Song of Solomon 6
Elul and Jacobs Trouble
Pay close attention family to what time it is: Deuteronomy 30:6 states that the Most High will circumcise "your heart and the heart of your offspring," or in Hebrew, which is said to be an acronym for the word Elul Indeed, the gematria for the Hebrew word is the same for "understanding" (בִּינָה), hinting at Isaiah 6:10: "his heart will understand and turn and be healed." Yeshua circumcises the hearts of those who trust in Him (Col.2:11). His favor rests upon those who genuinely turn to Him. Trusting in His sacrifice on the stake satisfies the Most High's righteous judgment and gives us understanding to fulfill His deeper purposes.
1. Adonai (יהוה) - I, the LORD, am the Compassionate Source of all of life and Grounds of all being; I am the breath of life for all of creation. I am the God of all possible worlds and Master of the universe. Everything that exists is an expression of my loving will and kindness: olam chesed yibaneh: "The world is built with chesed" (Psalm 89:3). Since the relative difference between existence and non-existence is infinite, the Most High's creation represents infinite kindness, and since you exist, you likewise are expression of the Most High's kindness and love. You do not exist because the Most High needs you but solely because your life is willed by the Most High as an expression of His love.
Adonai (יהוה) - Though the Most High created the universe "very good" (טוֹב מְאד), He remained the Compassionate Source of life even after mankind sinned, and therefore the Name is repeated to refer to His loving relationship with alienated, fallen creation. I, the Most High, am also compassionate to one who has sinned and repented (the Creator gives us free will and the good gift of teshuvah).
The Most High created mankind for the sake of teshuvah - that is, our return to Him. The Most High desires atonement with mankind even after sin and therefore continues to give existence to the world. "He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45). Moreover, as the Savior and Redeemer of the world through Yeshua, the Most High reveals kindness even to the evil, and even partakes of its presence by means of His sacrificial love on the stake. Since teshuvah can only exist after the advent of sin, Yeshua is called the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8; Eph. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:20).
In this connection, it should be noted that while the Most High allowing the actions of the wicked to occur, he does not desire it. The sages note that while the Creator supports the existence of both the
wicked and the righteous, he loves the righteous, and only their actions are desired by Him (Psalm 1:6). The Most High wills the brokenness of the sinner so that the soul can return to Him by experiencing His salvation, love, and blessing.
El (אֵל) - I, the LORD, am the Most High, the Almighty and Omnipotent; Rachum (רַחוּם) - I, the
Most High, am merciful (rachamim (רַחֲמִים) means "mercy" and rechem(רֶחֶם) means "womb");
Chanun (חַנּוּן) - I, the Most High, am gracious; I pour out my favor freely to all of creation. (Chen (חֵן) is the word for "grace"); Erekh Apayim (אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם) - I, the Most High, am slow to anger and patient
(the word erekh means "long" and af (אַף) means "nose." The idiom erekh apayim means "long suffering, patient"); Rav Chesed (רַב־חֶסֶד) - I, the Most High, am abundant in love (חֶסֶד) to both the righteous and the wicked;
Rav Emet (רַב־אֱמֶת) - I, the Most High, am truthful and faithful in carrying out promises; Notzer Chesed La'alafim (נצֵר חֶסֶד לָאֲלָפִים) - I, the Most High, retain chesed (love) for thousands of generations, taking into account the merit of our worthy ancestors (called zechut avot); Nosei Avon (נשֵׂא עָוֹן) - I, the Most High, forgive iniquity (avon), defined in the tradition as wrongful deeds committed with perverse premeditation; I "carry iniquity away" (nasa) for the penitent; Nosei Pesha (נשֵׂא פֶשַׁע) - I, the Most High, forgive transgression (pesha), defined as wrongful deeds committed in a rebellious spirit; Nosei Chata'ah (נשֵׂא חַטָּאָה) - I, the Most High, forgive sin (chet), defined as those wrongful deeds that were inadvertently committed; Nakkeh (נַקֶּה) - I, the Most High, will not cancel punishment, but I will clear the guilt for those who genuinely return to Me in teshuvah. For in the time of trouble (referring to the Time of Jacob 's Trouble), He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His Tabernacle, He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock." This is the Nastal the drawing in of the Bride who has made herself ready. Prophet Isaiah also referred to
this "hiding away" in chapter 26, verses 20-21: "Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little while, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Most High comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the Earth for their iniquity;" The Hebrew word for "indignation" in this verse is "zah-ham." Its literal translation means "The Most High will froth at the mouth at his displeasure. This is indeed a time of repentance you really have to recognize the signs and the seasons. We should all pray as Yeshua admonished us to do regarding this season we are in. The Most High is watching our actions that's part of the reason He has come down from His Throne: He's in The Field! He' here for You and I. "Watch, therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:26) It is in this frame of mind that we begin to turn toward the Most High that we, might be found worthy to have our names written in the Book of Life on the Day of Yom Kippur. Other warnings of judgment call for "Teshuvah" come from the mouths of the prophets: NOW ITS THIS SEASON! FROM THE PROPHET JEREMIAH "Return (Teshuvah), O backsliding Israel, says the Lord, and I will not cause My anger to fall upon you; For I am merciful, says the Lord, and I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your sin, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God...and you have not obeyed my voice...Return (Teshuvah), O backsliding children, says the Lord, for I am betrothed to you...and I will bring you to Zion..." (Jeremiah 3:12-15) FROM THE PROPHET JOEL "Blow the shofar in Zion (REMEMBER, the shofar is blown everyday during the time of Teshuvah) and sound an alarm in My holy mountain. Now therefore, says the Lord, Turn to Me (Teshuvah) with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and with mourning... Return to the Lord, your God (Teshuvah)..."
