In Nehemiah 8, the returned exiles demonstrated a profound devotion in preparing for the Feast of Tabernacles. On the second day after the Day of Trumpets, the heads of the fathers' houses, along with the priests and Levites, gathered to Ezra to understand the words of the law. Their hunger for understanding persisted beyond the holy day, leading them to discover the command to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month. They were instructed to proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem to go out to the mountain and bring branches of olive, oil trees, myrtle, palm, and leafy trees to construct booths as written in the law. The people eagerly complied, building booths on their roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, and in the open squares of the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. The whole assembly who had returned from captivity participated, dwelling in these temporary structures, an observance not seen since the days of Joshua, son of Nun, which brought very great gladness. Day by day, from the first to the last day of the feast, Ezra read from the book of the law of God, and they kept the feast for seven days, concluding with a sacred assembly on the eighth day as prescribed. This preparation and observance reflected a renewed commitment to God's commands, focusing on the significance of temporary dwellings as a reminder of their dependence on Him.

The Feast of Tabernacles is a cherished time for those in God's church, marking an exhilarating climax to the year that energizes us for the challenges ahead. It combines spiritual and physical fulfillment, fostering a hopeful expectation of joy surpassing any other period. God commands us to keep the Feast to enjoy the fruits of our labors and His blessings, and to learn, emphasizing that it is not merely a vacation but a purposeful interlude requiring effort. This learning includes developing a fear of God, which ranges from anxious concern to deep reverence and occasional terror, arising from an awareness of being in His presence. God places significant importance on the Feast of Tabernacles, as illustrated by the substantial resources He instructs us to set aside for it, ensuring we can rejoice and learn to fear Him simultaneously. The concept of dwelling in booths during the Feast, reminiscent of Israel's time in the wilderness, teaches us about temporariness and impermanence, reminding us to view ourselves as aliens and pilgrims in this world, not permanently anchored to it, but passing through toward a greater inheritance. At the Feast, God commands daily confrontation with Him through services, testing our discipline and priorities amidst prosperity and potential distractions. He provides for our needs, not in wrath but to teach us dependence on Him, revealing whether we live by faith or by sight. The Feast helps us separate temporal vanity from spiritual reality, focusing on what truly matters in His purpose. Booths remind us of God's provision and our unsettled position in this world, orienting us toward His Kingdom as we walk by faith. A concentrated dose of God's Word during the Feast strengthens our focus on His purpose, encouraging us to examine ourselves, apply effort, and rejoice with intention while learning to fear Him.

In these days and weeks following the Feast of Tabernacles and the Last Great Day, we in God's church should be preparing both physically and spiritually for next year's Feast. Armed with the experiences of this year's Feast, we can learn from both the good and the bad that we encountered. To prepare our children, we must train them throughout the year for proper behavior during services, using daily and weekly sessions to teach them to remain quiet and calm with special books and toys reserved for those times. Effort spent in proper training now will lead to benefits extending beyond next year's Feast of Tabernacles. Additionally, to ensure attendance at the location where God chooses to place His name, we must start immediately to save our festival tithe, supplementing it with additional funds if necessary by forgoing unnecessary expenditures during the year. Let us prepare both physically and spiritually for next year's Feast, being armed with the experiences of this year's Feast that has just finished. The Feast is over! Prepare for the Feast!

The Feast of Tabernacles, also called the Feast of Ingathering, carries a profound harvest theme, emphasizing the fruit of our labors. This observance, first mentioned in Exodus 23, highlights a time of abundance and respite after the harvest is gathered. God reiterates this command in later passages, promising general protection over the land while the nation appears before Him during the festival seasons. For us today, though not directly tied to agriculture, the harvest represents the spiritual fruit of our lives, which God takes note of and values deeply. Just as a farmer must work diligently within the laws of nature to ensure a successful harvest, we must cultivate spiritual fruit throughout the year. Neglecting this preparation results in a Feast lacking spiritual abundance, as the fruit of our labors becomes evident at harvest time. Preparation for the Feast of Tabernacles cannot be left to the last moment; it requires ongoing effort to sow and cultivate spiritual fruit. In Leviticus 23, God specifies the dates and duration of the Feast, introducing the concept of temporary dwellings or booths. These tabernacles remind us of the Israelites' wilderness journey after leaving Egypt, focusing on the pilgrimage rather than the final inheritance. They teach us about the impermanence of life and our complete dependence on God to provide during times of uncertainty. The temporary dwellings, though adequate and even attractive, underscore the transient nature of physical things, urging us to trust in God's providence rather than cling to earthly permanence. Further instructions in Deuteronomy 16 officially name this observance the Feast of Tabernacles, reinforcing the themes of temporary dwellings and ingathering. It is a sacred feast dedicated to God, to be kept at a place He designates. The passage emphasizes the importance of individual labor, showing that merely appearing before God is not enough; we must cultivate spiritual fruit throughout the year. God explains that the Feast also celebrates His blessing on our produce and the work of our hands, expecting cooperation between us and Him. As we are faithful in our spiritual labors, God grants an increase, leading to true rejoicing at the Feast. Without such preparation, the rejoicing may be merely fleshly, lacking the depth God intends.