IT’S THE MONTH OF ELUL. It is the twelfth month in the Civil Calendar. It is also the sixth and last month in the Jewish/Hebrew Calendar! Make sure to read Psalm 27 daily and blow your shofars over your family, loved ones, and friends as this month and Jewish year comes to a close! It is the season of God’s mercy and forgiveness.

It is Jewish custom to hear the blowing of shofars daily during ELUL. The sound of the shofar simply signifies the voice of God drawing us. It is blown to awaken our souls from slumber to take a deep look inwardly. If you don’t have a shofar…that’s okay; you can use your God-given shofar, which is your voice. This is the month of Love and Teshuvah (repentance), which begins Sunset, Sept. 3, 2024, (1 ELUL, 5784, in the Hebrew calendar), and ends nightfall, Oct. 2, 2024 (29 ELUL, 5784).

The word ELUL can be found in the bible verse, Song of Songs 6:3.

“Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li,” which is Hebrew for – “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Songs 6:3).

The acronym for the first letters of the words in this bible verse include the Hebrew vowel sounds that spell E-L-U-L.

This includes the Hebrew letters Aleph א, with the vowel “Chataf Segol” that makes the “eh” sound. The next Hebrew letters contain Lamed ל, Vav ו, with the vowel “Shurek” making the “ooh” sound, and concludes with another Lamed ל. This verse also connects with our relationship with God, which is what this month is all about…

HIS LOVE FOR US AND OUR LOVE FOR HIM. We can depend on His love as it overpowers His judgment.

As you declare His love for you and your love for Him, He is eagerly awaiting and ready to respond. During the month of ELUL, it is symbolic of the “King being in the field,” which is the field of our hearts. It is a reminder of how Yeshua has made Himself readily accessible to us at all times. 

It is an appointed time for our hearts to be awakened and be reminded of His unfailing love for us. He walked among us and gave His life for us, so we can stay connected to Him. He desires for us to deepen our relationship with Him. ELUL is His appointed time of open heavens in the field of our hearts.

In Ancient Israel, in the month of ELUL, the King would intentionally come from the palace to be in the field among the commoners. So too, is it now, within our hearts. The King of all kings who dwells and is seated in the highest of the heavens, also resides in the earth within the hearts of mankind, which is you and me. He comes close to us, so we can come close to Him. We get close to Him, so He can come close to us. We are His beloved ones, and He is ours. He extends His hand, and we extend our hand back to Him. This is a true relationship demonstrating what ELUL is all about…true love that goes both ways. 

“Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.” James 4:8

We must also know, that this particular time of the year is the most fertile season for clear access to Yeshua. If you need to cry out to Him, cry out with your whole heart. If you have any requests from Him, now is the perfect time to ask. If you just want to feel His embrace of love, now is the time to lay before Him.

Indeed, Yeshua is always available for us at any moment. He is ready to answer and ready to help, more than you could even imagine. He is listening, and waiting to have a conversation with you…a conversation that goes both ways. It’s important that you ask what He desires from you as well. He is ready to tell you and also ready to make His requests from you.

Now is also a time of introspection and reflection, to see where we are now and where we will be in the next year in terms of our relationship with Yeshua and our relationship with those around us. This is the time to slow down, look inwardly, make it right, and start afresh. Just as Yeshua has come to the field for us, He expects us to make the step to meet Him in the field. As we meet Him, He is looking to find the three things within us:

*Repentance

*Prayer

*Charity

This month begins the 40-day countdown to Yom Kippur. The month of ELUL provides 29 days, to prepare for the High Holy Days, known as the Ten Days of Awe. The first two days of the “Ten Days of Awe/Repentance,” starts with Rosh Hashanah (The Feast of Trumpets), which is the head of the Jewish Year. On the tenth day it will conclude with Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement). 👑

Make the most of this time as you draw close to Yeshua and He draws nigh to you!