​Did you know that there is an entire month on the Hebrew calendar that focuses on righteousness? It is the month we are in now. Its name, Shevat, is symbolized by the Hebrew alphabetic letter TZADIK that symbolizes "the Righteous One." This is the month to make righteousness your foundation. Why is this so important? The Bible is filled with verses about righteousness, however, just reading the book of Proverbs and learning what it says about the fruit of righteousness should be enough to make us want to pursue it. I have selected a few of these Scriptures to share with you.
 
Proverbs 10:6 -      "Blessings crown the head of the righteous..."
Proverbs 10:16 -    "The wages of the righteous are life..."
Proverbs 10:21 -    "The lips of the righteous nourish many..."
Proverbs 10:24 -     "...what the righteous desire will be granted..."
Proverbs 11:8 -       "The righteous person is rescued from trouble..."
Proverbs 12:3 -       "...the righteous cannot be uprooted."
Proverbs 12:7 -       "...the house of the righteous stands firm."
Proverbs 13:21 -     "...the righteous are rewarded with good things."
Proverbs 14:34 -     "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people."
 
Righteousness means to be in "right standing" with God. Matthew 5:6 tells us, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Because righteousness involves being in right relationship with God and allowing ourselves to be conformed to His image, it is the key to our happiness and well-being. Yet, this righteousness is impossible for us to achieve as it is a gift from God that comes only through faith in His Son. Perhaps this is why one of God's names is Yahweh Tsidkenu--"the Lord Our Righteousness." "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called:  The Lord Our Righteous Savior.'" (Jeremiah 23:5-6) Jesus came to the earth as The Righteous One to live, die, and be resurrected. As Paul says in Romans 3:21-22, "But now apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."
 
What a gift! You may ask, "How does this happen?" God made us three-part beings with bodies, souls, and spirits. The righteousness of Jesus comes into our spirits after we accept and believe what Jesus did for us on the Cross. This is called being "born again," where God makes a divine exchange with us. "God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Here is what is absolutely amazing! When we sin or start a carnal lifestyle, we are still called righteous because it is the soul that transgresses. Our spirits remain ever righteous because the triune God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) dwells forever in our spirits. As if to confirm this truth, God calls Lot, who was living an ungodly lifestyle in Sodom, a "righteous man" in 2 Peter 2:7-8.
 
So, in this month of righteousness let us pray that our spirits will prevail over our bodies and souls. We can encourage the righteousness that lives in our spirits to manifest as we focus on the goodness of God and meditate on "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...anything excellent or praiseworthy." (Philippians 4:8) Let us rededicate our lives to Jesus and depend on Holy Spirit to live it out. Let us pray for our nation and the reestablishment of its righteous foundation. And let us sink our roots deep into the soil of righteousness so that we cannot be moved. Embrace this month of righteousness, dear ones, for it is the key to our future.

​The historical event called Chanukah or Festival of Dedication should speak to the Church in this season. The chaotic, volatile, and corrupt days we are living in are similar to those that the Jews were experiencing in 165 BC. When the Assyrian army invaded Jerusalem darkness began to overcome light. Jews were forbidden by the Assyrians from practicing their faith. Called "Hellenization," the invaders' goal was to absorb the Jews into the Greek culture. Some among the Jews were embracing the alternative lifestyles and living outside of Godly boundaries. This led to persecution of those Jews who were trying to live according to God's ways. Those who were faithful to God's laws were caught in a trap.
 
The final straw came when the priests were required to bow down to idols and the altar of the Temple was defiled as a pig was sacrificed on it. A priest named Mattathias and his son, Judah, were so distressed by this unconscionable act that they gathered a small army of men who engaged in guerilla warfare for three years. On Kislev 25 they were able to overtake the Assyrian army and reentered the defiled Temple. Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple. After the Levite priests relit the lampstand (Menorah), they discovered that there was only enough oil to burn for one day. It took the priests eight days to make fresh oil, and miraculously, this is how long the lampstand burned. The Lord intervened to keep the lights burning. Hence, Chanukah is also called The Festival of Lights (Hag ha-urim).
 
