Thursday, October 6, 2011

Yom Kippur - Friday October 7th

Friday, October 7th at sundown marks the beginning of Yom Kippur.  For those who haven't studied the Jewish calendar, this day marks the most important event of the year....the day when the high priest takes the blood of the sacrifice and goes into the Holy of Holies.  It was a day of determination and a passing of judgement on the nation....would God extend mercy or not.  During the week preceding this day, the Hebrew people would be careful to forgive all those who have wronged them over the past year.  They did this because they did not want anything to hinder their prayer for mercy and their prayer for blessing on their life and nation.

I have started a practice in my life to seek the Lord, especially more diligently during this time.  And I have been so blessed to hear from the Lord.  This blog is to encourage you to press into the Lord, especially during this time. 

Last year during Yom Kippur the Lord gave me a dream that was divided into three segments.  The first part of this dream I was in a large church auditorium.  The worship team had just taken the stage and began to sing.  The song was to the tune of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" but the words were different.  The words were....Let me be your perfect servant, Holy Spirit smile on me...instead of...Joyful, joyful we adore thee God of glory Lord of love.  When the worship team started to sing, immediately I got up and began to worship the Lord.  But the congregation didn't stand.  They were uninterested and dull hearted.  I began asking in my heart what is wrong, why won't they stand.  I began trying to encourage others around me to stand, but only a few responded.  This discouraged my heart, but I kept trying to encourage others to stand.
The scene then changed in the dream, I  was no longer in the church.  In this scene I saw a golden statue of a woman that was nude.  I was looking from the side  The scene then changed again and the Lord's hand was on my heart.  I felt the Lord's favor and His reassurance that He was with me.  And that was the end of the dream.

Now the interpretation...much of the church is dull and not responding to the call of God to walk in holiness and purity.  Why you ask?  Because they have been joined to idols.  The golden statue symbolized idolatry.  This dullness of heart has frustrated those in the church who have responded to the call and are serving him with all they know how.  And God is saying to those whose heart is right, that He is with you, his hand of favor is on you, and He will stand with you in this season.  Don' be weary in well doing, because you shall reap if you faint not.

There is more to be said about the dream, but for now this is what I need to get out.  The Lord bless you as you pursue Him during this season.

David