Even if we are not Jewish, the Jewish calendar holds great significance to understanding the Bible and the times in which we live.
September/October have always been times of immense spiritual activity & significance because they are the season of three important festivals…
- Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year) It is the beginning of 5784 on the Jewish calendar. It begins at sunset Friday, Sept. 15 and ends the evening of Sunday, Sept. 17. It is a time of celebration.
- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)- Begins at sunset Sunday, Sept. 24 and ends the evening of Monday, Sept. 25. It is considered the holiest day of the year.
- Sukkot (Festival of Booths) Begins at sunset Friday, Sept. 29 and ends the evening of Friday, Oct. 6.
(NOTE: the actual dates will change for us year to year because they are based on the Lunar calendar.)
Rosh Hashanah is the launch of this September festival season. It is the Jewish New Year–one of Judaism’s holiest days. It is the first of the year and commemorates the creation of the world.
It marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday, also known as the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the two “High Holy Days” in the Jewish religion.
This is a time of introspection, repentance and to seek forgiveness, and reconciliation with others.
It is said that one’s actions between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur can change God’s judgments toward us into blessings.
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Certainly we can see the spiritual significance of this timing as America is weighed in the balance. We need God’s judgments toward us to turn to blessings. That pride would bow its knee and we, in turn, would bow ours to Him in humility and repentance.
We would do well to recognize and honor this season and opportunity. To celebrate the New Year–for we are entering into a new time. To honor the 10 days before the Lord in repentance and walk in forgiveness to those who have wronged us and ask forgiveness for those we have wronged.
For it is in reconciliation, as America returns to God, that we will see judgments turned–but not for all.
For not all will turn.
And finally the last festival, the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles, God wanted the Israelites to observe by living in temporary shelters for seven days as a reminder that when their ancestors were in the wilderness, God provided them booths/shelters to dwell in.
Sukkot is a time of rejoicing because it was at this time in ancient Israel when the harvest season was over that God had provided more than enough food for the people to survive.
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GOD WILL PROVIDE.
As we enter this spiritual season in September–may we not just observe but participate and remember that it is more than just remembering what He has done in the past, but He is reminding us what He will do for us now and in the future.
He knows what You have need of and He will provide!