Symbolically, the Chanukah Menorah has eight candles with a ninth one in the center. Called the "Servant Candle" or "Shamash," its job is to light the other eight candles. The Shamash is the first candle to be lit during Chanukah and is then used each night to light the other eight candles. The prophet Isaiah foretold of a man of God who would come as a servant. "See, my servant will act wisely, He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at Him—His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and His form marred beyond human likeness—so He will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand." (Isaiah 52:13-15) It is no accident that the middle candle is called "The Servant" and is used to light the others.
 
Jesus, the Servant of God, is "the true light that gives light to everyone..." (John 1:9) He told a crowd of people, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) The position of the Shamash on the Menorah is significant. Not only is it in the center, but it sits higher than all the other candles. The higher a light sits, the greater its impact. We see how Isaiah prophesied about the lifting up of the Servant. Jesus confirmed His position and His calling in John 12:32. 'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." In verse 36 Jesus gives this admonition to His followers: "Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." 
 
The candles of the Menorah were lit with anointing oil, a sign of separation and holiness. The name Jesus Christ is significant in both Hebrew and Greek. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christos (Greek) mean the Anointed One. Our Lord provides the oil of anointing and the light! He is the Shamash that ignites our flames and lights up our lives. Do you see the prophetic significance of the Menorah for the Church? The eight-day celebration of The Feast of Dedication should speak volumes to us. Let us remember the themes of Chanukah:  Dedication, The Faithfulness of God, and The Victory of Light over Darkness. Let us also pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters who will light the first candle on their Menorahs tonight. May their eyes be opened to the truth that the Servant Candle is a representation of their Messiah who calls them to faith in Him.

​Jesus had much to teach His disciples before He left the earth. Knowing the frailty of humankind, He promised that Father God would send the Holy Spirit to remind them of everything He said. He also promised to leave them peace:  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)  When Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, the disciples were launched into a new level of faith and trust in the Lord. Holy Spirit is still with us to guide and empower us. It is important for us to remember this, especially this month, the ninth on the Hebrew calendar. Called Kislev, the name of the month is derived from the Hebrew word for security and trust. While the eighth month was the month of the flood, this month is the one of the rainbow when God made a covenant with Noah and his family. That covenant is an everlasting one, meant for us today. For Noah and his family, the ark was a place of peace and rest during the storm. Jesus is now our ark during the storm, our abiding place of peace.
 
I love the stories in the Bible of those who were able to overcome overwhelming obstacles and win unwinnable battles through trusting in the Lord. One of my favorite accounts is of Gideon against the Midianites who invaded Israel like a swarm of locusts. When all of Israel cried out to the Lord, He selected an unlikely person to crush the Midianites. After questioning the angel of God to see if he was for real, "Gideon built an altar to the Lord and called it The Lord is Peace." (Judges 6:24)  An army from four of the tribes of Israel joined Gideon to fight the enemy in the Valley of Jezreel. Wanting the Israelites to know that they had no part in the victory God was about to give them, He reduced the size of the army from 32,000 to 300 soldiers. The opposing army was so huge that it is reported in Judges 7:12 that "their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore."  But here is what it says in Psalm 60:12 and Psalm 108:13, "With God we will gain the victory, and He will trample down our enemies."  As the Israelites blew their trumpets, broke their jars with torches inside, and gave a shout, the Midianites fled and turned on one another with their swords. What an unlikely victory!
 
Do you ever wonder if these types of miracles still happen? I can tell you most assuredly that they do! God is fighting for His people so that we can have peace in the battle. On October 28, Vision for Israel posted an uplifting reflection from an Israeli pilot who participated in the 1973 Yom Kippur war. War erupted on this most sacred day on the Hebrew calendar. Both the northern and southern borders were attacked on October 6, 1973, by Syria and Egypt. Since the attack took place on Yom Kippur, most of the Israeli soldiers were at home with their families. Here is the testimony of the Israeli pilot who flew over the Sinai:  "I saw from the cockpit the incomparable balance of power, hundreds of enemy army tanks, and thousands of Egyptian solders approaching and fighting. On the Israeli side, there were very few military forces to provide protection for the borders. From above it seemed shocking! It could end in a Holocaust and the destruction of an entire state, the State of Israel. I did not believe what I saw...But suddenly I see an amazing spectacle! Masses of Egyptian soldiers returning towards Egypt, tanks retreating. Some of the enemy fighters raised a white flag and surrendered, and I do not understand what was happening. I'm stunned and ask myself, what's going on down there?"
 
