Friend, the coming kingdom: when the King tabernacles with us!

Every year when Israel celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), they are not only remembering the past — they are rehearsing the future. Each sukkah, each song of joy, and each gathering of worshipers under the open sky points forward to the day when the King Himself will tabernacle among His people.

Zechariah prophesied of that glorious day: “And the Lord will be King over all the earth. In that day the Lord will be one and His name one … Then everyone who survives of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.” (Zechariah 14:9, 16)

It will be the age of fulfillment -- when every nation, tribe, and tongue gathers in Jerusalem to honor the King of Glory. The wars will cease. The curses will be broken. The earth itself will be renewed as righteousness covers it like the waters cover the sea. The nations will no longer war against Jerusalem; instead, they will stream to her, carrying worship instead of weapons.

And beyond that millennial reign awaits the ultimate completion -- the vision John saw on the Isle of Patmos: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more…’” (Revelation 21:1–4)

That is the final Sukkah -- not made by human hands, but by the Lord Himself. The shadow will give way to substance, the rehearsal to reality. Every glimpse of joy, every moment of worship, every touch of His presence we experience now is a foretaste of that eternal dwelling where we will see His face and dwell in His light forever.

Friend, remember—this world is but a temporary dwelling, but His Kingdom is eternal! Every feast, every prayer, every act of devotion is a rehearsal for that glorious day when His presence will fill heaven and earth, when darkness will vanish, and sorrow will be no more. We may now dwell in fragile shelters, but soon we will abide in the unshakable city of God. The Bride will meet her Bridegroom, and heaven’s cry will resound -- “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with men!” Hold fast, for the King is coming -- and His glory will cover the earth forever!

Chag Sameach! (Happy Holiday) Shabbat Shalom, have a great weekend -- we'll see you first thing on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Live Oak, Florida)

Friend, the covering glory: dwelling under His presence!

During the Feast of Tabernacles, Israel was called to build a sukkah — a fragile, open, temporary dwelling. Yet it was far more than protection from the elements; it was a prophetic sign that the true covering of God’s people is not made of branches or cloth, but of His abiding presence.

David wrote, “In the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.” (Psalm 27:5) Even in the storms of life, those who dwell under His shadow are hidden, secure, and covered by the glory of His presence.

Isaiah prophesied of a coming day when this covering would be fully revealed: “Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and shelter from the storm and rain.” (Isaiah 4:5–6)

What a breathtaking picture—a divine canopy of glory, a chuppah stretched over God’s people like a wedding covering over His bride. This is not merely poetic language; it is a prophetic promise. Just as Israel once followed the pillar of cloud and fire through the wilderness, God’s Spirit now covers us in every wilderness we walk through today.

Centuries later, that same glory appeared again -- not over the Tabernacle, but upon a mountain. Yeshua (Jesus) took Peter, James, and John up the Mount of Transfiguration, and before their eyes, the glory-cloud descended once more. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes radiated with heavenly light. Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him, symbols of the Law and the Prophets, bearing witness that the fullness of God’s presence now rested in Yeshua, the living Tabernacle.

Overwhelmed, Peter blurted out, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make three sukkot—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4) He didn’t realize that what once filled the tent of meeting was now standing before him—the Word made flesh, the glory of God dwelling among men.

That same glory now covers us—not as a fleeting experience, but as a permanent presence through His Spirit. When fear rises like a flood, His canopy shields us. When the world burns with uncertainty, His cloud of glory shades us. We live not under the covering of man-made structures, but under the radiant presence of the King who tabernacles within us.

Friend, your life may feel like a fragile sukkah—thin walls, temporary supports, exposed to the winds of the world—but over you rests the covering of the Almighty. His presence is your refuge, His Spirit your shade, His glory your security. Lift your eyes above the storm! The same cloud that led Israel through the wilderness now rests upon you. His chuppah covers your home, your family, your future. You are not uncovered, unguarded, or forgotten—you are surrounded by glory. Step beneath His presence today and let every fear dissolve in the light of His face. Dwell under His canopy, and no weapon formed against you will stand. The King of Glory Himself is your shelter, your shade, your peace. This is the heart of Sukkot—the glory of God dwelling with His people, and His people resting under His glory forever.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George & Baht Rivka (Bradenton, Florida)

Friend, the ingathering: the harvest of nations!

As Israel gathered the last fruits of the year -- the grapes, the olives, the wheat -- they came to Jerusalem rejoicing. The barns were full, the threshing floors overflowed, and the air was filled with the laughter of thanksgiving. Sukkot (Tabernacles) was more than a festival; it was a celebration of completion -- a picture of the final ingathering of all things under God’s reign.

“You shall keep the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your winepress. You shall rejoice in your feast ... and you shall be altogether joyful.” (Deuteronomy 16:13–15)

The joy of Sukkot was rooted in the harvest -- but its prophetic meaning looks beyond the fields of Israel to the nations of the earth. Zechariah foretold a day when "everyone who survives of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles." (Zechariah 14:16)

Sukkot points to the great harvest of nations — the day when every nation, tribe, and tongue will worship Yeshua (Jesus), the King of Kings.  John saw this vision: “A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, crying out, ‘Salvation belongs to our God… and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9–10)

Sukkot teaches us that the God of Israel is the Lord of the Harvest. His heart beats for souls—the true fruit of His labor. The fields of the world are ripening, and Yeshua still declares, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)

The Feast of Ingathering isn’t just a time of celebration—it’s a call to action. We are not spectators of the harvest; we are the laborers sent into it. Every act of witness, every prayer for the lost, every seed of kindness or word of truth is part of this divine gathering. The same Spirit that filled the wilderness tabernacle now empowers us to bring in the harvest of the Kingdom.

As you reflect on Sukkot, ask yourself: Am I part of the harvest, or am I helping gather it? God’s desire is not only to dwell with us, but to dwell among all nations. The Feast of Ingathering reminds us that joy is complete only when the harvest is full—when every soul has heard the invitation to come and worship the King.

