FEAST OF TABERNACLES – Day 3 – 2004

Fred R. Coulter – October 2, 2004

And greetings, brethren. This is day number three of the Feast of Tabernacles, 2004. And we’re certainly moving ahead in time and understanding of God’s word. And the Feast of Tabernacles is one of the most important feasts that we can keep, because it pictures the kingdom of God on earth with Jesus Christ as King, and all the saints ruling and reigning with Him. And of course there are things that we need to learn, that we need to understand; not only about ourselves, but also about how things will be in the millennium.

Now in the Bible we have an example, or a type, of the millennium, and that is the rule and reign of Solomon. And it’s very interesting how it started out, and everything like that. And then when we understand about that, and we realize that when Ezra canonized the Old Testament, that he gave a three-year reading of the Scriptures from the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, including all of the writings. And one of the things that he commanded the children of Israel to do in this triennial reading of the Scriptures was to, during the Feast of Tabernacles, to have the book of Ecclesiastes – which was written by Solomon – to be read. And we will see why that is important, and why that has such an impact for us today. Because there are many parallels that are happening in the world today that happened during the time of Solomon. So let’s begin by understanding how this is in relationship to the millennium, and how it is a type of what Christ will do.

Let’s first of all begin by coming to Isaiah 11:10, and let’s see what it says of Christ, and let’s see what it says of His kingdom when it is set up. And it says: “And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people…” So verse 10 tells us that the “rest” of Jesus Christ will be glorious and all the Gentiles will come to it. Now we’re going to see how Solomon’s reign was very similar to this. And also we’re going to see, as we go down through the Feast of Tabernacles when we come to the end of it, that many of the same things that happened during Solomon’s reign are going to be repeated again right at the end of the millennium.

Now let’s first of all come back here to I Kings 5, and let’s see where the word “rest” is used to depict the reign of Solomon. And it’s really a tremendous time, because there were no wars during the whole reign of Solomon. Now, I Kings 5, and let’s begin right here in verse 1. Now this is when he was ready to start building the temple. “And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover [or that is, an admirer] of David. And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet. But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto My name” (I Kings 5:1-5).

Now let’s see the charge that David gave to Solomon. Now remember, God gave to David all of the plans. David wrote out and made all of the plans for the temple. And he gave them to Solomon and told Solomon to build it. Now let’s come back here to I Chronicles 28, and let’s see the command that David gave to Solomon. Now, it’s quite an inspiring and uplifting occurrence. Now just think of this: David is ready to pass from the scene. David knows that his son is going to build the temple. David gathered together iron, and gold, and silver, and all the things necessary to build the temple of God. God gave him the plans. And Solomon had been chosen by God, which was really quite an act of grace on God’s part, because Solomon was the second child by David from Bathsheba. And of course, as you read the history there, there was some jealousy among the other sons of David because Solomon was chosen to be king.

So let’s pick it up here in I Chronicles 28:2. So this is after… Now here, all the important people of the kingdom were gathered together to David. So this was a special meeting and a special affair that David did with God’s blessing. “Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: but God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for My name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for He hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father He liked me to make me king over all Israel…” (I Chron. 28:2-4).

Now we need to understand this – only two kings reigned over all Israel: number one, David. He ruled over Judah for seven years, and then the ten tribes of Israel came and combined the kingdom together seven years later. So he ruled seven years over Judah, and thirty-three years over the house of Israel. And his son was the only other one to rule over all the tribes of Israel. After Solomon died, then the kingdom split, as we know.

So he says here: “And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons) He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And He said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build My house and My courts: for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father. Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if…” (verses 5-7). Now we’re going to see the qualification here. One of the things we need to understand is this: God has given free-moral agency to every human being on earth. During the millennium God is not going to take away free-moral agency. It is still going to be exercised. And it’s going to be the same situation that we’re seeing here with the command of Solomon, that’s going to be given as a charge to all people.

So David says, repeating what God had said: “…if he be constant to do My commandments and My judgments, as at this day.” It’s not how you start, but how you finish. And that’s what we’re going to see as the important thing that God is teaching us through the book of Ecclesiastes and the life of Solomon. “Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God [So here is David’s charge to Solomon], keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God [now there’s a condition for it]: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever” (verses 7-8). And that has always been the thing that God holds as a condition for living in the land. Now think about it today in relationship to the United States of America and what is happening in this country. Think about it in relationship to the other nations of the world as well.

Now verse 9: “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind…” There’s the whole key. God wants us to exercise our choice to do good - to love Him, to serve Him; and, as it says here, with a perfect heart and a willing mind. Now notice how he continues. Because when you study about the life of David and how zealous he was for God, and then how finally the sin with Bathsheba caught up with him, and how his whole household was set against him most of the rest of his life because of that. So David knew. David knew what would happen if you turn your back on God. And then God has to deal with you to punish you. And this is of course what we’re going to be teaching all the people during the millennium, the same exact thing. Now notice: “...for the LORD searcheth all hearts…” Now doesn’t this sound a little bit like Revelation 2? Yes it does. “…And understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts...” So God knows. He can know at any time what we are thinking. But He has given free moral agency to see what we are going to do.

Now he says: “...If thou seek Him, He will be found of thee; but if thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever.” Now isn’t that the same thing in the New Testament? Doesn’t Jesus say, “Seek, and you shall find; ask, and you shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7, paraphrased)? And haven’t we seen with the Spirit of God today, with the seven spirits (as depicted by Revelation 4 and 5) that are before the throne of God, they are the eyes of God going through all the earth; that those are sent out to find and seek out those who are seeking God. Now obviously, it has to be in sincerity and in truth. So he says here: “...If thou forsake Him, He will cast thee off forever.” And we’ll see that’s exactly what happened to Solomon. And we’ll see why it happened, and how it happened, and the results of it. “Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it” (verses 9-10).

Now let’s come down here to verse 20. He continues this. Now I want you to understand how similar this is to the beginning of the book of Joshua. Whenever there is a new beginning (you go through the Bible and you see) it starts out just like this. When the children of Israel entered into the Promised Land under Joshua, the same thing was said. That was a new beginning. So likewise here with Solomon; in building the temple, and all of Israel together, and finally there is rest from all the enemies round about - this is a new beginning. So likewise the millennium is going to be a new beginning.

Now here’s what David said. He said to Solomon: “...Be strong and of good courage...” Now that’s what Jesus said: “Be of good courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “...Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not [that is, other men], nor be dismayed [because you’re going to have some difficulties come along as you do it]: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee...” (verse 20). Now it’s very interesting. God is with us as long as we are with God. Because the “if” word, the conditional word, is upon us. God is true, God is righteous, God is always there; there’s no shadow of turning. God cannot lie, and He deals in truth. So if we’re to have a relationship with God it has to be the same way. And as long as we do this, God is with us. Now we can relate that to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3. What happened when false doctrine entered into the church? Well, then God had to intervene. Christ said that He would come and judge them, didn’t He? And even in one case, it was so bad that He said He would come and fight against His own church. And we’ve seen how that has happened, haven’t we? Yes indeed. So here He is saying the same thing.

“...He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD” (verse 20). Now this sounds an awful lot like New Testament doctrine, doesn’t it? That Jesus said: “I will not forsake you, no, never leave you” (Heb. 13:5)? Yes indeed. Again, as long as we have that relationship with God. So then Solomon was made king. All the wealth and everything was given, everything ready to begin building the temple.

Now they also asked the people to give for the service of God. Now let’s come to I Chronicles 29:9. “Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.”