The Israeli pilot heard the story from the Egyptian side:  "As the Egyptians advanced toward Israel, they suddenly saw masses of Israeli soldiers. They were sure they were falling into a trap from which they wouldn't come out alive...Out of fear and anxiety they decided to surrender. I knew that there is a God in heaven, that He guards us with all His angels. Thanks to His defense and intervention we were able to win the difficult and bloody war."  The formerly unbelieving pilot who gave this testimony became an observant and God-fearing Believer after the miracle he saw that day. For those of us who are facing a serious conflict, be assured that the same God who delivered Israel in 1973 will also deliver us. Let this be an encouragement for us to have increasing levels of peace and trust in the Lord amid our circumstances, especially during this month of Kislev.

Two messages from God are brought to light during the eighth month on the Hebrew calendar, Cheshvan.  We see them through the story of Noah and the great flood.  Cheshvan can be a month of judging or a month of grace.  God demonstrated both, and He gives us a choice.
 
From the time of creation until the days of Noah, God observed the behaviors of mankind.  He was so grieved by the wickedness of humanity that He expressed regret for making human beings.  "So, the Lord said, 'I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.'  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:7-8 - NKJ)  From these verses we can glean both themes for the month of Cheshvan.
 
The Bible explains in Psalm 89:14 that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne. Psalm 47:8 tells us that "God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne."  Isaiah 5:16 prophesies, "But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will be proved holy by His righteous acts."  How could a holy God who builds His foundation on righteousness and justice endure the evil of the people of Noah's day?  He could not!  "Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." (Genesis 6:9)  This being the case, God gave Noah directions on building an ark to protect him and his family.
 
While a time of judgment was placed upon the earth, Noah experienced the grace of God.  The Lord told him, "I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it.  Everything on earth will perish. But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you.  You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you." (Genesis 6:17-19) On the 17th of Cheshvan Noah and his family entered the ark and the floodgates of heaven were opened, "And rain fell on the earth 40 days and 40 nights." (Genesis 7:12)  One year and 10 days later, on the 27th of Cheshvan, God instructed Noah to come out of the ark.
 
The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma of a burnt offering that Noah prepared for Him and established a covenant with him.  A promise was made by the Lord:  "Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood..." (Genesis 9:11)  A sign was given:  I have set My rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember My covenant between Me and you and all living creatures of every kind." (Genesis 9:13-14)  Since Cheshvan is the eighth month on the Hebrew calendar, isn't it interesting that this number represents new beginnings.
 
Judgment led to grace—grace that endures to the present day.  This month is a reminder that God's grace is never-ending.  "Out of His fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.  For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:16-17)  God's love for us is so great that He nailed His Son to a cross so that His blood was shed for the remission of our sins.  "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:9-10)  In view of God's sacrificial love for us, should we not follow His call on our lives to be holy as He is holy?  We have a choice.  Let us choose grace.

​"Be joyful at your festival," it says in Deuteronomy 16:14 about the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot.  How could we not celebrate this festival that is a picture of the Lord sitting at our table of rejoicing with us? Some prefer to say that the Lord will tabernacle or dwell with us.  I find the details of all that happens during Sukkot particularly fascinating this year, because it is a Shemitah year—a year of rest.  Leviticus 25 shares how God's people are to live during the seventh year.  "When you enter the land, I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord.  For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops.  But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord," (Verses 2-4)  "You may ask, 'What will we eat in the seventh year if we do not plant or harvest our crops?'  I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years." (Verses 20-21)  Here we have God's promise to be faithful to us as we are faithful to His Word.
 
A report written by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz in Biblical News on March 16 explains an interesting application of this requirement as it pertains to the Pool of Siloam, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the water libation ceremony (Nisuch Hamayim) performed in the Temples in Israel.  The water libation ceremony is part of the oral tradition handed down from Moses.  Water was collected daily from the Pool of Siloam in golden vessels and brought to the Temple.  This ceremony was one of extraordinary joy as those who escorted the priests to the Pool would sing and play musical instruments.  When all the people returned to the Temple, water and wine were poured on the altar as a sacrifice that accompanied their worship of God.  When the libation ceremony was repeated by the worshipers every day, the excitement built until the seventh day when the joy and celebration was at its height.
 
