God has given us so much!
James reminds us that every good and perfect gift is from the Lord (James 1:17). Every single one; they don’t happen by chance, luck, or by your own strength, but are a gift from the Lord. He has blessed us beyond measure! As I was thinking about that this morning, God convicted me with the truth that I don’t thank Him enough. Sure I accept the blessings, love the blessings, and receive joy from the blessings, but I don’t always stop to remember and thank the One that pours those blessings out upon my life.
How about you? When was the last time you sat down and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord? I encourage you to take some time and come up with 4-5 specific ways that God has stepped into your life and provided for you, and thank Him for those things.
“The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give You thanks; You are my God, and I will exalt You. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 118:27-29)
This week we’re going to tangent a bit and look at the festivals that God set up for His people; specifically we’ll be looking at the Feast of Tabernacles. If you’ll remember back to the Old Testament, the Tabernacle was God’s dwelling place among His people. This festival however is a little different, because it refers to the tents or “tabernacles” that the Israelites lived in after God brought them out of Egypt. It was designed to be a time to commemorate God’s goodness during their desert wanderings. Look at the following Old Testament passages concerning the Feast of Tabernacles/Feast of Ingathering and think about the questions that follow:
“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.” (Lev. 23:39)
Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters 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.” (Lev. 23:42-43)
“Be joyful at your festival—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites, the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns. For seven days celebrate the festival to the LORD your God at the place the LORD will choose. For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” (Deuteronomy 16:14-15)
- How long did the Feast of Tabernacles last?
- Where were the Israelites instructed to live for seven days? Why?
- How were they to act during the festival?
The Israelites were instructed by God in the Old Testament to celebrate these Feasts as an offering and out of obedience to Him. They were put into place so that the people would remember all the good things God had done for them. Think about it…God rescued them from the Egyptians, pulled them out of slavery, led them through the desert, provided for their needs even when they complained, gave them a place of worship, and blessed the works of their hands. The festivals were designed as a way to give back to God and to bring glory to Him.
During Hosea’s time, the people were still celebrating the festivals, but neglecting to acknowledge, obey, or call upon God. Take a look at what Hosea says to the people in chapter nine…
“Do not rejoice, Israel; do not be jubilant like the other nations. For you have been unfaithful to your God…Threshing floors and winepresses will not feed the people; the new wine will fail them.” (Hosea 9:1-2)
Many people think that Hosea chapter 9 was probably read at the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles. Just picture it…the day of the Feast of Tabernacles has arrived, and all the people have gathered to hear the opening assembly. It is supposed to be a day of joy and celebration at the end of the harvest, a way of celebrating the fact that God has blessed the crops and labor of the people. Instead Hosea 9 is read, and the people stop rejoicing. Knowing what you know about the Feast from today’s study, why are Hosea’s words such a big deal?
The Feast of Tabernacles was designed for the people to remember and honor the Lord for what He had done. He was giving them a day to rejoice and promising to bless their harvest and the work of their hands. The people however had begun to think that they were the reason for their own success, rather than the Lord. They were relying on their own skills, pride, other nations, and previous successes to get them through. Imagine their surprise when Hosea told them to stop rejoicing. Talk about a wake up call!
Sometimes it takes a wake up call for us to hear God. Has this ever happened to you? Are there areas in your life where God may be trying to get your attention? For me, it was the idea that everything good and perfect is from the Lord, not my own works. Right before James tells us that “every good and perfect gift is from above,” he reminds us in verse 16 not to be deceived. To what was he referring? I think James knew that we would have a tendency to deceive ourselves; he knew that we would tend to praise ourselves, luck, chance, or other people for the good things in our lives.
Don’t be deceived friends; God is the giver of life and all blessings. He loves us so much! May we be people that set aside time to thank God regularly and to remember all that He has poured out upon us!