Elul - A Time for Repentance and Intimacy

God has a special and unique blessing for us during each month on the Hebrew calendar. I am particularly fond of the one He has for us during the sixth month called Elul which begins on Tuesday evening. It is said of this month that "the King is in the field." He is especially accessible to us during the month of Elul when He desires to meet with us in our everyday affairs. For those who know Hebrew, the very name of the month reminds one of God's desire for intimacy because the Hebrew letters that form the name Elul are an acrostic for Song of Solomon 6:3. “I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine!" Even the skies declare the Lord's intentions as the stars form the constellation Virgo, the virgin. The glory of God, conveyed in nature, demonstrates His great love for us.
 
Elul is associated with the Hebrew letter YOD. This means "God has appointed mercy from His hands." He leaves His throne to be among His people to help them negotiate the affairs of life. This is a beautiful picture of the ministry of Jesus on earth and the Scripture from John 1:14. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." "Dwelling" in this context means "tabernacle." When Jesus left Heaven, He came to tabernacle with His people for 33 years in a tent of mortal flesh. Jesus said, "If you really know me, you will know my Father as well..." (John 14:7) The disciple John clarifies the truth of the visit from Jesus in his book. 1 John 1:2 says,
"The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and has appeared to us." 
 
The significance of Elul, in addition to what we have already looked at, is that it is a time of preparation for the high holy days which begin next month. The 40 days from the first of Elul until Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, are meant for repentance and restoration. These days are called The Teshuvah or days of turning, fasting, and repentance. This season is one where we turn from sin so that we can move toward God. He wants us to seek His face. There is a promise in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 that is particularly appropriate for our times and season. After Solomon completed the Temple, God made him a promise. He told Solomon, "When I shut up the heavens, so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land, or send a plague among my people, 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 from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." When we turn toward the King of kings after turning away from sin, our relationship with Him strengthens.
 
This special time of year has a two-fold purpose: (1) A time to pursue the King who is in our fields, and (2) A time to repent and prepare ourselves for the beginning of a new year so that we can start with a clean slate. Let us take advantage of what is before us: "A Haven in Time." We must press in to receive deeper measure of the Lord's love as we repent for our sins that separate us from Him. He is here to encourage us and bring us into greater intimacy with Him. We must not let this divine moment pass us by!