It is significant that Tabernacles is celebrated at the end of the dry season.  Israel has no rain for approximately six months.  The pouring out of the water on the altar is a significant sacrifice every year.  Prayers asking for the rains to come during the next six months are part of the libation ceremony. Those prayers were answered by God in a dramatic way this past year.  It is reported that two years ago a contingent of Kohanim (priests), Levites, and Jews descended to the Pool of Siloam in the Old City of Jerusalem to collect water for the libation ceremony.  They were shocked that there was barely enough water to fill their golden vessels.  The good news is that after six years of drought, God blessed Israel with such an abundant rainy season that the Pool of Siloam is overflowing.  The Sea of Galilee was also at its lowest level in many years and has recovered to such an extent that it is within 12 centimeters of being full.
 
Bountiful crops cannot occur in the sixth year without bountiful amounts of water.  Here is where God made good on His promise:  "I will send such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years." (Leviticus 25:21)  We can count on the faithfulness of God.  He is a promise keeper who loves to bless us with "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20)
 
God is beyond understanding!  He is faithful to His promises and made that clear to His people when He was teaching them not to worry.  "Consider the ravens:  They do not sow or reap; they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.  And how much more valuable you are than birds." (Luke 12:24)  Our world is in turmoil with cataclysmic and destructive events, evil agendas to destroy our families and our nation, and increases in sickness and death.  Israel is in the thick of a battle for her life, and yet God provided rain for the Pool of Siloam.  How much more does He care about us?  Be joyful!  One of the Hallel Psalms read at the Feast of Tabernacles is Psalm 118.  The end of this Psalm is so encouraging:  "The Lord is God, and He has made His light shine on us.  With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar...Give thanks to the Lord, for He is Good; His love endures forever." (Verses 27 and 29)

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is considered the holiest day on God's calendar and begins this year on the eve of September 15.  It is called a Mo'edim or divine appointment with God.  There is no day like it, and it is celebrated by the Jewish people with fasting and prayer.  On the first day of the seventh month (Tishrei) on the Hebrew calendar, the shofar is blown to signify the beginning of the new year and the "Ten Days of Awe," a time of remembrance, contemplation, and repentance that culminates on Yom Kippur.
 
God initiated this special day to be one like no other.  It was the only day when He allowed the High Priest of Israel to enter the Most Holy Place in the Temple by rending the veil.  It was on Mt. Sinai that God gave Moses instruction on how to live by giving him the ten commandments, the laws concerning servants, personal injuries, property protection, justice and mercy, the Sabbath, and the annual festivals. After a covenant was made between God and the Israelites, He gave them instructions on how to make a sanctuary for Him.  The Ark of the Covenant was to be placed in the Most Holy Place and was protected from everyone with a barrier or thick veil.  It was constructed of acacia wood overlaid with pure gold.  Two cherubim were made with hammered gold and connected to the cover of the ark at either end.  The wings of the cherubim spread upward so that they overshadowed the cover. (Exodus 25:10-22) 
 
Leviticus 23:26-28 gives instructions on how to live on Yom Kippur.  "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Be careful to celebrate the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the same month—nine days after the Festival of Trumpets.  You must observe it as an official day for holy assembly, a day to deny yourselves and present special gifts to the Lord.  Do not work during the entire day because it is the Day of Atonement, when offerings of purification are made for you, making you right with the Lord your God.’” (NLT)  The Lord made it clear to Moses that his brother, Aaron the high priest, could not go into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain at any time or he would die.  He could only enter once a year, and first he had to bring a sin and burnt offering.  He had to bathe with water before putting on his garments made of pure linen.  He had to take with him a censer of burning coals from the altar, two handfuls of finely ground, fragrant incense, and blood from the sacrificial bull and goat to sprinkle on the front of the atonement cover.  The blood was to cleanse the Israelites from their sin. (See Leviticus 16)
 
Did you ever wonder how this blood sacrifice on the mercy seat between the wings of the cherubim came about?  We must look back to original sin that came from Adam and Eve.  Genesis 3:24 tells us this: "After He drove them out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."  The cherubim of the ark were patterned after those placed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden.  God would not be content to leave things this way, however.  He has always desired face-to-face communion with all His children.  God had a plan to remove the veil or barrier between us and Him.  It was the shed blood of Jesus that permanently overcame the barrier.
 
