ELUL - PREPARING FOR THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
DATE:
Saturday, August 27, 2022
5 pm- 9 pm Jerusalem Time - (10 am - 2 pm EST) (9 am - 1 pm CST)
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Experiencing Jesus in the Feasts of the Lord
We are entering into the High Holy Days of the Lord. These are not just important Jewish Days they are God’s Feast, His Appointed Times.”…‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts…‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” Leviticus 23:2,4
Simply put Elul is the last month of the Jewish calendar year and this year the month begins at sundown in Israel on Saturday, August 27th. Moses was given the revelation of God’s glorious traits during the month of Elul which precedes the Day of Judgment and Atonement. It is said that this is the month that “the King is in the field”, instead of His Royal Palace. Although God always watches over the world, and is always waiting for our “return,” Traditionally, religious Jews believe He is more accessible during the 40-day period beginning with the start of Elul and culminating in the first ten days of the Month of Tishrei. Why? Because He is looking forward to the yearly appointments, He has with us during the fall feasts. In order to come into His presence, we must first turn (repent). He is anxiously waiting to hear our voice; ready to forgive us and sweep us into His loving arms.
Hence, it is easy to see that the primary purpose and theme during these 40 days is teshuvah (repentance). We are sinners in need of redemption; we throw ourselves on the mercy of the gracious King and grab hold of His salvation (Yeshua). This way, when our yearly appointed time (moed) to meet our maker arrives, we have prepared ourselves for His coming. We submit ourselves before our King and right any wrongs to our fellowman and our Heavenly Father. Both play dominate roles in Elul’s activities. Maybe you think that you have no need of repenting; you believe you have no sin. If so, we urge you to use this time to humble yourself, search your heart, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sin in your life.
This is a time set apart for us to really prepare our hearts for a time of true Repentance, not just lip service but heart service. A time to show that we do feel what we say we do, and we are whom we say we are, in Him. A time for us to show our hearts to God, the Jewish people, and one another.
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Blowing the Shofar
There are several customs that are designed to assist us in our humbling process and to lead us to teshuvah (repentance). In Jewish synagogues and transversely in Torah observant believers’ homes, the shofar (ram’s horn) is blown each morning and heard as a call to repent throughout the forty days of repentance. It’s like an alarm clock as it’s blown for 40 days to alert us all. It causes the faithful to come to repentance, calls us to battle, calls us to assemble, and will one day call us to resurrection!
It is also believed that the shofar confuses Satan (the enemy), the prince and power of the air. When we blow the shofar, we release into the air (the enemy’s kingdom) a likeness of the voice of God. “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered…” Psalm 68:1
Reading Psalm 27
It has become a tradition to read Psalm 27 every morning and evening throughout the forty days of repentance.
This is what Elul and the forty days of repentance are all about. It is our preparation. Searching the depths of our own hearts and confronting the battle in our minds between our spirits and flesh, naturally brings us to repentance and thus prepared to boldly stand in our King’s presence at the moedim (appointed times/feasts).
Preparation
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We would like to encourage ALL watch leaders and firekeepers (at a minimum) to FAST on the day of their watches as they wait on the Lord.
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As the Lord leads, we would also like to encourage you to consider a 40-day FAST as You set your heart to fully seek the Lord from Elul 1 to Yom Kippur. Seek the Lord what you’re fasting from.
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We would like to invite you to join us as we FAST on Yom Kippur with the Jewish people and the Body of Christ around the world.
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We would also like to encourage ALL watch leaders to either blow the shofar or play a short video of a shofar blast at the beginning of every watch during the 40 days leading to Sukkot.