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I have lived all of my adult life not realizing that my birthday always fell within a time of great celebration and rejoicing! It always occurs within the 8 days of the Feast of Tabernacles.

September 28 marked the first day of Sukkot more commonly referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles (or Booths) The word Sukkot is the plural of the word Sukkah which means Tent (Hebrew). This feast traditionally ushers in the ingathering harvest at the end of the agricultural season as well as commemorated the Israelite’s and how they lived in the wilderness in booths or tents for 40 years. (Exodus 34:22). This is an 8 day celebration feast bearing witness to the goodness of God, and the will of God (Leviticus 23:42-43). This season always falls on the Jewish Sacred calendar in the 7th month of the year and in 2015 will run through October 5. Jesus was born during the Feast of Tabernacles. There are two recognized Jewish calendars: Sacred and Civil.

The September Feasts are the Lord’s fall feast days; Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and Tabernacles. The bible documents Jesus observing the Feast of Tabernacles during His ministry in John 7:1-52. The Feast of Tabernacles is observed as a season of great celebration and joy because God Himself protected the Israelite’s as they wandered in the wilderness. In addition to the celebration of Tabernacles, September 24, 2015 marked the beginning of a new seven year cycle and and the end of the Shmita, or Sabbatical or Sabbath year. Also beginning on Sept 24, Israel embarked into a Jubilee year recognized every 50 years. Please see more information here:

Click to access jubilee_calendar.pdf

Tabernacle is defined as both Noun and Verb: the latter, “to take up residence; especially: to inhabit a physical body”, and as Noun: “a place of worship, a tent used as a place of worship by the ancient Israelite’s during their wanderings in the wilderness with Moses “. We can take this beautiful word TABERNACLE and know that we can commune with the Godhead because, if one has accepted Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit of God has taken up residence within us. Technically, we are constantly “tabernacle-ing” with Christ because He lives within us as the Spirit.

A Psalm of King David – Psalm 15 AMP:
“Lord, who shall dwell (temporarily) in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell (permanently) on Your holy hill? He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart, He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his friend, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor: In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he who honors those who fear the Lord (revere and worship Him): who swears to his own hurt and does not change; (He who) does not put out his money for interest (to one of his own people) and who will not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.”

The Book of Exodus introduces us to the concept of the Tabernacle. Moses was commissioned to establish by explicit instruction from God how to construct the original Tabernacle that would house the Ark of the Covenant. The Tabernacle of God protected the Israelite’s by showing the way through the wilderness with Fire by Night and Cloud (Shekinah Glory of God)  by Day. “And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the Israelite’s went onward; But if the cloud was not taken up, they did not journey on till the day that it was taken up. For throughout all their journeys the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.” Exodus 40: 35-38

The Old Testament Tabernacle built by the hands of man as described in Exodus was merely a type and shadow of the better things that have now been given to us by God through Jesus and the New Covenant.

Hebrews 9:11
“But (that appointed time came) when Christ ( the Messiah) appeared as the High Priest of the better things that have come and are to come. (Then) through the greater and more perfect Tabernacle not made with (human) hands that is, not a part of this material creation, He went once for all into the (Holy of) Holies of (heaven) not by virtue of the blood of goats and calves (by which to make reconciliation between God and man), but His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us). For if the mere sprinkling of unholy and defiled persons with blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the purification of the body, How much more surely shall the blood of Christ, Who by virtue of (His) eternal Spirit (His own pre-existent divine personality) has offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God, purify our consciences from dead works and lifeless observances to serve the (ever) living God?

When we inhabit our Secret Place to dwell with and Tabernacle with the Godhead, it puts into motion a list of things on our behalf by God as stated in Psalm 91: makes us stable and fixed under His shadow, makes Him our refuge and fortress, He delivers us from the snare of the fowler and deadly pestilence, also from destruction and sudden death. A thousand may fall but none shall come near you. No evil will befall, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent. He will give His angels especial charge in all your ways of obedience and service. You will be enabled to trample on snakes and scorpions ( demons). You will be inaccessible in the Secret Place – tabernacle-ing with the Most High, because you have made the Lord your refuge and your dwelling place. Glory! What more could you ask for during these end times. Supreme protection lies in the secret place. Remain close to God and read your bible – read, know and allow the word of God to be established in your heart and mind.

You yourself are now the Tabernacle of God having been cleansed and purified by the blood of Jesus once and for all to house His eternal Spirit.

Hebrews 10:14
“For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.”

Tracy Gatewood
The Tabernacle – A Place of Protection
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Author: Doorways of Grace: My Uncommon Journey to Healing, Wholeness and Meeting Jesus
Facebook:  Tracy Gatewood Sacred Ramblings