SHEMINI ATZERET TISHREI 22
Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying:
‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.
On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it.
For seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.
On the eighth day you shall have a holy convocation,
and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.
It is a sacred assembly (shemini atzeret),
and you shall do no customary work on it.'”
– Leviticus 23:33-36
The Feast of Tabernacles and living in the booths lasts only seven days. After the seven days there is the mystery add-on of the eighth day. Here there is no temporary dwelling places, but just a sacred assembly called Shemini Atzeret.
The eighth day is considered the day after time.
The word Atzeret means, “Stop, stay a while.”
It was a day of discrimination after the widespread attendance of the seven days of Sukkot, which one day will be a festival for all the nations, in Messianic time.
On the eighth day, as the people were leaving, God was inviting the Jewish people to a small private reception. Shemini Atzeret was a private time between God and His people as He beckons them to “Stop. Stay a little longer.”
When I think about this day I am reminded of a song by Brian and Jen Johnson, “A Little Longer.”
In the beginning of the song she asks, “What can I do for you beautiful King? For I can’t thank you enough.” And in His reply, Our King pours out His heart:
You don’ t have to do a thing
Just simply be with Me
This moment is too sweet
Please stay here with Me and love on Me a little longer
Cause I’d like to be with you a little longer.
SPIRITUAL EXERCISE
Let those words be Jesus’s beckoning for you to come and be with Him.
Relax and for a time, just be.
Blessings,
Pastor Karen-Elisabeth
