The Hebrew Month of Elul:
A Time of Repentance
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
A Prayer of Repentance
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
"And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it." (Nehemiah 9:38 KJV)
"In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it." (Nehemiah 9:38 NIV)
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 3:2)
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The Month of Elul
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The Story of Repentance at Nehemiah's Wall
(Book of Nehemiah: Chapters 8 and 9)
The entire month of Elul on the Hebrew Calendar is a 30 day process of preparation through personal examination and repentance for the coming High Holy Days. According to the Jews, this is the time for repentance of every sort...on an individual level, a national level, and a global level. They say Elul is the time "when God is near" and the sages call Elul the time when "the King is in the field". The word Elul in Hebrew is actually an acronym, and abbreviation of the Hebrew words Ani l'dodi v'dodi li, I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" (Song of Songs 6:3)
This year (2013) Elul began on August 6th and continues for forty days until the the end of Yom Kippur when the repentance is complete, at sundown on September 14th.
The word Elul means "search", because this is a time of the year when the Jewish people engage in searching their hearts. Elul is also a time to begin the process of asking forgiveness for wrongs done to other people as well as forgiving those who have wronged you. Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
In ancient Israel, Nehemiah Chapter Eight records what happened when Ezra read the Book of the Law out loud in front of the Jewish people, who had all gathered at Nehemiah's wall to hear this word translated in their own languages. A great cry of repentance was released, as the people were gripped with the understanding of how far they had strayed from the Word of God. (Nehemiah 8:9-11)
"9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. 10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." 11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve."
Then in Chapter Nine, Nehemiah recounts the countless times the Israelites had strayed, and the fact that, each time, God delivered them out of their distresses . . . only to see them fall short again.
Finally, in the last verse of this chapter, the leaders of Israel gather at the wall and sign a document, establishing a "sure covenant" before our Lord that they will now stick to His ways and not stray again.
"In view of all this, we are making a binding agreement, putting it in writing, and our leaders, our Levites and our priests are affixing their seals to it." (Nehemiah 9:38 NIV)
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An Opportunity for You!
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An Opportunity for You! . . .
Joining with Nehemiah at the Wall in Repentance
At that time, all were called to "gather at the wall" to hear the Word of God read out loud. Repentance then followed. . . and the "ministers, the Levites and the priests" then signed an agreement in writing to adhere to God's law from then on.
Today, our leaders can now meet in cyberspace, online, "making a binding agreement, putting it in writing" as they did, and obeying the Law of God.
As you search your own hearts in this month of Elul, those of you who are leaders in ministry are welcome to join us in a Prayer of Repentance, based upon the actions of the Jews in ancient Israel recorded in Nehemiah 9:38. Please visit our website to learn how you, too, can "sign a document" agreeing to follow God's narrow path in the days ahead. Welcome!
The website for the Prayer of Repentance can be found here:
http://www.prayerofrepentance.com
Welcome!
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A Prayer of Repentance
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A Prayer of Repentance
Father God, we come before Your Throne of Grace today, asking for Your mercy in our time of need.
Abba, in our nation and in our personal lives, we have sinned greatly and have fallen far short of the commands of Scripture which, if followed, would yield blessings. Instead, today, we are living in a land cursed with countless iniquities, and their fruit - especially in the lives of our children's generation. We have been quick to blame others while imagining ourselves innocent.
We find ourselves in the Valley of Achor ("trouble"), but in the Book of Hosea, Lord God, You promise to turn this valley of trouble into a door of hope, that we shall know the Lord and be betrothed to You forever - in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness, in mercy and faithfulness (Hosea 2: 15,19-20).
Lord, You say, "If My people repent," not "If those people repent." And so Father God, today we repent and we cry out for mercy, dear Lord. Your Word says: "If My people who are called by My name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Abba Father, please hear our prayer, show us Your mercy, and bring us home to You again.
On behalf of our ministries we offer this Prayer of Repentance and "we make a sure covenant and write it" and "seal it" with our names as did those "leaders and priests and Levites" in the time of Nehemiah. (Nehemiah 9:38)
We ask all of this in Jesus' Holy Name, amen.
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Please Pass it on!
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Please Pass it on!
Thank you for telling others of this opportunity to "get it straight" before our Lord, by following in the footsteps of Ezra, Nehemiah, and their own act of repentance in ancient Israel.
Please forward this alert to your own networks, or simply refer them to: www.prayerofrepentance.com
The Prayer of Repentance is also featured on Facebook and other social networks.
Thank you!
