TEVET
Tevet is the tenth month of the Hebraic calendar when you count from the month of Nisan. We just passed through Kislev and entered Tevet.
Tevet shares a root with the Hebrew word “tov” which means “good.” On the secular calendar used widely today this is the time from the middle of December to the middle of January.
Have you noticed the spelling of the word “Tevet” is a palindrome? It is one of those interesting words that can be read the same whether reading forward or backwards.
The beloved Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks once noted that “We live life forward but we see the role of Providence in our lives only by looking back. “That is the meaning of God’s words to Moses,” he says when he quotes Exodus 33:23, “You will see My back.” In other words, “You will see Me only when you look back.”
There is a wonderful article discussing this aspect of Tevet at this link: https://unitedisraelworldunion.com/the-month-of-tevet-looking-backwards-looking-forwards-a-time-of-tshuvah-return/. Enjoy! If you haven’t discovered the joy of reading the thoughts of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks; I heartedly suggest you make that effort. His thoughts go very deep and provoke much spiritual understanding.
For my own humble thoughts; perhaps this aspect of Tevet is why I enjoy reviewing the “glorious impossibles” of God at the end of each secular year. We do seem to see the future clear after we have looked back first. I know I do after composing these articles.
MOVING FORWARD BY LOOKING BACK
Also; I love to make an annual recap of family photographs into a scrapbook of our family each year. In our hurried lives, family members tend to forget all the magic moments that mattered. Unless they review these photo books. Then they suddenly realize how the past year had deep significance. They pick up on memories which mattered in so many different ways. Those past blessings just spill over into the hope and anticipation of the new year.
If we forget to look back; we miss a lot of the details we need to move forward.
As we discuss the things that make up the month of Tevet; why not look back on your own days. Look back and see things of importance which have shown up in your life.
Are you living a life that is tuned in to the clock of God?
How is He showing you through the paths of time?
TOWARD THE END OF HANUKKAH
This interesting month of Tevet comes along just as we are finishing the last few days of Hanukkah. Thus; the beginning of Tevet starts with thoughts of The Great Light.
Christians remember Jesus as being The Light of the World.
They think of how God miraculously came to us on the coldest, darkest part of winter. He entered the womb of a young virgin girl named Mary. For nine months He change Mary’s world, then He began to change the world.
It was the greatest miracle ever performed. This was a miracle from God which would save all of humanity. Hanukkah is symbolic of this Great Light from God. The Great Light from God is symbolic of the Messiah and our Salvation.
THE HOPE FOR GOOD OVER EVIL
As the Hanukkah menorah burns brighter and brighter we come to the month of Tevet called “good” and think of how God said “It is good” when He created the world. We know that the “good” which is in Christ has come to help us to overcome the evil of the earth. What men have intended for evil; God will turn for good. All we have to do is believe and trust and wait on God to act in our favor.
This is our reminder in the beginning days of Tevet.
THE GOOD HIDING IN EACH PERSON
Tevet is a time to be revealing all the good that God has hidden in each of our own hearts. He gently reveals this to the world around us. Our lights should be shinning out into the darkness creating hope and love and a better world for all.
Tevet has its own problems to overcome though. The tenth of Tevet reminds us that historically this was the day of the siege of Jerusalem by its enemies. In 425 BCE Jerusalem was defeated. The beginning of the destruction of the Holy Temple began. This happened two and one-half years later on the 9th of Av.
REMEMBERING THE SEIGE OF JERUSALEM WITH FASTING
Therefore; the 10th of Tevet is a fast day. The fast is for seeking the Divine attribute of mercy. Prayers are offered up for imploring God’s mercy throughout the earth.
The fact that God was angry with Israel was the cause of Jerusalem’s defeat. The destruction of the Temple is mourned. Mercy is requested for the sins of the current day as well as the sins of the past generations. These actions are a type of repentance to God for mistakes of the past. For the faithful it is the hope of never repeating them again.
ARE WE REPEATING SPIRITUAL MISTAKES OF THE PAST TODAY?
Mostly the Jewish people will be fasting. However, this type of fasting has never been more needed in today’s Christian culture.
The destruction of the Temple deeply affected the Jewish people, both then and now. To help overcome this, Christian communities of today must be maintaining a “spiritual” temple. We too need a new and rededicated temple where Jesus Christ lives and presides inside our hearts. Thus; many of us will be participating in this fast too; only for the spiritual Body of Christ; that it may be purified and built up to God’s glory today.
Christians of today should not be repeating the cultural sins of the past generations. We must seek God’s forgiveness and cleansing too. This generation must make it happen.
THE OPPORTUNITY OF CHANGE
In the traditional thinking; this day isn’t thought of as a day to be sad; but as a day of opportunity in which to help issue in a better world. It is a hope for the future for our next generation. We hope by changing our hearts with obedience toward God.
Basically, there are the thoughts and the prayers to repair the world and to fix the sins of the first destructions, and all destructions of the past generations; so that there is hope for the future. Jews pray for the Messiah to appear to them for the first time, since they have closed eyes toward Him now.
Christians who have had their eyes opened to know that Jesus Christ is the Messiah pray for His return at the second coming. We welcome the thoughts of God’s Kingdom being established on the earth.
ESTHER WAS TAKEN IN TEVET
Historically; Tevet is known as the month in which Esther was taken to the King’s palace.
For Christians today; it is not strange to wonder if this will be the month of rapture. Will the angels of God come in this month to take us to His Kingdom? Will the Bride of Christ be united with her Groom – Jesus?
It is something to ponder as we look back over the patterns of past events.
SPIRITUAL PATTERNS
This time could represent a spiritual pattern instead of a physical pattern. This month could mean this is a time to draw closer to God. Perhaps it is time to be more united to the duties of the Bride of Christ. This Bride called The Church should always be preparing for The Groom’s arrival.
This would mean filling your lamp with oil and/or filling your heart with God’s Holy Spirit. We’ve learned about that by observing Hanukkah.
It would mean anxiously waiting on the Groom to return. We are to be ready and not surprised. It is a good time to remember to be prepared and ready to go when we hear the sound of the trumpet.
So you see my friends, whether you are Jew or Christian, the thoughts and patterns of Tevet are significant. May we live each day considering God’s calendar. Let’s spend our time tending to God’s greater glory.