Friend, lift up your eyes! The fields are white, the fruit is ready, and the Lord of the Harvest is calling your name. The time for sowing in tears is giving way to a season of reaping in joy. Let your life become a vessel of ingathering. Let your voice echo His invitation to the nations: “Come, worship the King!”  For soon, the ingathering will be complete, and the King Himself will dwell among His redeemed.  Until that glorious day, let us labor with joy, shine with His light, and pour out the Living Water to every thirsty soul — for the harvest is near, and the King is coming!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Bradenton, Florida), Obi (Harrisburg, PA), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the Water and the Light: Joy in His Presence!

Isaiah 12:3  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 

John 7:37–39 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  39  Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 

During the days of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jerusalem overflowed with rejoicing. Every night, torches illuminated the city, and worshippers filled the courts of the Temple with singing, dancing, and laughter. It was said, “He who has not seen the rejoicing at the Water-Drawing Ceremony has never seen joy in his life.”

Each morning, the high priest would descend from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam. There he would draw water in a golden vessel and carry it back up to the altar with a grand procession of priests, musicians, and worshippers shouting Hallelu-Yah! As the water was poured out before the Lord, the people would recite Isaiah’s promise: “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

This water-drawing ceremony—Simchat Beit HaShoevah—was a prophetic picture of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The people longed for the day when living water would flow freely from the throne of God to refresh the dry and weary earth.

It was on the last and greatest day of this feast that Yeshua (Jesus) stood and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37–38) At that very moment, as the priests were pouring out water upon the altar, Yeshua revealed Himself as the true source—the Living Water—the One who satisfies the soul’s deepest thirst.

And when the lamps of the Temple were lit to pierce the night sky, Yeshua declared again, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

The ceremonies of Sukkot pointed to Him—the Light that never fades and the Water that never runs dry.

The joy of Sukkot was never about the water in the jar or the lamps in the court—it was about the Presence that filled both. When His Spirit flows within us, despair turns to praise. When His light shines through us, shadows flee and hearts awaken. Joy is not found in our surroundings but in the Presence of the One who fills all things with life.

Are you thirsty today? Have the wells of this world left you dry and disappointed? The same invitation that echoed through Jerusalem still resounds: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” Yeshua doesn’t offer a drop—He offers rivers. He doesn’t give momentary light—He gives eternal illumination.

Friend, step into His presence with joy! Let the Living Water flow again in the dry places of your soul. Don’t settle for ritual when rivers are offered. Don’t dwell in shadows when His light is shining. Lift your hands in worship and draw deeply from the wells of salvation. Let His Spirit overflow until every barren place in your heart becomes a fountain of joy. For the same Messiah who cried out in Jerusalem still cries out today -- “Come to Me and drink.” And when you do, the Light of the World will flood your darkness, and rivers of living water will burst forth from within you. This is the joy of His presence—the true heart of Sukkot.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, God dwelling among His people!

Leviticus 23:33-36  And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 34  “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month and for seven days is the Feast of Booths to the LORD. 35  On the first day shall be a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. 36  For seven days you shall present food offerings to the LORD. On the eighth day you shall hold a holy convocation and present a food offering to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you shall not do any ordinary work. 

As the world begins its celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) tonight, we're reminded that every Feast of the Lord carries a prophetic message pointing to the Messiah. The apostle Paul wrote, "Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17).

Each feast is a shadow of a greater reality, a divine rehearsal revealing the redemptive plan of God through Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah. As we begin this journey through Sukkot, we are not merely studying an ancient festival; we are entering into a prophetic revelation of how God desires to dwell with us.

When God commanded Israel, "Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), it revealed His deepest desire: not to rule from afar, but to dwell in the midst of His people. From Eden's garden to Sinai's glory, from the wilderness tabernacle to Bethlehem's manger, this has always been His heart--to make His home among men.

During the Feast of Tabernacles, the people of Israel were instructed to live in a sukkah — temporary shelters — so they would remember their journey through the wilderness. Each frail booth reminded them that their security wasn't in structures of wood or stone but in the presence of the Living God. When the cloud covered the camp by day and the fire by night, it was a constant reminder that the Presence makes the place holy, not the walls.

In the same way, our lives are like those simple shelters — fragile, temporary, and easily shaken. Yet when the glory of God fills the "tent" of our hearts, the temporary becomes eternal. Without His indwelling presence, even the strongest life is empty; but when He abides within, even our weakness becomes His dwelling place of glory.

Then came the ultimate fulfillment: "The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us" (John 1:14). Yeshua is the living Sukkah of God — the eternal Presence wrapped in human flesh. The same glory that once rested above the Ark now dwells within us by His Spirit. What began in the wilderness is completed in Messiah: God dwelling not just among His people--but within them.

Pause and consider this--God doesn't merely visit; He inhabits. The same Presence that filled the Tabernacle now resides in you. Your body, your life, your very breath is meant to be a resting place for His glory.

Friend, the Feast of Tabernacles isn't just a memorial--it's an invitation. God is still seeking a place to dwell, and that place is your heart. Tear down every wall of self-reliance and let Him fill your sukkah anew. Let His Presence be your shelter, His Spirit your covering, His glory your light. For when He truly dwells within, no wilderness can defeat you, no darkness can overcome you, and no storm can uproot you. This is the essence of Sukkot: the God of Heaven choosing to tabernacle with man. Let Him fill your dwelling today--and you will never be empty again.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the two goats of atonement!

Hebrews 13:12  So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 

2 Cor 5:21  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 

On Yom Kippur, Israel witnessed a sacred drama that revealed the weight of sin and the mercy of God. Two goats were brought before the Lord. One was sacrificed — its blood sprinkled on the mercy seat to cover the sins of the people. The other, the scapegoat (azazel), had the sins of the nation confessed over it and was sent into the wilderness, carrying away their iniquities.

This was more than ritual; it was a living parable. Sin requires both a payment and a removal. One goat died to satisfy justice. The other carried sin far away, never to return.

Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) fulfills both roles perfectly. He shed His blood on the cross to cover our sins with atonement. And just as the scapegoat was led outside the camp, so Yeshua was crucified outside the city gate (Hebrews 13:12), bearing the curse of our guilt. He is both the sacrifice and the scapegoat — the One who paid for our sin and the One who carried it away. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

If every sin has been covered by His blood and carried away forever, then why live another moment under the weight of shame? The cross has not only forgiven you — it has freed you. The Lamb was slain to cleanse you, and the Scapegoat bore your guilt into the wilderness, never to return.

Now rise up and walk in the calling He has placed upon your life. Do not waste the covering of Messiah by shrinking back in fear or settling into compromise. You have been clothed in His righteousness, set apart for His purposes, and anointed to shine His light in a dark world.

Friend, the gates of mercy are open today — but they will not remain open forever. Let the reality of His atonement give you urgency to intercede for the lost and boldness to fulfill your assignment. You are free. You are forgiven. You are covered. Now walk in the power of your calling until the final shofar sounds.

Shabbat Shalom -- have a great weekend and we'll see you bright and early on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the day the books are opened!

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day on the biblical calendar. On this day the High Priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year, “not without blood,” to make atonement for the sins of Israel (Leviticus 16:34). Heaven’s books were opened, sins laid bare, and forgiveness sought through sacrifice.

Yet even this solemn feast pointed forward to something greater. The writer of Hebrews declares: “But when Christ came as High Priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands… He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11–12)

On Yom Kippur, the final shofar blast declared that heaven’s gates were closing. Kippur means “covering”: either the blood covered your sins, shielding you from judgment, or you stood exposed before the Holy One. There was no middle ground.

The sprinkled blood on the mercy seat covered Israel’s sins for a year, but it foreshadowed Messiah Yeshua’s perfect atonement. His blood doesn’t just cover sin temporarily — it removes it completely. Those who trust in Him are clothed in His righteousness and inscribed in the Book of Life. But for those who refuse His covering, the shofar announces judgment. When the gates close, no one enters by their own merit.

For me, Yom Kippur is not only a time to search my own heart — it’s a call to intercede for every soul who still needs salvation, for Israel, and for the nations. This day reminds us that the gates will not remain open forever. For believers, it is both a song of praise — Yeshua is our atonement — and a solemn warning: the countdown is moving swiftly toward the moment when the doors will shut and no second chances remain.

Friend, let this day stir in you both gratitude and urgency: gratitude that you are covered in His blood, and urgency to pray and witness while there is still time. The hour is late, the trumpet is near, and eternity is at hand. May we be found faithful, clothed in His righteousness, interceding for the lost — until the final shofar sounds and we stand secure in His presence forever.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, no peace for the wicked!

Isaiah 57:20-21  But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21  There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

As the Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, draw toward Yom Kippur, Isaiah’s warning falls with sobering clarity: “There is no peace for the wicked.” The image is striking — the wicked are like the restless sea, unable to be still, churning up mud and mire. Sin never leads to quiet; rebellion can never produce rest. Only those who turn back in repentance find the still waters of God’s peace.

These ten days stand as a line in the sand — a call to choose life or remain in rebellion. The rabbis taught that during this season, the Book of Life is open, and each soul must decide its path. The Days of Awe are not meant to be comfortable; they are meant to awaken us to the urgency of repentance. To continue in sin is to remain in the storm, but to turn to God is to find calm in His mercy.

For believers, this truth finds its fulfillment in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus), the Prince of Peace. He alone offers the shalom the world cannot give. Yeshua Himself said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). The world’s peace is fleeting, but the peace of the Messiah is eternal, purchased by His blood and secured by His resurrection. Without Him, the heart remains restless; in Him, the soul finds rest.

Friend, as we reach the close of the Days of Awe, the choice could not be clearer. Peace or unrest. Repentance or rebellion. Life or death. The sea of this world offers only turbulence, but the Prince of Peace invites you to still waters. The shofar has sounded, the Book is open, and the King is at the door. Let not these days pass without turning fully to Him. For only in Yeshua, the Holy One of Israel, will you find the peace your soul longs for.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, God will heal and restore!

Isaiah 57:18-19  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him.

The Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, are not only a season of reckoning but also of hope. God does not expose sin to condemn us — but rather He reveals it so He can bring healing. In this passage, the Lord declares, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.” The God who knows every failure also speaks a word of restoration. He sees us at our worst, yet offers to lead us, comfort us, and place new songs of praise upon our lips.

This is the heartbeat of teshuvah — repentance that leads to reconciliation. Turning back to God is never met with rejection but with mercy. The ancient rabbis taught that “repentance was created before the world,” for God always intended to make a way back for His people. Isaiah’s prophecy confirms it: those who return are promised not just forgiveness, but healing and peace.

Yeshua (Jesus) embodies this promise. Paul writes that He came to proclaim peace to “those who were far off and to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:17). In Him, the estranged are brought close, the broken are mended, and the restless are given shalom. Yeshua is the One who leads, restores, and comforts all who turn to Him in contrition.

Friend, during the Days of Awe, this passage resounds with a message of hope: repentance does not end in despair but in restoration. The Lord sees your ways — every stumble, every failure — and still declares, “I will heal.” This is the season to return, for His arms are stretched wide, ready to lead you into peace. Do not linger in shame or hide in fear — the shofar has sounded, the King is near, and He is calling His Bride to wholeness. Let these days be more than reflection; let them be a time of renewal, for the God who sees also heals.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, God's anger is not forever!

Isaiah 57:16-17  For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 

The Days of Awe (Yamin Nora'im) remind us of a sobering truth: judgment is real. God is holy and does not overlook sin. Isaiah’s words cut to the heart — iniquity provokes His anger, and rebellion invites His discipline. Israel knew this firsthand, experiencing exile and the pain of God’s hidden face. And yet, this passage does not leave us in despair. For though His anger burns for a moment, His mercy is eternal. He declares, “I will not contend forever.” His discipline is corrective, not destructive; His goal is not to crush but to restore.

This is the hope of the Yamim Nora’im. These days are a call to repentance, not so we might be destroyed, but so that we might be healed. God’s wrath is never the final word for those who turn back to Him. Like a loving Father, He corrects His children but longs to embrace them again. The psalmist echoes this hope: “For His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime” (Psalm 30:5).

Yeshua (Jesus) brings this promise to its ultimate fulfillment. At the cross, He bore the weight of God’s wrath so that mercy might triumph for all who believe. Paul writes, “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” (Romans 5:9). Judgment is real — but through Yeshua, the door to compassion and restoration stands wide open.

Friend, during the Days of Awe, these words strike with prophetic urgency. God’s discipline may be severe, but His mercy is greater still. His anger will not last forever — but our response must not be delayed. Every moment of pride, every step of rebellion, is an invitation to return while the door of mercy is still open. The shofar has sounded, calling us to repentance. The Bridegroom is near. Let us not linger in backsliding hearts, but run to the One who has already borne the wrath in our place. For the King is at the door — and His mercy is reaching out now.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the King of Eternity revives those contrite in spirit!

Isaiah 57:15  For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 

The Yamim Nora’im, the Days of Awe, are designed to awaken us to the greatness of God and the frailty of man. Isaiah’s words capture this tension perfectly: the Holy One is enthroned in eternity, far above all creation — and yet, He chooses to dwell with the humble and contrite. This is the mystery of repentance: the God who is infinitely high draws near to the one who bends low.

In these days of reflection, Israel is called to brokenness of heart, for pride cannot stand in the presence of the King of glory. True repentance flows from inward surrender — a heart broken under the weight of sin yet lifted by the hope of God’s mercy. As Psalm 51:17 declares, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

Yeshua (Jesus) gave voice to this same truth when He declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). To be poor in spirit is to recognize our utter need for God’s mercy, to strip away all self-righteousness, and to depend wholly on His grace. In Yeshua, the High and Holy One literally came down to dwell among the lowly, bringing life, restoration, and revival to those who humble themselves before Him.

Friend, during the Days of Awe, this verse confronts us with a holy choice: will we exalt ourselves and remain distant from His presence, or will we bow low and find Him near? The King of eternity is not looking for the self-sufficient but for the brokenhearted. Every proud wall must fall, every false strength surrendered, for it is only in humility that the Bride is made ready. Let these days be marked by contrition, not complacency — for the Holy One has promised to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to breathe new life into those who bow before Him.

Shabbat Shalom, have a great weekend -- we'll see you first thing on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, build up, prepare the way!

Isaiah 57:14 And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way.”

The Yamim Nora’im — the “Days of Awe” — mark the ten solemn days between Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). In ancient tradition, this sacred season is set apart for deep soul-searching, repentance, and reconciliation with both God and others, as it is believed that the Book of Life lies open, awaiting its final sealing on Yom Kippur. From a Messianic perspective, the Yamim Nora’im foreshadow an even greater prophetic reality: the time between the trumpet blast that gathers Messiah’s Bride and the final day of judgment, when He returns as King and Judge over all the earth. These days, then, are not merely reflective — they are a prophetic rehearsal of the end of the age, urging us to prepare our hearts with urgency and expectancy for the soon-coming King.

As the Days of Awe unfold, this call from Isaiah resounds with fresh urgency: Build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction. The prophet’s words remind us that before we can encounter the presence of the Holy One, the stumbling blocks of sin, pride, and rebellion must be cleared from the path of our hearts. These days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur are designed for soul-searching, for facing what clutters our lives, and for turning back with sincerity to the God who longs to dwell among His people.

Isaiah’s cry echoes in the wilderness centuries later through John the Baptist: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight” (Matthew 3:3). John’s mission was not only to call Israel to repentance but also to point to Yeshua (Jesus), the One who removes every true obstacle. Sin creates separation, but Yeshua came to reconcile us to God, leveling the ground, straightening the crooked places, and tearing down the walls that keep us from walking freely with Him.

Friend, during the Days of Awe, this passage is read as a summons to clear away every spiritual obstruction. For Israel, it is a call to repentance; for believers in Yeshua, it resounds with even greater depth — a call to encounter the living King Himself. Pride must give way to humility, bitterness to forgiveness, and compromise to wholehearted devotion. The Spirit still cries out: “Prepare the way!” Every obstacle must fall — every hidden sin, every divided heart, every stumbling block that keeps us from His presence. For soon the shofar will sound, not only to awaken but to announce the arrival of the Bridegroom. Let these Yamim Nora’im be a sacred clearing of the path within, for the King is at the door.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, cast into the depths of the sea!

Micah 7:19  He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

On the first day of Rosh Hashanah, Jewish tradition observes Tashlich, a ceremony in which worshippers walk to a river, stream, or the sea and cast crumbs of bread into the water. Each crumb represents sin — failures, regrets, brokenness, and rebellion — all symbolically carried away by the current. As the waters sweep them out of sight, the heart finds hope in Micah’s promise: God Himself casts our sins into the depths of the sea.

But the Tashlich ceremony is only a shadow of a greater reality. What Israel performed symbolically, Yeshua fulfilled completely. At the cross, He bore our iniquities and carried them away forever. The psalmist declares, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). Unlike breadcrumbs in a stream, easily dissolved or lost to memory, Yeshua's (Jesus') sacrifice is eternal and absolute. Our sins are not just pushed downstream — they are hurled into the unfathomable depths, never to resurface, never to be held against us again.