Today we look at the blood of our Messiah as the sacrifice that makes the way for us to go behind the veil.  His sacrifice gives us permission to go there anytime and as often as we desire.  Hebrews 10:19-22 confirms our position of favor.  "Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain that is His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings..."  On Yom Kippur let us remember the invitation that God gives to us all year long through the blood of His Son.  Let us honor the sacrifice that has been made for us by pursuing a relationship with the Lord.

​Can you imagine asking God to give you a son year after year?  That is what Abraham and Sarah did.  And it was not until Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90 years old that their desires were fulfilled.  What a test of faith and perseverance they endured!  But God had a plan and a perfect time for the birth of Isaac.  Abraham and Sarah would know for sure that only God's power and love brought about the birth of their son Isaac.  As God was announcing His plans, He said, "But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year." (Genesis 17:21)
 
Now imagine how much Abraham and Sarah loved Isaac and how they protected him from difficulties and controversies because he was their only child.  Is it possible that Abraham loved Isaac more than he loved God?  We do not know, but we do know that God tested Abraham's faith.  "Take your son, your only son—Yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah.  Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains which I will show you." (Genesis 22:2 - NLT)  Scripture tells us that Abraham got up early the next morning to prepare for the journey in immediate obedience to God.  The trip from Beersheba to Moriah was about 50-60 miles and took three days.  When they arrived, Abraham instructed his servants to remain a distance from their final destination.  He said, "I will worship and then we will come back to you." (Genesis 22:5)  Abraham placed the wood on his son while he carried the fire and knife.
 
At their destination, Abraham built an altar, tied his son, and laid him on the wood.  As Abraham lifted his knife to kill Isaac, an angel of the Lord called to him and told him to stop because He could see Abraham feared God.  God had provided the ram in the thicket.  It was caught by its horns.  The ram was sacrificed instead of Isaac, and Abraham called the place, "The Lord Will Provide," (Jehovah Jireh).  Genesis 22:14 tells us, "And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.'"
 
The story is of particular interest to the Jews at the beginning of the New Year (Rosh  Hashanah). Genesis 22, called the Akedah in Hebrew, or the "Binding of Isaac," is read.  They link the blowing of the ram's horn to the ram that was provided to Abraham for sacrifice in place of Isaac.  As the shofar is blown, it reminds them of Abraham's obedience.  The Jews believe that Abraham's descendants are pardoned based on his merit.
 
God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would come through Isaac may have helped Abraham go through with the binding of Isaac and raising of his knife to kill him. Hebrews 1:19 suggests this: "Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death."  In any event, the story of Isaac reminds us of God's mercy, grace, and provision for sin.  We see continuity between the Old and New Testament.  Father Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac in obedience to Father God, and Father God was willing to sacrifice His only son Jesus to redeem us from our sins.  The story of the sacrifice of Isaac is a prophetic picture of the death and resurrection of Jesus.
 
May I suggest that we reread the story of the Binding of Isaac in Genesis 22 during the Jewish New Year.  As we do, let us remember how the Lord taught Abraham that forgiveness of sin does not come through our sacrifice but through that of the Lord, Yeshua, Jesus.  Let us also repent for our sins, bless the Lord for His provision, and pray that the Jewish people will come to know the truth of their Messiah in this New Year.

​God's three main feasts--Passover Pentecost, and Tabernacles--are shadows of Messiah. The Fall Feasts prophecy the Lord's second coming and paint a picture of Christ's return to bring His Bride unto Himself.  Each feast has a specific spiritual transaction for us that draws us closer to God.  Passover brought redemption, Pentecost brought the Holy Spirit, and Tabernacles looks forward to the second coming of the Lord.
 
