Significance of the Booth

Have you considered how many names this festival is called? Can you think of more than one name? Of course, there's the Feast of Tabernacles. Okay, we got that one down. No problem there. Also called, the Feast of In-Gathering. If you look back to the book of Exodus, it calls it the Feast of In-Gathering. Also called, what else? Feast of Booths. The Feast of Booths is another name. Some translations call this feast the Feast of Shelters. And some even call it the Feast of Tents. The Feast of Tents. So you've got Tabernacles, booths, in-gathering, tents, shelters. And all of them point to significance of this particular festival. Of course, we're all getting ready for the feast. And back in Cincinnati on the Day of Atonement, one of our little ones came up to me and said, Mr. Myers, I've got a feast joke for you. I said, oh good, I always need new material. They said, did you hear about the big fire at the circus? I said, no, what about the big fire at the circus? They looked up at me with these big blue eyes and said, it was intense! Of course, I wasn't thinking about that. It took me a second. Oh, intense! Okay, I get it. Yeah, okay, great. Well then, not to be too outdone by a six-year-old. I had to tell her, well, did you hear the story about this man who was having terrible dreams? Just awful dreams! Night after night after night, he finally goes to the doctor and he says, Doc, I've been having dreams. He says, one night I dream I'm a wigwam. Then the next night I dream I'm a teepee. And then the next night I dream I'm a wigwam. The next night I'm a teepee. And this goes over and over and over again. He says, I just can't overcome this. He says, what's wrong with me, Doc? Doctor looks at him and says, you're just too tense. Well, today we don't build a physical tent, do we? We don't build a sukkah as we observe the festival of booths, the Feast of Tabernacles. But we do live in temporary dwellings. Now, have you considered this temporary dwelling, this significance of the booth? I mean, thinking about what a sukkah is, what is a tabernacle anyway? Well, it's a temporary shelter. It's kind of a makeshift structure. The Israelites would have built them out of sticks and palm branches. They were a four-sided kind of temporary little hut with palm branches and sort of a little roof on top. In fact, the workers back in the day would dwell in these little temporary huts during the harvest season. And it would somewhat at least give them a little shade and a little protection from the elements. In fact, if you look up this word for tabernacle throughout the Bible, in the New King James translation, it appears in several different English words. And whether it's tabernacle or booth, sometimes it's translated a pavilion or a cottage. And yes, even a tent. And since there are so many different words that that sukkah is translated as in English, it's reminiscent of the fact that there is much symbolism in the meaning of the booth. There are many connections, many aspects to what the booth represents. Now, most often times when we think of the Feast of Tabernacles, we have a tendency just to think about the future, don't we? We think about that time when the saints will be with God in the kingdom of God for all eternity. And yet, there are many aspects, many facets to the Feast of Tabernacles, many lessons that we can learn. So let's take a few moments to look at several aspects of the booth and some lessons that we can learn from that. So let's begin. First, instead of looking forward, let's look back.

Number one, let's consider Abraham and booths. Abraham and booths. Let's look back for just a moment and see if we can see a connection to the Feast of Tabernacles, to the concept of a booth, and Abraham. Now, we can do that by turning to the book of Hebrews. Now, you may have been turning way back to Genesis, but instead of doing that, turn to Hebrews 11. Hebrews 11, otherwise known as... what chapter of the Bible is that?

Okay, I hear it. The faith chapter. Hebrews 11, we're going to begin in verse 6. Hebrews 11, verse... well, actually, I'll skip down to verse 8. Hebrews 11, verse 8. And it starts like that. As this Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame, it mentions Abraham, and it says, "...by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And as he went out, not knowing where he was going..." Verse 9, it says, "...by faith he dwelt in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Now, of course, Abraham realized God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and to his posterity to Isaac and Jacob as well. But how did Abraham live in that land? How did he live there? He lived as if he were a stranger. He lived as a sojourner. He didn't have possessions in that sense, in the land. He didn't own that land.

