Elul is the sixth month in the Hebrew calendar. The name means ‘harvest’ and became the name of the month during Israel’s Babylonian captivity. It is the considered month of repentance and turning back to God and His commandments or teshuvah. During this month, the shofar is blown every morning until Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah to awaken one’s spirit, to search one’s heart and soul, and to draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgment on the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur when books are opened and judgment or reward are given. Selichot, or pentitent prayers are recited every day during Elul. They include the Thirteen Attributes of God found in Exodus 34:6-7.
Hebrew Word Pictures
אלול – Elul
א Alef – An Ox means ‘first’ or ‘strength.’
ל Lamed – A Shepherd’s Staff means ‘urge forward.’
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
ל Lamed – A Shepherd’s Staff means ‘urge forward.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for elul: first strength urging forward the binding, urging forward.
“For your husband is your Maker, Adonai-Tzva’ot is his name. The Holy One of Isra’el is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of all the earth” (Isaiah 54:5).
In Hebrew, אלול is also an acronym for “Ani li dodi v’dodi li” or “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” from the Song of Solomon. This beautiful and romantic phrase represents our relationship with God, our Creator. This relationship is compared to that of a husband and wife, a bride and groom.
During the month of Elul, we begin ‘back to back’ with our beloved, our Husband, because of sin, but by the end of the month, we have turned around through teshuvah and now look at each other ‘face to face’.
It was during the month of Elul that God showed great mercy to the Israelites who had sinned against Him in the wilderness. After interceding for Israel for the lives of the people he had recently delivered from Egypt, Moses returned to Mt. Sinai. After forty days and nights he came down from the mountain with the second set of stone tablets.
It was at the beginning of the month of Elul that John began immersing people in the Jordan River for repentance. This was a yearly event and brought many people to the river to prepare themselves for the coming days of Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur. It was at this time that John preached that one greater than him was coming who would immerse them in the Ruach haKodesh and in the fire of judgment.
“If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it! … It’s true that I am immersing you in water so that you might turn from sin to God; but the one coming after me is more powerful than I — I’m not worthy even to carry his sandals — and he will immerse you in the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) and in fire. He has with him his winnowing fork; and he will clear out his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn but burning up the straw with unquenchable fire!” (Matthew 3:8-12).
Yeshua came to the Jordan River with the rest of his brothers and sisters to be immersed by John. John looked up and saw Yeshua coming and humbly said that he should be immersed by Yeshua. Yeshua’s response has great significance –– righteousness required the ‘son of man’ to be immersed as required by the Torah.
“Yeshua answered him, “Let it be this way now, because we should do everything righteousness requires.” Then Yochanan let him. As soon as Yeshua had been immersed, he came up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, he saw the Spirit of God coming down upon him like a dove, and a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; I am well pleased with him” (Matthew 3:15-17).
Immediately after being immersed, Yeshua goes into the wilderness to be tempted by The Adversary. After forty days and nights, he returns to the Galilee preaching the ‘good news’ of repentance and the Kingdom of God just as Yom Kippur was beginning. The King had entered the field where the workers were few and the harvest was plentiful.
“From that time on, Yeshua began proclaiming, “Turn from your sins to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near!” (Matthew 4:17).
“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news (gospel) of God.“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15).
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