Today is the 8th Day of Sukkot

The 8th Day is a VERY SPECIAL Day

Why?  Scripture tells us it is a solemn day.  The definition of solemn:

sol·emn

ˈsäləm/

adjective

adjective: solemn

formal and dignified.

"a solemn procession"

synonyms:

dignified, ceremonious, ceremonial, stately, formal, courtly, majestic; More imposing, awe-inspiring, splendid, magnificent, grand "a solemn occasion"

antonyms:

frivolous

• not cheerful or smiling; serious.

  
  

  "Tim looked very solemn"

  
  

  synonyms:

  serious, grave, sober, somber, unsmiling, stern, grim, dour, humorless; More pensive, meditative, thoughtful "he looked very solemn"

  antonyms:

  lighthearted

• characterized by deep sincerity.

  
  

  "he swore a solemn oath to keep faith"

  
  

  synonyms:

  sincere, earnest, honest, genuine, firm, heartfelt, wholehearted, sworn "a solemn promise"

 So, it is not a festival.  What does scripture say?

King James Bible, 1611, Leviticus 23:

¶ And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

34 Speake vnto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seuenth moneth, shall be the feast of Tabernacles for seuen dayes vnto the Lord.

35 On the first day shalbe an holy conuocation: ye shall doe no seruile worke therein.

36 Seuen dayes ye shall offer an offring made by fire vnto the Lord, on the eight day shall be an holy conuocation vnto you, and ye shall offer an offering made by fire vnto the Lord: It is a solemne assembly, and ye shall doe no seruile worke therein.

So, we can do no servile work:

ser·vile

ˈsərvəl,ˈsərˌvīl/

adjective

adjective: servile

1. 1.

   having or showing an excessive willingness to serve or please others.

   
   

   "bowing his head in a servile manner"

   
   

   synonyms:

   obsequious, sycophantic, deferential, subservient, fawning, ingratiating, unctuous, groveling, toadyish, slavish, humble, self-abasing; More informalslimy, bootlicking, smarmy, sucky "here comes Mr. Archer and his servile assistant, Bradley"

   antonyms:

   assertive

2. 2.

   of or characteristic of a slave or slaves.

 Slaves clean, work hard and do menial work.  We can not do this on this day.  

We must be solemn, not cheerful, somber, or a deep and pensive state and not working doing any type of hard labor, or menial work.

What else? We must offer an offering by fire again on this day.  This is a HOLY day.  A Day of deep Thinking and in my mind a day of sadness not joy.

Why?  Why the somberness and sadness?  Following the festival and rejoicing?

 King James Bible, 1611, John 1:

1 After these things, Iesus walked in Galilee: for hee would not walk in Iurie, because the Iewes sought to kill him.

2 Now the Iewes feast of Tabernacles was at hand.

3 His brethren therefore saide vnto him, Depart hence, and go into Iudea, that thy Disciples also may see the works that thou doest.

4 For there is no man that doth any thing in secret, and hee himselfe seeketh to be knowen openly: If thou doe these things, shew thy selfe to þ^e world.

5 For neither did his brethren beleeue in him.

6 Then Iesus said vnto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.

7 The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testifie of it, that the workes thereof are euill.

8 Goe ye vp vnto this feast: I goe not vp yet vnto this feast, for my time is not yet full come.

 So, after the Feast of Tabernacles, was the sacrifice of the lamb, or Christ, Yeshuah as we know him.  So, he would not go up to the feast, because his time had not come yet. But do we think about how he knew?  His each and every footstep towards his death?

So our commandment, even in the old testament book of Leviticus 23 does tell us this is a SOLEMN Day.  It is a HOLY day.  In this day we should be crying for repentance for the evil.  In this day we should be crying for the horror and terror that Christ endured for us.  For first we rejoice, for in this time he was born and delivered to be on the earth to give us salvation.  This is why the 7 days of rejoicing, it is not just the deliverance from the desert.  Because the Father offered his firstborn, which was also born at this time, his first fruits as we should also offer to those around us.  And then again, the lesson of the desert.  Mary and Joseph walked through the desert after Yeshuah was born.  To Egypt.  And the Israelites went through the desert to be saved from the famine in Egypt, where they became slaves.    We have this day again to mourn our slavery.  Our punishment.  Our salvation which came at such a great price.  Think About Yeshuah saying, I won't go up to the festival.  He should have been celebrating his birth at this time.  Instead, he was already considering his death.  SO in the Feast of Tabernacles we celebrate also the birth of Christ, and then mourn his pending death and sacrifice he had to make because people were so blind.

The wicked will not be justified scripture says.  Isn't it better to repent today and be SAVED?

Last night at dusk we lit our last fire for Sukkot, we burnt in the fire all that we had to eat on this day, a worthy portion,  for the time for the 8th day began at sundown last night and will end at dark tonight.  We have slept outside in our sukkot,  we have rejoiced for the goodness of the Father and his son.  And this day we mourn for what was done for the light and salvation, the beauty and knowledge, the sacrifice of the Father.  Are you able to cross the desert and not sin anymore for the LOVE of the SON of the FATHER who KNOWINGLY (see above) walked to his own destruction, suffering and death, in order to be a willing and clean sacrifice to FORGIVE your sins at the hands of his fellow man and brethern and sisters?  Can you renounce your SIN and LOVE YESHUAH ENOUGH?  The real question, is do we love him enough to go and sin no more as he commanded.  He is coming back soon.  No man knows the day nor hour.  Are you ready to be ready?  To be at his feet and never leave?

Songs for today's solemnity:

Oh Father, as I see your storm be brought upon this earth, your garden.  As I see the animals flounder and stink upon your garden.  As I hear the men cry and scream and the tsunami comes.  As I see the destruction that you have promised, I beg you to hide us from your wrath.  I beg you to cover us in your wings.  I beg you to help us not have the punishment for we hacve repented, we cry to you Abba, our Father and ask you mercy.  You said you would give us good things if we do what you say.  We turn to you with all of our heart and soul and beg your promise to cover us.  Please OH MIGHTY and wonderous king, help us and give us a way we beg of you.  Do not count our transgressions if we do as you command.  OH MIGHTY KING, let us be as ABRAM anbd SARAI that you kept apart.  Please FATHER I beg you not as the heathen with much words but as DAVID who did lay and not move on the ground.  Please Father see our broken hearts and gather us together as the choice apples in your vineyard.  AMEN