February 28
Lesson 13
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
DEVOTIONAL READING: Deuteronomy 8:1–11
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Numbers 29:12–40; Leviticus 23:33–43; Deuteronomy 16:13–17; Revelation 14:1–5; 1 Corinthians 15:20–29
LEVITICUS 23:33–43
33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
38 Beside the Sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.
39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.
40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.
42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
Photo: mfto/iStock/Thinkstock
KEY VERSES
Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
—Leviticus 23:42, 43
SACRED GIFTS AND HOLY GATHERINGS
Unit 3: Holy Days
LESSONS 10–13
LESSON AIMS
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
1. Describe the historical background for the Feast of Tabernacles and the ways that the celebration helped the people to remember it.
2. Tell why commemorating significant milestones in one’s heritage is helpful in passing one’s faith to the next generation.
3. Help plan a special service of remembrance for God’s historical blessings of his or her church.
LESSON OUTLINE
Introduction
A. A Good Feeling
B. Lesson Background
I. Observance Established (LEVITICUS 23:33–36)
A. Month and Days (vv. 33, 34)
B. Rest and Sacrifices (vv. 35, 36)
II. Special Days Reviewed (LEVITICUS 23:37, 38)
A. Observances and Offerings (v. 37)
B. Sabbaths, Vows, and Offerings (v. 38)
The Privilege of “Over and Above”
III. Observance Explained (LEVITICUS 23:39–43)
A. Basic Facts Stated (v. 39)
Lengthy Celebrations
B. Tree Branches Collected (v. 40)
C. Yearly Observance Mandated (v. 41)
D. Booth-living Required (vv. 42, 43)
Conclusion
A. The Blessing of Memory
B. Prayer
C. Thought to Remember
HOW TO SAY IT
Apocrypha Uh-paw-kruh-fuh.
Babylon Bab-uh-lun.
Judas Maccabaeus Joo-dus Mah-kuh-bee-us.
Maccabees Mack-uh-bees.
Nehemiah Nee-huh-my-uh.
Persia Per-zhuh.
Solomon Sol-o-mun.
Syrians Sear-ee-unz.
Tabernacles Tah-burr-nah-kulz.
Tishri Tish-ree.
Zechariah Zek-uh-rye-uh.
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What Do You Think?
What improvements can you make regarding your time-off days? Why is it important to do so?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Regarding increased focus on God
■ Regarding the need for rest itself
■ Regarding reexamination of priorities
■ Other
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What Do You Think?
Besides Christmas and Easter, what significant regular celebrations or observances does your church maintain? Why are these important?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ For new Christians
■ For seekers
■ For spiritually mature Christians
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What Do You Think?
What is significant about keeping vows that have been made to and before God?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Concerning marriage vows
■ Concerning oaths of office
■ Concerning financial promises
■ Concerning courtroom oaths or affirmations
■ Other
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What Do You Think?
What causes churches in general and Christians in particular to stop observing special days or milestones they once did?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ Good reasons
■ Poor reasons
■ Concerning Romans 14:5, 6
■ Concerning Colossians 2:16
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What Do You Think?
How can we make better use of tangible objects as aids to worship?
Talking Points for Your Discussion
■ At Christmas
■ At Easter
■ On Palm Sunday
■ During the Lord’s Supper
■ Other
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