He lived there as though he had no special right to that property, as though he never expected to own it, as if he were in a whole different country that was not only occupied, but owned by others. So, to all intents and purposes...oh, that was a really bad pun...to all intents and purposes...I had to catch that one myself...

He was a stranger. He was a stranger. So, what was it that sustained him? Even though he was living as a sojourner, a stranger, he believed. He believed. He lived confidently. He had a quiet expectation that God would give him that possession that he promised.

And so, in the meantime, where did he dwell? He dwelt in tabernacles. He dwelt in tents. He kept the flocks. He kept the herds. And so, instead of a permanent possession, Abraham lived...well, what we might call an immovable residence. He migrated from place to place to place. And yet, despite that fact, he never doubted that that fixed habitation, that set possession, that city that would ultimately be his possession, was absolutely to come. There was no doubt in his mind. And not only in Abraham's mind, but also Isaac and Jacob's mind as well. They knew that God had promised them these things. And that he would certainly fulfill that promise because they looked forward to that permanent city.

And while they did, in spite of how they had to live as nomads, they were content to dwell in the temporary. They were content to dwell in the fleeting. I mean, just think about that for a moment. As God began to fulfill that promise to Abraham, he was 100 years old when Isaac was born. When that son of promise would come over. 100 years old! And I complain that my back hurt this morning. He was 100 years old when his son was born. He lived to be 175 years old. He lived until Isaac was 75. And Jacob was already born. Jacob was 15 when Abraham died.

And they all dwelt in tabernacles. They all had this nomadic lifestyle, living in tents. Isaac and Abraham as well. And Abraham's grandson, Jacob. Three generations, all living that life of mobility, that life of intransience. Despite the fact, right there in Canaan, right there in that land that God has promised, were beautiful cities. Amazing cities. There was civilization. Yet, they were out of place. They didn't go into Hebron, even though it was developed, even though it was organized.

They wouldn't go into that town or any other town for that matter. Because they looked for the city. That's what they were looking forward to. And it was better for them to dwell in tents than in any house. It was better for them. And so Abraham looked for a city and dwelt in tents. And that has an amazing tabernacle connection. That Abraham was joyous, was thrilled to be able to live in those tents. Now to me, tents are kind of uncomfortable. I don't like... Do you like camping? Camping can be a whole lot of fun, or it can be a lot of challenges or issues. I did hear the story about Sherlock Holmes and Watson went on a camping trip.

They went on a camping trip, got everything all set up. They had a nice meal that evening. Night was setting, and they settled down for a good night's sleep. As they close their eyes a couple of hours later, Sherlock wakes up. He nudges Watson. He says, Watson, look up! Tell me what you see. Watson rubs his eyes. He looks up and he says, wow! I see millions and millions of beautiful stars. Sherlock says, well, what does that tell you? Watson thinks about that for a moment.

He says, well, astronomically that tells me there are millions of galaxies, potentially billions of stars and planets. He says, horologically it tells me that it must be about three o'clock in the morning. Theologically it tells me that God is amazing. He's all-powerful. He's all-knowing. And we are just these small, insignificant little beings. He says, meteorologically it tells me it looks like it's going to be a pretty nice day tomorrow. Sherlock says, anything else? Holmes says, no. What does it tell you, Sherlock? Sherlock says, you amaze me, Watson.

It's elementary, my dear Watson. Someone's stolen our tent! But when you think about Abraham and tents, Abraham and booths, there's so much more to the story of the significance of the booth. Now let's go on to another aspect of the booth. Number two, let's look at Israel and the booth. Turn over to Leviticus 23, verse 41. Now in Leviticus 23, verse 41, we have the command to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Of course, all God's feasts are mentioned here, and that's significant in itself. It's not the Feast of the Jews or the Feast of the Israelites. It's the Lord's Feast, starting with the Sabbath, and then all of His festivals mentioned here.

And in Leviticus 23, verse 41, it zeros in on this time that we are observing. And notice what God says to ancient Israel. Verse 41, Leviticus 23, God says, You shall keep it as a feast to the Lord for seven days in the year.

