Shabbat Shuvah is a wake up call to return to the God who loves us
We're in the middle of the 10 Days of Awe and today is Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath day between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Teshuvah (תשובה) means to return.
It’s not just confessing sin, asking forgiveness, and continuing on our way.
We search our hearts, we confess, we repent and we return to the God who loves with an everlasting love.
Jewish woman with dark hair and white head covering sitting on a meadow overlooking Jerusalem. (AI Image: The Ancient Way)
The words of Joel 2 are appropriate. Would you read these with me with an open heart?
“Yet even now”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and lamenting.”
Rend your heart, not your garments, and turn to Adonai, your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abundant in mercy, and relenting about the calamity due.
Who knows? He may turn and relent, and may leave a blessing behind Him—so there may be a grain offering and a drink offering for Adonai, your God.
Blow the shofar in Zion! Sanctify a fast; proclaim an assembly.
More than the sacrifices of bulls and goats, the Holy One wants our hearts. Not just to put on a show and perform empty rituals. He wants us to know Him and to follow Him.
And yet He knew that His people would break their end of the covenant. So He tells them than even after missing the mark and following other gods, they can return.
All throughout scripture, we see a God who time after time pursues His cherished ones. That He makes a way through the iniquity resulting from their sin. That He would go to great lengths to forgive and accept His people back.
Who, O God is like you, who pardons iniquity and overlooks transgression for the remnant of his heritage? Who has not retained his wrath eternally, for he desires kindness! He will again be merciful to us; He will suppress our iniquities. And cast into the depths of the sea all their sins.
—Micah 7:18-19
This is the God we serve! The one who knows us inside and out—all of our good deeds, all of our magnificent failures and misguided motives—and loves us.
A God who beckons us to return. To leave our ways of doing our own thing, of missing the mark. Who promises He will pardon and cover us.
By His own hand he has brought us salvation—Yeshua.
His ways are just and righteous!
Who is like Him?!
As we're in a season of repentance, do you hear our Father calling you to return?
Will you hear His voice?
Will you listen?
May we turn back to Him today with all of our heart, soul, and strength and may we rest in His lovingkindness that is truly better than life.
Shabbat Shalom 🙏