Tashlich reminds us that we cannot cleanse ourselves, no matter how far we cast our sins away. Only the Lamb of God can take away the sin of the world. When we place our faith in Him, the weight of guilt and condemnation sinks into the depths, gone forever. The waves that once threatened to overwhelm us now bear witness: the mercy of God runs deeper still.

The enemy of your soul longs to keep you chained to sins you’ve already confessed, trapping you in the past. But the Lord calls you to a greater truth: if you have truly sought His forgiveness, it is finished — those sins are gone.

Friend, what burdens are you still carrying that Yeshua has already hurled into the sea? Today, release them. Stop reaching back into waters where God has buried your past forever. Listen to the Spirit’s gentle whisper: “It is finished.” The current of His mercy has carried it all away. Now rise and walk in freedom — forgiven, cleansed, and made new in Him.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, Yom Teruah, the coronation of the King and the call of the bride!

Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound (teruah): they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance.

Today, many in Israel mark Rosh Hashanah as the Jewish New Year, yet the deeper meaning of Yom Teruah -- the Feast of Trumpets -- often lies hidden beneath the surface. Sweet traditions, festive meals, and greetings of "Shanah Tovah" fill the season, but the prophetic weight of this appointed time points far beyond cultural celebration. Yom Teruah is a divine rehearsal of the day when the Lord Himself will return in glory.

The Talmud teaches: “On Rosh Hashanah, recite before Me verses of kingship, so that you may crown Me as King over you.” Yet the great irony is that Israel, for the most part, has not yet recognized her Messiah. But Yeshua Himself declared that the day is coming when they will cry out, “Baruch Haba B’Shem Adonai” — “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39), and acknowledge His true Kingship. On that day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Yeshua (Jesus) is Lord. Until then, we pray with longing and urgency for the salvation of Israel.

At the same time, the feast carried the imagery of a wedding, as if every shofar blast were the Bridegroom's cry: "Behold, I come for My bride!" The prophets foresaw this in Isaiah 27:13, where a great trumpet gathers God's scattered people home. For believers in Yeshua (Jesus), this imagery becomes intensely personal -- it is the call of the Bride, the Church, to rise and meet her Bridegroom.

The Hebrew word teruah (תרועה) itself is rich with meaning, encompassing a shout, an alarm, a cry of joy, and even a battle call -- a sound that holds together both judgment and celebration, both warning and wedding. Its connection to the shofar reaches back to Abraham on Mount Moriah, where God provided a ram caught in the thicket as a substitute for Isaac (Genesis 22). That ram, offered in Isaac's place, became etched into Jewish memory not only as a picture of sacrificial redemption but also as a prophetic sign, with its horns later linked to the sounding of the shofar in God's unfolding plan of salvation.

The rabbis taught that the ram Abraham offered in Isaac's place carried prophetic meaning in its two horns. The left horn, they said, was the one sounded at Mount Sinai when God gave the Torah, marking the covenant of the Law with Israel. The right horn, known as the shofar hagadol (the great shofar), was reserved for the future -- a trumpet blast that would herald the coming of the Messiah and the final redemption of God's people. This tradition, recorded in Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer (ch. 31), directly links the binding of Isaac, the giving of the Torah, and the ultimate hope of redemption together in one continuous thread of God's plan.

For believers in Yeshua, this rabbinic teaching resonates with powerful Messianic insight. The left horn at Sinai represents the first covenant of the Law, while the right horn points to the coming of the Messiah, when the great trumpet will sound to gather His people.

The New Testament affirms this mystery, declaring that at the "last trumpet" the dead will be raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:52) and that at the "trumpet of God" the Lord will descend, and His people will meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Thus, the shofar of Abraham's ram not only ties past covenant to future redemption but also foreshadows the day when the Bridegroom returns to claim His Bride.

Yom Teruah also ushers in the Ten Days of Awe, a solemn period of repentance leading to Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Prophetically, this foreshadows the time between the gathering of the Bride and the return of the Messiah as Judge and King. It anticipates the great fulfillment of Revelation 11:15: "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever."

Friend, the Feast of Trumpets is both alarm and invitation. It awakens the Bride to be watchful, prepared, and adorned for her Bridegroom, while also sounding the trumpet of coronation that declares to the nations: the King is coming. Yom Teruah carries a dual message -- intimate yet majestic, bridal yet royal, tender yet triumphant. And even now, the cry of the shofar still echoes through the ages: Prepare, for the King is at the door!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, the feast no one knows the day or the hour!

Matthew 24:36  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 

Tonight, thousands will gather to celebrate Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets, a festival unlike any other in the Lord’s calendar. It is the only moed (appointed time) that begins on the very first day of the month, Rosh Chodesh. While most feasts start on the 15th day, when the full moon is clearly visible, Yom Teruah is uniquely tied to the sighting of the new moon, making it distinct and filled with mystery.

The Sanhedrin depended on the testimony of two trustworthy witnesses who had sighted the first sliver of the new moon, yet if clouds or haze concealed the heavens, the declaration of the new month could be postponed. This uncertainty meant no one could know the exact day or hour of its arrival until the sighting was confirmed. To safeguard the observance, rabbinic tradition extended Yom Teruah into a two-day celebration, known as Yoma Arikhta (“one long day”), ensuring that Israel would not miss the appointed time.

Yeshua (Jesus) drew directly from this feast when describing His return, likening it to a thief in the night — sudden, unannounced, and impossible to predict. The Bridegroom does not come according to man’s calendar but according to the Father’s appointed time. Just as Israel waited in watchful anticipation, eyes fixed upward for the faint sliver of the new moon, so too the Bride waits expectantly, looking toward heaven for the sure sign of her Bridegroom’s coming.

Throughout Jewish history, the shofar has carried profound significance — announcing jubilee and sabbatical years, heralding the start of a new month, and summoning the people for battle. Yet beyond its historical role, the shofar also signals an inner battle, calling each soul to confront the darkness within. Its sound is rousing and otherworldly, likened to an air raid siren for the soul or an alarm clock for the spiritually complacent, designed to pierce the ears and settle deep within the heart.

