 In Bucks County Pennsylvania it is wheat harvest time. I love looking across the rolling, expansive, golden-brown fields ready to be cut. The farmer determines if the crop is ready by pressing his fingernail into the kernel. If no mark is left, the grain is ideal for harvest. It is called winter wheat and would have been sown in the fall. Once the crop is inspected and ready for harvest, the farmer brings in a combine harvester. This one machine does several operations: It cuts the stalks, threshes the grain (by separating the grain from the husk), and blows out the waste (called winnowing). The next machine to come onto the field is a baler. It collects the wheat stems and compresses them into cylindrical or rectangular bales. Then they are transported to be used to feed livestock or as a fertilizer additive. In the meantime, the harvested grain is loaded onto trucks and taken to local farm buildings. There it is dropped into tall steel or concrete silos to be processed into flour.
Something I noticed about local harvesting is that it is done to the very edge of the field. Such a practice would have been unacceptable in Biblical days. Leviticus 19:22 says, "When you reap the harvest of your land do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the Lord your God." This law of leftovers is repeated in Deuteronomy 24:19. "When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for a foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands." Verse 22 explains further: "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this." The Jews call this tradition "Pe'ah" or "leaving the corners or edges." As we can see in the Deuteronomy Scripture, when we show compassion and generosity to those who are less fortunate than we are, it touches the heart of God, and He promises to bless us. This was also a way of preserving the dignity of the needy by allowing them to harvest the food for themselves. We can see this played out in the book of Ruth. "One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, 'Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain. Maybe someone will be kind enough to let me gather the grain he leaves behind.' Naomi said to her, 'Go, my daughter.' So, Ruth went to the fields to gather the grain the reapers left behind..." (Ruth 2: 2, 3 - TPT) Today, as we do not live in an agrarian society, how can we apply the principle of leaving the edges? First, we must not live a marginless life. When we use everything we have, including money, time, and energy, we open the door to exhaustion and fear, fear that we will not have enough. The root of living like this is lack of faith. We must believe that God will provide for our needs. As the Bible says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19, 20 - NKJ) Second, a Christian has the obligation to take care of those in need in our communities. The underlying purpose of "leaving the edges" can be demonstrated through acts of charity or kindness. We live in a society where people spend all that they have to satisfy their desires for the latest and greatest vehicle or computer or gadget of the day. The responsibility to live within their means has been forgotten. There is nothing left for a rainy day or to help others. Let us take Hebrew 13:5 to heart as it is a promise from God for us to embrace. "Don't be obsessed with money, but live content with what you have, for you always have God's presence. For hasn't He promised you, 'I will never leave you alone, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life.” (TPT)  Two hundred fifty years ago, on May 17, 1776, the second Continental Congress met to observe what was called "A Day of Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer." This nationwide event was meant to be a time to pray to God for forgiveness of sins, divine guidance, and wisdom. The day before the Congress had passed a resolution introduced by the delegate from New Jersey, William Livingstone. It asked citizens to "confess and bewail our manifold sins and transgressions" and to seek God's protection against the "hostile designs" of the British. On the anniversary of this event, President Trump planned a national prayer gathering to rededicate America as "One Nation Under God." Thousands of Americans gathered on the Mall in Washington D. C. to pray, worship, and give thanks to God. They were inspired by many of our nation's leaders and pastors as they remembered our history as a nation of faith and talked about defining moments in the forming of our country.
