T'Shuva is included in the little book, "52 Hebrew Words Every Christian Should Know" by Dave Adamson. His definition includes: "...the Hebrew word that is translated as repentance is t'shuva, which comes from the verb 'to turn' or, more accurately, 'to turn back.'" Ministries of New Life's handbook, "Restoring the Father's Teachings" explains that "Teshuvah is a call to humble ourselves, repent for personal and corporate offenses and turn from our selfish ways to our Father's Righteous Ways." Of course, we should be examining ourselves every day because we want to abide in Christ with nothing separating us so that we can clearly hear His voice instructing us in the way we should go. However, Teshuvah or T'Shuva is also a special season of 40 Days of Repentance in preparation for the Fall Festivals. This special season of repentance usually occurs on the Hebrew calendar during the months of August and September. It begins on Elul 1, the day that Moses ascended Mt. Sinai, taking stone tablets for God to re-inscribe. This year, Elul 1 falls on August 27 on the Gregorian calendar and extends to Tishri 10 or October 5.
In preparation for Bible Study Fellowship this fall, I have been studying the life of David. Knowing this, our daughter, Kara, brought me the book "Chasing David" by Rene' Schlaepfer. Kara and her husband, Ryan, were privileged to sit under Schlaepfer's teaching at Kanakuk's Family Kamp this summer. I immediately began reading and couldn't put the book down! He is a fantastic teacher and author, however, on page 13 of his prologue he says, "...as the science of archaeology developed, people fascinated with David had to face an awkward reality: no scholar had ever found physical evidence of David or his empire. At all." He even quotes archaeologist Margreet Steiner: "When we look for evidence David existed we face an uncomfortable fact. It's not there. No remains of a town, let alone a city, have ever been found. Not a trace. No gate. No houses. Not a single piece...simply nothing."
Whaaaat????? And then I remembered. Our tour of Israel was in 2018 and when our guide took us to the City of David, we could only view it from boardwalks and viewing portals because they were still excavating the city! How fortunate we are to live in this time period when archaeologist and science have proven the Bible is true! You can purchase Schlaepfer's book on Amazon to learn how the city was recently discovered. The story is fascinating and an easy read but I need to focus on Teshuvah--and that obviously brings me back to David and Psalms chapters 32 and 51--see how my mind is spinning in circles?!
Rene' Schlaepfer says, "People can perceive the word "repent" as negative, used only by angry street corner prophets, but I'm discovering it's a great word. Repentance is God's gift. The offer to repent means God doesn't just throw you out with each misstep. repentance means you can move forward again--and stop looking backwards."Wow! What a loving Father we serve!
King David wrote: "When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.' And you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:3-5 NIV.
I like Sharon Garlough Brown's daily discipline of using The Examen to "ask the spirit to search us and know us. The Lord invites us to perceive his constant activity in our lives, to notice the things that move us toward God and away from God. This kind of praying takes us deeply inward--not so we become self-absorbed and self-centered, but so that we can truly know ourselves. After all, self-knowledge and humility are pathways to knowing and loving God more and more." She asks, "As you take time to prayerfully ponder your life with God, are you becoming more self-absorbed and self-centered or more receptive and open to loving God and others? In what ways?"
If this is a discipline you would like to join me in praying, here are the questions from The Prayer of Examen:
Quiet yourself in the presence of God. Give God thanks for some of the gifts of today.l
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your thoughts as you prayerfully review your day.
When were you aware of God's presence today? When did God seem hidden? In what ways did you respond to God's call? Resist God? How were you brought to life? When were you discouraged?
Speak honestly with God about what ever you notice. Celebrate the gifts. Confess your sins. Offer your grief. Receive God's grace and comfort.
In light of what you've noticed about your life with God today, how might you live tomorrow differently?
I will close this post with the reminder from Peter in Acts 3:19 - 20: "Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah."
T'Shuva!
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