Ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year— These days were spent in great festivity and joy; the highest part of which consisted in the drawing and pouring out of water: the Talmudists say of this, that he who never saw the rejoicing of drawing of water, knows not what rejoicing is. This custom is thought to have been in memory of the miraculous water which flowed from the rock in the wilderness; and undoubtedly was figurative of the gospel-grace; see Zechariah 14:16. The words of Isaiah 12:3 were sung during this ceremony; With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation: to which it is believed our Saviour alluded, when he cried out in the temple, on the last day of this solemnity; If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink: he that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water, John 7:37-38. It is probable, that the Pagans derived their festivals in honour of Bacchus from this feast of the Jews.
REFLECTIONS.—The sorrows of repentance are the certain forerunners of peace and joy in believing. The humiliation of the day of atonement prepared for the feast of tabernacles, one of the three great festivals, celebrated for eight days, with every expression of gladness, with many sacrifices, and two days of solemn convocation. During seven days, they lived in booths, made of the branches of trees; the eighth was a holy day of rest and joy. They thus remembered their long abode in tents in the wilderness, and God's care of them there: and as the fruits of the whole year were now gathered in, this added to their thankfulness. Note; (1.) When we come to our true land of rest, it will ever warm our hearts with peculiar gratitude, to remember the hardships we have endured in the wilderness, and from which the Lord delivered us. (2.) If the joy of harvest was so great, how much greater will be our joy, when we shall reap the harvest of eternal glory! (3.) We, in this world, dwell in booths, but in a few days we shall return to our house, which is from heaven, and then everlasting joy will be upon our heads.
These solemnities were annually observed, besides their sabbaths and free-will offerings; for nothing must interrupt our ordinary duties, and we are never restrained from adding any farther portion of our time and substance to the immediate service of God, if we find our hearts inclined, and our circumstances enable us.