2 Chronicles 7:14 was read by our President: "If my people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear them from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." This is what the Lord said to Solomon on the night after he finished building the temple. He went on to say, "Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." (Verse 15) The web site established with the details for the day of rededication listed three "Pillars" for the speakers to include in their talks. Pillar #1 - "The Miracles that Made Us." (Honoring the faith of our founders and God's providence throughout 250 years.) Pillar #2 - "The Miracles Still in our Midst." (Personal testimonies of God's healing in our lives and for our land.) Pillar #3 - "A New Birth of Faith and Freedom." (Times of collective expression of gratitude for 250 years of freedom and ones to rededicate our nation, asking God's blessings, guidance, and grace for the next 250 years.) TBN Network was present for the entire day and reported as different speakers and worship leaders took the stage. They commented that the Spirit of the Lord was tangible in that place. They also spoke of how blessed we are that the idea for the entire event was born from the top of our government. Below are some of the highlights of the event: Pastor Samuel Rodriguez opened the rededication with a prayer to "remember and rededicate" our nation to God and to "reflect on history and realign our future." Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, commented that the soul of our nation has always been rooted in "an ancient faith." Pastor Franklin Graham reminded us that our nation was born in a struggle and continues to struggle today. He observed that there has been a moral decline, and there is little understanding of Biblical truth. We need to humbly pray, confess our sins and call on the name of Almighty God. Former HUD Secretary, Dr. Ben Carson, declared that our rights come from God. He sees that we have drifted away from common sense and must appeal to God for protection. Speaker of the House, Michael Johnson, offered a prayer as he rededicated our country as "One Nation, Under God in Jesus' Name." Pastor Lou Engle called what happened on Sunday, May 17 a "hinge-of-history moment." Pastor Dutch Sheetz named it a "breakthrough day." He declared a "new beginning for America in the mighty name of Jesus." The name of Jesus Christ was boldly proclaimed at Rededicate 250. The core message was our need for repentant prayer and rededication to God. I believe that God has given us a window of grace. It is our responsibility to accept this season by drawing closer to God in prayer and living our lives in accordance with the instructions of His Word. Perhaps He will respond and guide America back to Him through revival. Let’s pray to that end.  Over the weekend the Jewish calendar turned to a new month, the third month of Sivan. This name is Assyrian and means joy or the month of harvest. There is excitement for the Jewish people as they enter this month because it is packed with events that give them assurance of provisions. Physical provision is evident by the ripening wheat fields. As the children of Israel moved to Mount Sinai, God was preparing to give Moses Torah—the Word of God. During the same period, but years later and ten days after the ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God (Ruach Ha-Kodesh) was poured out on those who waited in the upper room. With these gifts, God was positioning His people to receive power.
The stories of these provisions in the Bible should inspire us to position ourselves to be set apart from the world and dedicated to our Lord. He is calling us to Himself and purifying us in holiness and righteousness through the power of the Word and His Spirit as they come together. This month is a reminder that we are God's children of inheritance. He made a covenant with the Israelites and promised to keep that covenant. When the Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land, after forty years of wandering in the wilderness, God gave them a history lesson to remind them of how He cared for them. Some of those reminders are written about in Deuteronomy 8. "Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers...Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and revering Him...When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws, and His decrees that I am giving you this day...Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers as it is today." (Deuteronomy 8:1, 6, 10, 11, 18) God called the children of Israel to come up as He met them at Mount Sinai, and he called the disciples to come up to an upper room. We are still called to look up to the Lord, The Light of the World. (John 8:12) We are meant to be set apart and anointed as priests before Him. Jesus confirmed this call by identifying us on the Sermon on the Mount. "You are the light of the world...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16) Here is what 1 Peter 2:9 tells us about our identity: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light." We are to live in step with the Holy Spirit. In doing so we will impact the world around us. Peter goes on to say, "Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day that He visits us." (1 Peter 2:12)  The beginning of creation demonstrates the power of God's Word. "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) All of creation is an example of how God spoke the word and the earth came into existence. God assures us in the much-quoted verse of Isaiah 55:11 that His word that goes out from His mouth will not return empty but will accomplish what He desires. God has a purpose for every verse in the Bible, and when it is read aloud, there is power in it. That is one of the reasons I am so encouraged by what happened at our nation’s Capital this past week.
