Let us focus on God’s amazing and unexpected days as He reveals His glory in supernatural ways! A.W. Tozer said: “We are called to an everlasting preoccupation with God.” God reveals Himself to the children of men according to His Word and His appointed times. With this in mind, let us focus on the Jewish calendar on the month of Elul, the 12th and final month of their civil year leading up to the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). Elul began August 1st and ends September 15th and according to tradition is when Moses was on Mount Sinai pleading God’s forgiveness for Israel’s sin of creating and worshiping the golden calf. (Ex. 34: 28) Ancient Jewish sages teach that Elul is an intense season of repentance and reckoning, preparing for a direct “face to face” encounter with God. It is a time of reflection and introspection. It is believed that in this month, the “King is in the Field,” and God is readily accessible, willing to hear our request and listen to our fervent prayers.
As we enter the last days of Elul this week, I believe that God is calling us into a time of reflection, repentance and seeking God’s face. There are many parallels between that time and our days as we like Israel have turned to the worship of the golden calf (Baal symbolized by the bull—i.e. bull market) and away from God as our Source. Psalm 27 is read each day of the month of Elul, along with the blast of the Trumpet. (Selah—stop and meditate on this!) The major theme of Psalm 27 is seeking God’s face in the presence of enemies. Truly this Psalm of David is applicable to where we are today in America.
May we apply truths from this Psalm at such a time of this to draw us back to God and triumphant faith in Him.
The LORD is our light and salvation—do not fear—the LORD is the strength of our life—do not be afraid. (v. 1) When the wicked enemy forces come upon us, they will stumble and fall. (v. 2) Though the enemy host comes against us, our hearts will not fear; their shouts of war will not shake our confidence. (v. 3) Seek the LORD; go to His house; focus on the beauty of the LORD and not the enemy. (v. 4) In the time of trouble, the LORD will hide us in His pavilion of protection as He tabernacles (dwells) within us. We are secure in the Rock of our Salvation—Jesus. (v. 5) We will not bow to the enemy but look up to the LORD with joy and praises to Him. (v. 6) Let us cry out to the LORD for His mercy and may He answer us. (v. 7) We must be obedient to seek God’s face with all our heart. (v. 8) We must humble ourselves before Him pleading for His help and salvation. (v. 9) We must put our confidence and faith in the LORD and not people. He will never leave or forsake us. (v. 10) We must pray for the LORD to teach us and show us the way in resisting the enemy. (v. 11) We must pray for God’s deliverance from the lies of the enemies that breathe out cruelty against us. (v. 12) God and God alone knows the number of our days that He has ordained for us in the land of the living—our lives are in His hands. Do no put your confidence in man and this world’s systems. (v. 13) We must seek God for a Divine encounter—waiting expectantly upon Him to reveal Himself in mighty ways—granting us courage and strength. Let us see Your glory, LORD. (v. 14) The sin of Israel’s idolatrous worship opened the door for God’s judgment and turning back to Him in repentance was the only sure protection. Moses did this as an intercessor for the nation, as such, typifying the intercessory work of the Messiah, descending from the mountain radiant with the glory of God on His face, and carrying a second presentation of God’s Word, the Ten Commandments. They were given a second chance as I believe we as a nation have been given.
We know, however, that repentance alone, no matter how fervent or persistent, does not qualify us for a “face-to-face” encounter with God and that the Law of Moses is insufficient to provide for us the righteousness God requires for intimate communion with Him. Paul in 2 Corinthians 3: 11-12 reminds us that the glory on the face of Moses was veiled from the people but that we as believers in Christ can experience that glory as we are transformed into the image of the Lord by His Spirit—from glory to glory. Beholding the glory of Messiah, waiting on Him in this, or any season, will cause us to radiate His nature, presence, and love. This is the amazing glory of the New Covenant in His blood, access to the very presence of God through Jesus the Messiah. When we offer our bodies in complete surrender to the Lord—our future, our plans, our possessions, and our lives to the Lord—His glory begins to be revealed as His Spirit works in and through us. May we be reflections of His glory!
We are asking to see God’s glory at such a time as this—to allow the whole world to see that He is real, He has a plan, He is in control and He loves us! God is moving in mighty ways His wonders to perform! A recent experience has proved to us that God is ruling and overruling in the matters of this world. Last weekend a pagan and satanic Burning Man event took place in Nevada. To say that Burning Man is "weird" would not be doing it justice. In this very isolated corner of the Black Rock Desert, there were nudists (lots of them), palm readers, neopagans, "ecosexuals," witches, sorcerers, shamans, New Age gurus, "goddesses", Satanists, "polyamorists" and just about every type of fetishist you can possibly imagine. The reason why the festival is called "Burning Man" is because of the gigantic effigy that is burned toward the end of the eight-day celebration. Nobody is physically harmed during the burning of this enormous "wicker man," but it does seem to parallel the human sacrifices that the Druids would do in ancient times. To put it mildly, it was the devil’s extravaganza. We saw God’s mighty hand as He rained judgment upon that event! He sent torrents of rain upon that desert place producing mud and havoc—literally damping the spirits and stopped the burning of the man! To prove His handiwork, He put a double rainbow in the sky over the area for all to see! God indeed rained upon Satan’s parade as He will continue to do as we witness Him manifest His glory throughout the land!
Let us glean some verses from Psalm 33 as we wait upon Him and behold His glory! “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him…For He spake, and it was done…The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought; He maketh the devices of the people of none effect…The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations…He looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men; He considereth all their works…Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His Holy Name. Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in Thee.” All of God’s supernatural ways are exciting and life-giving so we have much to look forward to in the coming days! Amen and Amen!