(Joel 2:1 and 12-13) FROM THE PROPHET HOSEA "Come and let us return to the Lord (Teshuvah); For He has torn but he will heal us..." (Hosea 6:1) FROM THE PROPHET EZEKIEL "Thus says the Lord God, Repent, turn away (Teshuvah) from your idols and turn your faces
(Teshuvah) away from all your abominations." (Ezekiel 14:6) FROM THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH
"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Return to Me (Teshuvah) and I will return to you (God makes Teshuvah)...Do not be like your fathers to whom the former prophets preached saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts: Turn now from your evil ways (Teshuvah) and from your evil deeds. But they did not hear nor did they heed Me, says the Lord." (Zechariah 1:3-4) FROM THE PROPHET JOHN, THE BAPTIST"...Repent (Teshuvah), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2) Not only was this during the time of Teshuvah, but from his very words, we can know this was the eve of Yom Kippur. It was the final call for repentance before the Day of the Covering of sin (Yom Kippur).
FROM THE APOSTLE PETER (Shimon Kiefa) "Repent, therefore, (Teshuvah) and be converted
(to be turned away from--again, Teshuvah) that your sins my be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
" (Acts 3:19) Again, this is a picture of the time of Teshuvah just prior to Yom Kippur, for it was on the day of Yom Kippur that we turn from our wicked ways sins were blotted out. We should always walk in an attitude of Teshuvah. The Apostle John wrote in his first epistle: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1st John 1:9) TESHUVAH FROM THE BOOK OF REVELATION A MESSAGE TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES Rev. 2 - CHURCH AT EPHESUS --Lord acknowledges all the good works, BUT
"You have left your first love. Therefore, repent (Teshuvah) and do the first works. What are they?
(See Matthew 22:37) "Shema" of Deut. 6:5 You shall love the Lord...this is the first commandment... first mitzvoh... Torah is the first works and the first love. Yeshua is the Torah... He is the Word made flesh. Vs. 5 Repent (Teshuvah), lest Yeshua removes your lampstand--your Menorah. Rev 1:20 refers to the 7 churches as the 7 menorah of God.
Read Matt: 5:14-19--
a. You are a Menorah
b. All may see your good "works" -- first works
c. Fulfilled Law and Prophets (Give a proper interpretation)
d. Whoever teaches Torah will be called "Great" in the Kingdom - 1st works
Vs. 7 "Let him who has an ear..." He who overcomes...(subdue, conquer flesh) they will eat from the tree of life (Keep your place in Revelation 2 and turn to Revelation 22:14) Who gets to eat from the tree of life? Torah is the means to overcoming in this life. Vs 8 CHURCH AT SMYRNA - This Church represents Believers who are persecuted and martyred -especially during the Tribulation. Vs 10 Tribulation 10 days --
Hebrew idiom for the original 10 days of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Be faithful to the end (to the end of Jacob 's Trouble) Be faithful to the end.. Vs 11 Let him who has
a ear....to him that overcomes Vs 12 CHURCH OF PERGAMOS - Vs 14 Doctrine of Balaam who Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality Vs 16 Repent (Teshuvah)
Vs 17 He who has an ear to hear....and to him who overcomes will I give...Vs 18 CHURCH OF THYATIRA Vs 20 Jezebel Spirit --same as doctrine of Balaam -- eat things sacrificed to idols and commit immorality Vs 21 She was given a season (in Greek) to repent (Teshuvah) Vs 22 She and those with her will be cast into great tribulation for not repenting Vs 26 He who over comes will I give... Vs 29 Let Him who has an ear to hear... Chapter 3 - CHURCH OF SARDIS Vs. 3 Hold fast
and repent (Teshuvah) -- Thief in the night Vs. 4 Some have defiled wedding garments Vs. 5 He who overcomes... Vs. 6 He who has an ear to hear... Vs. 7 CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA - The Church of who know how to love like our Lord. Vs 10 Because you have kept My commandment (Torah) to persevere, I will keep you from the hour of trial (Tribulation) which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. Vs 12 He who overcomes Vs 13 He who has an ear to hear...Vs 14 CHURCH OF LAODICEA Vs 15 Works are neither hot nor cold--no commitment to Torah Vs 19 Repent (Teshuvah) Vs 21 To him who overcomes...Vs 22 He who has an ear to hear... With that we enter the Door, that is the Messiah... CHAPTER 4 -- "After this I looked, and, behold, a Door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, 'Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter.' 2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a Throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the Throne." This is a Hebrew idiom for the day of