As part of the celebration of America's 250th birthday, an organization called "Christians Engaged" arranged for nearly five hundred leaders from our country to read the entire Bible aloud from Genesis to Revelation. The initiative is called "America Reads the Bible." It began on April 19 and ran through April 25 with citizens reading Scripture from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D. C. One of the event highlights occurred when our President, Donald Trump, read from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 via video from the Oval Office. In commemoration of this historic event the President sent out a message on April 17. Here is some of what he said: "...In every generation, through every trial and triumph, God's Word has guided our people and our country to incredible new heights...Today, during our 250th year of American independence, The America Reads the Bible initiative invites all citizens to once again acknowledge our Nation's extraordinary Biblical foundations and give thanks for countless ways in which God has been the sacred source of our unity and national strength. This one-week event, during which leaders in faith, government, business, and entertainment will read every verse and chapter of the Bible, will inspire countless citizens to rediscover the Biblical truths that animated our Republic for two and a half centuries and pray that the Bible will continue to guide us—as individuals, as a people, as a nation—for the next 250 years and beyond...Together we will honor Holy Scripture, renew our faith, usher in a historic resurgence of religion on American shores, and rededicate the United States as One Nation under God.” It is reported that the inspiration for this seven-day reading of the Bible came from the book of Nehemiah where Ezra was instructed to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses a few days after the walls of Jerusalem were complete. "So, on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men and women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law." (Nehemiah 8:2 & 3) Let us remember what is says in Romans 10:17—that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Statistics from the American Bible Society tell us that forty-two percent of Americans have never opened a Bible and that even professing Christians are increasingly Biblically illiterate. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, wants to see Americans "rediscover the ancient paths" because "Those who know their history understand that the Bible played a fundamental role in the founding of this nation...We need to return to that understanding of the role that Scripture plays in guiding and directing us individually, but also collectively as a nation." Think about the impact the reading of the Bible could have on our nation as the power of God's Word went forth! Perhaps there will be conviction of sin, a spirit of repentance, joy in the Lord, and/or revival. As the sound of truth permeated our nation, let us pray in agreement with the Lord that it will accomplish what He desires. Rest assured that this was both a historic and holy moment in our nation.  Much happened during the second month of the Hebrew calendar. It is called Iyar or Ziv (meaning radiance) and is known as a month of transition since the children of Israel were moving from Egypt to Mount Sinai. They were experiencing a new level of relationship with God as they learned about His nature and that He is trustworthy. While traveling through the wilderness, the Israelites encountered God in supernatural ways.
As the name of this month indicates, the children of Israel were enlightened in their understanding of who God is. They had a crisis when they arrived at Marah, meaning bitter. There was no drinkable water in the desert. The bitterness the Israelites were experiencing was transformed and redeemed as God showed them a tree to put in the water to heal it. He made it known that His healing power is not only for water but also for people. One day He would send His Son to hang on a tree to bring healing for everyone. The Lord told the Israelites, "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." (Yahweh Rapha) (Exodus 15:26) God revealed two other important names for Himself while the Israelites were on their journey and during a time when they were grumbling at Him. "So, Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, 'You will know that it was the Lord when He gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because He has heard your grumbling against Him.'" (Exodus 16:12) Hence, they came to know God as Yahweh Jireh—"The Lord who Sees and Provides." In the middle of their journey, the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites. A battle ensued. Moses went to the top of a hill to raise his hands up. This action enabled the Israelites to win their battle. However, Moses needed help when his arms got tired. Aaron and Hur came to his rescue by holding up his hands. They learned that raising their arms as a banner in praise was their key to victory. Thus, God became Yahweh Nissi, "The Lord, my Banner of Victory." If we fast forward 480 years, we can learn another significant event that occurred during the month of Iyar or Ziv. "In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord." (1 Kings 6:1) Another promise from the Lord for the children of Israel appears in 1 Kings 6:12 and 13. "As for this temple you are building; if you follow my decrees, observe