New Beginnings!

Today is the 8th and final day of the celebration of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. I recall the two times I was blessed to celebrate this feast in Israel. The gaily decorated sukkahs (temporary dwellings, or booths) around the city of Jerusalem gladdened my heart, and the festive atmosphere was contagious. No matter how dismal the real circumstances are around us, Sukkot is a time of joyful anticipation. This season is both a reminder and a prophecy. It causes us to look back and recall a time when our ancestors dwelt in tents in the wilderness and the LORD cared for them with manna for food, fire at night for warmth and protection, a cloud by day to shield them from the sun. What a loving Father He was over His children! And so He is today. In the midst of collapsing economies, threats of nuclear war and joblessness, the season of Sukkot sets our eyes on the Kingdom yet to come - the Bridegroom returning for His Bride, to take her into His sukkah (His Chamber) for the glorious Wedding Supper. Then He will dwell with us forever; His Kingdom shall have no end!

This morning I am pondering the blessing that on the 20th John and I will celebrate 8 years of marriage, as we celebrate the 8th day of Sukkot! The number 8 in Hebraic understanding means "new beginnings." How appropriate! We begin anew to read from the Torah in Genesis Chapter 1; and we sense many new beginnings in our young marriage as the LORD continues to teach us to keep on His path and follow His ways. We turned our back porch into a sukkah, covered in grape vines from my back yard, and decorated with banners and flowers. We put a mattress on the floor and slept there for a few nights until the rain moved in! Watching the moon cross the sky during the night was a beautiful reminder of His care over us, and the steadfastness of His cycles.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the great feast day known as Simchat Torah (joy of the Torah). I know many in the Church still do not yet understand why we take such joy in the cyclical reading of the Torah each year, from Genesis through Deuteronomy. Keren Hannah writes, "The conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle at this time and the immediate beginning of the cycle for the next year is the central reason and focus of the holiday of Simchat Torah. An old gate is closing and a new one is opening. We celebrate the new beginning and the opportunity to step forward into another year of relationship with our Father, the Giver and Source of Life, and into continuing growth in knowledge of His Word and thereby of Himself. We can lift our hearts and rejoice and sing with the Psalmist:
“Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things in Your Torah.
Your testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors. …Give me understanding, that I may keep Your Torah and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.
The sum of Your Word is truth; and every one of Your righteous ordinances endures for ever… my heart stands in awe of Your words.I rejoice at Your Word, like one who finds great treasure.” (Psalm 119:18, 24, 34-35,160-162)

Whatever your circumstance today, find joy in the blessings of God's Word, and His never-failing love and care over you!