Christians ill at ease with physicality. After all (the gospel song reminds us), “This world is not our home, we’re just a passing through.” Our true home is “somewhere beyond the blue.”
The Bible however insists that God made the earth good, indeed “very good”, and that our bodies as well as the earth itself will be redeemed and renewed at the resurrection of the Last Day. Then the heavenly Jerusalem will come down to Zion (Rev 21:2) and the nations will stream up to the holy city of God “to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles” (Zech 14:16). Our bodies as well as our souls will become immortal by God’s energizing action and our joy will know no bounds.
SECOND, GOD COMMANDS THAT ISRAEL shall be “akh sameach, altogether joyous” during Sukkot (Deut 16:15). Joy is not a trait Christians historically are noted for. Again, we tend to think joy will come to us “on the other side,” in the “sweet by and by.”
Consider these contrasting images of spirituality: the imposing Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and a fragile Jewish sukkah (booth). One is interiorized and mysterious, drawing the soul upwards, with somber invocations and hallowed chanting. The other open, with a thatched roof of palm branches and agricultural decorations, and filled with laugher as family and friends eat, drink and rejoice in the goodness of the Creator. Christians can have a difficult time seeing this as spiritual activity.
We need to cheer up! Sukkot should prompt us to consider that Jesus of Nazareth undoubtedly was the most joyous man who ever lived. He was not a somber and stern Christian preacher – a type we know all too well – but a joyous and Spirit-filled Jewish rabbi. He did not think of himself as a sinner in the hands of an angry God but as a son beloved by a Father who invariably surprises us by His grace.
Christians are more inclined to focus on his suffering, or recall his pointed rebukes of hypocrites, or his righteous anger at the money changers than to imagine him smiling, or laughing, or being “altogether joyous” as the Torah commands. Because he was continually conscious of the Father’s presence and will, Jesus lived in the fullness of joy (Ps 16:11), and he was determined to impart that joy to his faithful disciples (Jn 15:11).
The significance of the sukkah can bring a much needed biblical perspective to Christians, and assist us in celebrating the joy that Messiah brings.
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Want to study this subject in-depth? We recommend Rejoicing is Serious Business!
Take me back to the library. Or if you prefer, back to the topic Biblical Feasts.