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work was to be performed。 On the second day of the feast； the first fruits
of the year's harvest were presented before God。 Barley was the earliest
grain in Palestine； and at the opening of the feast it was beginning to
ripen。 A sheaf of this grain was waved by the priest before the altar of
God； as an acknowledgment that all was His。 Not until this ceremony had been
performed was the harvest to be gathered。
540
Fifty days from the offering of first fruits； came the Pentecost； called
also the feast of harvest and the feast of weeks。 As an expression of
gratitude for the grain prepared as food； two loaves baked with leaven were
presented before God。 The Pentecost occupied but one day； which was devoted
to religious service。
In the seventh month came the Feast of Tabernacles； or of ingathering。 This
feast acknowledged God's bounty in the products of the orchard； the olive
grove； and the vineyard。 It was the crowning festal gathering of the year。
The land had yielded its increase； the harvests had been gathered into the
granaries； the fruits； the oil； and the wine had been stored； the first
fruits had been reserved； and now the people came with their tributes of
thanksgiving to God； who had thus richly blessed them。
This feast was to be pre…eminently an occasion of rejoicing。 It occurred
just after the great Day of Atonement；when the assurance had been given that
their iniquity should be remembered no more。 At peace with God； they now
came before Him to acknowledge His goodness and to praise Him for His mercy。
The labors of the harvest being ended； and the toils of the new year not yet
begun； the people were free from care； and could give themselves up to the
sacred； joyous influences of the hour。 Though only the fathers and sons were
commanded to appear at the feasts； yet； so far as possible； all the
household were to attend them； and to their hospitality the servants； the
Levites； the stranger； and the poor were made welcome。
Like the Passover； the Feast of Tabernacles was commemorative。 In memory of
their pilgrim life in the wilderness the people were not to leave their
houses and dwell in booths； or arbors； formed from the green branches 〃of
goodly trees； branches of palm trees； and the boughs of thick trees； and
willows of the brook。〃 Leviticus 23：40； 42； 43。
The first day was a holy convocation； and to the seven days of the feast an
eighth day was added； which was observed in like manner。
At these yearly assemblies the hearts of old and young would be encouraged
in the service of God； while the association of the people from the
different quarters of the land would strengthen the ties that bound them to
God and to one another。 Well would it be for the people of God at the
present time to have a Feast of
541
Tabernaclesa joyous commemoration of the blessings of God to them。 As the
children of Israel celebrated the deliverance that God had wrought for their
fathers； and His miraculous preservation of them during their journeyings
from Egypt； so should we gratefully call to mind the various ways He has
devised for bringing us out from the world； and from the darkness of error；
into the precious light of His grace and truth。
With those who lived at a distance from the tabernacle； more than a month of
every year must have been occupied in attendance upon the annual feasts。
This example of devotion to God should emphasize the importance of religious
worship and the necessity of subordinating our selfish； worldly interests to
those that are spiritual and eternal。 We sustain a loss when we neglect the
privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in
the service of God。 The truths of His word lose their vividness and
importance in our minds。 Our hearts cease to be enlightened and aroused by
the sanctifying influence； and we decline in spirituality。 In our
intercourse as Christians we lose much by lack of sympathy with one another。
He who shuts himself up to himself is not filling the position that God
designed he should。 We are all children of one Father； dependent upon one
another for happiness。 The claims of God and of humanity are upon us。 It is
the proper cultivation of the social elements of our nature that brings us
into sympathy with our brethren and affords us happiness in our efforts to
bless others。
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。 Says
the revelator； 〃Every creature which is in heaven； and on the earth； and
under the earth； and such as are in the sea； and all that are in them； heard
I saying； Blessing； and honor； and glory； and power； be unto Him that
sitteth upon the throne； and unto the Lamb forever and ever。〃 Revelation
5：13。
542
The people of Israel praised God at the Feast of Tabernacles； as they called
to mind His mercy in their deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and His
tender care for them during their pilgrim life in the wilderness。 They
rejoiced also in the consciousness of pardon and acceptance； through the
service of the day of atonement； just ended。 But when the ransomed of the
Lord shall have been safely gathered into the heavenly Canaan； forever
delivered from the bondage of the curse； under which 〃the whole creation
groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now〃 （Romans 8：22）； they will
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory。 Christ's great work of
atonement for men will then have been completed； and their sins will have
been forever blotted out。
〃The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them；
And the desert shall rejoice； and blossom as the rose。
It shall blossom abundantly； and rejoice even with joy and
singing：
The glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it；
The excellency of Carmel and Sharon；
They shall see the glory of the Lord； and the excellency of our
God。
〃Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened；
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped。
Then shall the lame man leap as an hart；
And the tongue of the dumb sing：
〃For in the wilderness shall waters break out；
And streams in the desert。
And the parched ground shall become a pool；
And the thirsty land springs of water： 。 。 。
〃And an highway shall be there； and a way；
And it shall be called The way of holiness；
The unclean shall not pass over it；
But it shall be for those：
The wayfaring men； though fools； shall not err therein。
〃No lion shall be there；
Nor any ravenous beast shall go