Pastor Troy Brewer, OpenDoor Church, Burleson, TX
Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022
WHY DOES GOD SPEAK THROUGH THE HEBREW CALENDAR AND WHAT DOES HE SAY?
Elul is the 12th and final month in the Jewish calendar.
Elul connects the past year with the coming year.
It’s a time when the Jews reflect on where they stand and where they should be going.
“the month of repentance,” “the month of mercy” and “the month of forgiveness.”
Elul follows the two previous months of Tammuz and Av—months of tragedies that were brought upon the Jews as consequences of their sins.
In Tammuz, the Jews sinned with the golden calf; on Rosh Chodesh – the 1st of Elul – Moses ascended to Mount Sinai for a third 40-day period until Yom Kippur.
When he descended with the second tablets he also brought God’s word of joyful, wholehearted forgiveness & great mercy.
Designated as a time of mercy and forgiveness, an opportune time for repentance.
This is the month when “the King is in the field.”
IT’S A TIME TO WORK – WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION, REPENT & SEEK GOD FOR THE YEAR TO COME.
The four letters of the name Elul are an acronym for the phrase in “Song of Songs” (6:3): “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.”
“I am to my beloved”—we approach G‑d with a desire to return and connect.
“And my beloved is to me”—G‑d reciprocates with Divine expressions of mercy and forgiveness.
G‑d, the King of all Kings, is accessible. All can approach Him, and He shines His countenance to all.
ROSH HASHANAH (FEAST OF TRUMPETS) IS SUNDOWN SEPTEMBER 25 THROUGH THE 27TH – FIRST DAY OF THE JEWISH NEW YEAR – START OF 10 DAYS OF AWE WHICH ENDS ON YOM KIPPUR.
Psalms 81:4– “Blow the shofar at the moon’s renewal, at the time appointed (bakeseh) for our festive day.”
The word bakeseh also means “hidden.”
The Jews love that the timing of Rosh Hashanah is meant to be shrouded in secrecy. This is also one of the reasons why we do not bless the month of Tishrei on the Shabbat beforehand, and why Rosh Chodesh is barely alluded to in the entire Rosh Hashanah services.
80’s DECADE OF PEY – THE MOUTH.
IT’S ABOUT LINING OUR WORDS AND MOUTH UP WITH GOD’S.
IT’S ABOUT SPEAKING THINGS INTO EXISTENCE.
(GRX) THE BET HIDDEN IN THE PEY IS ABOUT SPEAKING THINGS INTO EXISTENCE AND CREATING GOODNESS FOR THESE LAST DAYS.
THE NUMBER/LETTER GIMMEL: Root word G’mul has a dual meaning:
1. recompense or benefit
2. the choice between blessing or judgment
GIMMEL (3) IS THE PROPHETIC PICTURE OF A CAMEL. IT’S JESUS AS OUR BURDEN BEARER IN DESERT PLACES
Gimmel ALSO MEANS “lift up” as a camel lifts up one who rides it.
IS THIS A PICTURE OF THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH?
THE BRIDE IN THE GALILEAN WEDDING FEAST SITS IN A CHAIR THAT IS ON POLES. THE GROOMSMEN LIFT HER UP – THEY CALL IT “THE CATCHING AWAY”– AND THEY LITERALLY “FLY” HER BACK TO THE FATHER’S HOUSE FOR THE WEDDING.
COULD FEAST OF TRUMPETS 2023 BE THE YEAR WE ARE LIFTED UP AND FLY UP TO MEET JESUS IN THE AIR?