It shall be a statute forever in your generations. You shall celebrate it in the seventh month. You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths. Of course, the logical question would be, why? Well, God begins to answer that question, verse 43. That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths.

When I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God. And so in this very simple, this very straightforward command to keep the Feast of Tabernacles, this Feast of Booths, God begins to point their thinking to the temporary. Think about the tent. Think about dwelling in booths in the wilderness. He had them consider that. Because not only was it a command written down by inspiration of God, not only was it something to be passed down by oral tradition, I'm going to tell about this to my children and their children, but here God gave them an object lesson that they actually had to gather the boughs and the palm fronds and actually build that booth, build that shelter, build that hut as a physical reminder as well to be a remembrance, a perpetual remembrance.

And you see, like Abraham, it wasn't to remind them that they were rightful heirs of the Promised Land. Nope. Not that at all.

Like Abraham, they were nomads. They were sojourners. They were travelers. They were pilgrims. They were transients. That's what it was to remind them of, that this sukkah, this makeshift hut, would remind them of life itself. That life is temporary. Life is transient. This precarious nature of human life is fleeting. It's passing. And nonetheless, being reminded of that, God's people were able, and in fact not just able, but they were obligated to celebrate it, to recognize it and celebrate it with joy and gratitude to God. And so they recognized that very fact, that this hut, like life, was temporary. And as Israel considered the booth, they would also recognize something significant, not only to dwell in this temporary hut for those seven days, but if you notice what else God said, I brought them out of the land of Egypt. You see, they were also to consider that very thing, that the Feast of Tabernacles was to remind them of Egypt. And what was going on back in Egypt?

Well, Pharaoh was back there. Slavery was back there. Bondage was back there. The Feast of Tabernacles was to remind them that God delivers. God had delivered them out of the hand of Pharaoh. Because, you see, God realized, once they got into the Promised Land, how easy would it be to sit back, relax, this wonderful land flowing with milk and honey. I could sit, relax in this beautiful house that I have now. I could sit there after a beautiful harvest, a wonderful period of overflowing blessings. And I could think to myself, look what I've done.

Look how I've prospered.

Look what my hand has profited.

You see, God didn't want them thinking like that. The booth was to remind them. You better stay humble. You better remember when you were unsettled. You better remember that God delivered you out of the hand of Pharaoh. You better remember that this booth was to remind you that your success in Canaan, your prosperity in the Promised Land, was completely based on the grace of God. It was by God's grace, by His mercy, by His deliverance, that any of this could even begin to happen. So don't forget Egypt. Don't forget God brought you out. Don't forget, not only did He deliver you, but He also provided for you that God provides. The booth was a tangible reminder that God provided for those Israelites in the wilderness. Because while they were on that journey, what did they depend on? Who did they depend on?

They depended on God. They had to depend. They either depended on God or hope something comes out of a rock, which isn't going to happen unless God makes it happen. So what were they dependent on? They were dependent on God for food, for water, shelter, for whatever need they had.

This concept of God's provision was something they were reminded of by the booth. The booth was a reminder of a living, breathing example of God's provision, His mercy and His grace, that He poured out on them when they dwelt in those tabernacles for all those years.

In fact, Nehemiah reminds us of that. Nehemiah chapter 9 verse 19, a passage that should come to their minds as they lived in that Promised Land.

Nehemiah told that story of the provision of God. Nehemiah 9.19 tells of God's greatness, how He not only delivered, but how He provides. And how tabernacles, booths, those tents were interconnected with that kind of thinking. Nehemiah 9 verse 19.

It says, "...yet in your manifold mercies, God, you did not forsake them in the wilderness." And if you think about the wilderness, Nehemiah brought to their mind a particular aspect that was a visual constant day after day after day after day reminder of God's provision. Notice what Nehemiah refers to here. "...you did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day to leave them on the road, nor did the pillar of fire by night to show them light and the way they should go. You also gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst." So the booth was a reminder of God's provision, His supply, His manifold mercies upon them, whether it be food or water or shelter, protection, the cloud, the fire to watch over them. Because it's certainly also a reminder of that very protection, that that pillar of fire stood between them and the armies of Egypt.

