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T’SHUVAH - Days of Turning and Repentance
By Rabbi Yosef McBride of "Kehilat Beit Yehudah"
(Congregation of the House of Judah)
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Teshuvah is the Hebrew word assigned to the 40 days preceding Yom Kippur, the Day of the Covering or Atonement.
Originally, it only comprised the 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (Days of Awe). But Jewish tradition
extended this time of repentance that all might come to the place of salvation.
The 40-day Teshuvah period begins
on Elul 1 5760 on the Jewish Calendar. This year 2000, it is the day of September 1st. Yom Kippur falls on October
9th. The 10-days of Teshuvah (Days of Awe) which are part of the High Holy Days begin September 29th (Tishri 15761)
at sundown.
Look
at the Hebrew: Teshuvah - The root word is the Hebrew "shoov" which means to return. It combines both aspects of forgiveness: turning
from evil and turning toward good. The Jews make restitution during this period with those they have offended.
Ridding oneself of guilt is a goal of Teshuvah. Repentance, however, only applies to trans- gressions committed against God. To receive forgiveness
from offenses committed against fellow man, compensation must be made and a plea for forgiveness.
Psalm 27 is recited daily throughout the month of Elul, along with other prayers called Selichot. (READ PSALM 27:1-5) According to the Midrashim (oral
Torah), Psalm 27:1 "The Lord is my Light" refers to the festival of Rosh Ha Shanah. "And
my salvation" refers to Yom Kippur. Verse 5, "For He will hide me in this tent" refers
to the Feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles.
Beginning on the first day of Elul (Sept. 1, 2000) until the Day of Yom Kippur, Tishri 10,
(Oct. 9, 2000) the shofar blows every day as a warning to "return to God in repentance." With warning
comes impending judgment. The 10 days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur represent the Tribulation on the Earth
that will purge the Earth of evil. If you count only the days from the close of Rosh Hashana (a two-day feast)
until the beginning of Yom Kippur, they total seven--the number of years in the Tribulation itself. This is called
the "Time of Jacob’s Trouble," and the "Days of Awe," and will be a time such has never been
seen on the earth.
It is imperative that man repent and return to the Lord before the time of Jacob’s trouble, so that he might be "hidden" in that day. (READ PSALM 27:5) --
"For in the time of trouble (referring
to the Time of Jacob’s Trouble), He
shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His Tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon
a rock." This is the Nastal i.e. the Rapture of the Bride
who has made herself ready.
Prophet Isaiah also referred to
this "hiding away" in chapter
26, verses 20-21:
"Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind
you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little while, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the Earth
for their iniquity;"
NOTE: The Hebrew word for "indignation" in this verse is "zah-ham." Its literal translation means "God will froth
at the mouth at his displeasure with sin." The
great tribulation at the end of the age will indeed be a time such has never been seen on the earth before....the
wrath of God poured out in fury.
We should all pray as Yeshua admonished us to do regarding the coming Tribulation:
"Watch, therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will
come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:26)
It is in this frame of mind that Jews begin to turn from their sin and to toward the Lord that they, too, might
be found worthy to have their names written in the Book of Life on the Day of Yom Kippur.
Other warnings of judgment call for "Teshuvah" come from the mouths of the prophets:
FROM THE PROPHET JEREMIAH
"Return (Teshuvah), O backsliding Israel, says the Lord, and I will
not cause My anger to fall upon you; For I am merciful, says the Lord, and I will not remain angry forever. Only
acknowledge your sin, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God...and you have not obeyed my voice...Return
(Teshuvah), O backsliding children, says the Lord, for I am betrothed to you...and I will bring you to Zion..."
(Jeremiah 3:12-15)
FROM THE PROPHET JOEL
"Blow the shofar in Zion (REMEMBER, the shofar is blown everyday
during the time of Teshuvah) and sound an alarm in My holy mountain...Now therefore, says the Lord, Turn to Me
(Teshuvah) with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and with mourning... Return to the Lord, your God (Teshuvah)..."
(Joel 2:1 and 12-13)
FROM THE PROPHET HOSEA
"Come and let us return to the Lord (Teshuvah); For He has torn but
he will heal us..."
(Hosea 6:1)
FROM THE PROPHET EZEKIEL
"Thus says the Lord God, ‘Repent, turn away (Teshuvah) from your
idols and turn your faces (Teshuvah) away from all your abominations." (Ezekiel 14:6)
FROM THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Return to Me (Teshuvah) and I will return to you (God makes Teshuvah)...Do
not be like your fathers to whom the former prophets preached saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: Turn now from
your evil ways (Teshuvah) and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear nor did they heed Me, says the Lord."
(Zechariah 1:3-4)
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From the Brit Hadashah (New Covenant) we read:
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FROM THE PROPHET JOHN, THE BAPTIST
"...Repent (Teshuvah), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
(Matthew 3:2)
Not only was this during the time of Teshuvah, but from his very words, we can know this was the eve of Yom Kippur.
