Sukkot

I find it fascinating to consider the Jewish fall festival celebration of Sukkot and its implications for us as we plan for Thanksgiving and think ahead to Christmas.

Sukkot, the seventh and final in a series of yearly feasts given to Israel as a way of remembering God’s faithfulness, is more commonly known to many of us as the Feast of Tabernacles or Tents.

During Sukkot—then and now—Jewish families construct a small, hastily built hut or tent—a sukkah—to eat their meals in throughout the festival. This structure is an actual, physical remembrance of the temporary, transient, portable dwellings Israel lived in during their wilderness wanderings, recalling how God provided for them during those forty years.

Later, after the Israelites entered the Promised Land, Sukkot also came to represent the immensity of how God cared in providing such plentiful bounty. Coinciding with the end of the agricultural year, the Jews celebrated God’s goodness through their harvest.

So the command of Sukkot? JOY! Rejoicing! Inherent in the celebration of Sukkot is the idea that there is no other response to such goodness! This is what turns so many Sukkot feasts into huge parties!

The expectation of Sukkot is that you will share your present bounty and that to come, inviting everyone and anyone else—especially the poor and those in need—because God has provided and will provide, and demands nothing less than for you to do so in return.

Sukkot says don’t even consider sitting alone at your table.

You dare not think about not sharing such a rich inheritance!

Without sharing, there is no joy.

Without sharing, there is no honoring of what God has already so generously shared.

So as your church makes plans to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas—what are the implications of Sukkot? In light of the New Covenant, we know the One who God so generously shared as our complete provision!

How can the Church share its abundant knowledge of God’s provision, protection, and presence of God through Jesus with others?

Traditionally, churches increase their corporate outreach efforts at this time of year in a desire to do so; and, indeed, it is a time of year when seekers are perhaps more receptive to these types of invitations to “a church” more than at any other. Community Thanksiving Feasts for the homeless, meals and visits for shut-ins, Christmas caroling at senior living facilities, and moving worship services are just some great examples of the Church’s heart to demonstrate and share the gospel with those who may have never experienced it.

But what more might happen for the Kingdom if church leadership could emphasize that this time of year is among the best for every single believer to be able to share the good news about God’s provision, protection, and presence with every single person they are in relationship with?

How can every single believer share their sukkah, shelter, home, and tables this season for those they’ve been noticing, listening to, and praying for?

Maybe the “corporate Thanksgiving dinner” this year could be held in every believer’s home and maybe every believer could be the one to throw open their doors for the big neighborhood Christmas bash or their lonely neighbor on Christmas Eve.

What might happen then?

Last year my wife and I hosted 42 for Thanksgiving in our sukkah! We tucked in tables wherever we could!

This season, consider challenging your church members not only to invite others to your good outreach efforts, but to their own sukkahs and tables as well. There, all will experience the depth and richness of a new kind of sharing, guaranteed.

Jeff Klein
National Church Partnership Director