And God protected them, and that pillar of fire and that pillar of cloud. Think about how it functioned. What was part of the purpose for that pillar?

It was a protecting booth, in a sense, wasn't it?

It was like that hut that would be built to protect the harvesters. It was a reminder that God set up a tabernacle Himself, a tabernacle of a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire. And this pillar gave them a sense of care, a sense of love, a sense of the tenderness that God was over them, that God hung a canopy like that little roof out of palm fronds that you could still see the stars through. Here God was a canopy over them, even a cloud that sheltered them from the heat of the sun.

God was right there, protecting them and watching over them. Deuteronomy 32 tells that very story. Deuteronomy 32, verse 10, it sets this image, this little illustration, almost a metaphor in a sense, of how God tabernacled with them, how He protected them, how this pillar functioned like a protecting booth over His people. Deuteronomy 32, notice verse 10. Here's saying it in rather poetic terms, talking about Israel as Him, these people in the desert. Deuteronomy 32, verse 10, it says, He found Him in a desert land. He, being God, found Israel in a desert land and in a wasteland, a howling wilderness. He encircled Him. That's God encircling them. He instructed Him. He kept Him as the apple of His eye. Verse 11, as an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led Him. There was no foreign God with Him. He made Him right in the heights of the earth. And so you see booths reminded them of God's protection, of God's canopy, of that pillar of cloud and that pillar of fire, that the camp of Israel was protected. It was provided for, and it was delivered by God Himself. And so if you can imagine when that pillar would move, it was time to pack things up and get moving. I suppose in a way, kind of like getting ready for the feast. Do you enjoy packing things up and getting it in the car or packing it in that suit? Get ready to go! For some it is a great joy to do that. For others it's a bit of a task. Sometimes I think it's easier if you have less room. Oh, we're taking our car. We've got plenty of room. We'll take everything we possibly can jam in here. It can be really amazing how much you can get in there. I did hear a story about a family that was going to be camping, and they jammed everything into this van. I mean everything. They pulled into this campsite, the very last site available at this camp. And their neighbor watched as they pulled up this van that just literally had things hanging out of it. Things jammed on the top, hanging out of the back. Everything was...they pulled up into this last campsite. Their neighbor watched as the doors flung open, four children jump out of this van and frantically start setting up everything. They were feverishly working. They're unloading gear. The boys rushed to set up the tent. The girls were getting in the camp stove. They were picking up firewood. This nearby camper was just amazed, marveled at how these kids were just jumping to it. It says to their father, Wow! That is amazing teamwork you've taught your family. The dad looked in and said, I have a system. Nobody goes to the bathroom until camp is set up.

Now that's a system. I don't think the Israelites were quite like that. But it's certainly a reminder that the Feast of Booths does look back. It looks back to the time of Abraham. It looks back to the time of the harvest time in Israel. It looks back to the time of Israel in the wilderness.

But there's another connection to booths that lies ahead. That's number three. Number three, future booths. Future booths. It reminds us of a time that lies ahead. And when we look at the headlines of this world, we live in a troubled time, don't we? We live in a time of hurricanes. We live in a time of fires. We live in a time of earthquakes. We live in a time of mass shootings. How much more before we reach this time of the Great Tribulation? Well, we're a year closer than we were last year.

And it seems like it's just over the horizon. You see, booths look to that time as well, to this time of Tribulation. Because the booth can also picture a time that God will protect a faithful remnant of His people. Because God promises to do that very thing.

