In her article “Sukkot, the Temple, and the Messianic Controversy” found in the website The Torah.com, Dr. Malka Simkovich begins by quoting a prayer said after the meals during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): “May the All-Merciful One reestablish the fallen sukkah of [King] David.” She goes on to state, “as the Temple became a symbol of messianic hope for Jews in ancient times, the holiday of Sukkot became linked to that messianic image as well.”[1]
This prayer must have been inspired by Amos 9:11 (KJV):
11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
This prayer may also have been inspired by the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV):
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
When the Messiah comes and re-establishes the throne of David, there will be no end of peace. In today’s world of turmoil and conflict, an eternal government ruled by the Prince of Peace sounds inviting.
On the website, Sefaria, which describes itself as “A Living Library of Torah Texts Online,” is an article by Josh Antian entitled, “Sukkot, the Messianic Era and the Nations of the World.”
In this article he states, “As the spiritual climax of the year, sukkot is full of deep allusions to the messianic era – the spiritual climax of world history.” He goes on to say that Sukkot, “looks ahead to the final redemption.”[2] This notion linking Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) with the Messianic age clearly originated with the Jews.
Another name for The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is Chag Ha-Asif (Festival of Ingathering). This term refers to the agricultural aspect of the feast. Ellen G. White clearly had this in mind when she wrote in Patriarchs and Prophets:
“The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner. At that time the wicked will all be destroyed. They will become “as though they had not been.” Obadiah 16. And every voice in the whole universe will unite in joyful praise to God.”[3]
Our Jewish brothers and sisters may disagree with Ellen White about who the Messiah is, but this statement shows that in the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) she was looking for the coming of the Messiah, just as they are. Many Jews and Christians share the belief that the Messiah is coming soon. This should be our prayer during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
[1] Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich. “Sukkot, the Temple, and the Messianic Controversy.” The Torah.com. Published September 9, 2013. Last Updated September 21, 2023. https://www.thetorah.com/article/sukkot-the-temple-and-the-messianic-controversy
[2] Josh Antian. “Sukkot, the Messianic Era and the Nations of the World.”
Sefaria.org. October 21, 2016. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/46539.10?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
[3] White, E. G. (1890). The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets as Illustrated in the Lives of Holy Men of Old (Vol. 1, p. 541). Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Posted: October 1, 2023 · Leave a Comment
Looking for the Messiah on Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)
In her article “Sukkot, the Temple, and the Messianic Controversy” found in the website The Torah.com, Dr. Malka Simkovich begins by quoting a prayer said after the meals during Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles): “May the All-Merciful One reestablish the fallen sukkah of [King] David.” She goes on to state, “as the Temple became a symbol of messianic hope for Jews in ancient times, the holiday of Sukkot became linked to that messianic image as well.”[1]
This prayer must have been inspired by Amos 9:11 (KJV):
11 In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:
This prayer may also have been inspired by the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6-7 (KJV):
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
When the Messiah comes and re-establishes the throne of David, there will be no end of peace. In today’s world of turmoil and conflict, an eternal government ruled by the Prince of Peace sounds inviting.
On the website, Sefaria, which describes itself as “A Living Library of Torah Texts Online,” is an article by Josh Antian entitled, “Sukkot, the Messianic Era and the Nations of the World.”
In this article he states, “As the spiritual climax of the year, sukkot is full of deep allusions to the messianic era – the spiritual climax of world history.” He goes on to say that Sukkot, “looks ahead to the final redemption.”[2] This notion linking Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) with the Messianic age clearly originated with the Jews.
Another name for The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is Chag Ha-Asif (Festival of Ingathering). This term refers to the agricultural aspect of the feast. Ellen G. White clearly had this in mind when she wrote in Patriarchs and Prophets:
“The Feast of Tabernacles was not only commemorative but typical. It not only pointed back to the wilderness sojourn, but, as the feast of harvest, it celebrated the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and pointed forward to the great day of final ingathering, when the Lord of the harvest shall send forth His reapers to gather the tares together in bundles for the fire, and to gather the wheat into His garner. At that time the wicked will all be destroyed. They will become “as though they had not been.” Obadiah 16. And every voice in the whole universe will unite in joyful praise to God.”[3]
Our Jewish brothers and sisters may disagree with Ellen White about who the Messiah is, but this statement shows that in the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) she was looking for the coming of the Messiah, just as they are. Many Jews and Christians share the belief that the Messiah is coming soon. This should be our prayer during the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
[1] Dr. Malka Z. Simkovich. “Sukkot, the Temple, and the Messianic Controversy.” The Torah.com. Published September 9, 2013. Last Updated September 21, 2023. https://www.thetorah.com/article/sukkot-the-temple-and-the-messianic-controversy
[2] Josh Antian. “Sukkot, the Messianic Era and the Nations of the World.”
Sefaria.org. October 21, 2016. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/46539.10?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en
[3] White, E. G. (1890). The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets as Illustrated in the Lives of Holy Men of Old (Vol. 1, p. 541). Pacific Press Publishing Association.
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