my laws, and keep all my commands and obey them, I will fulfill through you the promise I gave to David your father. And I will live among the Israelites and will not abandon my people, Israel." Doesn't this promise sound very similar to the one God gave to the Israelites when they were coming out of Egypt and He was reintroducing Himself to them? "He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) This would be a particularly good month for us to build our relationship with God. He stands ready to feed us not only physical manna, but "every word that comes from His mouth.” (Deuteronomy 8:3) The Lord has food for us in every circumstance of our lives. In Exodus 19:4-6 God made it clear that He wants a special relationship with His children. "You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Myself. Now if you obey Me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." As part of God's family, we are included in this amazing covenant. God is still our healer, provider, and victory over our spiritual enemies. What an amazing God we serve!  We are in the middle of Passover week. Included in this week is the celebration of First Fruits or the day of the resurrection of Yeshua/Jesus. This is Nisan 16 on the Hebrew calendar. In 1 Corinthians 15:20 He is called "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." The New Living Translation says, "But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So, you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when He comes back." (1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
For life to spring forth we must first have death. This was demonstrated with Jesus who willingly went to the Cross to take our sicknesses and diseases, pain and sorrow, sin and guilt on His body. During the three hours between noon and three p.m., He felt the pain of His spiritual separation from His Holy Father because of what He was bearing. The first two verses of the prophetic Psalm 22 is a look at what Jesus would say as He hung on the Cross. "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent." The "groanings" of Messiah are followed by a statement of truth and comfort in verse three of Psalm 22. In this Psalm there is a move from despair to faith in the truth of who God is. "But You are holy, enthroned in the praise of Israel." (NKJV) "Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the praise of Israel." (NIV) The word "enthroned" or "inhabits" in the KJV is the Hebrew verb "yashab" which means to remain or dwell. God is everywhere! Psalm 139:7-10 makes this clear. "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast." As we contemplate Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, we should see a call to worship the Lord. That message began as Moses went to Pharoah to obtain the release from slavery for the children of Israel. "So, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, 'This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews says: How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me.'" (Exodus 10:3) Today our enemy, the devil, does everything he can to stop us from worshiping the One True God. Just as God broke the bondage of slavery for the Israelites, Christ broke the bondage of sin and sickness for us on the Cross. He was resurrected on the third day with a message of victory over death and a call for us to come near to worship Him. Rabbi Jason Sobel tells us that "Passover reminds us that without God's intervention, Israel would still be in bondage." After the Exodus, Moses realized that what is most important for God's people is His presence. Moses said, "If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here...What else will distinguish us from all the people on the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:15, 16) This question is still for today. We should be defined by the presence of God. That comes as we open our hearts to worship Him. Today we glory in the resurrection of Christ and His promise of eternal life for those who believe in Him. Let us make today and the weeks to come ones of His Presence through extravagant worship!  On the same day (Nisan 10) that every Jewish household was choosing their unblemished, spotless lamb for Passover, God brought Jesus into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey to present His Son as the pure, spotless Lamb of God. Large crowds met Him there and "took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!'" (John 12:13)
Four days later Jesus joined His disciples in an upper room for a Passover Seder. He was being obedient to the Scripture in Exodus 12:14 that says, "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance." At this Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." (Luke 22:15) God's plan was for His people to remember how He set them free from slavery in Egypt. He also knew that through the retelling of the Passover story, a connection would be made that His Son, Yeshua, is the Passover Lamb. He shed His blood that would be applied to the doorpost of our hearts for eternity. The blood of the lambs that was applied to the doorframes of the homes of the children of Israel was for protection from the death of the firstborn. There has always been a battle over the power of the blood. It was Emperor Constantine who legalized Christianity but forbid the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus during Passover. The Church in Rome joined the battle and tried to stamp out Passover and pronounced a curse