Now let’s look at the blessing David give to all the people, verse 10: “Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be Thou, LORD God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as head above all” (verses 10-11). This is the same thing that we find in the New Testament, where Paul wrote: “What do you have that you didn’t receive?” (I Corinthians 4:7, paraphrased). And this here is the whole lesson here. And we’re going to see one of the easiest things that people forget in spite of the fact that it’s all out there before them, that that’s the very thing they forget. And, as we will see, that’s the very thing that Solomon himself forgot.

Now let’s continue on. “Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name. But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee” (verses 13-14). So then he continues on with the blessing and instructs Solomon some more. And let’s see what happens to Solomon here. So they ate, they drank, they had a feast for the transfer of power, as it were. And let’s come over here to verse 23: “Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. And all the princes, and the mighty men, and all the sons likewise of king David, submitted themselves unto Solomon the king. And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed upon him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel” (verses 23-25). Then it gives a little summary of how David died.

Now let’s see how Solomon started out. And in many times this is like a lot of us. When we hear the truth, when we hear God’s word, when we repent and we are baptized we are all full of zeal and wanting to understand and learn and grow in grace and knowledge. And so we start out, as it were, with a bang. And a lot of people liken this unto the first love, which is in a sense, which is true. So let’s begin here in the book of II Chronicles 1, and let’s pick it up here in verse 7. Now Solomon had gone and offered a great offering unto God in thanksgiving for being made king, in thanksgiving for being able to make the temple, to build it and so forth, after the plans that God had given David. And God was pleased. Now remember, this is an important thing to understand; as it says there in I John 3:3, that our prayers are answered because we keep His commandments and do the things that please God. So here, we have the same thing here concerning Solomon beginning in II Chronicles 1:7. And after he had given those wonderful offerings: “In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast showed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead. Now, O LORD God, let Thy promise unto David my father be established: for Thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Give me now wisdom and knowledge...”

So here is what he asked for. He could ask for anything. But he wanted wisdom and knowledge, as he said: “…that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this Thy people, that is so great?” (II Chron. 29:7-10). So there it is. And this fulfills a lot of the Proverbs and Psalms that are written, that wisdom and knowledge is to be desired above gold; the commandments are to be desired above gold, yea fine gold. So here was the right thing. See how he started. And I can look back and I can see in our experience in the church of God, I can look back and see a time when that was so; when the church began, when the college began, when all of these things began, and God’s blessing was there and was added to it, and everyone was striving with the right heart and attitude to love God, and serve Him, and do the things that God had given us to do. And it was really a wonderful time. And what we experienced with the colleges and with the church at that time, even it was said that the campus in Pasadena was just like a little piece of the kingdom of God for its beauty, for the harmony of the students, and so forth. And there was a time when even in our lifetime we could see that the church was doing much like it was here with Solomon. And we’ll see, and we know what happened. We can look and see that today.

Now here’s God’s response. Is God pleased? Let’s ask a question: since God gives us choice - and the choice is to love Him and serve Him and keep His commandments - we have good and evil set before us, life and death; and He commands us to choose life that we may live. And when we do, is God pleased? Yes indeed. We can do those things that please God with a humble heart and with a repentant attitude like Solomon had here. He realized that he entered into the kingdom and everything came from God through David his father. Now it pleased God that he had this attitude. “And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart...” Because remember what David told Solomon, God tries the reins and the heart doesn’t He? So this is a true statement here. “…This was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge My people, over whom I have made thee king: wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like” (verses 11-12). Now obviously there was only Saul and David who were kings before him, but this certainly could apply to the kings of the earth. Now this is a great and a tremendous thing. God gave this to him, and later on God appeared to him a second time. So this is really a great and marvelous thing that happened.

Now let’s come here, since we’re here in II Chronicles, let’s come to II Chronicles 9 and let’s see how things progress. Let’s see what God gave him. And this is when the Queen of Sheba came. Now let’s see the magnitude of his kingdom. Not only did he rule over all the children of Israel, but he was made the greatest king on earth. And so we see that he had so much gold and so much silver, that silver was just likened unto gravel in the street. And there was great prosperity. And why is it that when prosperity comes that people get spiritually lax? That’s what happened to Solomon and the children of Israel. And that’s what happened to those that the Bible calls the Laodiceans, where they grow rich and increased with goods and feel as though that these are all the blessings of God, and “what more do we have need of?” So here we have the same thing.

Here’s what happened - II Chronicles 9:22: “And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom. And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year” (II Chron. 9:22-24). So here he had a worldwide ruling empire and tribute coming into him every year. Now Solomon had the choice to fulfill the original words of the covenant that God gave to Israel when He brought them to Mount Sinai. Now let’s see what that was. Let’s go back to Exodus 19. Quite a tremendous thing. The world could have indeed been a much different place. Just like the sermon I gave years ago, “What would the world have been like if Adam and Eve had not sinned?” Well, what would the world have been like if Solomon had not sinned? Because he had this great knowledge, this great understanding, tremendous influence, all the kings of the earth came to hear his wisdom, to understand what he was doing, and he passed it on to them. Now if he would have done this…

Now let’s come here to Exodus 19 and let’s see the original basis of the covenant that God gave to Israel. And this is based upon the promise that God gave to Abraham; that God said, “In blessing I will bless you, and bless those that bless you, and curse those that curse you; and you shall be a blessing to all nations” (Gen. 12:2-3, paraphrased). God put it within our choice and our decision to do so. Likewise with Solomon. Likewise with all Israel. And they couldn’t even get past the first forty days that Moses was on the mount receiving the Word of God before they sinned and went back to their paganism. But just think what it would have been if they hadn’t done that. There would have been no wandering in the wilderness for forty years. Think what would have happened if Solomon had done what God wanted him to do in the way that He desired him to do. He started out right. He started out pleasing God. He started out with a right heart. And just like a lot of us.

Now let’s pick it up here in Exodus 19:3: “And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto Myself.” Now here’s another great point of history. And that’s why we have all of the things in the Old Testament for us, not only to know and understand the commandments of God, but so that we can learn from history. And here is what God told them that He would do for them if they would do what God wanted them to do: “Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel” (Ex. 19:3-6).

Now Solomon, being established, having peace and rest round about, if he would have done this: the kings come to him, he should have given them God’s statutes and commandments and judgments. He should have preached to them about idolatry and demonism and repenting of that and serving God. Think what the world would have been like, even for the time of Solomon had he done that. But he didn’t do it. Just like the children of Israel did not do it. And so all of this is contained in the book of Ecclesiastes. And this is why Ezra commanded the children of Israel to read the book of Ecclesiastes during the Feast of Tabernacles. Now the Feast of Tabernacles pictures all the blessings of God. The Feast of Tabernacles pictures the great harvest, when there is so much, we are filled to the full, that we focus in on the futility of just the physical things. So let’s go to the book of Ecclesiastes. Let’s see some important things here that we have from this.

Now first of all, let’s see who wrote it. Remember, there were only two kings who ruled over all of Israel: David and Solomon. Now this one here, the son of David - and the only son of David to succeed and rule over both kingdoms was Solomon, though his name is not recorded in here. However, we can see from the evidence of the book that he certainly was the one who wrote it. “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:1-2). Now what does this mean? Here we have all the physical things. Here we have abundance in the kingdom that God gave to Solomon. And here he is teaching a lesson. I’m sure that he wrote the first part of this after he had finished all of the rest of the book of Ecclesiastes. But the book of Ecclesiastes, in showing “all is vanity,” he began to understand that, and from the experiments and things that he went through.