The cycles ordained by God are for rest and refreshment and increasing intimacy with the Lord.  All of them are wrapped around the number seven and occur weekly, monthly, and yearly.  As we align ourselves with God's cycles of life, His blessings are poured out upon us. When we keep God's divine appointments we will walk in a blessed lifestyle.  Let us keep in mind that God's intent is for His church to celebrate His feasts forever.  Leviticus 23:37 talks about the fall feasts and says, "This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live."  Sadly, many Christian churches today have moved far away from God's appointed times of rest and celebration except for the weekly one.  Is it not time for us to change our mindset?  Paul gives us advice in Romans 12:2.  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."
 
Just as the Church has Advent, a time of preparation to celebrate the birth of Messiah, the high holy days of the Fall Feasts begin in the sixth month on the Hebrew calendar, called Elul.  From the beginning of Elul until the 10th day (Yom Kippur or The Day of Atonement) in the seventh month called Tishrei, there is a time of preparation for meeting the King.  Preparation includes repentance, forgiveness, and submission to the Lord.  The first day of Tishrei begins the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) or "The Head of the Year."  At the beginning of this New Year the shofar will be blown to announce the year 5782 and the beginning of the Sabbatical year called The Shemitah.
 
The importance of the number seven in God's world is demonstrated by the times of rest that He appoints for His people.  Like our rest on the seventh day of the week, we are also to rest and celebrate during the Fall Feasts in the seventh month of the year.  Once every seven years a Sabbatical year occurs where God directs His people and their land to rest.  There is a dual purpose in this year to improve the condition of the land and to increase the faith of those who follow God.  It is so appropriate that the meaning of the seventh year of rest, Shemitah, is release.  Here are some of the benefits of releasing the land and our care to the Lord:  When the farmer "fallows" (leaves bare) his field, he is setting it up to produce a healthier and larger crop in the season to come by increasing the nutrients in the soil, increasing moisture in the sub-soil, and disrupting the life cycle of pathogens.  As we follow God's directions in Scripture by resting at His designated times, we also set ourselves up for an increase in faith and trust in the Lord. I find it interesting that Genesis 22, the story of Abraham's obedience to God when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, is read at the celebration of Rosh Hashanah.  This story introduces us to the concept of substitutionary atonement for those who trust in God to provide for every need.
 
The Jews will be celebrating the New Year 5782 beginning at sunset on September 6.  They will rest from their daily work to celebrate the faithfulness of God in their lives and in the lives of their ancestors.  Their time will be spent in contemplation, repentance, and prayer.  Through the grace of God, Gentiles have been grafted into "The Vine," God's family.  Romans 11:17 confirms this:  "...Though a wild olive shoot, you have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root…” Joining in this celebration could only be a blessing for us.  If we position ourselves before the Lord to follow HIs times and seasons listed in the Old Testament, there will be an increase in intimacy with Him, and He will help us determine a direction for the year to come.
 
God still calls us to remember what He has already done through His Son, Jesus, and to rehearse for what is yet promised.  We have an opportunity to prepare for the Jewish New Year and pray for the fulfillment of God's promises that all Israel will be saved, and that the world will come to know our Messiah as Savior.

​We start Elul, the sixth month on the Hebrew calendar, at sunset tonight.  The name Elul is a Hebrew acronym,  "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li, meaning "I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine." (Song of Solomon 6:3)  This being the sixth month, we should look at the picture that represents the Hebrew letter for six or Vav.  Vav is a picture of a tent peg or nail used to make something secure.  Indeed, God wants us to be secure in our relationship with Him and did something spectacular to show us how much He loves us and desires to be in our company. 
 
What did God do that is so amazing?  Luke 1:26-27, 30-31, gives us the answer.  "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin's name was Mary...The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.'"  The angel went on to give more details of this immaculate conception and God's intent for His life.  “…So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)
 
Could Mary's pregnancy that begins in the month of Elul be why the Jews say, "The King is in the field?"  I believe God appointed this time for us to connect with Him in such an intimate way that we will never doubt His great love for us.   To confirm this in the heavens, He placed the constellation Virgo (The virgin) in the night sky.  Elul is a month of nurturing or mothering.  I think it is no accident that Rebekah gave birth to her twins, Jacob and Esau, during Elul.
 
