Enjoy the Feast Every Step of the Way!

The Feast is coming! Where will you be keeping it? What do you plan to do when you get there? Most important: How good of a time are you going to have from the moment you leave home for your “temporary dwelling” until you return?

God’s Word shows why the Feast of Tabernacles is also for you. He tells every adult in chapter 16 of Deuteronomy: “And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you, and your son, and your daughter…” (vs. 11).

Did you catch that? God mentions you in that verse and wants you to “surely rejoice” (vs. 15) at His Feast.

That is a direct call to have wholesome fun. He desires we all learn more about Him for eight straight days (seven for the Feast of Tabernacles plus one for the Last Great Day). It is meant to be enjoyable every step of the way.

The Bible also shows how you can prepare now for that exhilarating and meaningful experience!

On Your Way There

Understanding more about the Feast command will allow you to prepare to be able to rejoice during the festival. That is your first step.

In Deuteronomy 14, God says He will “place His name” on the locations brethren meet for the Feast (vs. 23). In other words, this makes each site very special. Before you arrive, research its history, why it is unique, and what you can learn from it and do there.

Let’s say, for example, that you and your family are going to Florida. You may be familiar, perhaps from history class, with the story of Juan Ponce de Leon and his quest for a supposed “fountain of youth.” Guess what? If you do a basic internet search, you will find that Safety Harbor, the resort where we have our Feast site in Florida, was built on natural springs found in 1539 by another Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto. He thought he had discovered the elusive fountain Ponce de Leon had sought after! Believed to have healing powers, the waters were named Espiritu Santo Springs (“Springs of the Holy Spirit.”)

Think about how people who did not know the truth looked for miraculous waters in the precise place God would choose almost five centuries later to gather some of His people at the Feast, which represents the time real healing waters will be available (Ezek. 47:8-10)!

Familiarizing yourself with some of those details of a site’s history and folklore can make the Feast so much more meaningful.

Going to “the place which He shall choose” (Deut. 14:23) involves traveling. This is part of the adventure.

Make the most of the trip. Plan to take pictures, research different routes, think about different landscapes you will be passing by and explore important landmarks along the way. Of course, you will have to run your ideas by your parents. Once you arrive, you will want to explore nearby attractions by using tools like Google Maps to explore hiking trails, parks, museums, monuments, and much more.

You can also think about what new things you may want to try specifically at the site. This could include activities or social opportunities. A simple internet search such as “Things to do near [insert name of Feast town]” will spark some helpful ideas. If other teenagers will be there, you will want to interact with them more, as this is one of the few times of the year you will be together in one place.

A great starting place is to sign up for all Church activities. These have been thoughtfully organized for everyone’s enjoyment.

One of these events that is held at most Feast sites is the dinner dance. Ecclesiastes 3:4 says that there is “a time to dance.” Dancing is an excellent way to express joy. What better time for that than the Feast of Tabernacles? Start preparing by learning ballroom and line dance moves now. If you already know how, you may still want to brush up on some of your dancefloor skills. (Hint: you could fit in some training for the “freeze dance” competition as well.)

If you are of adequate age, you could explore organizing other youth activities, even going on a group date. There is nothing wrong with a group date, but everyone should have read the Church’s literature on dating and parents should be involved. Planning is key here!

Deuteronomy 14:26 states we should “spend the money [second tithe] for whatever you desire” (English Standard Version). The word translated as “desire” also means “wait longingly” (Brown-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew Definitions). Thinking ahead to those exceptional things you would like to eat and enjoy at the Feast, even before you arrive, will help you wait longingly for them and make their fulfillment more rewarding.

Have you ever had a teacher who used fun activities to help you learn? It makes it so much easier to remember, right? Likewise, a loving God has made it possible for you to have a great time as a way for you to “learn to fear [reverence] the Lord your God always” (vs. 23).

Think about that on your journey there.

The Arrival

After arriving at the Feast site, it is time to set your plans in motion. There is no time to waste! Assist your parents in getting the luggage out and checking in to your new temporary dwelling.

Leviticus 23:40 states, “And you shall take on the first day the fruit of splendid trees, branches of palm trees and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook.” These were used to construct temporary dwellings. While we do not practice this today in a literal sense, you can apply this principle by exploring the site and going on a “scavenger hunt” for some characteristic items. You could collect some beautiful conch shells if near a beach or buy a souvenir from a local store. This will help add some ambience to your “tabernacle.”

As you encounter others who are also attending there, form new friendships and be comfortable in whatever group of people you find yourself. Sometimes it takes a few days for friendships to foster—but keep walking around the meeting hall (do not be afraid to roam!).

Remember that this is an opportunity to enjoy everyone’s company—not exclusively people of your same age or congregation. Think of the Luke 2:46 account of Jesus Christ, as a child, being found by his parents “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.”

Expanding your circle of friends to include every age range maximizes your opportunities to socialize and get invited out on activities. You can make friends with young children and those who are older!

Keep in mind that there may be others who are shy about meeting new people. “Showing yourself friendly” (Prov. 18:24) will go a long way in helping them feel at ease and come out of their shells.

During the Feast

The last step is to keep building on the momentum you have created during the first two steps throughout the entire eight days.

A great way to do so comes from having the right perspective. In this case, this means understanding what the Feast of Tabernacles pictures. It represents a time when the Kingdom of God will be on Earth. People you know in the Church today will be ruling with God. Everyone across the world will know God’s Way. Think of the fellowship!

You are rehearsing for that each time you keep the Feast. It will be a time like no other, in which…

• lasting peace will break out all over (Isa. 9:7).
• the nature of violent animals will change (11:6-8).
• there will be a new, pure language (Zeph. 3:9).
• only the truth will be taught and told about God and everything (Isa. 11:9).
• God will “walk among” us (Lev. 26:12).
• you will also have opportunity for leadership roles, having been prepared now to help other youth understand God’s way of life (Joel 2:28).

As the days pass by and you fulfill your goals, keep your mind on the big picture. To the world looking in, the Feast may just seem like a “religious convention.” For you, your parents, and brethren at every Feast site, this is an intense training program for God’s future leaders.

Keep your mind on all of this during the Feast. Let this knowledge excite you to serve, learn as much as you can from all the messages, get to know everyone and get involved in every activity planned for these all-important Holy Days.

Enjoy Every Step of the Way

Keeping the Feast brings many rewards that others who do not keep it never get to experience.

Besides rejoicing and learning to reverence God unlike any other time of the year, we get to have many opportunities to build precious memories with family and friends in the Church, attend exciting activities, enjoy delicious meals, get close to Creation and away from worldliness.

Even though you are away from school, the Feast will enhance your education. You will be experiencing a taste of the conditions that will exist when the Kingdom arrives, when all people will be nice to each other. Cherish every bit of that!

There are 365 days in a year. The Feast makes up only a little over 2 percent of that. Yet it should be one of the most memorable occasions of your year, especially if you take advantage of all the unique opportunities it offers.

Even if things do not go according to plan, that is part of the experience too. Often some of the unexpected things that happen when you are around so many of God’s people make for some of the most fun and memorable moments.

As the fall Holy Days get closer, remember the three steps from this article:

(1) Think about the Feast command before you go.

(2) Set your plans in motion once you arrive.

(3) Keep building on your momentum throughout the eight days.

Applying these steps will set you up to make your Feast much more rewarding. You will come away with friendships, memories, gifts and—most important—a greater sense of purpose!

God had you in mind when He created the Feast of Tabernacles. Be sure to make it the most enjoyable one—every step of the way.