Pray for the peace of Jerusalem

May they prosper who love you

- Psalm 122:6

A Time to Repent

The Hebrew word for repent is נָחַם [nä·kham’] and means “to be sorry, regret, suffer grief.”  It is also used for “comfort” which is the result of God’s forgiveness.

A Time of Humility

When we are honest and really see the horror of our sin, there is only one reaction – horror!

Preparing for Judgment

God warns that our hearts are wicked and deceitful.  Therefore to prepare to stand before God, we must allow the Holy Spirit to show us our heart as God sees it. 

The Lord our Judge

There is an aspect of the Jewish tradition for the Days of Awe that has biblical truth. One day, we WILL all pass before the King, God Most High, for a thorough inspection. At that time, He will pay close attention to everything we did, said and thought.

A Memorial Blowing

The most common name for this first holy day, Rosh Hashanna, is incorrect and has no basis except tradition.  The literal translation of this first holy day is “a memorial blowing.”

A Double Holiday

At sundown on September 6 the first of the fall holy days begins.  Because it begins the month on the Hebrew calendar it is always a double feast day.  

Tashlich

Another tradition, commemorated on the first day of the feast, by the more observant, is “Tashlich” based on God’s promise to “cast their sins into the sea.”  The men symbolically cast off the sins of the previous year by tossing pebbles or breadcrumbs into flowing water.

The Days of Awe

The Jewish people have several traditions for this season.  Most prominent, observed by almost all the Jewish people, are “The Days of Awe” which are the ten days between the first two fall feasts (Trumpets and Atonement). They believe that on the first day God opens two books in Heaven:

The Book of Life
The Book of Death

The Fall Feasts

God’s calendar begins in the spring; therefore, the fall feasts are in the seventh month, corresponding to our September/October.  

Introduction

According to the Biblical calendar that begins in the spring, the feasts of the fall begin in the seventh month.

Redemption and Salvation

Josiah was one of the most righteous kings of the Southern Kingdom (Judah). He called the people to repent and return to the Lord. He destroyed all the high places where the people sacrificed to false Gods and committed terrible acts of rebellion.

Righteousness

The chapter and verse divisions in our modern Bibles did not exist in the original and ancient scrolls. Jeremiah continues sharing God’s reasons for bringing judgement on Israel.