on Christians who celebrate it. Satan hates Passover because he knows the power of the blood. He also knows that it points to Jesus as being the Passover Lamb. The first time Jesus was introduced this way was by John the Baptist who said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) On the original Passover night, the head of every household stood at the door of his house with a basin containing the blood of the lamb. He used a hyssop branch to dip into the blood and smeared it on the two doorposts and the lintel over the door. In doing this, he was making the sign of The Cross. The applied blood redeemed each family from the power of the death angel. Deliverance comes by the Cross of Jesus and by His shed blood! At today's Passover feast there are four cups to drink. The first one is called The Cup of Sanctification, which represents the power of the blood to take away sin. The second cup is called The Cup of Judgment. Before drinking this cup, a drop of juice is taken out of it ten times and dropped onto a napkin—one for each plague. We are to remember that by the stripes of Jesus we are healed. The Cup of Redemption is the third one. Jesus said, "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many." (Mark 14:24 - NKJ) The third cup would become the center piece of communion and spoke of the greater redemption and deliverance that humankind would experience through the forgiveness of sin from the Lamb of God. The final cup is called the Cup of Praise and is the one to remind us to rejoice because of our promised future. Truly, the Passover table was the birthplace of the Communion table. The deliverance of the children of Israel came at the first Passover in the land of Goshen in Egypt. From this Passover table, a nation was born. The Passover table is a place from which one is sent out and the beginning of an annual reset as this is the time that God ordained to be the beginning of a new year on the Hebrew calendar. Yeshua, Jesus, reminds us of His position as the Passover Lamb at the Passover table and draws us into a new year of intimacy with Him. As Israel used the Passover feast to reset their year, Let us remember that God delivered us from the bondage of sin so that we can pursue a more intimate relationship with Him. Praise the Lamb!  There is a picture of an open Torah scroll making rounds on social media that should make us pause and think about God. As demonstrated by this picture, He speaks to us in a multitude of ways that will direct our attention toward Him. At the beginning of Israel's "Operation Lion's Roar" a missile came into Beit Shemesh, in Israel, and killed nine people and injured many more. These people were sheltering in the basement of the town's synagogue. Those who helped clear through the rubble found an open Torah scroll with a shard of metal from the missile that was stuck at the reading for the week.
The Parasha (Torah portion) to be read for that week is called "Zachor," which means remember. This Scripture commands us to remember the attack that Amalek made on the Israelites after they left Egypt. It would have been read on the Sabbath before Purim and comes from Deuteronomy 25:17-19. "Remember what the Amalekites did to you along the way when you came out of Egypt. When you were weary and worn out, they met you on your journey and cut off all who were lagging behind; they had no fear of God. When the Lord your God gives you rest from all the enemies around you in the land He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!" With the placement of the missile fragment directly beneath this Scripture, God was speaking to His people. The missile fragment seemed to be reminding the Jewish people, as they prepared to celebrate Purim, how connected the past is to the present and future. How is this so? Along with the weekly Torah portion, there is also a selected reading from the "Prophets" to be recited in the synagogues. This is called "the Haftarah." It is meant to relate to the Torah portion. The haftarah that connects to Deuteronomy 25:17-19 comes from 1 Samuel 15:2-34. It is the story of King Saul's battle against Amalek and his failure to destroy King Agag as instructed by God. Because Saul spared the life of Agag, years down the road Haman arose and continued the battle against the Jews during the reign of Queen Esther. Haman was a direct descendant of King Agag. (Esther 3:1) However, God always gives us an opportunity to redeem our situations. Just as Haman was a direct descendant of Agag, Mordecai, Queen Esther's guardian, was from Saul's tribe, Benjamin. Therefore, Saul's descendants had the opportunity to accomplish what he failed to do. This uncanny position of the shrapnel from an Iranian missile under the "Parashat Zachor" highlights the importance of doing what God instructs: "Remember," and "Do not forget!" Isn't it interesting that the missile that struck the Torah scroll came all the way from Iran whose name was Persia where the story of Purim took place about 2,500 years ago? God uses every means at His disposal to speak to us and guide us in all truth. Blessed be the name of the Lord!  The prophetic significance of this time in history must not be missed. A "blood moon" or total lunar eclipse is expected to occur on March 3, 2026. I believe it is no accident that this will happen on the Jewish holiday of Purim. When the earth passes between the sun and a full moon it blocks the direct sunlight and casts a reddish shadow on the moon's surface.
