BRANCH BOOTHS
Leveticus 23:40-42 & Nehemiah 8:13-18

After Nehemiah led a successful campaign to re-build the walls of Jerusalem the people gathered at the "water-gate" and asked Ezra to read to them from the book of the law of Moses. They wanted to know what the LORD had commanded Israel. Ezra stood on the pulpit and read to them from God's word from morning until noon. And they listened carefully. One of the things they discovered was that God had commanded a week-long festival in the which they were required to build themselves booths made of branches and they were to live in these booths the entire week. This feast of the tabernacles, or festival of booths as it is sometimes called, was to be a time of mirth and celebration. The objective was to keep the younger generations aware of some things:

I. AWARE OF PAST REDEMPTION 
"…when I brought them out of the land of Egypt…" {Lev. 23:43}

II. AWARE OF PERMANENT RESIDENCE 
"…Ye shall dwell in booths seven days…" {Lev 23:42}
{Hebrews 11:11-13}
{1 Pet 2:11} "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…"

III. AWARE OF PROVISIONS RECEIVED 
"…when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land…" {Lev 23:39}
{Gen 33:17} "And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle…"
{Ex 15:27} "And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters."

IV. AWARE OF PRAISE REQUIRED 
"…ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days." {Lev 23:40}
{Joh 12:13} "Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord."
{Re 7:9-10} "After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb."