We are now within the 7 days of Succot - or Tabernacles - in which the Jewish people (primarily) celebrate God's provision of shelter for them in the desert. Who, of all the peoples of the earth, should be more cognizant of shelter than the Jews? They are an embattled people. There is an excellent article on the side bar today (when Jerusalem is clicked) of the evangelical march in Jerusalem for the support of Israel and some of the current Israeli views of this support.
Most of us realize that the march in the desert was a real event, but it has much spiritual significance. We all have our 'dry' seasons where it seems like we're in a rut, spiritually, and we simply march around that same old mountain and the scenery never changes. Mature Christians might see it for what it is; either a time of testing, or just a period between the rains. It might even be that we've fallen into a rut, so introspection can reveal the cause of that. Have we become so involved in work or play that we have 'forgotten our first love'?
We experience walks in the dry places. But God still shelters us until we turn and seek Him again, or until the test is over, or until the rains come. Remember, as seekers of Christ, we are grafted into the spiritual tree of Israel, and we should always celebrate God's shelter over us. Identify with Succot, because God IS good!
The 8th day, the day after the feast is over, is the day where those who are really enjoying themselves find themselves still lingering around the party. It is then that God the Father says, hang around! Enjoy another day with me! The Millennial Reign is symbolic of the Feast of Succot, where the party for the lovers of God is 1000 years long. But when the party is over, and the 8th 'millennial' day begins, God will invite those who are truly in love with Him to 'hang around', and the New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven and we will indeed stay with Him - beyond the party.
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