Finding Refuge in God's Tabernacling Presence

The feast of Tabernacles is one of the feasts the Lord requires His people to observe from year to year. It commemorates the historic time that He redeemed the families of Israel, bringing them safely from Egypt into the wilderness where they lived in tents in His presence. He was their Father and King dwelling in the midst of His people. And looking forward, this is the one feast that will continue to be celebrated in the days when the Lord establishes His throne in Jerusalem.

Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths. And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, there will be no rain on them (Zech. 14:16–17).

For thousands of years we have seen nations and ideologies come against the Jewish people. Satan and those he inspires always try to destroy the people who belong to God—first the Jewish nation and then those who were born from her through the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. We see this war continue today in the brutal attacks against Israel and the Jewish people, and in the persecutions and martyrdoms of Christians in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world.

During this season of the feast of Tabernacles we pray for all those who suffer persecution and we remember the words of Moses—words that he wrote during the time of God tabernacling with Israel in the wilderness.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark (Psalm 91:1–4).

Psalm 91 goes on to talk about the protection of those who love the Lord, love His people, and take refuge in Him as it also prophecies the assured destruction of the wicked. Then the Lord makes this promise:

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation” (Psalm 91:14–16).

We pray for all who suffer persecution for Your Name’s sake. Let them know the comfort and confidence of Your abiding presence. May they continually experience Your tabernacling with them and the fullness of Your promises and provision that are assured in Your Word. We ask for the peace of Jerusalem. And Father, we persist in our prayers and our labors for the reign of Your kingdom and the exercise of Your will on earth as it is in heaven.