SUKKOT IS FOR LOVERS. Or so it seems to me.

That revelation first occurred to me nearly a decade ago, when I was wed to Ms. Keren Hannah Golan during a Feast of Tabernacles celebration. Our gracious Father in heaven sovereignly played the gifted matchmaker, uniting one of His beloved daughters of Zion with me, a widowed lover of Zion. During that memorable Sukkot in 2000, the sukkah became a chuppah (wedding canopy) for us!

The ever perceptive Rabbi Riskin notes a similar connection, but on a national scale, in his Torah commentary on Sukkot:

“On Sukkot our desires [“to dwell in the House of the Lord” (Ps 27:4)] are answered. In effect, God is the bridegroom and we, the Jewish people, are the bride called upon to enter the bridegroom’s home. The seven days we sit inside the sukkah correspond to the seven days that a marriage is celebrated.”

At Mt. Sinai, Israel became a bride that accepted Adonai as her Sovereign Lord with the confession: “Na’asei v’nishma!” (“All that the LORD has spoken, we will do and we will obey.” [Ex 24:7]) Thereafter He faithfully fulfilled the duties incumbent upon any husband, to provide food, shelter and intimacy to his bride.

The Lord rained down manna and brought forth water for His beloved, and made Israel to dwell in booths (sukkot). During the journey, the covering Clouds of Glory protected His bride in the desert, and the portable Sanctuary (Mishkan) availed intimate access to His very Presence.

The Feast of Tabernacles commemorates those Clouds of Glory as well as the booths that Israel dwelled in securely on their way to the Land of Promise. It prompts us therefore to remember and rejoice over God’s goodness and passion toward His betrothed Israel.

BUT THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY. The most serious sin in the history of the Jewish people occurred at Sinai, the idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf. The two tablets of the Torah were cast down and destroyed when Moses descended the mountain and witnessed this appalling offense against Israel’s Redeemer.

Following the nation’s judgment and repentance, God called Moses back up the mountain and instructed him to prepare a second set of tablets. He finally returned with the Decalogue intact, according to Jewish tradition, on the tenth day Tishrei, i.e., on Yom Kippur. In His great love, God had forgiven even this most egregious of Israel’s sins.

He then gave detailed instructions on how to build a Sanctuary so that He might dwell in the midst of His people (Exo 25:8). After contributing and gathering supplies, the Israelites began construction of the Tabernacle five days later, on the fifteenth of Tishrei, i.e, the Feast of Tabernacles! Upon completion, God filled the House with His glorious Shekhinah – a Cloud of Glory that remained with the Israelites throughout their journey.

How great is the Lord’s love for Israel! His forgiveness extended, sukkahs became chuppahs, and the Israelites’ booths, small sanctuaries under the covering of the Bridegroom’s love!

THE NEW TESTAMENT AFFIRMS ADONAI’S continuing love for Israel. Romans 11:28-29 sets an unshakeable standard that should forever rebuke any replacement-minded believer by insisting that Israel remains beloved for the sake of the Patriarchs (v.28) And based on that unfailing love, her election will forever be secure (v.29).

Even when Israel would be fickle, the Apostle Paul stresses that God will remain faithful to His covenant promises and people – because of His great love. Indeed, nothing can separate the Jewish people from the love of God. His election of Abraham and his offspring was an utterly free and sovereign one, which is why God’s gifts and call upon Israel remain “irrevocable” (11:29). Curses and blessing within the covenant are contingent, of course; but the Almighty’s election itself was unconditional and compelled by love alone – a love that knows no bounds and fails not.

All the promises of God to Israel are “yea and amen!” in Jesus the Messiah (2 Cor 1:20). They are confirmed and affirmed in him (not ‘fulfilled and finished’ as some scholars would have us believe). This grand love story continues indeed! Sukkot really is for lovers because the joy of the sukkah reminds us of the enduring love of God for His covenant people.