Updated: How to Celebrate Sukkot and the Eighth Day by Yourself

Don’t you feel like you’re living in a spiritual wilderness? That’s because you are living in a wilderness—not a literal wilderness with cactus, sage brush and jackrabbits, but a “wilderness of the peoples” about which Ezekiel prophesied (Ezek 20:35). Is it possible to walk out the commandments of Elohim in this desolate and often lonely place, and if so, how?

In this wilderness YHVH’s spiritual sheep are scattered hither and yon like flecks of gold among the sands of the seas of Gentile nations of the world. During this time, YHVH is testing his people to determine if they will remain faithful to him or not, to determine if they will make a suitable bride for Yeshua his Son. He that has an ear to hear and a heart to receive, let him hear.

 Like a shepherd counting and sorting his sheep, YHVH is currently making his people “to pass under the rod” (Ezek 20:37). Those who passionately love and seek him and his ways of righteousness, whose love neither waned nor waxed cold”  (Matt 24:12), will be allowed to enter into his spiritual rest (Heb 4:1–16), which is the promised land of our spiritual inheritance and is also known biblically as “the kingdom of Elohim.” Those who make it to this point by overcoming the downward pulls of the world, the flesh and devil will become the resurrected, glorified and immortalized children of Elohim.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of Elohim, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of Elohim. (John 1:11–13)

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of Elohim! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of Elohim; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (1 John 3:1–2)

He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his Elohim and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Rev 21:7–8)

I don’t know about you, but I’m a “God chaser”—one who desires to passionately and wholehearted love YHVH Elohim by keeping his Torah-commandments (John 14:15, 21; 1 John 2:3–6). Are you one also or do you still have a divided heart with affections for both this world and for Yeshua? Endeavoring to live a righteous life in the wilderness of this world where perfect obedience can sometimes be difficult if not impossible is a challenge, to be sure. Despite this, each of us has to decide whether we’re going to faithfully follow Yeshua the Lamb of Elohim wherever he may lead you (Rev 14:4).

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto Elohim and to the Lamb. (Rev 14:4)

Is Yeshua knocking on the door of your heart and calling you to come out of spiritual Babylonian (Rev 18:4) Laodiceanism and lukewarmness (Rev 3:14–21) and challenging you to turn up the heat of your passion for him and to come to a higher spiritual level in your walk?

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. (Rev 3:19–21)

If you’re reading this and be challenged to go deeper and higher in our spiritual upward trek, then you may be wondering how is it possible to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot (its biblical Hebrew name) in the spiritual wilderness of the peoples especially if you’re by yourself. Regularly for years I talk to people from all over the world who are alone and without a local fellowship or congregation. Many times I am asked how it is possible celebrate the biblical feasts when alone and disconnected from the greater body of Messiah. Here are some suggestions on how to celebrate the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles if you are alone or are only a part of a small group of people.

The first things to keep in mind is that YHVH expected and still expects his people to keep (or celebrate) the biblical feasts forever wherever their dwelling place happened to be whether inside or outside of the physical land of Israel. I have given ample proof of this from Scripture in more details elsewhere, but below are a few Bible verses that state this truth succinctly.

The weekly Sabbath and the seven biblical feasts are for YHVH’s people to celebrate forever and wherever they may be living whether in our out of the land of Israel. The Torah instructs the saints to celebrate the feasts in you dwelling places (d) forever (f)

  • The seventh-day Sabbath (Exod 31:17f; Lev 23:3d)
  • Passover (Exod 12:24 f)
  • Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exod 12:17f, 20d)
  • Feast of Week/Pentecost (Lev 23:21df)
  • Atonement (Lev 16:29f; 23:31, df)
  • Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:41f)

Here are the biblical commands relating to Sukkot and how you can fulfil them even if you are by yourself or with just a small group of people.

  • Live in a temporary dwelling for eight days  (Lev 23:42). Some people live in a literal sukkah made of tree branches. This is may not always be practical for people living in colder climates. In the past during Sukkot, I have lived in a tent, a tent trailer, a rented vacation house and a motel room. For the past several years, my wife and I have lived in our travel trailer during Sukkot.
  • You shall celebrate and rejoice before YHVH Elohim (Lev 23:41; Deut 16:14). How do we celebrate? This can done wherever you may be through music, singing, dancing, praise and worship. Even if you’re not musical, we conveniently and readily have praise and worship music available to us through our numerous electronic devices.
  • Wave lulavim (Lev 23:40). Every year, my wife and I purchase a four-species lulavim from Israel consisting of an etrog (or a citron, which is lemon-like fruit), a willow branch, a palm branch and a myrtle branch. You can make your own lulavim by taking some tree branches and fruit from your local area. These can be waved wile praising and worshiping YHVH through music.
  • Keep the High Sabbaths by ceasing your occupational work and focusing on YHVH (Lev 23:35, 36).
  • Drink wine and strong drink (Deut 14:26). The Bible abundantly that YHVH gave his people alcoholic beverages to joyfully enliven our lives especially during times of celebration. Drunkenness, however, is a sin, and drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of Elohim (1 Cor 6:9–10).
  • Use your feast tithe to buy whatever your heart desires (Deut 14:22–27). Your feast tithe is your Torah-mandated vacation fund to be used while celebrating YHVH’s feasts, so “shop till you drop!”
  • Meet together and fellowship with others on the first day of Sukkot and on the Eighth Day (Lev 23:35, 36)via phone, Skype, Facetime or social media.
  • Give a feast offering to those who minister the word of Elohim to you (Deut 16:16–17).
  • Read the Torah (Deut 31:9–13).
  • Sound the shofar (Ps 81:3).
  • Whether you are able to come together with others or you are by yourself, we are to read and study the Bible, pray, fellowship with others as we are able, eat good food, praise and praise and worship YHVH Elohim (Acts 2:42, 47; 1 Tim 4:13; Col 3:16; Eph 5:18–19), and allow the gifts of the Spirit to flow (1 Cor 14:26).
  • Beyond this, make up your own traditions on ways to celebrate and rejoice during this special time when YHVH Elohim desires to meet with his people.
  • Additionally here are some free Hoshana Rabbah resources to help you to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (or Sukkot):

Teaching articles on Sukkot: https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/teaching.html#feast

YouTube videos on Sukkot: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5EzE5DQnrHfWWbczzkRo6IOnglxhbRfM

Hoshana Rabbah blog articles on Sukkot: https://hoshanarabbah.org/blog/?s=Sukkot&submit=Search

Printable biblical calendars to know when to celebrate the biblical feasts: https://www.hoshanarabbah.org/calendars.html

Celebrating Sukkot. Natan the tree hugger receiving a hug back from an old snag during a walk in the wilderness with Sandi and some of his children on the first day of Sukkot.
 

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