Elul is the last month on the Jewish civil calendar and starts this year on the 30th of August. The days of awe starts on this date. The next forty days have special significance. Time is set aside to clean oneself spiritually. This site has very useful information: http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/parashah.html
In the Jewish tradition, the month of Elul is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The word “Elul” is similar to the root of the verb “search” in Aramaic. The Talmud writes that the Hebrew word "Elul" can be expanded as an acronym for "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li" - "I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me." Elul is seen as a time to search one's heart and draw close to God in preparation for the coming Day of Judgement, Rosh Hashanah, and Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur.
During the month of Elul, there are a number of special rituals leading up to the High Holy Days. It is customary to blow the shofar every morning (except on Shabbat) from Rosh Hodesh Elul (the first day of the month) until the day before Rosh Hashanah. The blasts are meant to awaken one's spirits and inspire him to begin the soul searching which will prepare him for the High Holy Days. As part of this preparation, Elul is the time to begin the sometimes-difficult process of granting and asking for forgiveness. It is also customary to recite Psalm 27 every day from Rosh Hodesh Elul through Hoshanah Rabbah on Sukkot (in Tishrei).
Forty days have many meanings. One of them is that it takes 40 days for a baby to be formed within the womb.
I found more Biblical 40 day happenings. See this site for more info: http://www.40day.com/40_in_the_bible.html
Many Believers also take this to be a serious time to reflect and repent and to fast.
See the following site for a 30day fast request: http://www.umjc.org/ :
UMJC (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations) and MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America) are calling for 30 days of prayer for protection and spiritual renewal for the land and people of Israel during 30 August - 28 September 2011.
UMJC (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations) and MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America) are calling for 30 days of prayer for protection and spiritual renewal for the land and people of Israel during 30 August - 28 September 2011.
See this site for a 40day fast request by Believers: http://thewatchman.org/en/2011/08/40-day-fast-for-israel/ :
The 40 days from the first of Elul to Yom Kippur became a traditional time of repentance, fasting and prayer among the Jewish people very early on. Very likely our Master went through his 40-day fast recorded in the Gospels during this time.
We believe that this time period is a very special time to stand in the gap for Israel with prayer and fasting, and especially so this year. We are therefore calling for a 40-day fast from the evening of August 30 to the evening of October 8. We are asking intercessors to take turns to fast and pray for Israel during these forty days.
The Jews consider this time also a very significant time for serious praying as can seen from this site:
http://www.westernwallprayers.org/?a_aid=3250632f
There is a powerful Jewish spiritual technique (segula) that one who seeks an answer to his/her prayers should journey to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray the same prayer request every day for 40 consecutive days. The segula can also be done by donating to have a pious prayer representative pray 40 days in your place.
It is exceptionally POWERFUL TO PRAY 40 days in a row at the Western Wall (Kotel), because Moses prayed 40 days consecutively on Mt. Sinai and his very difficult prayers were granted.
In case someone thinks this is just a money making racket: Western Wall Prayers is a fundraiser for Kollel Tefilat Moshe - supporting families and Torah-learning in Jerusalem.
The Jews consider this time also a very significant time for serious praying as can seen from this site:
http://www.westernwallprayers.org/?a_aid=3250632f
There is a powerful Jewish spiritual technique (segula) that one who seeks an answer to his/her prayers should journey to the Western Wall in Jerusalem to pray the same prayer request every day for 40 consecutive days. The segula can also be done by donating to have a pious prayer representative pray 40 days in your place.
It is exceptionally POWERFUL TO PRAY 40 days in a row at the Western Wall (Kotel), because Moses prayed 40 days consecutively on Mt. Sinai and his very difficult prayers were granted.
In case someone thinks this is just a money making racket: Western Wall Prayers is a fundraiser for Kollel Tefilat Moshe - supporting families and Torah-learning in Jerusalem.
Psalm 27
New International Version (NIV)
Of David. 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
No comments:
Post a Comment