This is the First Fruit Blessing Prayer for the month of Elul.

This is the First Fruit Blessing Prayer for the month of Elul.  
4 September 2024, Elul 1, 5784
This is the final month in the Jewish Calendar.  So think of it as the “December” of the Hebraic Calendar.

1) This is the month where people “take stock”, review what has happened in the past year, reevaluate where things are so they can move forward into a successful 5785 which is the New Year and starts on October 2nd.  It’s time for deep introspection.

2) The word Elul is an acronym Ani le‑dodi ve‑dodi li–“I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” This is Song of Solomon 6:3 and it speaks of the closeness of God to His people.

3) Every day during Elul and leading up to the High Holiday (Rosh Hashanah) the shofar is blown to start the day as a call to repentance, with exception of the Shabat.

4)  The Selichot which is a prayer of repentance is done every day in the last week leading up to Rosh Hashanah.

5)  There is also a reflection on the 13 Attributes of God as listed in Exodus 34:6-7
Ha-shem [1], Ha-shem [2], G-d [3], merciful [4], and gracious [5], long-suffering [6], abundant in goodness [7] and truth [8], keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation [9], forgiving iniquity [10] and transgression [11] and sin [12], who cleanses [13].”

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Wow!  Pretty strong words right?  As far as I can see this takes repentance to a whole new level because it is saying repent or your children are about to suffer for what you did. Very interesting!

Why are the names of God listed as an attribute?  His name is actually a revelation of who He is.  If I say Jehovah Jireh, it is His name but it also one of His attributes as provider.  I think The Lord is said twice, because He’s putting an emphasis on the fact that He is Lord!

6) During Elul, Psalm 27 is read in the morning and at night.

7) It is said in the month of Elul “the King is in the field” this means that the King is more accessible to His people.  God is more accessible to you.  If you think about this, it makes sense since there is a lot of repentance happening this month.  We already know that sin separates us from God so the act of repentance everyday will bring you closer to God.  Keeping this in mind, that means that the King can be “in the field” for you every day if you choose to live your life like this.  Take time this month to seek the Lord and draw nearer to Him.  

Tribe for the month of Elul
The tribe for this month is Gad.  This is what Jacob said in his blessing of Gad:
Genesis 49:19
“Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders,
    but he will attack them at their heels.

This was a prophetic message spoken over Gad and this is a warring tribe (1 Chronicles 12:8).
They were attacked because of their proximity to enemy territory.  They inherited on the East of the Jordan where there were the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites. The tribes that were on the west were less prone to the attacks.

David, was a warring king, and some of us are actually made for warfare.  What this prophecy said is that they were attacked but in the end they overcame.  When you attack someone at the heel it’s like you catch the enemy off guard when he’s trying to escape with what was stolen.  You also cripple his ability to attack you again because you go after the movement. We see that God did give them victory in the end (1 Chronicles 5:18-22).

Don’t get discouraged if you lose one battle, you have to think long game.  In the end you will win because if God is for you who can be against you?

This is Moses’ blessing of Gad:
Deuteronomy 33:20-21
20 About Gad he said:
“Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain!
    Gad lives there like a lion,
    tearing at arm or head.
21 He chose the best land for himself;
    the leader’s portion was kept for him.
When the heads of the people assembled,
    he carried out the Lord’s righteous will,
    and his judgments concerning Israel.”

Again, we see the warrior spirit in Gad shown as lion. This is a very powerful blessing because it says that they enlarged their territory through warfare they went after the arm (the enemy’s strength) and the head (the enemy’s authority) and as such enlarged their territory because of their victory.  I believe Jehu, who defeated Jezebel, was from the area allotted to Gad (Ramoth Gilead) which means he could’ve been a Gadite.

Joshua divided up the land between the tribes (by casting lots) with exception to the land that was divided to the East of the Jordan.  Moses was the one who gave the land to them because Gad and Rueben asked for that land ahead of time You can read that in Numbers 32.

I find it interesting that the warring tribe, got the best land.  As the scripture said, they got theirs first!  Reminds me of that scripture we meditated on from 2 Timothy 2:1-7 “The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops“. The most lush and green pastures with plenty of water.  You see, they were the most exposed to the enemy being on the East side of the Jordan.  Also, they had to leave their wife and children and go fight with the other tribes to get their land.  They did work hard because they couldn’t rest until all the other tribes were settled into their own land.

