Kislev: 9th Month

The 9th month on the Hebrew calendar is called Kislev and is associated with the Hebrew letter SAMEKH which pictures trust, support and coming full circle.  This being the case, it is the month when we should be able to attain greater levels of peace and rest.  One of the ways to do this is to give thanks to God.  It is fitting that the holiday of Thanksgiving falls in this month.  Set aside time to remember and recount the ways in which the Lord has been faithful to you during the past year.  You may even want to share some of the thanks with those you join at the Thanksgiving table.
 
God uses the constellation Sagittarius (the archer) to mark the sky in the month of Kislev.  Isn't it interesting that this month is linked with the tribe of Benjamin, one whose descendants were skilled in handling the bow? (1 Chronicles 8:40 and 2 Chronicles 12:2)  "This is the month to receive prophetic revelation for war," says Chuck Pierce, in his book A Time to Advance.
 
Benjamin was the only son born to Jacob in the Promised Land.  He was born between Bethel (House of God) and Bethlehem (House of Bread).  Therefore, we should be watching what is happening in Israel during this month.  Benjamin had two interesting prophecies spoken over his life.  The first one was by his father Jacob/Israel:  "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder." (Genesis 49:27)  Before Moses died he assembled the sons of Jacob and blessed them:  "About Benjamin he said, 'Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.'" (Deuteronomy 33:12)  These prophecies describe two components of Kislev--preparation for war and peace and rest.
 
We can see in Scripture that two prophets received revelation for God's people in the month of Kislev.  Haggai reminded God's people of the consequences of moral defilement.  The word was taken seriously, work on the temple started again, and God promised to bless them agriculturally as a sign of restored favor.  Again, Haggai shared the word of the Lord—this time with Zerubbabel, governor of Judah. Through this prophet, God declared: "I will shake the heavens and the earth.  I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms...on that day...I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel...and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you..." (Haggai 2:21-23)  This prophecy is timely for us as it was for the people of Judah.  It refers to the final destruction of the kingdom of the earth before the establishment of the Messianic kingdom.
 
Zechariah also received the word of the Lord for the exiles who returned to Jerusalem.  He reminded them of the decline in their faith and of the way they turned a deaf ear to the Lord.  However, the Lord's jealousy for His people overrode His anger, and He promised to redeem and restore them. (Zechariah 7 - 8)  He declared that the fasts of the 5th, 7th and 10th months would be joyful and encouraged them to "love truth and peace." (Zechariah 8:19)
 
The month of Kislev is to be one of tranquility and peace in us.  Even though this is the month to develop war strategies God has declared that as we abide in Him, peace will flow like a river.  In the midst of warfare, we are to go on the offensive, as peace will lead us.
 
The Lord will be stirring up dreams and visions in the night in order to draw them out of us.  Pay attention to this in your life as God is giving you revelation for the future.  Chuck Pierce tells us in his book that if we have irregularities in our sleep patterns it may be because of past traumas in our lives.  Tune your spirit to the Spirit of God so that He can bring up what you need to deal with and heal you. Recall that this is the month to let the river of God's peace flow in you.
 
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that begins in Kislev and ends in Tevet (the 10th month).  Join the celebration of Hanukkah.  Its message of mercy in the midst of destruction is powerful.  Remember that the Lord is with us.  His light will never go out and "His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 107:1 – NKJ)