It was the final call for repentance before the Day of the Covering of sin (Yom Kippur).
FROM THE APOSTLE PETER (Shimon Kiefa)
"Repent, therefore, (Teshuvah) and be converted (to be turned away
from--again, Teshuvah) that your sins my be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord." (Acts 3:19)
Again, this is a picture of the time of Teshuvah just prior to Yom Kippur, for it was on the day of Yom Kippur
that sins were blotted out. But under the New Covenant, we do not have to wait for Yom Kippur...Today is the day
of salvation.
We should always walk in an attitude of Teshuvah. The Apostle John wrote in his first epistle: "If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1st
John 1:9)
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TESHUVAH FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION
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A MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES
Rev. 2 - CHURCH AT EPHESUS -- Lord acknowledges all the good works, BUT
a. "You have left your first love. Therefore, repent (Teshuvah) and do the first works. What are they?
(See Matthew 22:37) "Sh’ma" of Deut. 6:5 ‘You shall love the Lord...this is the first commandment...
first mitzvoh... Torah is the first works and the first love. Yeshua is the Torah... He is the Word made flesh.
Vs. 5 Repent (Teshuvah), lest Yeshua
removes your lampstand--your Menorah. Rev 1:20 refers to the 7 churches as the 7 menorah of God. Read Matt: 5:14-19:
a. You are a Menorah
b. All may see your good "works" -- first works
c. Fulfilled Law and Prophets (Give a proper interpretation)
d. Whoever teaches Torah will be called "Great" in the Kingdom - 1st works
Vs. 7 "Let him who has an ear..." He who overcomes...(subdue, conquer flesh) they will eat from the tree
of life (Keep your place in Revelation 2 and turn to Revelation 22:14) Who gets to eat from the tree of life? Torah
is the means to overcoming in this life.
Vs 8 CHURCH AT SMYRNA - This Church represents Believers who are persecuted and martyred -especially during the
Tribulation.
Vs 10 Tribulation 10 days -- Jewish idiom for the original 10 days of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Be faithful to the end (to the end of Jacob’s Trouble)
Be faithful to the end...
Vs 11 Let him who has an ear....to him that overcomes
Vs 12 CHURCH OF PERGAMOS
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Vs 14 Doctrine of Balaam who Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality
Vs 16 Repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 17 He who has an ear to hear....and to him who overcomes will I give...
Vs 18 CHURCH OF THYATIRA
Vs 20 Jezebel Spirit --same as doctrine of Balaam -- eat things sacrificed to idols and commit immorality
Vs 21 She was given a season (in Greek) to repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 22 She and those with her will be cast into great tribulation for not repenting
Vs 26 He who over comes will I give...
Vs 29 Let Him who has an ear to hear...
Chapter 3 - CHURCH OF SARDIS
Vs. 3 Hold fast and repent (Teshuvah)
-- Thief in the night suggests that some will miss the Rapture
Vs. 4 Some have defiled wedding garments
Vs. 5 He who overcomes...
Vs. 6 He who has an ear to hear...
Vs. 7 CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA
- The Church of who know how to love like our Lord.
Vs 10 Because you’ve kept My commandment (Torah) to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial (Tribulation)
which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.
Vs 12 He who overcomes
Vs 13 He who has an ear to hear...
Vs 14 CHURCH OF LAODICEA
Vs 15 Works are neither hot nor cold--no commitment to Torah
Vs 19 Repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 21 To him who overcomes...
Vs 22 He who has an ear to hear...
With that we enter the Door, that is the Messiah...
CHAPTER 4 -- "After this I looked, and, behold, a Door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, 'Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.' 2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a Throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the Throne."
This is a Hebrew idiom for the day of Rosh Hashanah, and the beginning of the 10 days of Teshuvah.
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I would like to thank Rabbi Yosef McBride of "Kehilat Beit Yehudah" for sharing once again this
tecahing. I was presence for this teaching some years ago, and reading his notes has kindled my spirit with the
desire to fast something in this coming season. I have done this in the past, and have been blessed by the awesome
presence of our Lord in a new delightful way. You might what to seek him in this way as well. You might want to
fast just one meal and seek God with your time. Or maybe you might want to fast TV, and seek the face of God instead.
Here is what I do in this season.
First I start each day of Elul by reading Psalm 27, I love this Psalm.
Then I read Revelation chapters 1 through chapter 4 prayerfully.
Then I ask God to reveal to me what it is I need to turn from (Teshuvah) in this season.
Then when He shows me, I take the steps in that direction by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in my life making the changes.
The outcome has always been wonderful, even if its painful to me, but it always brings me closer to our LORD.
If you would like to send your comments to Rabbi Yosef, please send them to us, and we will forward them on to him.
Shalom,
Barbara <><
Mayim's Endnote For The Season