Now let’s look at some of the things that this tells us: Without God and without the purpose of God, and the righteousness of God, and living by God’s way, all is vanity. All is self, and deceit, and comes to nothing. Another thing that’s important that this shows, if there is no life after death, there is no purpose, and all is vanity. Or we could put it another way: without God, you’re left with purposelessness. And that’s exactly as we find it in the world today. The world is left with purposelessness. And we will see that’s exactly what Solomon gave himself over to in a very profound way, and it didn’t work. There’s another thing we could say concerning vanity: if you do not use this life and the time given to you and attain salvation, then your life has indeed been in vain. Or even worse yet, if you do like Solomon and start out well but end up sinning and forsaking God, cannot that be even the worst vanity of all? So Solomon fell victim to everything that he wrote here. It’s quite an incredible thing to understand, isn’t it? And we can read it that not only is it a witness to us, but it was also a witness against Solomon himself.

Now let’s look a little bit more concerning vanity and concerning the things that we need to understand concerning vanity before we go on. Let’s come to Psalm 39. Let’s understand about man. As great as man is, as great as a creation as God has given man - given us free choice, given us life, created us in the spectacular and fantastic way, that we can be made in the image and likeness of God. And we understand today that our calling is to enter into the kingdom of God and be like God at the resurrection. But without that, look at life. Let’s begin here in verse 1. This is David talking. And of course, when you read the book of Proverbs, most of the Proverbs are David’s proverbs to Solomon. Then Solomon added some, and some of the other kings of Israel - such as Hezekiah - added some toward the latter part of the book of Proverbs.

Now Psalm 39:1: “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.” And how many proverbs are written about the use of the tongue? Yes indeed. “I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue...” (Psa. 39:1-3). This kind of sounds like Elihu back there in the book of Job, which we’ll see in just a minute, that he said, “I’m sitting here listening to you four men talk, and I thought that the gray hairs and old men were wise. But I perceive that you don’t have any understanding concerning Job.” And he says, “My spirit is ready to burn within me” (Job 32:4-18, paraphrased). So likewise, David had a similar experience looking out there and seeing how things are, and then seeing his own life.

Now verse 4: “LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” Now all of those of you who are teenagers and young adults, please understand: you are in the strength and the power of your life. But God shows that we are all weak and frail. And as we get older we realize that more and more, don’t we? Getting old is not really the problem - the rusting out that comes along with it is the difficulty. So David said: “...That I may know how frail I am.” So whatever this experience was that he went through to come to this point and this attitude…and there will be times in your life to you will too, because God with His Spirit will lead you there. Now verse 5: “Behold, Thou hast made my days as an handbreadth...” (verses 4-5). Want to know how important you are? Just pick up your hand and look at the palm of your hand. Stretch it out as far as you can, and that’s the greatness of your life. Not very much is it? Because it’s all based on “if.” Like Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

“...And mine age is as nothing before Thee...” What is 70 years compared to all eternity? Or, as we will see a little later, as Solomon said, what if a man live a thousand years twice over and his life ended up being empty in vain? What profit is it? “...Verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity…” (verse 5). And that’s the whole thing that we are going to be teaching the people during the millennium. Christ is on the earth; we’re ruling and reigning with Him; we’re teaching and training the people. And what is it that they’re going to have to learn? In the midst of all the abundance they have, in the midst of the great things they have, in the midst of having their spiritual teachers being the very sons of God and manifesting themselves to them to teach them, to train them, to help them, and so forth; if they waste their lives, and if they don’t choose God’s way, it is indeed the greatest vanity of all, isn’t it? Yes. Because we know there will be some who will choose that, right? Yes. So man at his very best state, when you’re all cleaned up, and gussied up, and primed and dressed in your best, and you have the best attitude, and you have the best behavior, if you don’t love God and keep His commandments, you are all vain at your very best.

Now notice verse 6: “Surely every man walketh in a vain shew: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them. And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in Thee.” Now here’s the way that you overcome that vanity: “Delivery me from all my transgressions...” And that has to be through the sacrifice of Christ, through repentance, through yielding to God, and God delivers us through His grace. “...Make me not the reproach of the foolish” (verses 6-8). And so therefore, quite a lesson, isn’t it? Man at his best state is altogether vanity. Just like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes to open the book of Ecclesiastes, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, says the preacher.”