Understanding the Hebraic month of Av: Listening to God’s voice in the year 5784

The Hebraic month of Av

Even though we are about half way through the Hebraic month of Av, I thought I would share a few thoughts. While every month has certain repetitive characteristics, every year they are quite different from the year before.

This year is 5784. It is identified with the Hebrew letters peh and dalet. That means this is a year in which the breath of the Lord has been transitioning the Ekklesia from one state of being to another. In this year of transition, during the month of Av it is especially important to be listening and heeding the voice of the Lord.

Av – The Fifth Month

Certain elements are related with each of the Hebraic months. Beginning with Nisan, Av is the fifth month on the Hebraic calendar.

Elements Related with Hebraic Months

• Hebrew Tribe (12 Tribes of Israel)
  • ancient
  • modern
• Hebrew Letter
• Priestly Stone
• Sense (human senses)
• Mazzarot (mazel- constellations)

Related with the month of Av

• ancient – Issachar
• modern – Simeon
• Tet
• Sapphire
• Hearing
• (mazal): Leo – Aryeh

Issachar/Simeon

Issachar was the tribe known for understanding the times and seasons of the Lord. They had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do. [1 Chr. 12:32] The name Issachar means ‘He will bring a reward’

Simeon’s name means hearing and comes from the root word shama.

SHEMA

What is known as the Shema is paramount in Jewish prayer life. The Hebrew word shema is translated in Deuteronomy 6:4 as HEAR. The Shema is the foremost commandment of the Lord to His people.

Av is the month to shema.

One of the Torah-teachers came up and heard them engaged in this discussion. Seeing that Yeshua answered them well, he asked him, “Which is the most important mitzvah of them all?”  Yeshua answered, “The most important is, ‘Sh’ma Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad [Hear, O Isra’el, the Lord our God, the Lord is one], and you are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your understanding and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You are to love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other mitzvah greater than these.” The Torah-teacher said to him, “Well said, Rabbi; you speak the truth when you say that he is one, and that there is no other besides him; and that loving him with all one’s heart, understanding and strength, and loving one’s neighbor as oneself, mean more than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Yeshua saw that he responded sensibly, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared put to him another sh’eilah. ~ Mark 12:28–34 (CJB)

Shema Scriptures

The Torah scriptures where the shema prayer is derived are Deuteronomy 6:4–9, 11:13–21; Numbers 15:37–41. The time for recital the shema is determined by the phrase: “when you lie down, and when you rise.” Morning and evening the shema is declared by observant Jews..

These words not only contain a profession of faith, and declaration of faithful devotion to the kingship and kingdom of God, they are a constant reminder of the command of God to the study of the Torah and teach them to the next generation. Instilling more than a duty this daily recital is a reminder of the God we serve.

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. ~ Deut. 6:4-9

And it shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, that He will provide rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, so that you may gather your grain, your new wine, and your oil. He will also provide grass in your field for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Beware that your hearts are not easily deceived, and that you do not turn away and serve other gods, and worship them. Otherwise, the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the sky so that there will be no rain, and the ground will not yield its produce; then you will quickly perish from the good land which the Lord is giving you. You shall therefore take these words of mine to heart and to soul; and you shall tie them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead. You shall also teach them to your sons, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your sons may be increased on the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. ~ Deuteronomy 11:13–21

The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a violet thread. It shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so that you will do them and not follow your own heart and your own eyes, which led you to prostitute yourselves, so that you will remember and do all My commandments and be holy to your God. I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God.” ~ Numbers 15:37–41

Shema – Listen Intently

Av is a month to be listening intently. It’s a month to renew our commitment to reading the Scriptures, listening to God’s voice and heeding His instructions. It is a time to know the times and seasons of the Lord.

Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” ~ Matthew 6:31–34 (NLT)

Dedicating our lives, as followers of Jesus, means heeding His word. It means listening to His words and doing them. It doesn’t mean go to church and do what someone else tells you to do. It means listening intently to what Jesus tells us. Today He speaks to us through the Holy Spirit. It means grab your Bible, ask God to meet with you and lead you into His truth. Ask God for His direction. He will certainly answer. He will meet with you. He will lead. He will guide.

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit will lead from here

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” ~ John 14:15–21 (NLT)

Be Persistent

So I say to you, ‘ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened. Now which one of you fathers will his son ask for a fish, and instead of a fish, he will give him a snake? Or he will even ask for an egg, and his father will give him a scorpion?  So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?’ ~ Luke 11:9–13

Summing It Up

The Hebraic month of Av is a time for seeking the Lord. It is a time for listening for and heeding the voice of the Lord. It is a time to mix faith with our hearing. In this year associated with the Hebrew letters peh and dalet, we are listening for how God is transitioning us. The month is related to Issachar and Simeon, emphasizing understanding, hearing, and the Shema prayer. Av serves as a reminder to seek God’s kingdom and righteousness, to be persistent in seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance, and to be attentive to what the Spirit is saying to the Ekklesia.

Now, go and be fabulous!

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