Rosh Hashanah, and the beginning of the 10 days of Teshuvah. A Time of Jacob's Trouble. "For affliction does not come forth from the dust, nor does trouble spring up out of the ground; man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward" (Job 5: 6 –7). For six thousand years mankind has known very little joy. True happiness has been elusive and fragmentary. The history of the human race is more accurately characterised by "trouble," wars, gloom, sickness, death and endless tribulation of every sort. Job was certainly not alone in his suffering, both mental and physical, for suffering is universal. Yeshua (Jesus) said, "In this world you will have tribulation… but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). All trouble originates from the sin of Adam and Eve and the curse that God imposed on the whole earth at that time, including even the world of nature (Romans 8: 22).
No one else but God can declare the end from the beginning and accurately predict the future thousands of years in advance. The word of God that came to Jeremiah the prophet: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: "Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess," says the Lord. Jeremiah 30:1- 3 These are
the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: This is what the Lord says: "Cries of fear are heard - terror, not peace. Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labour, every face turned deathly pale? How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it." Jeremiah 30:1 –7 Why is this time called "the time of Jacob's trouble"? Is there a parallel between what is taking place today in Israel and what happened to the Hebrew people's forefather Jacob, when he returned to the Land of Promise? Yes, there is! In the story of Jacob, God has given us a clear picture of what is happening to His people today, and also of what will soon take place. Jacob was the son who had the blessing and promise of God. But it was not until he returned to his homeland that
he fulfilled his destiny. After a life-changing encounter with God, Jacob the "heal grabber," became Israel, "Prince with God." The return of Jacob from serving under Laban, is a prophetic picture of what will happen to Jacob's descendants in the end times. In the book of Genesis, chapters 31 to 33, we read about the return of Jacob to the Land of Promise. It begins by saying, "Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, 'Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.' And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.'"
(Genesis 31:1 - 2) "Then the Lord said to Jacob, 'Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.'" (Genesis 31:3) Despite their sin, rebellion and unbelief, God has been with the Hebrew people throughout their long history. "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'" (Jeremiah 31:10 and vs. 28) God has promised to watch over Israel like a shepherd watches over his flock ~~~ Nothing ~ is a coincidence when it comes to Israel! Nothing ~ happens to His people without the permission of the Shepherd of Israel! But this Shepherd is different; He laid down His life for His sheep, the lost sheep of the House of Israel. The resurrected Shepherd will gather His sheep again and this time they will know His voice and come to Him. The Bible says that "He who watches over Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps" (Psalm 121:4). Both the Bible and history tell us that God is behind the return of the Hebrew people back to their own land in our day.
He said in Micah 4:6 - 7, "'In that day,' declares the LORD, 'I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation.'" Immediately, after Jacob had left an upset and angry Laban and having burnt all the bridges behind him, the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So Jacob named that place Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1-2). "Mahanaim" means two hosts or two camps.
Like Jacob when he returned to his own land, the Hebrews today are faced with a bitter and wounded brother who has sworn to kill them ~~~ Esau held a grudge against Jacob because the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, "The days of mourning for my father is near; then I will kill my brother Jacob" (Genesis 27:41). The Bible says that Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to tell Esau that he only wanted to live in peace with him (Genesis 32: 3–5). This is so much like Israel today, just as God had a plan for Jacob; He also has a very special plan for Israel today ~ He is after
their hearts! No matter how hard Israel tries, real peace will not come until the Hebrew people have met "face to face" (Peniel Le Peniel) with Yeshua as their Messiah, and been changed by Him (Genesis 32: 30).
What a day that will be! Neither religion nor politics is the answer. God himself is the only answer to Israel’s peace problem today! The Bible says that Esau was coming out to meet Jacob with four hundred men. Four is the number of the earth and also of the flesh. The number 400 is often mentioned in the Bible in connection with military might (Judges 20:2, 1 Samuel 22:2; 25:13; 30:10). When Jacob heard the news of this army coming against him, it says, in great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape." Then Jacob
prayed ~ Genesis 32:7 -13, 24; "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper, I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted." This was the start of a time of Jacob’s trouble ~~~ Jacob’s heart began to soften from the heat of the fire that he is going through. He sent the people ahead of him with generous gifts to his brother Esau. But Jacob was still afraid! Jacob wrestles with God ~~~ "So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak." (Gen 32:21)
Jacob's real problem was not with man, but with God. He had spent twenty years in a foreign land with the promise of God over his life, but the time comes when we are to return to all that He has given us!!
Songs of Solomon 6:3,13
3 I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies. 13 Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? As it were the company of two armies.
As we examine our hearts and our actions are lined up with what is on the interior areas of our thoughts. Understanding that the month of Elul the last month of the Hebrew calendar, August in the Greco Roman calendar. With in this month our relationship and integrity towards Elohim and one another is fully examined. Elul is a special month of returning back to the fullness of the law, love God and your fellow man.
But what if you say you love Elohim and your fellow man and yet not love who you are? The idea of not loving yourself can not go along with not loving The Most High as well as yourself. There is what we call a heart condition.
The relationship we develop with The Most High should cause exposure to who we are and how we see as He sees us. The causes mankind to respond to loving one another. How can we say we love Abba and can’t love one another. The only conclusion is lack of self love.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
1 John 4:20-21 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
In this special month leading up to The Hebrew new year Yom Kippur. It is known among the traditions that The King is in the field. Meaning our King Ahaya Asher Ahaya has come from His throne of sovereignty . To personally see about His covenant keeping children. To become face to face as intimate as it can get. Have you ever felt like Abba has turned His back on you? You petition and pray you praise and proclaim. You stay as faithful as one can dawned in this dirt body subjected to all the tempting elements of this earth. Yet you feel a disconnection or a block in your flow with Abba. As if your at odds or back to back with the oneness in our relationship with Abba.
Let’s go a little deeper and talk about the connection of being face to face and back to back with Elul.
The symbol of the heart is probably one of the most well-known symbols. Spanning continents, cultures, religions, languages, that little red heart means love. How is the image of the heart, as we most commonly know it, the symbol for this passionate experience of love?
The month that we are now in, Elul, is the key to unlocking the inner and most potent meaning of the heart. As is well known, the Hebrew letters that make the word “Elul,” aleph, lamed, vav and lamed, are an acronym for the phrase (from the biblical Song of Songs) ani l’dodi v’dodi li, which means “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.” This beautiful and romantic phrase is that which represents our relationship with our Creator, which is often paralleled to that of a husband and wife, a bride and groom, in our individual lives.
At the beginning of Elul we are achor el achor, meaning “back to back,” and by the end of Elul we are panim el panim, “face to face.” But how can it be that we are back to back? Wouldn’t that imply that G d has His back turned to us as well? How can we say such a thing, when this is the month in which “the King is in the field”? Is it not the month when G d is more accessible than ever, when He is waiting for us to greet Him, when He is there for us in the “field” of our everyday lives?
The fact that we are described as “back to back” and then “face to face” is an incredible lesson. Often, when we feel angry, hurt, abandoned, whatever the root of our pain may be, we turn our back. When our back is turned, we have no idea of the state of the other. And it is often easier to believe that we are not the only one with a turned back. It is easier to think the other also turned around, that the other isn’t facing us at all, because if that is the case, then even if we turn around it won’t help, so why bother. Why make that first move only to turn around and see the back of the other?
It is the month of Elul that teaches us the necessity of being willing to turn around. The King is in the field, our Creator is there, and no matter how we may feel, He has never had His back turned. All we need to do is turn ourselves around to realize that He is there and waiting for us. The “back to back” that we experience in the beginning of the month is based on our misperceptions, our fears, our assumptions. Only when we turn around do we realize the truth, the inner essence, and then we are “face to face,” which does not only mean that we can finally look at each other, but more so, that we can look in each other—for the root of the word for face, panim, is the same as pnimiyut, which means “innerness.”
So this is why and how Elul is the month that begins back to back and ends face to face. At the beginning of the month we are unaware of the reality that “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.” However, by working on ourselves during this month, by being willing to turn around and make changes, we come to realize that our Creator has never had His back turned.
Join us as the Spirit of Abba teaches us about our relationships with Abba and one another on light of The King is in the field. What does that mean to us and our relationship towards one another.
Shema Selah let us hear listen and obey the finding of His heart to be more like our own! Facebook LIVE video!!
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