The blasts, known as teruah, are a sharp, urgent call to awaken the sleepers, which the sages understood as the alarm of resurrection. Paul reveals this mystery’s fullness when he declares, “At the last trumpet…the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52), unveiling the deep Messianic hope that the shofar’s cry not only awakens us to repentance but also heralds the ultimate resurrection and transformation.

Friend, Yom Teruah is a clarion call to live in unwavering readiness, for the return of the King will not unfold according to man’s timetable but by the decree of heaven’s calendar. The Bride must shake off all slumber, keeping her eyes open, her heart alert, and her ears tuned to the sound of the trumpet that will announce the arrival of her Bridegroom.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Friend, final cry of Elul — awake, bride of Messiah!

Revelation 19:7-9  Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

The month of Elul has been a journey of mercy, repentance, and preparation. From the first blast of the shofar to the last fading note, every day has called us to return, to awaken, to draw near. Elul began with the whisper of covenant love: “I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine.” It reminded us of Moses ascending the mountain for forty days, of God revealing Himself not as eager to destroy, but as merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. It pointed us to second chances, to restoration, to intimacy with the Bridegroom.

We have heard the call of the prophets — to rebuild the Temple, to restore the walls, to be clothed as the dwelling place of His Spirit. We have stood with Haggai as the people rose to build, with Nehemiah as the walls were completed, and we have recognized that we ourselves are living stones, a temple for the glory of God.

We have listened to the Haftarot of Consolation, God’s love-songs to Israel. We have heard His tender voice: “Comfort, comfort My people.” We have stood as watchmen on the walls, publishing good news, declaring salvation, and crying out for the redemption of Zion. We have seen that while deep darkness covers the earth, the Bride is called to arise and shine, reflecting the glory of her Beloved. And we have rejoiced in the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, adorned as a Bride, steadfast as a watchman, ready for the coming King.

Beloved, this is the heart of Elul: intimacy with the Bridegroom, intercession for Israel, restoration of what is broken, and readiness for His appearing. Every shofar blast has carried this message: Awake. Return. Shine. Prepare.

And now we stand at the threshold. The month of Elul gives way to Yom Teruah, the Feast of Trumpets — the day when the shofar will sound not only in memory but in power, heralding the coming of the King. One day soon, the greater trumpet will sound, and the Bridegroom will descend for His Bride.

Friend, do not let this season pass without answering the call. The King is in the field, but soon He will be on His throne. The Bridegroom is at the door, ready to receive a spotless Bride. The shofar is sounding. The Spirit and the Bride say: “Come.” Awake, Bride of Messiah. Arise, shine, for your light has come. The Bridegroom is coming. Be awake. Be radiant. Be ready.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend! We'll see you first thing on Monday!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, clothed as a bride, standing as watchmen!

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

The final consolation of Elul (Isaiah 61:10-63:9) gives us a breathtaking picture: the Bride, radiant and ready, clothed not in her own efforts but in the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness. This is the joy of the Bride who knows the love of her Bridegroom has covered her. She does not stand ashamed or unprepared, but adorned, beautiful, and confident in His covenant love.

Yet Isaiah does not stop there. In the very next breath, God appoints watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem (Isaiah 62:6–7) — men and women who will not be silent day or night until Zion is established and made a praise in the earth. This is the dual identity of the Bride in Elul: she is both clothed in intimacy and steadfast in intercession. She prepares herself for her Beloved, and she takes her stand as a prophetic watchman for Israel’s redemption and Jerusalem’s restoration.

This is not an either/or calling — it is both/and. The Bride must be radiant in holiness and relentless in watchfulness. She must walk in intimacy with the Bridegroom and cry out for Zion’s deliverance. She must be ready in her own heart and ready on the wall, declaring and interceding until the King comes in glory.

Friend, as the last shofar blasts of Elul fade and the Feast of Trumpets draws near, hear the call with fresh urgency: be clothed, be radiant, be steadfast. Do not approach this season with half-hearted devotion. Put on the garments of salvation. Adorn yourself with the robe of righteousness. Take your place as a watchman on the walls. Cry out until Jerusalem shines with glory. The Bridegroom is at the altar. The King is in the field. The Spirit and the Bride together cry: “Come.” And soon — very soon — the heavens will answer, and He will.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, arise, shine, your light has come!

Isaiah 60:1-3  Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

2 Corinthians 3:6-9 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?  9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 

As Elul nears its close, the prophetic consolation swells to a crescendo. Jerusalem is no longer told merely to wait for comfort — she is commanded to arise and shine. Though thick darkness will cover the nations, the glory of the Lord will break forth on His people. The Bride is not called to shrink back, but to radiate the brilliance of her Beloved.

This is the paradox of the end of the age: lawlessness will spread, confusion will deepen, but in the midst of it, the Bride will shine with unmistakable glory. Nations will stream to that light; kings will be drawn to the brightness of her rising. This is not human splendor, but the reflected glory of Messiah Himself.

Paul explains the mystery in 2 Corinthians 3: Moses’ face shone with glory after receiving the law, but that glory was fading. In Messiah, the ministry of the Spirit is greater still — a glory that does not fade, but increases. “If there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory” (v.9). Beloved, the Bride’s radiance will exceed that of Moses, because she carries not the letter carved on stone, but the Spirit of the Living God.

Elul prepares us for this reality. The shofar does not only summon us to repent — it summons us to shine. Holiness is not hiding away in fear, but living so filled with His Spirit that His glory radiates outward. The Bridegroom is not returning for a weary Bride, but for one clothed in splendor, radiant with a glory that cannot be hidden.

Friend, do not bury your light in compromise or distraction. The time is now to arise. Shine with the glory that surpasses Moses. Let His Spirit blaze through you until the nations see and cry: "Behold, your God!"

