The Bride Theft of Sukkot
from:
http://www.aish.com/sukkotthemes/sukkotthemesdefault/Lively_Overview_of_Sukkot.asp
Sukkot is also the "harvest festival." The grain that was left
in the field to dry during the summer is now gathered into the storage bins.
The rich man with a full bin, who may feel the pride of his own accomplishments,
and,
The Talmud describes a golden Menorah in the courtyard that shed so much
light that every courtyard in Jerusalem was lit up to the extent that people
could sort grain by its light.
From the perspective of the Jewish people today regarding
their activities during the feasts of the Lord, above we can see that Sukkot
(feast of tabernacles) is a celebration of the completion of their harvest,
a time of joy, and finishing up the final sorting and storage of the fruits
of their prior year’s labor. Here perhaps is pictured our Lord who is
the Lord of the harvest, taking his pleasure in the bounty of His own harvest,
begun at Pentecost. Thus, the Jews say that the tears of Rosh Hashanah
and Yom Kippur, lead to the joy of Sukkot.
Today, we look for Him in earnest and hyper-vigilant
expectation, for we feel for many reasons that the year is the right year,
and we attempt to focus then upon the “day”, by studying His appointed feasts.
We expect Him as a “bridegroom” who returns
for His bride, supposedly “at midnight”.
I sent a note to the Doves already about how the Jews regard the booth as
a “bridal chamber”.
I find so many fascinating things when looking
at the customs and procedures which accompany each feast.
For instance, here (url)
http://www.everythingjewish.com/Sukkot/sukkot_laws.htm
Ushpizin: There is a custom of inviting Ushpizin, symbolic
guests, each day to the Sukkah. The guests include Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David.
is the invitation to the great patriarchs as “guests”
into their Sukkah, and I see here a hint at the “guests” which perhaps Jesus
Himself invited to celebrate His transfiguration before the deciples; that
is, Moses and Elijah.
But today I shall like to study up on the aspect of Christ
as our expected bridegroom, soon to appear to take His bride unto Himself.
Paul tells us that the Lord will come “as a thief in the night”, and Jesus
Himself said He would come as a thief in the night. The wise and foolish
virgins are awakened by the surprise appearance of the bridegroom “at midnight”.
So, the bridegroom comes to “steal” or “snatch” the bride
from her home, which is also a custom in the eastern wedding traditions,
that the bridegroom would be heralded by much noise and rejoicing, by his
attendants, (who were his witnessnes, two of which were required at every
wedding -- Moses and Elijah, the two witnesses?) and would playfully
“snatch” the bride, leading her and the procession back to his father’s
house.
In the Old Testament, there is a “type” of a bridal theft,
in the book of Judges. Apparently, the tribe of Benjamin found themselves
without any women whatsoever, and therefore the tribe would die out and
be unable to fulfill the promises of God to Abraham – I don’t know exactly
how they ended up in this predicament, for I only have focused on the account
of the bride theft itself. What to do, what to do….the first thing they
did was to win some 400 virgins in battle from a neighboring community.
Fair enough. But there were still not enough brides for the brethren.
Below, we read of the next “plan” to acquire more brides.
Judges 21:16 Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do
for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?
17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped
of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.
18 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children
of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.
19 Then they said, Behold,
there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on
the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up
from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.
20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and
lie in wait in the vineyards;
21 And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in
dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife
of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.
22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto
us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for
our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for
ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.
23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took [nasa 05375] them
wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught
[gazal 01497]: and they went and returned unto their inheritance,
and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.
The name of this feast is not mentioned, but clearly
it is one of “joy”, for the maidens dance. The Benjamites spring out from
amongst the vines, where they hid themselves in the vineyard and carry off
these beautiful damsels. Of course this was in the time of judges for
the people of Israel
and “every man did what was right in his own eyes”. So, it just seemed
so right to go and steal a whole troupe of young dancing girls from their
neighbors ! (try this one today and you’re on the child predator list or
worse)
This of course makes us go in search of the customs of
Sukkot, and whether they do indeed dance at this festival….and yes, they
do:
http://www.everythingjewish.com/Sukkot/sukkot_laws.htm
Simhat Bet Ha-Sho'eivah: This ceremony has all but disappeared except
among certain sects of Hasidim who mark this ancient temple ritual with
singing and dancing. If you are fortunate to be in Israel
during the holiday of Sukkot, take time to experience this holiday in Safed,
a northern city with ancient, mystical roots. There, Chassidim in traditional
dress dance through cobbled streets, singing and dancing. It is an experience
you will not likely see anywhere else except maybe in certain parts of New
York where groups of Chasidim still live.
Other websites describe various kinds of dancing and
singing during this week of joy.
Now, G.T. Grenough has a post on the Doves
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/oct2005/gtg1010-3.htm
about how Jesus went up to the tabernacles feast in the
“midst of the week” and “in secret”. This is most interesting, and the
above post is a must-read. Perhaps He comes in the midst of the week to
capture His bride, “in secret”?
Jesus does describe Himself as a thief, but a “good”
thief:
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.
The tribe of Benjamin was about to perish
from the promises of Abraham, and become unfruitful in continuance of God’s
plan of salvation, but for the “theft” of these brides, (and thank goodness,
for our teacher and guide, Paul, was from the tribe of Benjamin). So, the
tribe was restored to more abundant “life” and fruitfulness. Likewise,
Jesus comes that we may have life, and have it more abundantly, at the day
of His visit as a thief in the night.
I have difficulty in seeing exactly which
day of the feast He may appear (as usual…..), for a marriage feast lasts
seven days, starting on the FIRST day of that week. So, might He come
on the first day of the week of tabernacles? Or, in the midst of the week?
Or, as many have observed on the “last day”, also with intriguing possibilities?
I still hold out a very strong hope for the
year of His return being 2005, for five is the number of grace, and six
is the number of “man”…..but, regardless, we know He is near,,,,at the door………
Your sister in Christ,,,,,,,,,Arlene