When reading through the Old Testament we are admonished to remember the fact that "These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come."1 Corinthians 10:11 CSB
Three times in the year the LORD has set aside specific appointed times to meet with His people. (Exodus 23:14)
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Leviticus 23:1-2 KJV
The words feasts (H4150 mo'ed) and holy convocations (H4744 mikraw) come from two Hebrew words meaning an appointment and a dress rehearsal.
But what is the location where God instructs His people to celebrate the feasts (keep the appointed times)?
The book of Deuteronomy gives the following information:
Deuteronomy 16:2 KJV Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the LORD thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to place his name there.
Deuteronomy 16:10-11 KJV And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee:
11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.
Deuteronomy 16:13-15 KJV Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:
14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.
15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.
Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
These appointed times/meetings are held where the Lord has chosen to place His Name, as evidenced by the presence of His Glory.
The first place was at Shiloh. But the people fell into sin and idolatry.
Psalms 78:58-60 CSB They enraged him with their high places and provoked his jealousy with their carved images.
59 God heard and became furious; he completely rejected Israel.
60 He abandoned the tabernacle at Shiloh, the tent where he resided among mankind.
Then He moved to Jerusalem. But once again they turned away from Him. This is His declaration to the nation:
Jeremiah 7:12-14 KJV But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.
13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;
14 Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh.
God told the people that He was going to remove His Name from His house in Jerusalem. Ezekiel witnessed this in a vision.
Ezekiel 10:1-4 KJV Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.
2 And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.
3 Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court.
4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD'S glory.
Ezekiel 10:18 KJV Then the glory of the LORD departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubims.
Ezekiel 11:22-23 KJV 22 Then did the cherubims lift up their wings, and the wheels beside them; and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above.
23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
The Samaritan woman who spoke to Jesus at the well questioned Him about where to worship. She said:
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. John 4:20 KJV
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:21-24 KJV
Jesus let the woman know that worship was no longer going to be tied to a certain location.
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended from the mountain east of the city. (The location seen in Ezekiel's vision) The Glory departed with Him. And then returned ten days later as evidenced by the tongues of fire resting on the 120 disciples gathered in the upper room.
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4 KJV
God's glory and His name now rests on the believers who are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 KJV
We are the living stones that make up His temple.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5 KJV
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22 KJV
And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. Revelation 22:4 KJV
This is the place that God has now chosen to place His Name. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Where we are, there He is. No matter what our physical location is, we can be united in spirit and in truth; worshiping in agreement and unity. During this appointed time our prayer is that the Lord, whom we seek, will suddenly come to us, His temple.
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. Malachi 3:1 KJV
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6-7 KJV
Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. John 7:14 KJV
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” John 7:37-38 CSB
Let us drink of the fullness of all that He has for us!
This year the Feast of Tabernacles begins the week of October 9. The LORD has already marked His calendar to spend time with you.
Will you keep the appointment?