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, awake o watchman!

Isaiah 52:7-8  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8  The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion. 

The cry of Elul is not only for comfort -- it is for awakening. Isaiah sees the watchmen on Zion's walls lifting their voices together, proclaiming salvation and declaring: "Your God reigns!" This is the prophetic call of Elul: to rise from slumber, to take our place on the walls, and to publish the good news with urgency.

Notice the image: "How beautiful are the feet... who bring good news." Feet carry the messenger to the people. Feet climb mountains to deliver hope. Feet move with urgency because the message is too good to delay. And what is that message?  Paul takes this verse in Romans 10 and applies it directly to the proclamation of the gospel. The feet are beautiful because they carry the good news of Yeshua.

Isaiah declares that the LORD has "bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations" (52:10). That Arm is none other than Yeshua, the Servant revealed in the very next chapter -- Isaiah 53. And yet here lies the painful irony: in synagogue readings around the world, Isaiah 53 is skipped. The portion leaps from Isaiah 52 to Isaiah 54, passing over the prophecy that most clearly reveals the Suffering Servant, the One pierced for our transgressions.

Beloved, this is where the prophetic Bride must rise. Elul is not only about personal repentance -- it is about our role as watchmen. We are called to reveal the Arm of the Lord, to proclaim that Yeshua is the salvation of Israel, to show that Isaiah 53 is not hidden but fulfilled. The shofar of Elul is a watchman's trumpet, a call to lift our heads, open our eyes, and cry out: "Behold, your God!"

Do not sleep in this hour. Do not stay silent when the good news must be published. The King is in the field. The Arm of the Lord has been revealed. Now is the time to proclaim salvation to Zion, to reveal Yeshua in the Scriptures, and to prepare the Bride for the coming of the Bridegroom.

Friend, take your place on the wall. Let your feet carry the good news. Let your voice declare salvation. Let your life reveal His Arm. For the Bride who is awake is the Bride who is ready.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka, Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, comfort my people!

Isaiah 40:1-2;30-31 Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. 2  Speak lovingly to the heart of Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is done, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she has received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins. 

9  Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” 

30  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;  31  but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. 

The month of Elul is not only marked by the daily blast of the shofar and the reciting of Psalm 27, but also by the prophetic readings from Isaiah known as the Haftarot of Consolation (Isaiah 40-63). These seven portions, read in the weeks between Tisha B’Av and Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets), are God’s love-songs to Israel — words of mercy, hope, and restoration after judgment.

Isaiah’s voice still resounds through the centuries: “Comfort, comfort My people …” These cries remind Israel — and all who are grafted in through the Messiah — that God has not abandoned His people. Instead, He calls His Bride, His watchmen, to proclaim comfort, to intercede for Israel’s redemption, and to stand for the restoration of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 40 opens with a double commission: “Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.” Judgment gives way to tenderness, exile to mercy. The King is not shouting in wrath but whispering in love. So too, the shofar blast of Elul is not only a summons to repentance — it is also an invitation to receive comfort.

The Lord declares: "Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news … say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’" (Isaiah 40:9). The call to comfort is inseparable from the call to behold Him — and to make Him known. It is not just God’s promise; it is our assignment. As the prophetic Bride, we are called to rise as watchmen, to proclaim His mercy over Israel, to cry out for her salvation, and to give the Lord no rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth (Isaiah 62:6–7).

This calling is not without cost. It requires perseverance, intercession, and unwavering devotion. But here is the promise: "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. … They who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29, 31).

Friend, the King is in the field. The Bridegroom is calling. The shofar is sounding. Let us take up our role as the prophetic Bride — comforting Israel, interceding for Jerusalem, awaiting the redemption of Zion, and drawing supernatural strength from the One who never grows weary. The Bridegroom is coming soon. Be awake. Be radiant. Be ready.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Macon, Georgia), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, wait for the Lord!

Psalms 27:13-14 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14  Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD! 

David's psalm closes with a cry of hope. After declaring God as light, after longing for His presence, after responding to the call to seek His face, after humbly asking to be taught His way, David ends with confidence: "I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living."

This is not vague optimism or blind faith. It is rooted in God's covenant character -- merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. David believes that no matter how dark the days become, no matter how fierce the enemies rise, he will see God's goodness break through.

And so he exhorts his own heart, and ours: "Wait for the LORD." Waiting in Scripture is not passive idleness but active trust. It is the Bride trimming her lamp and staying awake through the night. It is Israel standing at the shore of the Red Sea, watching for salvation. It is the Church, the Bride of Messiah, standing in readiness for the Bridegroom's return.

This is the final lesson of Elul. The shofar sounds daily to remind us: the King is near, the Bridegroom is coming. But readiness is not frantic striving; it is courageous waiting. It is standing firm, unshaken, eyes lifted, confident that His goodness will be revealed "in the land of the living."

Friend, hear David's exhortation: "Be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD." As Elul gives way to the Fall Feasts -- Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets), Yom Kippur, and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) -- let your heart be found awake, expectant, and full of hope. The Bridegroom is at the door. The King is in the field. His goodness is not far off -- it is breaking in. The shofar has sounded. The season is here. Be strong. Take courage. Wait for the LORD -- for He is coming, and you will see His goodness.

Shabbat Shalom ... have a great weekend, and we'll see you first thing on Monday morning!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Lumberton, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, teach me Your way!

Psalms 27:9-11  Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10  When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. 11  Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

Having declared that he will seek God’s face, David immediately recognizes the weight of that pursuit. To seek God’s face means we are willing to have our own ways exposed. It means inviting Him not only to comfort but to correct.

David cries out, “Hide not Your face… cast me not off… forsake me not.” He knows that intimacy with God is not casual — it is covenantal. And yet in the same breath, he clings to God’s mercy: even if the closest human relationships fail, “the LORD will take me in.” Elul is the month when the God of mercy bends low to welcome us, not because we are flawless, but because He is faithful.

