How Sweet It Is to Be Loved by You
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles, has always been my favorite holiday.
Growing up, the Messianic congregation I attended would gather each year to celebrate this holiday together. One of my favorite traditions was the annual flower crown project, organized by my mother. She would bring beautiful flowers from her incredible garden, and we children would carefully weave them into crowns and use them to decorate the sukkah (more on what that is later). To me, Sukkot has always been filled with color, celebration, family, and reminders of God’s goodness.
But Sukkot is much more than a beautiful fall festival.
God commanded the children of Israel to live in temporary shelters, or sukkot (singular: sukkah), for seven days so future generations would remember how He caused the Israelites to dwell in temporary shelters after bringing them out of Egypt (Leviticus 23:42–43). The feast points back to Israel’s years in the wilderness when the people had to depend upon God for their daily needs.
The sukkah remains a powerful picture for us today. Its temporary walls remind us that the things of this world are temporary too. Our security is ultimately not found in our homes, possessions, careers, or circumstances. Our security is found in the God who provides for us and dwells with His people.
Sukkot was also a joyful harvest celebration. God instructed Israel to rejoice before Him and give thanks after gathering the produce of the land (Deuteronomy 16:13–15). It was a time to look around at God’s provision, recognizing every good gift ultimately comes from Him.
Yeshua (Jesus) also celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles. John 7 records Him going to Jerusalem for the feast, and the events surrounding Sukkot provide the setting for some remarkable statements about who He is. Shortly afterward, Yeshua declared, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He pointed people beyond the celebration itself to the One who gives true light and life.
One of the fruits that has become closely associated with this season is the pomegranate (rimon in Hebrew).
The pomegranate is one of the Seven Species specifically associated with the Land of Israel. Deuteronomy 8:8 describes the Promised Land as “a land of wheat and barley, vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey.” These foods became beautiful reminders of the abundance and blessing God provided His people.[1]
Pomegranates also bring back a favorite memory from the year I lived in Israel while attending university. I remember standing in the shouk (outdoor market) surrounded by the sights and sounds of Israel. At some point, I realized I could remember the Hebrew word rimonim, but I had completely forgotten the English word pomegranates! It was a beautiful moment when I realized just how much Hebrew had become part of my everyday life.
There is also an interesting Jewish tradition surrounding the pomegranate. It is sometimes said a pomegranate contains 613 seeds, corresponding to the traditional count of 613 commandments in the Torah, or Jewish Law. (While actual pomegranates do not contain exactly 613 seeds, the symbolism provides a wonderful picture.)
When we open a pomegranate, we discover hundreds of beautiful, jewel-like seeds bursting with sweetness. The sweetness and abundance hidden inside the fruit offer a fitting reminder of the richness found in God’s Word. Do we think about God’s Word that way? Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Sometimes it is easy to think of God's commands primarily as restrictions – a list of things we should or should not do. Yet, Scripture gives us a different picture. God's instruction reveals His character and teaches His people how to walk in His ways. These boundaries are given by a God who loves us and knows what is good.
Like the seeds hidden inside a pomegranate, there is sweetness to be discovered when we treasure God's Word and allow it to shape our lives. For those of us who know Yeshua, obedience is not a way of earning salvation; our salvation is by God's grace. Rather, because we belong to Him, we desire to know His Word, follow Him, and allow His truth to transform the way we live.
James Taylor famously sang, “How sweet it is to be loved by you.”[2] As followers of Messiah, we know an even greater sweetness: to be loved by the God who provides for us, guides us through His Word, and faithfully walks with us.
Written by Hannah, Life in Messiah Staff Member
Do you tend to view God’s Word more as a list of restrictions or as loving instruction from a faithful God? Why?
In what ways has God provided for you during seasons when you had to depend on Him more fully?
Sukkot begins at sunset on Friday, September 25, 2026, and continues through nightfall on Friday, October 2. A simple greeting you can offer a Jewish friend is “Chag Sameach!” (חג שמח), meaning “Happy holiday!” or “Joyous festival!” Is there a Jewish friend or neighbor you could use the holiday as an opportunity to show genuine interest and care?
Endnotes:
[1] https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/pomegranates-sukkots-etrogim-and-religious-pluralism/
[2] Originally recorded by Marvin Gaye in 1964, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” was later popularized by James Taylor with his 1975 cover, which became the most successful version of the song. You can listen to it HERE.