Day 225 Feasting with the King

 

8/13/2026

"I am my Beloved's, and He is mine."

Song of Solomon 6:3  

Today marks the beginning of the Hebrew month Elul which leads up to the High Holy Feasts celebrated in the month of Tishri. This is a time of great comfort for the Jewish people, and it is also a time of soul-searching and repentance. It's a wake up call, a period of time the Christian church could well learn from studying Jewish history, the history of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a month of God's mercy on His people, a time of comforting as Isaiah 40 instructs. God offers mercy, compassion, and hope. Each day the shofar sounds through the city, which according to history announces the time that God descends from His throne and sits on the mercy seat. 

It is also said that during this time in history the King, who is unapproachable otherwise by the common people, will go into the field where he walks and fellowships with the people. Anyone can come near to him without fear, without jumping impossible hurdles to secure a brief audience with him. But every year at this time, the King leaves his throne to be with the people. 

"The four Hebrew letters of Elul (Aleph-Lamed-Vav-Lamed) form an acronym for the verse "Ani l'dodi v'dodi li" ("I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine") the Song of Songs, symbolizing the close, loving relationship between God and humanity during the season of return."  

It is a time when the Jewish people pray and await the return of the Messiah, as they earnestly seek Him. It is a time we pray that the veil is lifted, the eyes are opened, and the Jewish people will recognize that Jesus Christ is the Messiah so clearly foretold throughout the Scriptures. Imagine what rejoicing would come when this day finally comes.

Today as I was listening to music in my quiet time, Michael W Smith prayed the following prayer as He sang the song Let It Rain from his album, Worship Forever. Interestingly, this album debuted on September 11, 2001, the day that rocked our nation and forever changed our lives. At this time in our American history it is important that we cry out to our Father, who loves us so dearly, for mercy:

"O God, we are a desperate people. We see nations torn apart, we see families broken, we see the wasteland of lost souls, heavy hearts fainting with fear. This dry ground is breaking under our feet, and these dry bones waiting for the winds to change. But You see Your people, and You hear our cries in this dry and weary land where there is no water. Our strength is in remembering, our power is in returning, so tonight, tonight we return to You. Bring us back to truth as You did in the Reformation. Sweep through every small town and city as You did in the Great Awakening. Shake the nations like You shook the people of Wales. Flood our streets like You flooded Azusa. Let our churches fall on their faces in repentance, for that time of refreshing will come. O, God, Christ Jesus be lifted up in our schools, in our work places, in our churches. O, God, let it rain!"

I join my heart with that of my brother in Christ, Michael W Smith, in humbly seeking the mercy of God, as we repent for our sins of not doing the will of our Father on this earth, for not heeding the call. Let it not be "as in the days of Noah...." May our hearts be open, as we approach our King while He can be found. The King is in the field. Come, Lord Jesus, come.