Contemplate with me what a woman does when she learns she is pregnant.  A time of preparation begins so that the baby can be welcomed and cared for in the best way possible.  Since this is the season when "The King is in the field" should we not be prepared to meet Him?  He welcomes our approach.  He demonstrated His love for His people during this month by allowing Moses to return to Mount Sinai for a second set of tablets.  He truly is a God of mercy!  Elul precedes the month of Tishrei, when the fall feasts are held.  An invitation is given to all of us to join the Lord for these feasts.
 
The manifest presence of the Lord is described perfectly in John 1:14.  "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." Dwelling is a name for tent or tabernacle.  He tabernacled among us.  Imagine the King of all creation leaving HIs perfect heavenly throne to be with us!  Such love!  "This is love:  Not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10)  It is time for us to remember the nail that secured our King to us.  Isn't it significant that the Lord was nailed to the Cross?  He was attached and secured to the Cross because of His amazing love for us.  That love should lead us to repentance, which leads to God's mercy and fruitfulness for our lives. What an awesome God we serve!

​Most of the Church is unaware of the history of this time-period and how it can affect them.  Last week we entered the month of Av on the Hebrew calendar.  Today is the 9th of Av, a date that is so significant for the Jewish people that many will spend the day fasting and mourning.  This date has proved to be consistently difficult throughout the years.  It all began when the 12 spies (one from each tribe of Israel) went in to scout out the promised land.  The men went in fully knowing God's promises to them. "The Lord said to Moses, 'Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.'"  (Numbers 13:1)  When the group returned it was during the month of Av.  Ten of the 12 spies gave a negative report, claiming that the Nephilim that they saw were too strong for the Israelites to overcome.  Fear fell on the entire camp.  Joshua and Caleb tried to quell their fears by telling the people that the protection of the giants is gone, "but the Lord is with us.  Do not be afraid." (Number 14:9)
 
Moses became an advocate for God's chosen people, reminding God of His character.  "The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.  Yet He does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the 3rd and 4th generation" (Numbers 14:18)  The Lord forgave them, however there were ramifications for their sin of unbelief.  "...As sure as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me 10 times--not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors.  No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it." (Numbers 14:21-23)  God let them know that the curse they declared over themselves would manifest:  "...I will do to you the very thing I heard you say:  In the wilderness your bodies will fall--every one of you 20 years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me...Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home...Your children will be shepherds here for 40 years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.  For 40 years--one year for each of the 40 days you explored the land--you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you." (Numbers 14:28-34)  The 10 men who came back from the Promised Land with a bad report were struck down and died of a plague.
 
Here is what the Church needs to understand:  The camp of Israelites committed the sins of unbelief, dishonoring God, disobedience, and unfaithfulness.  Their sins set in motion years of consequences for God's people because they spoke curses over themselves that agreed with the kingdom of darkness and gave the demonic permission to operate in their lives.  Repentance for these sins has not taken place and so destruction continues to take place to this day.  The negative history of the days past tries to repeat itself during this season.  As Hosea 4:6 tells us, "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge." With the string of disasters occurring during this same time frame you would think that the "light bulb" would go on.  Some of the major disasters included destruction of the 1st and 2nd temples, destruction of Jerusalem, crusades against the Jews--killing many, expulsion from England, Spain, and Portugal, the beginning of WWI, deportation of the Jews to the Treblinka concentration camp, and expulsion from Gaza.
 
We are committing the same sins as the Jews in the wilderness committed.  The enemy of our souls wants to defile and devour us.  "Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9)  The Church must be aware of the pattern of destruction that exists and be intentional in aligning Herself with the truth of God's Word.  We, as members of the Church, must be on-guard against the attack of the enemy and not allow him to destroy our spiritual temples or our trust in the Lord.  We must come into agreement with the promises of God over our lives, stirring our faith to believe in them.  God has given us power and authority in His name.  We are under the blood of Jesus.  Let's be awakened to these truths.
 
May I also suggest that we make this time one in which we pray for an awakening in our hearts and those of our Jewish brothers and sisters.  We should be praying for the peace of Jerusalem. (Psalm 122:6) Let's also examine ourselves to be sure that we are walking in love and honoring the Body of Christ.  Let us break any agreement we have made with the powers of darkness by confessing and renouncing the sin of cursing ourselves.  Our repentance will surely open the door for God to pour out His blessings upon us.  Let us stir our faith to declare and believe in the promises the Lord has given to us.