And the booth can't help but come to mind. You'll turn with me over to Psalm 27. Psalm 27 verse 5. A beautiful psalm. In fact, one we often hear sung at the Feast of Tabernacles. Psalm 27 will begin in verse 5. Because it reminds us that the booth pictures the time when God has promised to protect a faithful remnant of His people during that very time of trouble. During that time of Tribulation, God promises a booth. God promises a booth. So over here in Psalm 27, do you recognize this song? Psalm 27 is, The Lord is my light and my salvation.

That's the song. When we look to verse 5, it says, For in the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion. That's what New King James said. That's that base word for sukkah. That hut. That tabernacle.

That booth. He'll hide me in His booth. In the secret place of His tabernacle. He shall hide me. He'll set me high upon a rock. And of course, Psalm 27 is looking forward to that time of Tribulation when He will shelter His people. When He will protect that remnant. Certainly reminiscent of Joel chapter 3 verse 16. You can just write that one down. It says, The Lord will be a shelter for His people.

He'll be the strength of the children of Israel. Not just back in the day, but also in the future. He'll be that future shelter, that future booth for His people. He will be that place of safety. As Revelation 12 talks about. Revelation 12.14 is reminiscent of Psalm 27 and Joel 3. That God will protect a remnant of His people in that place to nourish them in the wilderness. And so the Feast of Booths, the booth itself is a reminder that Tribulation is to come. And yet, despite that fact, God promises protection. God promises protection. In fact, not just stopping at the future of the Tribulation, but we go a step farther in the future.

Go to the time that ultimately Jesus Christ will return. And we get to the Millennium. And the booth also comes to mind. Turn with me over to Isaiah 4, verse 4. Because this future booth also has the aspect and carries the significance of the Millennium itself. That thousand years when Jesus Christ will reign and rule on earth, and we as resurrected saints will also reign and rule with Him. And notice the way that Isaiah words this very fact, this illustration, to really bring it to life and makes this connection with the Feast of Tabernacles.

Isaiah 4, verse 4. This future booth comes to mind. It says, When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning, then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering, and there will be a tabernacle.

There'll be a booth, talking to the time of the Millennium. It says, There will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. Because at that time, like Zechariah 14 reminds us, people will be keeping the feast, and this future booth will also be reminiscent of ancient Israel, the pillar of fire and the pillar of cloud that went with them.

And God Himself, there will be a tabernacle, a tabernacle. As it says in verse 5, The Lord will create above every dwelling place a cloud, a cloud. And so when you consider these three facets of the booth, of the shelter, of the tent, the tabernacle, there's some amazing, significant applications from these three things that should help us today to keep God's purpose in His plan in mind in each and every one of our lives. There are amazing, what you might call, booth lessons for all of us today. Any of those lessons come to mind as we talked about Abraham, as we talked about Israel, as we look to the future as well?

Booth lesson number one. How's your vision? Booth lesson number one is about vision. What is our vision? You see, one of the challenges is most of us lack a clear vision of what's coming, of the future, of ultimately that permanent residence, that permanent future that God has in mind. I mean, do we live like we see it? If we have a crystal clear vision of that awesome future, it impresses upon us how transient this life is, how temporary this physical life really is, how transient this present is.

I mean, we know it. We probably even said it. Wow, I can't believe how fast the feast is going. You ever said that? Yep. We'll say it by the time we get to the end of the feast. I can't believe it's over. That's life. That is life. Life is exactly like that. We know we live in a tent. We know we have a physical body, and soon this physical body, like the tent, is going to be taken down.

This life is fleeting. This life is frail. You can write down 2 Corinthians 5. The challenge for us is, don't buy into the illusion of this life being permanent. Because it's not. This life is just a moment. It's just a twinkling. And even though we know better, we have to fight that kind of thinking. Especially the younger we are, we have to fight that kind of thinking. And Tabernacles reminds us to catch the vision. Catch the vision.

See that big picture. Be sure we recognize that. And pray. And ask God to give us clear vision. So that we can be absolutely convicted of the temporary nature of this life. And over and over and over again, Scripture reminds us of that. My life is just a handbread. Scripture tells us and reminds us of that. We recognize that nothing but the promises of God and what He has in mind is permanent. And like ancient Israel, do we really get it? Do we really understand? Do we recognize that this wilderness is not our home? This is not where we belong. So what's the proof of that?

