A new month is underway in Israel, and I’m not talking about September! According to the Hebrew calendar, the month of Elul commenced just over a week ago and marks a time of reflection and repentance for the Jewish people.

It is the month before the fall High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (the holiest day on the Hebrew calendar). During the month ahead, observant Jews (and many secular Jews) will turn their hearts and minds toward repentance. For most it is an attempt to “be good enough” to please God on Yom Kippur.

In Acts 3, we find Peter rebuking the Israelites for denying Jesus (verse 14) before stating that God foretold the suffering of Jesus (verse 18). Then he said this:

¹⁹ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

Since the beginning, God desires repentance from His people so that:

1. Sins will be blotted out,
2. Times of refreshing (“cooling” in the Greek) will come from the presence of the Lord,
3. A time of restoration will come, and
4. The Messiah will return.

As the month of Elul unfolds and the fall Holy days approach, pray for the Jewish people. It is during this time of year they are perhaps most open to the calling of their Messiah, making this the best time of year to pray for their salvation!

Learn more in this excellent article: