Hold your peace, or your tears. Little boys are taught not to let anyone see you cry. Woman if they cry they are woman. Yet some woman cry more then others. It a sad fact but it is true. Anytime the law of God was read there would be weeping. Why was Israel told to hold their peace after reading the law, because basically they wanted to have a party. There is time to mourn and weep because of sin, when understanding that sin occurred against God's law, but their is also time of feasting. To distinguish when to cry and when not too. No one ever cries willfully on cue, there has to be a reason. Time of repentance is put on hold for time of setting up of tents and booths to sleep under, commemorating the day of festival of booths. They were to sleep under these tents seven days. Had company arrived in Israel and shelters were needed to house the people. Was this like having out of town company and needing a hotel room or camper to sleep in. No this was actually a feast celebrating the time in the wilderness when God had the people sleep in tents.

Now I do not mind the idea of sleeping in a tent for a week, but get past a week and luxuries of modern convience I kind of cringe. Running water and electricity is only a list of things I would miss. It not that campgrounds do not have water spigots and power hook ups, it the thought of having to carry all that water, and using extension cord for one thing at a time, even with a power strip. To sleep in a tent for Israel in the old days were not to much different then sleeping in their house, except for the occasional leaky roof in a rain storm. They used candles or lanterns for lights and carried water, often from a common watering hole, anyway The celebration would of perhaps been cooler sleeping accomendation do to weather maybe. Houses of any kind can get hot and stuffy. Celebration was to celebrate a time in history where God moved greatly among the people in the wilderness. To remind the people how far their ancestors traveled to get back to the promise land. The reading of the laws and stories of years gone by was much like us sitting and watching tv or listen to the radio or book today. The art of story telling not yet removed from society, but fast being lost with technology of today. To hear God's word was much like listening to Christian ministers sing, preach, or testify of what God is doing today. In fact some churches and groups have social events and retreats that they go to that involved sleeping else where then at home. Some even staying in laborate structures they built or opting for a nearby motel. All these events to help bring revival and strength for the journey ahead in faith.

In truth there is nothing like a good retreat outdoors where one sleeps in a cabin or other structure during revival with all the modern convinces of our world. Sanitation concerns keep it from being to primitive. During the meetings of hearing of scripture was time to weep, but the rest of time was in celebration of what God had done both way back when and now for people of God. If you get the opportunity to go on a much needed Bible retreat remember there time of concentrating on God's word and time for fellowship and getting to know those around you. It just not a time of revival of the heart and soul.

What restores a people faster but a time of renewal of their relationship with God and reconnecting with old friends and getting to know new ones. Part of fellowship is not just revival to know God but a revival to build on godly friendships. So remember a time of tears for repentance and time of celebration is important during any retreat, renewal, or camping revival. Festival of booths was more then just celebration what God had done at the time of Moses but also for fellowship of the people, time of rejoicing and reading of the laws for repentance. Way back then as days of Old Testament, they only had to open the scroll or pull out a stone tablet and begin reading. The word alone cause understanding to God's way, no one, but the Holy Spirit explained it to them. That why if you read nothing but the daily scripture I post, it okay by me. It is God's word that will speak to your heart, even if these words do not.

Dear Heavenly Father reminder your people of the need for a party and fellowship along with revival of the heart with their relationship with you and others. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study for Devotion:Leviticus 23:42-44 KJV
42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.
44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.