What's your proof of that? The proof that this wilderness is not our home? That we live under the authority of God. Israel was to live under God's laws in that challenge of a desert landscape, in a barren land, in a wilderness, in the desert. They were to live by God's ways. They were nomads and pilgrims and sojourners. And just like us, we're transients. And so while we take heart and satisfaction that life is passing away, we recognize the fact that ultimately it has to be.

So that what cannot be shaken still remains. And so pray and ask God for that very passion, for that clear vision of His permanent city like Abraham. We look to that city so we dwell in tents. So we dwell in what's not permanent. We look for a city and we dwell in this physical tent. And by having that clear vision, by having that passion, it helps detach us from the present. It puts us separated from the perishable, from what's going to fade away.

And you know what's critical? That despite the challenges, that even though we live under difficult circumstances, and some of us live under horrible circumstances, we're going through awful trials and troubles. It feels like the tribulation in our life already. And yet despite that fact, despite we are in a wilderness, the booth causes us to have joy, to have a deep-seated sense of rejoicing. As we look forward to that security of the City of God, we look forward to His stability.

We look forward to the time when we will no longer be under assault. We will no longer be subjected to those kinds of trials and difficulties, ailments or violence. We'll no longer be. And we know it, and we see it, and we have a passion for that city. We understand that lesson of the booth. Booth Lesson number 2. God provides and protects. Yes, like ancient Israel, He provides and protects. But here's the question for all of us. Do we recognize that? Do we really look to Him and trust in God alone to meet our needs?

You see, Israel was given the feast to remind them that they must always trust in Him alone. He would supply their needs. They were fully dependent on God for furnishing food and water and shelter. And yet for us, it doesn't stop just with that part of the booth lesson. Booth Lesson number 2. God provides and protects. But for you and I, there's a little more to that lesson. Second Corinthians 9 brings that facet to significance. Second Corinthians chapter 9. Notice verse 8. It adds a little bit more to Booth Lesson number 2.

Not only does God provide and protect, but for you and me, there's more. There's more. There's an important additional facet that the Apostle Paul brings out in 2 Corinthians 9. Beginning in verse 8. 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8. New King James says this. God is able to make all grace abound toward you. That you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Now in my New King James Version to me, I have a hard time grasping what exactly He's talking about there. It's not clear to me. So I had to look this up in a couple other translations. You look at verse 8 again. A modern translation puts it this way. This is from the voice. Notice verse 8. Read along with me. It says this. God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine.

So that you will always be taken care of in every way. And you'll have more than enough to share. Look at verse 9. Remember what is written about the one who trusts in the Lord. He scattered abroad. He gave freely to the poor. His righteousness endures throughout the ages. Verse 10. The same one who has put seed into the hands of the sower and brought bread to fill our stomachs will provide and multiply the resources you invest and produce an abundant harvest from your righteous actions.

You see that? God puts the seed into the hands of the sower and multiplies the resources you invest to produce an abundant harvest from your righteous actions. Verse 11. He says, you will be made rich in everything so that your generosity will spill over in every direction. You see, so, book lesson number 2. Not only recognizing God provides and protects, but this additional facet is all about action.

It's all about action. If we know God's Word is true, we understand His provision and His protection. We have to act as though it's true. And then it becomes a reality in our life. And we progress from just knowing to doing.

So not only thankful for His protection, not only grateful for His provision, but we have a determination to grow, a determination to act. And so the booze reminds us of that commitment to renew that pledge. I will act on what God says to me in His Word. I will put His Word in His way and His will into action in my life. The Feast of Tabernacles, the booth reminds me that I can't just know it. I can't just recognize it, but I must be a doer of the Word.

That brings us to booth Lesson 3.

Who's Lesson 3? God's Deliverance. God's Deliverance. Remember part of that command back in Leviticus 23? God gave that command and told them, I brought them out the land of Egypt. He literally brought them out from under Pharaoh's hands. What about us? He's brought us out of the land of Egypt, hasn't He? He's brought us out of bondage. He's brought us out of the slavery of sin.

He reminds us of that booth Lesson in Romans 6. Verse 6. Let's notice it. Booth Lesson 3, God's Deliverance, is expounded on in Romans 6, verse 6. Familiar section of Scripture, probably one that we studied as we came to baptism, as we came to make that covenant with God, to have Him rule in our life. Romans 6, verse 6 is certainly a Booth Lesson that reminds us of God's Deliverance. Notice what the Apostle Paul was inspired to write for us. He says, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin, for he who has died has been freed from sin. Skipping down to verse 12. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. So Paul sets up a contrast. He says, look at the difference between what's going on on the inside and our outside. Notice this outer shell of a physical life, that we have an inner life, a different life. We are a new spiritual creation in Christ. And yet, we still live in this physical body. We're still in this tent. We're still in this booth. And yet, in this dwelling is a new creation. And the outside is going to die. It's promised it will die or be changed in the twinkling of an eye. And so this new creation that's begotten of the Spirit must replace that old way of thinking, that old man. And the booth is a reminder of how long did it take Israel? How long did it take Israel as they wander from the slavery of Pharaoh to the promised land? 40 years. That transition took 40 years of dwelling in booths, at least part-time, in the wilderness of sin. 40 years of trials and testing. What a reminder for us that this transition from that old person, that old creature to the new takes time. It takes time to spiritually mature. And so this booth lesson reminds us that during the Feast of Tabernacles, like those 40 years spent in the wilderness, it took that long for those slaves to transition to a circumcised holy nation. And for us, that booth lesson reminds us we used to be slaves to sin, but that's not the case anymore. Because we can repent and we can change, and dwelling in booths represents the death of that old self.

It has a connection to freedom. Freedom from sin. Freedom from being enslaved. That we are spiritually maturing to be a new creation in Christ. Dwelling in booths isn't all about appreciating all the best things in life, all the physical things. Yeah, we experience some of that, and certainly the millennium will be a time of plenty, no doubt about that. But dwelling in this booth isn't about enjoying the finer things of a physical life. Because what's that going to come to? Nothing. Nothing. It's all going to pass away. It's about putting into practice the covenant that we made with God. That's what it's about. It's about letting this piece of booths be a spiritual turning point in our life to put on the character of Jesus Christ. It's about becoming a more perfect spiritual creation, which takes us right to booth lesson number four. Booth lesson number four is faith. It's about living faith. Think about that example that Abraham set. Not only Abraham, but Isaac and Jacob, who looked to that city of God. And yet it didn't dampen their life at the moment. They were content to dwell in the temporary. And you know, that's what our lives ought to be because it's showing two aspects, two inseparable, perhaps indispensable characters of a life of faith. Two aspects, two characteristics of that life of faith. Because Abraham demonstrated a depth. He demonstrated the power of faith as he looked forward to the promise. He looked forward to God's promise. And how did he do it? By faith. By faith. The booth reminded Abraham of that very thing. Don't walk by sight. Walk by faith. We're reminded of that same thing. Second Corinthians 5-7 tells us that very thing. We walk by faith, not by sight. And that the just shall live by faith. Galatians 3-11 reminds us of that. So it reminds us, though we live this life, we are absolutely passionately dedicated to God's way. And there is no way we're going to be absorbed into this culture, into this way of thinking. We're not going to be settled into a physical way of life. We are going to put our faith, our trust, our confidence in God. We're going to live. Psalm 37. Psalm 37 verse 3. Another psalm that we sing often. Psalm 37 verse 3.