Many in the prophetic circles see the blood moon as a symbol of judgment against the enemies of Israel. Isn't it fascinating that on Saturday morning both the United State and Israel began a joint military operation against Iran, which used to be called Persia? This campaign will be continuing through Purim. The blood moon is seen as a sign from God that He is intervening in the affairs of the Middle East, and that He will turn against the evil forces surrounding Israel. It is also a signal from God for the Jewish people to return to Him. How remarkable it is that Israel and the United States joined forces to strike the Iranian regime and remove it! When we look at the story of Esther in the Bible, we are reminded that Haman's plot to destroy the Jews in the Persian empire was destroyed on Purim. There was a complete reversal of the decree by Haman, the evil second in command to the King of Persia. That gave the Jews the upper hand. Could this be happening again for the Christians and small Jewish population in Iran? The United States calls their battle against Iran "Epic Fury," while Israel calls theirs "Operation Lion's Roar." It appears like the Lion of the Tribe of Judah is roaring with epic fury against the evil regime in Iran and that they are being removed. This will be a time of mixed emotions for the people of Iran. There have been many casualties to their communities over the years. However, at the same time, the Christian community, called the largest underground church in the world, is being set free to worship God without fear of persecution. The small community of Jews remaining in Iran will also be able to worship in their synagogues. The most interesting part of the story of Esther and the Jewish people in Persia is that God is never mentioned in it, yet He is undeniably at work in the affairs of His people. Just as Esther and the Jews trusted God to help them, may the people of Iran, Israel, and the United States rely on His faithfulness. Purim is always celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of the last month on the Hebrew calendar, Adar. Esther's cousin, Mordecai, who had been given the king’s signet ring, sent letters to all the provinces of the king establishing the yearly celebration on these dates. Adar 14 and 15 became days "on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month that was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor." (Esther 9:22 - NKJ) In a post sent out on February 26, Lou Engle Ministries suggested prayer and unified decrees for us that follow:
 The Hebrew month of Shevat is here. It is the eleventh month in the religious calendar and means "to strike or lash," which refers to the heavy rains of the season in Israel. It is meant to be a time of spiritual renewal and divine instruction. In the book of Deuteronomy, we can read the final words of Moses to remind the Israelites of God's lessons in the wilderness. "In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the Lord had commanded him concerning them." (Deuteronomy 1:3)
The month of Shevat was one of preparation for the children of Israel. They were about to enter the Promised Land with their leader Joshua ahead of them. God was doing a "new thing" with them as it is declared in Isaiah 42:19. "See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being, I announce them." At the beginning of the new year, we should be seeking the Lord for the new thing He will do with us in the year to come. It is His desire that we operate in righteousness so that we can be fruitful. He is positioning us for victory in the battles we may need to fight in the future. As we meditate on God's Word, we grow in righteousness. The letter from the Hebrew alphabet associated with this month is TZADIK. It symbolizes the "righteous one." One of the names of God is Yahweh Tsidqenu, "The Lord Our Righteousness." The prophet Jeremiah foretold the coming of the Lord. "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up to 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 live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.'" (Jeremiah 23:5, 6) Jeremiah's prophecy would be confirmed in the writings of the apostle Paul. Paul tells us how we can join in that righteousness. "It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30) It is through our faith in Jesus Christ that righteousness comes to us. (Romans 3:22) Our goal is to become like Him so that we are in right relationship with God and with others. There is a promise in Matthew 5:6 that we should grab hold of, especially during this month. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Jesus came as the only one who could provide us with redemption from the curse of sin because of His perfect life. 1 Peter 2:24 explains it well. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed." The vine that we connect to when we received Jesus Christ by faith is the vine of righteousness. Like the root of a plant that brings nutrition and sustenance to the plant, the root of the Vine that we attached to brings us righteousness and holiness so that we become who Christ is--"The righteousness of God in Christ Jesus." (2 Corinthians 5:21) Since we are in the beginning of a new year and in the month where the Lord wants to do a new thing in us, let us focus on our identity in Christ and remember who we are in Him. Praise God that we became the righteousness of God because of our union with Christ. May our spirits awaken to the revelation of these truths. |
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