Hebrew New Year 5783

I. Understand the Times

a. The sons of Isaachar

i. 1 Chronicles 12:32

1 Chronicles 12:32

Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command.

The New Revised Standard Version David’s Army at Hebron

23 These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the LORD. 24 The people of Judah bearing shield and spear numbered six thousand eight hundred armed troops. 25 Of the Simeonites, mighty warriors, seven thousand one hundred. 26 Of the Levites four thousand six hundred. 27 Jehoiada, leader of the house of Aaron, and with him three thousand seven hundred. 28 Zadok, a young warrior, and twenty-two commanders from his own ancestral house. 29 Of the Benjaminites, the kindred of Saul, three thousand, of whom the majority had continued to keep their allegiance to the house of Saul. 30 Of the Ephraimites, twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty warriors, notables in their ancestral houses. 31 Of the half-tribe of Manasseh, eighteen thousand, who were expressly named to come and make David king. 32 Of Issachar, those who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, two hundred chiefs, and all their kindred under their command. 33 Of Zebulun, fifty thousand seasoned troops, equipped for battle with all the weapons of war, to help David with singleness of purpose. 34 Of Naphtali, a thousand commanders, with whom there were thirty-seven thousand armed with shield and spear. 35 Of the Danites, twenty-eight thousand six hundred equipped for battle. 36 Of Asher, forty thousand seasoned troops ready for battle. 37 Of the Reubenites and Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh from beyond the Jordan, one hundred twenty thousand armed with all the weapons of war.

38 All these, warriors arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel; likewise all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. 39 They were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kindred had provided for them. 40 And also their neighbors, from as far away as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant provisions of meal, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, oxen

For there was joy in Israel.

These men were different.  Sure they could fight.  Yes, they were courageous.  Of course they could wield a sword.  But, they had something else.  Their difference can be seen in two critical attributes.

God is raising up a people who will understand the times. That you will understand the times and that you will know what to do. I can have all the weapons at my disposal but if I don’t understand what is going on in the spirit, if I don’t know what God is doing, if I don’t understand the times then really I am lost. I am without vision.

First, the sons of Issachar “understood the times.”  This suggests they were discerning.  They did not simply jump to the default conclusions that everyone else did.  They didn’t dabble in unproven conspiracies. They accurately assessed the events around them.  Apparently, while the preponderance of the other men were experts in fighting, the sons of Issachar were able to perceive and detect truths that the other men either couldn’t, or they chose not to.

The second truth we are told about the sons of Issachar is that they had the “knowledge of what Israel should do.”  These men were not content simply sitting back, as Monday morning quarterbacks, critiquing the acts or decisions of others.  Rather, the discernment of the sons of Issachar led them to the proper knowledge of what to do.  The truth they understood drove them to take the appropriate steps to address the times within which they lived.  Theirs was a proactive response, based on an accurate assessment.

I would encourage you to consider these thoughts.  Think about the sons of Issachar.  They too were warriors.  But they were different.  They discerned.  They knew what to do.  Then, because they in fact were warriors, they took deliberate action to properly address the facts around them.  Finally, it’s not too far-fetched to believe that these men influenced the other thousands of warriors around them, because they allowed God to properly guide them in their own conclusions.

Are you a modern day “son of Issachar?”  If so, then let God humbly use you to lead your family and your community, in whatever godly manner your Heavenly Father directs.  But if you are not yet one, then do what we are instructed to do, when we are lacking in the attributes we’ve discussed:

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5

Isaachar was born of Leah and his name means “he will bring a reward.” I want you to know today that reward is coming.

II. Rosh Hoshanah-Hebraic New Year

a. Celebration starting at sundown tonight and ends at sunset on Tuesday.

b. Feasting that begins a 10 day reflection on the previous year. Self-reflection and repentance. Looking back at what God has done as well.

III. Tishrei

a. First month of the year

b. Seven month-completion-more than any other month, Tishrei is a month of God’s appointed times.

c. Concentration on the justice system. Libra is the constellation (the scales)-where the deeds of man are weighed and judgment is released.

d. God has declared a time for us to feast at the Head of the Year, which provides revelation for the year ahead. God will release certain revelation that will start your beginning in a new way. Ask the Lord how you are to get to the place where you are sure you are flowing in what He is doing.

e. Decree during this month that the things that have been scattered will return to you. Matthew 9 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well

The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 9:20–22.

f. This month is linked with arousal and awakening as well as with bitterness.

Use this time to be sure you are cleansed from bitterness. Deal with our stuff, our hurts, our offenses. Clear the slate.

IV. Year of the Foot

a. Gimel-the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It resembles a foot and a person walking in the direction of the left.

b. The word Gimel is derived from the root Hebrew word gemul, which means “justified repayment” or the giving of reward and punishment.

c. Feet give us stability. When things are awry with our feet, it throws our whole body off. It affects our ability to stand, to walk, to run.

d. Feet give us input into what is going on underneath us. There many receptors on the bottoms of our feet that tell us about pressure, temperature, touch (sharp/dull). What your foot is experiences will trigger balance reactions in your ankle, hip, and trunk.

e. Question for you today as we are entering into the year of the foot. What are you standing on? What is under your feet? Are you standing on God’s promises that are sure, steady and solid? Or are you standing on worldly wisdom that is slippery, soft and sandy, causing you to feel off balance.

f. This reminded me of the vision I had last week about walking through the mud.

g. 1 John 2: 6 “whoever says, “I abide in him,” ought to walk just as he walked.”

h. Romans 8:1, 4 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” “Who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

V. Year of Divine Recovery-God makes things right

a. Retribution-punishment returned for a crime committed

b. Recompense-to award compensation to

c. Isaiah 54:1-4 “Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the Lord. Enlarge the site of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your descendants will possess the nations and will settle the desolate towns. Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discouraged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the disgrace of your widowhood you will remember no more.”

Our children will be recovered. We need to stretch out our tent pegs to make room.

d. Jeremiah 31:15-22 “Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Thus says the Lord: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the Lord: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future, says the Lord: your children shall come back to their own country. Indeed I heard Ephraim pleading: “You disciplined me, and I took the discipline; I was like a calf untrained. Bring me back, let me come back, for you are the Lord my God. For after I had turned away I repented; and after I was discovered, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was dismayed because I bore the disgrace of my youth.” Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he the child I delight in? As often as I speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore I am deeply moved for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord. Set up road markers for yourself, make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities. How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encompasses a man. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its towns when I restore their fortunes.

This is speaking of a promised restoration. When there is a restoration like this, a divine recovery it is a though God is creating a new thing on earth. This speaks to use seeking after God. We are now to walk into that recovery this year. The contending that you have been doing, God will answer. The years the locust have eaten, God will restore.