Even the location of the inheritance had purpose in it.  If one of the weaker tribes were exposed to the enemy they might not be able to fight them off.

LETS LOOK AT SOME MORE THINGS ON THIS MONTH.  

A Month for New Beginnings

I feel “New Beginnings” is an APPOPRIATE  title for this sixth Hebrew month, Elul. We have come through the three weeks of “dire straits” in Tammuz and Av (Tammuz 17–Av 9/July 23–August 13). Although “dire,” we are to look at them as a time of birth pangs, and therefore birthing. Also, the whole month of Av was about the Lord “roaring from Zion” (see Joel 3:16).

Recently, the idea of new beginnings was further impressed on me while reading Haggai. I hadn’t really noticed before, but Haggai gave that important prophetic word that now was time to build the temple on the first day of Elul (see Hag. 1). The returned exiles were impoverished and in disarray. Things weren’t going well in Jerusalem or in Israel as a whole. Yet it was to these very discouraged people that the prophet thundered out, “Now is time to build.” He prophesied that they were continually saying, “Now isn’t the right time,” but that directly contradicted God’s prophetic word that “Now is the time.” The prophecy explained that the reason for their hardship and poverty was because they weren’t doing what God said.

We know the rest of the story. Their hearts were stirred. They obeyed and began to rebuild. From then on, the blessing of God was poured upon them. Everything began to change for the better.

So, let this be an exciting month. Move into the new beginnings the Lord has for you. 

The Month of Elul

1. The month of the tribe of Gad. When Gad was being born Leah said, “A troop comes” (Gen. 30:11), which indicates increase. Also note Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49:19, which states, “Even though a troop will trample over him, he shall triumph.” This indicates that this is a month of triumph and victory.

2. The month to camp—or to find your place in the order of camps—in the company of the Lord. A mistrust of others or a desire to “go at it alone” are because of roots of rejection or an orphan spirit. The more we are connected to—and are part of—God’s family, the more we will find ourselves shifting into our true identity in Him. 

3. The month of rewards. Rewards begin to manifest over what you have done. Think “reward,” and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be able to see all the good things God is giving you. You will begin to reap what you have sown. If you constantly labor and never see the reward, you’ll get burned out. You need to know how to abound (see Phil. 4:12 [1]). Also in these end times, let us remember the sowing-reaping cycle is rapidly speeding up.

4. The month the King is in the field. He is coming to visit us and to help us in our work and ministry. I like the story of Ruth. Boaz came and visited the field she was gleaning in. Her life completely changed. God has the same waiting for us.

5. The month of the Hebrew letter yod [י]. Yod is connected to the number ten. It’s the only letter that is suspended in midair; it indicates appointed mercy from the hand of God. Ask Him for mercy for any situation in your life that needs solving. And remember that when you ask, help will already be on the way.

6. The month of Virgo (the maiden). “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Sol. 6:3). The more we are connected to His family, the more we enter into intimacy with Him. Again, think of Ruth. She drew near to Boaz and claimed her family rights. God wants us to draw near to Him so He can give us all the “rights and blessings” provided for us in Jesus.

7. A month to run into the tower of might—a strength greater than yours that can encompass you. You don’t have to be strong all the time, but you can enter into His strength (see Proverbs 18:10 [2]).

8. A month for inner knowledge of peace to be activated. Always find time to “regroup” in order to be whole.

9. The “point month.” The understanding of the beginning so you can begin to reach your end.

10. The month to fix what has been broken. If He doesn’t tell you it’s fixable, let it go.

11. The month of complex systems beginning to be managed.

12. The “mother month.” The month of nurturing. This month is apostolic, just like Av. Whom are you looking after? Who is looking after you?

13. The month where Rebecca gave birth to Jacob and Esau. Do you “birth” blessing, or something that God is going to hate later on? What are you contending for? What is contending for you?

14. The month of the left hand—controlling the sense of action and good or bad emotions. You need to be sure your emotions are in good order. God gives us great ability to stand in the midst of emotional conflict and still abound. You don’t need to be someone who is unstable or unreliable. You have the ability to be a burden bearer.


Elul First Fruit Blessing Prayer
I can’t add anything to this, it is just Psalm 27 and it is a beautifully written prayer.  Pray it aloud!
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life--
    of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
    to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
    who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
    my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
​
Blessings!