As I read through Christine Vales latest article, I was impressed how well she understands this time of the year and the prophetic meaning behind it that we can all glean from.
Whether you celebrate the Jewish calendar or not, there is so much to learn from historically in this time.
Amen! Enjoy what the Lord has to say through Christine concerning this time of year. (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Christine Vales, Christine Vales, St. Simons Island, GA
Month of Tishrei 5779 = September 10-October 9, 2018
Three, Two, One...Blast-off! Welcome to Tishrei! The seventh month of the Biblical year starts off with a blast. It's the blast of the shofar! This blast rings out on the very first day of the month, known as the "Feast of Trumpets." It is a call to "Awaken"! Literally, a "wake-up call" from the Lord. This season is all about awakening our hearts to return to the Lord. This is something we would not normally do on our own. The Lord knows we have a tendency to drift, so in His great love for us, He initiated this season to keep us in communion with Him. We hear His shofar blast several times in this month of "The High Holidays." Now that He has our attention...let us tune-in to hear His Word at every turn.
We hear a second blow of the shofar at the top of this month, calling us to "Return"! In the Old Testament, this marks the ten-day countdown known as "The Days of Awe." This is a time of reflection and returning. The Hebrew letter of the month, "Lamed," pictures a shepherd's staff which prods sheep back to their Shepherd, their absolute source. At the end of these ten days, the shofar blasts once again, calling us to "Repent"! This is called "The Day of Atonement" also known as "Yom Kippur." This is the holiest day on the Hebrew calendar marked by fasting and confession.
The Hebrew word "Kippur" means "atonement", and on Yom Kippur, the High Priest would confess the sins of Israel by laying his hands on the head of a goat. The goat would then "take on" the sin of the nation and be sacrificed on Israel's behalf. The Lord would then accept the blood offering and extend forgiveness to Israel, and thus would be atoned for another year. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
A Time to Atone and Cover Our Sins with the Blood of Jesus!
But what about us today? God required the blood of an animal for the atonement of sin in the Old Testament. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11). This atonement only covered sin, it did not erase it completely. Therefore, He made a new and better covenant with us in the New Testament through the Blood of His own Son, Jesus. As it is written, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus was the perfect sacrifice and "took on" sin just like the goat did, only better – much better! Jesus took on the sin of the whole world! His Blood erased it once and for all. The ultimate sacrifice was offered and accepted by the Lord, but the question is: Have we accepted Jesus' Blood on our behalf? When we do, the divine exchange takes place. He takes on our sin and we take on His righteousness or right standing with God.
So whether we are responding to His call for the first time or re-dedicating our hearts, may we come before Him with a heart like David in this season asking the Lord, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24). When we allow Him to shine His light into our hearts and lives, He brings His lovingkindness and truth. His truth in love leads us to repentance and ultimately brings us joy and peace with God. Hence the blasts of the shofar. The blasts are calling us to: Awake! Return! Repent!
A Time to Rejoice!
Following this time of repentance and reunion with the Lord, a final blast rings out. This one calls us to "Rejoice"! This begins the "Feast of Tabernacles" or "Sukkot." This week-long feast not only celebrates the Lord's physical provision of the fall harvest, but also rejoices in the spiritual provision of the Lord Himself, who tabernacles in our midst. One of the joys of this feast is celebrating in our own "tabernacle" or "tent." "You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths..." (Leviticus 23:42).
The Lord appointed this time for us to build our tent to remind us of His faithfulness to us, just like He did with the Israelites in the wilderness. As we gather in our tent or "sukkah" with family and friends, He meets us there. It is a time for all of us to rejoice in the faithfulness of our Good Shepherd! This is the grand finale and truly a time to rejoice for "...In Your presence is fullness of joy..." (Psalm 16:11).
Lastly, it is important to know that Tishrei means "beginning." After hearing and discovering the meaning of each blast of the shofar, we can clearly hear His invitation. As old habits and cycles end, a new life in Him begins. This also coincides as the new civil year begins on Rosh Hashanah. As the numerical year turns from 5778 to 5779, we turn and return to the Lord.
Having a Fruitful New Year
As we mediate on the numerical value of the year 5779, we learn "Ayin" means seventy (70), representing vision and a spring of water. "Tet" or nine (9), can be a picture of a womb/basket depicting fruitfulness OR a twisted snake. Basically the choice of life or death! As we believe and choose life in Him (Deuteronomy 30:19) we will taste and see that the Lord is good. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)
This is not only a year of fruitfulness, but of double fruit! For the year of fruitfulness begins in the month associated with the tribe of Ephraim, whose name actually means "double fruitfulness." How awesome is that? May our hearts be encouraged as we hearken unto His shofar blast into 5779... and believe! "I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13 NASB).
Do you hear the Lord's wake-up call? What is He calling you to turn from? Have you personally accepted Jesus' Blood sacrifice as His payment for your sin? May you and your family consider celebrating His faithfulness by making your own tent this month! Take heed of each blast of the shofar this month and respond with a humble heart. The Lord knows us well. In His great love, He gives us a wake-up call so we can blast-off into the new as a new creation! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)
Christine Vales
Email: christine@christinevales.com
Website: www.christinevales.com
The Lord gave Christine Vales a deep desire to serve and point others to Him just before the turn of the century. It has been a beautiful journey and she is still discovering the gifts He planted in her—to use them to serve others and bring glory to Him! Most recently while Christine and her husband, Carlos, began exploring the Hebrew roots of their Christian faith, Christine discovered the Lord's prophetic calendar. The Lord began to stir her prophetic gift through understanding His appointed times and seasons as they were understood by His people, and the need for them to be understood today! After several years of studying and creating her own handwritten Hebrew/Gregorian Calendar, Christine created and released the first edition of "His Appointed Times: Hebrew/Gregorian Calendar & Journal" in 2017. Christine continues to follow His calling in the prophetic, as she has since the beginning of her story, where she faithfully is lifting up her voice to the Lord and raising her eyes to the fields...for they are already white for harvest (John 4:35)!
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