“Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives…. Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths” (Zech 14:3-4a, 16).
A very grievous thought occurred to me the other day: The Feast of Booths (Sukkot), the most joyous holiday in our calendar, has become forever tainted by the memories of terrible atrocities perpetrated against the Jewish people 3 years ago on October 7th, the last day of the Feast of Booths [Sukkot] 2023, a day which has tragically been transformed itself into a celebration of Jew-hatred around the world (see Zech 12:9). But then another, far more comforting thought occurred to me. The pain of this past Sukkot will one day be completely swallowed upon by the joys of a future Sukkot. For only the coming up to Jerusalem of all nations to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles year after year in the Messianic kingdom is able to heal the collective national pain that has now become associated with this holiday.
God and God alone is the only one who can wipe all tears from our eyes when he comes again in the flesh to tabernacle among our people!
And whether or not this “Sukkot-connection” was intended by the author, I know that I will have to cling with all my might to the hope of this future Sukkot whenever I am overwhelmed by the tragedies of the past Sukkot. God and God alone is the only one who is able to redeem that dark day. God and God alone is the only one who can turn our day of national mourning into dancing (Ps 30:11). God and God alone is the only one who can wipe all tears from our eyes when he comes again in the flesh to tabernacle among our people!
“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away'” (Rev 21:2-4).
