From the beautiful colored amber undertones of tree leaves to the cool breezes. Autumn has been classified by many to be the most visually pleasing season of the year. It brings with it the sense of drawing near to those whom we love and who love us. WE envision cuddling by a warm fire with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, watching the vapor waft through the air, while little ones jump outside into a pile of leaves. The elements of this season make us escape to a special new world. Those who have experienced the appealing nature of this season, usually find a sense of newness. Renewed hope and new opportunities. As the "old" is dying away- with it comes a new sense of beauty of what's to come.
Yet for many of our people this season brings dread and fear. Reminders of
past mistakes and judgment haunts them as they near this season. For the people of Israel- the Fall season, more specifically the feast of Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashanah), Yom Kippur and especially the 10 days of Awe (the days of remembrance) are observed as the holiest time of the year. This season is a time of celebration and rejoicing. As well as a time period of self reflection and repentance, making "teshuvah"-calls us to return to right alignment.
It is believed that during the feast of Yom Teruah, the Book of Life is opened and everything done within the 10 days of Awe will be recorded and will be sealed on the feast of Yom Kippur. For this reason this season is also seen as one of judgment; feared by many found lacking.
If we were honest with ourselves, for many of us this season does bring a mixture of dread in the midst of awe. Even if you do not hold to the belief that the Book of Life is opened and sealed in this season. The holiness of this period does require us to pause and reflect; to ensure that we enter this season appropriately.
Leviticus 23: 26
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
27 “Now on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It
shall be for you a time of holy convocation, and you shall afflict yourselves [a] and present a food
offering to the Lord.
28 And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of
Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.
29 For whoever is not
afflicted [b] on that very day shall be cut off from his people.
30 And whoever does any work on that
very day, that person I will destroy from among his people.
31 You shall not do any work. It is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwelling places.”
We also see in chapter 16, of Leviticus after the death of Aaron's two sons; Adonai instituted the regulations for the feast of Yom Kippur. (Day of Atonement) Making it clear, that not even the high priest can present himself on that occasion without sacrifices for himself and for the House of Israel. The instruction is even on pain of death! But yet, despite the sense of judgment looming over this annual review period we see that it's actually about new life and the expectancy of being restored.
Psalm 103:11-12
“ 11 For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; 12 as far as the east is from the
west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Who is this God of judgment and what is his intention for this season? Unfortunately many in this world even among our own people have come to the conclusion that there is no God and if there is, he must be a cruel one. Despite the good intentions of a person. many times we judge a person not based on what they've done or said but our perception of what they have done and said. Not only that but we also judge based on the prejudice and evil that hides within our own heart. Unfortunately, with the perception of God's reputation its no different.
Demonstrated by the parable of Yeshua found in Matthew 25:14-30. About a man who
entrusted his property to his servants. one he gave five talents, another three talents and another one talent. The ones who had five and three multiplied them and handed it back to their master. While the one who had one talent buried it away. When the master showed up he handed it back to him and said “‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground.” Was his perception of this man correct or not? Did he see something that the other two did not? The truth is he was judging this man (who trusted him with his precious resources) based on perceptions built out of his own struggles, fears and sins.
This season of remembrance was handed to us by the God of Israel. Its precious and holy, and its purpose is to demonstrate his great love towards us and anger and judgment towards sin and anything that tries to separates us from him.
Read 2 Samuel 22:1-51
“22 For I kept the ways of Adonai, and did not turn wickedly from my God.23 For all His judgments are before me. As for His rulings, I do not turn away from them.24 I also had integrity with Him, and kept myself from my sin.25 So Adonai rewarded me for my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His eyes.........31 As for God, His way is perfect. The word of Adonai is pure. He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.32 For who is God, besides Adonai? and who is a Rock, besides our God?33 God is my strong fortress and He keeps my way blameless."
1 John 2:1-6
“My little children, I am writing
these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with
the Father, Yeshua HaMashiach the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his
commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, 5 but whoever keeps his word, in him
truly, the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: 6 whoever says
he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
Another purpose for this season is to expose the evil within our hearts so that it can be uprooted. We fear not because the God of Israel is cruel but because we recognize when confronted with the holiness of this season and the holiness of our God, we are flawed and sinful. And God's design demonstrated by these feasts is to cleanse us and renew our relationship with him. we who are in Messiah, can see it clearly in the book of John Chapter 3, verse 16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not
send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved
through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And
this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather
than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the
light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what
is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in
God.”
When we enter into this season coming out of the month of Elul and entering into these
festivals, We should not be asking ourselves who is this God of judgment but instead asking ourselves who is this God of love?
Rabbi Emmanuel Tarohocker
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