T’shuva begins with the Hebrew month of Elul. Elul is a month of repentance – a
time to prepare to meet the L-rd. T’shuva is a 40 day season that begins on 1
Elul and goes through 10 Tishri – Yom Kippur.
T’Shuva means to turn, to reverse
oneself, to walk the other way. Repentance and restoration. Several words and
phases that come to mind when talking about this period of time: Repent,
Return, Preparation, Prepare the Way for The L-rd
The Shofar blast daily for the 40 days – in the synagogues - a call to
repent and return. Shofar's are a type of the Prophet's call... sounding the
alarm.
Yochanan Ha McVille (John the Immerser) Prepare Ye the Way of the L-rd.
Yochanan understood that he was prophetically in a time of Teshuvah – Repentance
and return – that His Calling was to proclaim the Coming Day of The L-rd.
This is the man Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) was talking about when he said, "The
voice of someone crying out: ‘In the desert prepare the way of ADONAI! Make
straight paths for him! Matthew 3:3
Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
Preparation for the Day of the L-rd
a. Cleansing of the Bride
b. Coming Judgment to rebellion
We are actually in the process of entering into this season. When Yeshua said
everything that can be shaken will be shaken – He is speaking of this season.
Luke 21:26 as people faint with fear at the prospect of what is
overtaking the world; for the powers in heaven will be shaken.
Hebrews 12:27 And this phrase, "one more time," makes clear that
the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things
not shaken may remain. 28
Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace,
through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and
fear. 29 For indeed, "Our God is a consuming fire!" (CJB)
This is a rehearsal for the Body of Messiah to prepare for the Day of the L-rd - how do you prepare? By repenting and drawing near to the L-rd. Letting the L-rd restore you.
Going back to Shavuot – G-d Betrothed Israel
Showing them His Chesed (lovingkindness)
by the miracles of deliverance from Egypt
And soon after their commitment the Betrothal on Shavuot – Israel fell into
gross sin and immorality, idolatry. They responded to their loving Husband with
a gentile, pagan orgy. They made a golden calf and worshipped it with
drunkenness, dance and sex. Here’s a picture that makes this really clear – The
newly betrothed Bride had jumped into a cesspool, wallowed in it and then spit
in the face of her perfect intended Husband – She grossly insulted the only one
that would have her. G-d’s heart was wounded…
Moses spent from Tammuz 18 – AV 29 cleaning house. Moses
ended up spending 3 - 40 day period before the L-rd before Yom Kippur The Last
of which was Elul – This was Moses last chance to get it right. Moses went back
up before G-d for 40 days So the L-rd taught Moses what this 40 days was for…
Exodus 34:2 He was there 40 days and nights without bread nor water –
Exodus 34:28
The Rabbi’s of ancient times saw
Elul as this time being devoted to the Bride
In Hebrew ELUL is made up of four letters
Alef
Lamed
Vav
Lamed
Rabbi’s taught this so it could be remembered as
Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) 6:3
”I AM” in Hebrew = “Ani” and starts with (Alef)
”my Beloved’s” = “L’dodi” and starts with (Lamed)
“and my Beloved” = “V’dodi” and starts with (Vav)
“is mine” = “Li” and starts with
(Lamed)
If you are wise you will use this
time to, as His bride to be cleansed – we are tarnished through the sins we do,
and the things we should do that we don’t, through things that are put on us
and the things we inherit. The gift of Elul (this time) is given to begin
removing from your heart those things that have piled up during the year, or if
you have never experience this to remove the filth that has been piled up for
many years.
(Rav M. Washer)
During the Day of the L-rd – during this season Our Bridegroom will come.
What will He find – will He find a group of people called
the Congregation of the L-rd that has prepared itself as a bride without spot or
wrinkle - Ephesians 5:27 in order to present the Messianic Community to
himself as a bride to be proud of, without a spot, wrinkle or any such thing,
but holy and without defect. Or will the “so called” bride continue to
be an adulterer – unfaithful, with the allures of this present world.
Yeshua gives us the picture – You
know I am coming – it is throughout all of the Scripture – Song of Songs is our
love story - how I will love you…. He tells us in Matthew 25:1-13 part
of a wedding party will not be ready…
A Prophetic Call and Voice is going forth in this time – GET READY !!!! How?
Get to know the G-d of Israel and Yeshua, His Son, intimately.
A Day for Repentance:
Here are the main scriptures used to encourage repentance (Teshuva - returning):
Numbers 5:5-7 YHVH said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to YHVH, that person is guilty And must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged.
Deuteronomy
30:1-6 When all these blessings and
curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever
YHVH your G-d disperses you among the nations, And when you and your children
return to YHVH your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul
according to everything I command you today, Then YHVH your God will restore
your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the
nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most
distant land under the heavens, from there YHVH your God will gather you and
bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your fathers,
and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and
numerous than your fathers. YHVH your God will circumcise your hearts and the
hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and
with all your soul, and live.
1 Kings 8:33-34 "When your people Israel have been defeated
by an enemy because they have sinned against you, and when they turn back to you
and confess your name, praying and making supplication to you in this temple,
Then hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel and bring them
back to the land you gave to their fathers.
Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek YHVH while he may be
found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the
evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to YHVH, and he will have mercy on him, and
to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Jeremiah 3:12-14 Go, proclaim this
message toward the north: "'Return, faithless Israel,' declares YHVH, 'I will
frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares YHVH, 'I will not be angry
forever. Only acknowledge your guilt--you have rebelled against YHVH your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and
have not obeyed me,'" declares YHVH. "Return, faithless people," declares YHVH,
"for I am your husband. I will choose you--one from a town and two from a
clan--and bring you to Zion.
Ezekiel 18:21-23 "But if a wicked man
turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does
what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the
offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the
righteous things he has done, he will live. Do I take any pleasure in the death
of the wicked? declares the Sovereign YHVH. Rather, am I not pleased when they
turn from their ways and live?
Ezekiel 18:30-32 "Therefore, O house of
Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign
YHVH. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your
downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new
heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no
pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign YHVH. Repent and live!
Hosea 14:2-5 Take words with you and
return to YHVH. Say to him: "Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously,
that we may offer the fruit of our lips. Assyria cannot save us; we will not
mount war-horses. We will never again say 'Our gods' to what our From me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to
sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn
back to you. Save me from bloodguilt, O God, the God who saves me, and my
tongue will sing of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will
declare your praise.
Lamentations 5:21-22 Restore us to
yourself, YHVH, that we may return; renew our days as of old, unless you have
utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure.