Zechariah 14: 9-11, 16 (parts of) “And the Lord will be king over all the earth. On that day the Lord will be one and His name one. The whole land shall be turned into a plain…. But Jerusalem shall remain aloft on its site… And it shall be inhabited, for there shall never again be a decree of utter destruction. Jerusalem shall dwell in security… Then everyone who survives of all the nations that have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Booths.”
So many thoughts about this passage! But we’ll try to narrow it to one main idea 🙂
The Feast of Booths, also called Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles, is celebrated by Israel in the fall and they are called to live in tent-like structures (sukkas) for the 7 days of the festival. But that’s not the only thing God desires of them.
You see, according to Leviticus 23 the Israelites were also called to rejoice before the Lord for the entire 7 days while dwelling in their Sukka. (and today there is a HUGE party in Jersualem at the end of Sukkot)
There are many things to learn from this festival, but what I want to focus on is the rejoicing aspect.
Why is Israel called to rejoice? What are they rejoicing over? Many things to be honest, but one reason – during the Festival of Sukkot Israel is acknowledging the kingship of God.
Yhwh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the God of Israel. He is their King. And for 7 days every year God calls them to rejoice in and celebrate His Kingship.
And bc of Jesus and His faithfulness we believing Gentiles get to join in the party! We too have been brought into the kingdom of God. He is now our King and according to the Bible that is a cause for rejoicing!
But there is a greater party coming bc according to Zechariah one day all the nations will acknowledge the King. One day every knee will be bow. One day every tongue will confess Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. One day it will be acknowledged among that nations that the God of Israel is the one true God of all the nations! God will be known as the King over all kings and the Lord over all lords. And those with whom He is in covenant will rejoice and be vindicated.
So may you celebrate, believer, bc you are a part of the kingdom of God. Rejoice that your God is King and one day all the nations of the world will know and acknowledge the King of kings and the Lord of lords – Yhwh is His Name.
