40 DAYS OF TESHUVAH

The Hebrew word teshuvah ( תשובה ) means “return” or “repentance”. It is a Jewish tradition that every year from the time of Rosh Chodesh Elul – which is the new moon of the 6th month called “Elul” – until Yom Kippur, a 40 day period of repentance is held. It is a period of preparation for the upcoming holy feast days appointed by GOD in which Yom Kippur is of the greatest importance, as it is a day of judgment. Yom Kippur is the highest holy day of the year. And in this time, it is being determined by GOD the names of those who will be written in the Book of Life, or the Book of Death.

During this time, though the believer is required to examine his or herself, it is even more important that the believer is seeking GOD regarding confession of sins and of repentance. For it is only GOD WHO can cleanse the heart and show any man regarding sin and confession (Prov. 20:9, John 16:5-11, Psalm 19:12). It is a task that also involves the repentant one to be seeking forgiveness from those whom they have harmed and as well as from the ALMIGHTY GOD. Therefore, it is imperative that the repentant believer be sincere in all his or her seeking. For what is pleasing to GOD in one’s repentance is a broken and contrite heart and spirit (Psalm 51:17).

It is the LORD GOD YEHOVAH WHO sanctifies anyone who comes to HIM seeking forgiveness of sins (John 13:8). And therefore, it is important that the one seeking GOD’s forgiveness also be seeking the LORD for HIS counsel regarding this repentance. For it is clear in the Word of GOD that man is not able to clean his own heart by his own effort. As it says in Proverbs 20:9, “Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?” The heart of man is deceitfully wicked and sin is always trying to deceive and entrap every man (Hebrews 3:13, Jeremiah 17:9). But men who seek a true repentance rely on and put their trust in GOD and HIS Goodness to clean their hearts for them. So, though reflection upon one’s own deeds throughout the year is important and necessary to bring to the ALMIGHTY (in sincerity), it is of greater importance the sinner’s acknowledgment that he is indeed a sinner and fallen short of GOD’s glory, lamenting of his impurity (deeds) and imploring GOD’S help and guidance.
Yet with all this, we take heart. Since the one who believes in and trusts in GOD will not be put to shame. For the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY YEHOVAH in HIS Love and Goodness has provided the perfect sacrifice offering to take away our sins in the Blood of HIS Son YESHUA the MESSIAH (John 3:16). Therefore, as we approach the High Holy Days in this time of Teshuvah, we can do so with peace in our hearts that GOD is ready to show mercy and to forgive for HE has delivered us from death and shown to us HIS Great Salvation (Romans 5:1, Hebrews 2:1-4).

Finally, from Rosh Chodesh Elul to Rosh Hashanah, it is customary to blow the shofar (a ram’s horn) everyday except for Shabbat. This practice was adopted to help to awaken the people of GOD for the upcoming High Holy Days. The custom is to first blow tekiah (תקיעה ), a long single blast. This is followed by shevarim (שברים ), which are three short wail-like blasts (signifying a call to repentance). And followed by another sounding called teruah (תרועה ) which are several short blasts (to awaken the soul). Last to be blown is the tekiah hagadol ( תקיעה
הגדול ); which is a long and final blast.