Not satisfied with just one day feeding on the Word of God, we read that “the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites” (Neh. 8:13) were gathered together for a second day. It is interesting to note that the interest in the Word of God began first with the people. Those whom we would have naturally assumed to be the teachers, especially the priests and Levites, now seek to be instructed. This time we find added the words, “even to gain wisdom as to the words of the law” (Neh. 8:13 JND). Reading for knowledge is a far cry from seeking wisdom. In the book of James we read, “if any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5). We cannot, however, expect to receive wisdom from God if we are unwilling to read and meditate on His Word. We do not expect a new revelation from God — we have the completed Word of God in our hands. In prayer, God often answers us from His Word — things that we may have forgotten are brought to our attention by the Holy Spirit. Our chapter ends with “day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God” (Neh. 8:18). Unlike those in Nehemiah’s day, we have ready access to the Holy Scriptures and have no excuse not to be found day by day reading a portion from it.
On this occasion, the people heard from the book of Leviticus: “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord ... and ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days” (Lev. 23:34,40). Whereas the Feast of Trumpets typifies the gathering of Israel back to their land, the Feast of Tabernacles pictures them dwelling safely in the land gathered about Jehovah their God. Having gathered the fruits of Canaan (Lev. 23:39; Deut. 16:13), they were to dwell in booths seven days as a memorial to their time dwelling in tents in the wilderness (Lev. 23:42-43). It was a time of thankfulness; the days of harvest were past and they could reflect on all the ways which the Lord had led them: “Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart” (Deut. 8:2).
There is no direct counterpart to the Feast of Tabernacles in Christianity; it remains a future thing in its fulfillment. Conversely, the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First Fruits, and the Feast of Weeks have clearly had their fulfillment (1 Cor. 5:7; 15:20; Acts 2:14). Nevertheless, we find ourselves in the present possession of a heavenly portion in Christ, and we, too, can reflect with thanksgiving on all the ways in which the Lord has led us.
The people, obedient to the Word of God, made themselves booths to dwell in, and, as a result, “there was very great gladness” (Neh. 8:17). The path of obedience to the Word of God is the happy path; disobedience brings sorrow. Remarkably, not since the days of Joshua had this feast been kept in this fashion, and yet, it is so plainly spelled out in the Scriptures! It may have even seemed rather presumptuous for them to think to do such a thing; nevertheless, God records it for our benefit. One may marvel that the children of Israel had so quickly departed from the Word of God, and yet, the same has occurred in Christianity. The simplicity of the remembrance of the Lord was quickly lost. I do not think it unreasonable to state that it was not until the early part of the 19th century that it was once again carried out in full subjection to the authority of the Word of God — not just in its simplicity, but as the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:20): giving expression to the one and only fellowship recognized by Scripture (1 Cor. 1:9), gathering on the ground of the One Body (1 Cor. 10:16-17), and acknowledging the authority of the Lord at His Table (1 Cor. 10:21).