This is a song we sing. Envy not, nor fret yourself, over evil lawless men. Why? Because we have faith. We know this life is going to come to an end. And God's promises will come to fruition. It will undoubtedly happen. And so verse 3 says, Trust in the Lord. And have it impact your life. It's not just about trusting in the Lord. It's not just about having faith. But it's about having walking faith, living faith. And so verse 3 says, Trust in the Lord and do good. There's that action step again. Dwell in the land. Yeah, we're stuck here right now.

But we better make the most of it. And how can we do that? Psalm 37. It says, Feed on His faithfulness. That's what Abraham did. That's what Isaac did. That's what Jacob did. When we're down, it seems we're out for the count. We're challenged by so many things in this life. Feed on God's faithfulness. God will never leave us. He will never forsake us. He has promise. And what He promised will absolutely, undoubtedly, unequivocally come to pass. Abraham recognized it. He saw that city. God wants us to recognize that in our lives. He says in verse 4, Delight yourselves also in the Lord.

He shall. He will undoubtedly give you the desires of your heart. And that's not now. That's not a good stake. That's not what we're talking about. He's talking about eternal life. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in Him. He shall bring it to pass. So we don't rely on self. We don't depend on our own intellect. We don't trust our own ways of thinking. We don't depend on our own ideas.

We're like that man who came to Christ to heal his son. He said, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Help my unbelief. And so walk in faith. Consider these aspects of the significance of the booth and these four-booth lessons. Because we can even imagine more. God's Word is absolutely amazing that He wants us to imagine even more. And look beyond. Look beyond what happened in the past.

Look beyond today. Look past the tribulation. Even look beyond the millennium. And God says there's more about the booth. Because ultimately, God the Father will tabernacle with us. In fact, it's a key message throughout the Bible. Tabernacling with God. Turn to Revelation 21, verse 2. Revelation 21, verse 2. What an amazing summary to what God's ultimate purpose, the ultimate facet of the booth, the ultimate significance in the plan of God, for all of us to recognize and really take to heart during the Feast of Tabernacles. Revelation 21, verse 2. Then I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, what Abraham saw, what Isaac imagined, what Jacob took to heart. I saw this coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. You see, God will tabernacle with all who are there. God will dwell with them. Imagine that city, imagine that booth where there will be every tear wiped away. There will be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying, no more pain. He says, Behold, I make all things new.

So as we consider the significance of the booth, let's resolve. Let's commit ourselves. Let's determine, not just to be in the booth for seven days, let's just not occasionally be with God, not merely hang around Him once in a while, not just to abide with Him occasionally, once in a while kind of thing, but to remain, to continue, to be sure that God is deeply dwelling in us our whole life so that we can truly sing with a fervor. Psalm 84. Turn there with me to Psalm 84. Perhaps one of the most beautiful hymns in our songbook. Psalm 84. What I'm sure we'll sing during this feast.

Do you recognize Psalm 84? You probably recognize it. You don't even have to turn there. Could you sing it with me? It's, How lovely are thy dwellings! How lovely are thy dwellings! O eternal Lord of hosts! My soul is longing fainting For Thee, O living God! Yea, the bird has found its home, Built a nest to lay her yard. O that I may find thine altars My Lord, my King, my God.

That's Psalm 84. Look at it. What is that dwelling? It's the booth. How lovely is your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul, my very being, longs! It even faints For the courts of the Lord, My heart and my flesh cry out For the living God!

Even the sparrows found a home, A swallow, a nest for her young, Where she may live. But that's not my home, God. I'm looking to you. I'm looking to the home you're establishing, Even your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King, my God. Verse 4, Blessed are those who dwell, who tabernacle, who booth In your house, They will still be praising you.

So as we keep this feast of tabernacles, remember the significance of the booth. Let's be transformed with God's help into His people, a holy people. Let's keep that vision forefront in our hearts and in our minds.

Let's trust in Him alone for His protection, for His provision. And let's remember that He has delivered us, not just from the ways of this world, but He's delivered us from the slavery of sin.

And let's put His ways into action. Let's act. Let's commit ourselves even more deeply to putting on the character of Jesus Christ. And let's continue to walk by faith toward the coming Kingdom of God.