The Feast of Tabernacles is a time when God's people are to gather together to worship and to hear His words. Every 7 years God's people are to read aloud His laws and commands so they can listen and learn to obey (Deuteronomy 31:10-13).

In addition to joyfully celebrating before God and offering our thanks for all His blessings during the year we come to the Feast of Tabernacles to be taught and instructed in His word.

A time for instruction in God's Word

We see this same example of teaching during the Feast of Tabernacles in Nehemiah 8:11-18. Here the remnant of people allowed to return to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity dedicate the entire fall holy day season to public instruction in them law.

This example of zeal and excitement for God's word in Nehemiah also shows us that the instruction in God's word should go beyond mere ceremonial recitation. We should  seek to explore and explain the meaning of God's word (verse 8).