2 Chronicles 19:4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
As we enter this season of Teshuva (Repentance) during the month of Elul, we enter a unique season approaching the Fall Feasts. This month initiates a 40-day countdown to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and is traditionally known as the time the King would visit His people.
Most of the year, for 11 months, the King reigning from His throne in His royal palace was unapproachable unless a subject was summoned or went through appropriate channels to appear before him. However, during Elul, the King left His palace and set up His royal tent in the fields, issuing an announcement: “The King is in the field!”
A subject no longer needed to be summoned or go through a royal bureaucracy. During this short season, anyone could visit the King. Also, at this time, the King inspected the fields and checked the status of His Kingdom.
In 2 Chronicles 19, we read that King Jehoshaphat went through the fields and called His people to return to God. As we near the days of Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), a time of introspection and reflection, we may also hear a particular call from our King. Yet be reminded that our King Yeshua (Jesus) has not limited us to one month per year of accessibility, though this may be a time of particular intensity.
While we may be encouraged in this season toward giving particular attention to our relationship with Him, asking for greater intimacy, deeper repentance, or victory over personal strongholds, we also know that his availability during any and every season is assured because of his atoning sacrifice. We can always return to Him.
Our Lord’s accessibility is unlimited, and yet…there are and can be special seasons during which we are prompted to deepen our communion with Him. This season of harvest and the signs of His soon coming should urge us on… not to waste this or any season, but to visit the King while He may be found!
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]The prophet Elijah, through his dramatic demonstration of the LORD’s authority and power, inspired repentance in the people of Israel, calling them to exercise His judgment on idolaters by slaying 450 prophets of Ba’al and 400 prophets of Asherah on Mount Carmel. Yet this spiritual victory was followed by a severe demonic reprisal through the woman Jezebel.
The Hebrew calendar month of Elul began on Saturday night. Each day during the month of Elul, a shofar blast is sounded to announce the coming month of Tishrei – wherein the festival of Yom Teruah – the feast of trumpets– takes place, calling for all people to repent. Elul, therefore, is identified as a month during which a serious emphasis is placed on personal self-examination and repentance, an end-of-the-year opportunity to set our lives in order before Yom Teruah (Rosh Hashana), the Days of Awe, and finally, Yom Kippur.
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