Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 18

Welcome to Teshuvah Elul 18

Day eighteen

Some choices made

Only Seed He suggested

Heavenly harvest ideas He gave

 

He said if I will follow

The plans and every direction

That I will bring forth a harvest

That speaks of loves perfection

 

Seeds like do not harden your heart

Daily watering with the word

I’m so excited to know

Our work was not deterred

Even through the struggles

His love has carried me on

Now we shall go rejoicing

The tears will become my song

 

© laurette laster

 

As the Lord poured out this poem I was reminded of Psalm 126:6

The Passion Translation reads: They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing.

What a beautiful picture. I’ve sown seeds with a broken heart and during weeping, and I’m sure many of you have also. Armloads of blessings and a harvest overflowing, is the sure reward for turning back during the season of Teshuvah. No matter how difficult the trials and strains are that accompany our Christian walk, there is a definite reward in sowing seeds of righteousness as we weep.

This season I was excited that The Lord used the metaphor of clearing a large overgrown and neglected field, with the need for heavy duty work clothes or covering. As these poems began to pour forth I could see a vision of me, overwhelmed, standing before my field (responsibilities after returning to Him wholeheartedly) full of weeds and scrub brush and no idea how to begin to clear the field. It was indeed a picture of me years ago. I wanted to sow and reap, loose and bind, pray and believe, and have a harvest, but it takes reading the bible and hearing from Him to know how to accomplish all of this. Most of all it takes seasons and maturing. I saw how He was my Instructor and my Helper and worked alongside me. He didn’t do my part and I couldn’t do His part. He made sure that we started with digging up and plowing under, removing the world and worldly thinking out of my (heart) field was the first order of repentance.

Each season has its own climate, design, obstacles, and appropriate dress code. The Lord may send us into a difficult situation, not to punish us but to help usher in the harvest. Some of the most difficult and almost unbearable times of my life have produced the largest harvest or fold. When the Lord calls on us He equips us, when He sends us He provides for us, and when He gives us a vision He will definitely give the provision. The initial seeds I sowed during weeping are still producing and this is how I am able to be a fruitful Christian. Being fruitful is not optional. As men and women of God we are required to bring forth fruit. Jesus makes it plain in John 15 that apart from Him we can do nothing.

Think about the idea that God has set aside a special time to meet with us to discuss the condition of our fields and fruit production or harvest. In Leviticus chapter 23, God details his (seasons)  mo’eds to Moses, instructing Moses that these are to be a lasting ordinance. These are yearly mo’eds or special times set apart for time with our Lord.

In Jewish weddings there is custom called the signing of the Ketubah. The Ketubah is a wedding contract detailing the groom’s responsibility to the bride. The Ketubah is signed under the Chuppah. After being signed by two witnesses and read aloud before distant relatives or close friends, the Ketubah is handed to the bride for safe keeping. Get it? The Ketubah is a beautiful document (look them up) that the bride and groom have displayed in their home, that is used to remind them of their vows.

[Wikipedia defines it as; A ketubah (Hebrew: כְּתוּבָּה, “written thing”; pl. ketubot) is a Jewish prenuptial agreement. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride.]

Teshuvah is the season of returning to the Torah. We indeed have the Torah, The Teaching, or The Bible, that should be displayed proudly. Today our covenant should be apparent to others who come into our homes. If we haven’t read it or reread it recently, Teshuvah is turning back to The Teachings. We set aside this special time to renew our covenant and celebrate our marriage until we attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. Married couples have anniversary celebrations yearly or memorials each year, this is a perfect picture of the Fall Feast; our anniversary plans with our Bridegroom.

During Teshuvah we are reading our Ketubah, the vows and promises made by our Groom, and remembering our covenant with our Him. He didn’t leave us with only a Ketubah, but also the mohar, or purchase price of the bride.

In ancient times the groom had to pay the purchase price of the bride; or the mohar. This price freed her from her family and insured that she would be taken care of by the groom. The ketubah was a promissory note that would allow the groom to marry without having the purchase price and allow additional time to raise the purchase price or the mohar.

Our Groom, Jesus, has paid for His bride in full. There is no further payment required for our sins, He has made a way for each person to obtain salvation thus leaving the earthly realm and we become a born again or made new spiritual person. As a part of the body of Christ we are His bride.

Teshuvah and The Ten Days of Awe, what a beautiful season to check our fields and make sure we are ready to plant and bring forth armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing this next year and years to come.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette