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Exodus 19:10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes.
Joshua 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
Sunday meant so much to Jackie and I. We wanted to thank you for all of the expressions of love, encouragement, and support. Thank you for all of the cards, gifts, and our crystal 10 year anniversary recognition “plaque.” (Ed it is displayed in a highly visible place in my office) Thank you’s also belong to the Elders for putting this together, Mary Quinn, Kat and Jeff Elliott and all of her helpers; and all the others who helped to prepare and clean up. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Yesterday marked a pivotal time in our church, and in my ministry. Not only did it mark 10 years of our ministry here at Bethany, it marked our church’s 40th anniversary. But there is one more highly sacred and important time on God’s Calendar: the Biblical Month and Spiritual Season of Elul.What is Elul and its significance? Elul is the last month of the Hebrew lunar calendar that is set aside for repentance and spiritual preparation for the High Holidays of Yom Kippur (Atonement) and Rosh Hashanah (Gods’ Biblical New Year). It is a time to get our spiritual house in order. The season of repentance lasts 40 days from Elul 1 (August 14) through the last day of Yom Kippur – Sept. 21, 2026. It is a time of introspection and taking stock of one’s life – a time to review one’s own spiritual progress and preparation for the upcoming 10 Days of Awe (September 11-September 21). It is also considered a time to return to God – in which the KING has journeyed from His palace to the field of the common man. In other words instead of having to use the proper protocol for approaching the King and waiting for an appointment to see the KING – the KING comes to us!
During this season God is reaching out to His people. The word “Elul” is similar to the root of the verb “search” in Aramaic. We are exhorted over 50 times, in the Old Testament alone, to seek the Lord. Not only does it exhort us to seek the Lord. It exhorts us to seek His Face. Psalm 27:8 When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
Psalm 24:6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah
Many of us goyim, or gentiles (nations, ethnos) skim ignorantly across that phrase. Why? Because we have been taught to ignore the Old Testament (the Bible of Jesus, Disciples and the New Testament Church). We have effectively divorced ourselves from the root and tree that birthed us. Yet the phrase, This is Jacob, communicates volumes to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. Jacob’s name meant “heel grabber,” liar, deceiver, manipulator, and controller. And interestingly enough he was the one who saw the value in the blessing of the first born, and the birthright. Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Through Jesus we become “firstborns,” inheritors of the birthright of Jesus. True firstborns, spiritual Jacobs, seek the Face of Jesus. We seek His manifested Presence because we are not content with shadows from the Son.
Psalm 119:9-11 states: How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You. The Talmud writes that the Hebrew word “Elul” can be expanded as an acronym for “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li” – “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3). During the month of Elul, there are a number of special rituals leading up to the High Holy Days. It is customary to blow the shofar (rams horn) every morning from Rosh Hodesh Elul (the first day of the month) until the day before Rosh Hashanah. The blasts are meant to awaken one’s spirits and inspire him to begin the soul searching which will prepare him for the High Holy Days.
His beloved seek to cleanse their “way” through the Blood of Jesus, obedience, and sanctification. We heed and obey His Word. We seek to love Him with our whole heart and demonstrate our love through whole-hearted obedience. For that reason we treasure the Word – Jesus – and hide Jesus, the Word – our Treasure – in our heart for all the world to see. It’s time to consecrate, and sanctify ourselves to enter the promises of the promised land – seeking to meet our King in the field. Are you ready for the King to Come to you? Our church is no longer on probation (Biblical number forty and its symbolic meaning).