Then comes the prayer of repentance: “Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path.” David admits what every heart must admit — my way is not straight, my wisdom is not sufficient, my path is not secure. I need Him to teach me. I need Him to lead me. This is the posture of teshuvah — to turn from crooked paths back to His level road.

Elul is the appointed time for this humility. Just as Nehemiah’s workers restored the broken walls of Jerusalem in Elul, so we are called to let God repair the broken walls of our lives. Repentance is not a shameful word; it is a hopeful one. It is the Shepherd leading His sheep back to the path. It is the Father welcoming the prodigal home.

Friend, hear the call of Elul: the shofar is sounding, the King is in the field, and He is not asking for perfection — He is asking for humility. Will you let Him teach you His way? Will you allow Him to pull you off the crooked road and set your feet on a level path? This is the cry of David, and it must become ours: “Teach me Your way, O LORD.”

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, seek His face!

Psalms 27:5-8 For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore, I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." 

David’s “one thing” is not wishful thinking — it is anchored in God’s promise. He knows that when trouble comes, God Himself will hide him, cover him, and lift him high upon a rock. Notice the language: hide… conceal… cover… lift. These are not the actions of a distant God but of a protective Bridegroom. This is the confidence of Elul: when the shofar sounds, we are not exposed to wrath — we are invited into covering.

In Hebrew, the word for atonement, kippur, comes from the root meaning “to cover.” As Elul leads us toward Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, David reminds us that the God we seek is the God who covers us. He hides us in His shelter, He draws us under His tent, and He sets us high above the reach of the enemy. The covering of Elul is not abstract — it is personal. It is God Himself placing His Bride under His wings.

But covering is not the end — it leads to worship. David says, "I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD." (ESV) True covering produces true worship. When we know we are safe, hidden, and lifted by His mercy, we cannot remain silent. The Bride sings when she knows she is covered.

Then comes the turning point: God speaks. “Seek my face.” And David’s heart leaps to respond: “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” This is the dialogue of Elul. The King in the field calls, and the Bride responds. He is not summoning us into ritual but into relationship. His command is not “Work harder” but “Seek My face.”

Friend, this is the cry of Elul. The King is walking near. The shofar is sounding. He is covering you, lifting you, and calling you closer. Do not hide from Him as Adam did in the garden. Do not delay like the slumbering bride in Song of Songs. When He says, “Seek My face,” let your heart respond without hesitation: “Your face, LORD, will I seek.” The Bridegroom is calling. The covering is ready. The only question is — will you draw near?

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, one thing I ask!

Psalms 27:4  One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.

David begins Psalm 27 with a cry of courage: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Yet courage in God is not an end in itself. It leads somewhere deeper. Having declared that God is his light, salvation, and strength, David then reveals the desire at the very core of his heart: one thing.

This is the language of intimacy. Not many things. Not divided desires. Not a long list of requests. Just one thing: to dwell with the Lord, to gaze upon His beauty, and to inquire in His temple. David’s greatest pursuit is not victory over enemies, not prosperity, not even safety — but presence.

This longing captures the essence of Elul. As the shofar sounds, calling us to repentance and return, it is also summoning us back to first love. Elul is a season of priorities. Just as the people of Haggai’s day were stirred on the 1st of Elul to rebuild the Temple, so Elul calls us to rebuild the inner temple of devotion in our own lives. The true work of restoration begins with returning to His presence.

Notice David’s threefold pursuit: he longs to dwell with the Lord — not as a passing visitor, but in unbroken fellowship; he yearns to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord — not with a fleeting glance, but with eyes fixed in wonder and adoration; and he desires to inquire in His temple — not merely to ask questions, but to seek wisdom, direction, and the intimacy of God’s presence. This is the cry of a heart wholly given to its Beloved, the single-minded pursuit of the Bride for her Bridegroom.

Friend, do not let this month of Elul pass with scattered priorities. Seek the one thing: to dwell with Him, to gaze on His beauty, to inquire in His temple. The shofar is sounding, the Bridegroom is calling — let your heart answer with passion and with love: "One thing I seek — to be with You."

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.

Friend, the Lord is my light!

Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

As the shofar sounds each day of Elul, Psalm 27 is read according to Jewish tradition. This psalm is more than a reading — it is a cry, a declaration, a lifeline for the season of return. And it begins with this powerful statement: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?”

Light is the first word David reaches for. In the darkness of confusion, in the shadows of uncertainty, in the face of his enemies, David anchors his hope in God as his light. Light means revelation in the midst of uncertainty, clarity when the way is clouded, and hope when despair presses in. Light is not just what God gives — it is who He is. “The LORD is my light.”

And because He is light, He is also our salvation. Not only does He show the way, but He rescues, delivers, and defends. David does not boast in his strength, his armies, or his strategies. His cry is singular: “The LORD is my salvation.” And because salvation rests in Him, fear has no ground. “Whom shall I fear? … Of whom shall I be afraid?”

This is why Psalm 27 is read during Elul. As the King walks in the field, His nearness drives away fear. Elul is not a season of dread but of confidence — not trembling before a distant monarch, but drawing near to a King who comes close with light, salvation, and strength. The shofar does not sound to terrify but to awaken courage, reminding us that God Himself is our stronghold.

Friend, hear the cry of David and make it your own: “The LORD is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?” In the days of darkness, let His nearness be your courage. In the shadows of uncertainty, let His light be your guide. In the battles that surround you, let His salvation be your confidence. The King is in the field. The Bridegroom is near. Do not be afraid — lift up your voice, for the Lord is your light!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna and Obadiah
George & Baht Rivka (Wilmington, N.C.), Obi (Baltimore, Maryland), Elianna (Married living in Missouri)

Editor's Note: This devotional is part of an ongoing Elul series. If you’ve just joined us, or happened to miss some earlier entries, I encourage you to start with the first one from August 25th. Each devotional builds on the last as we journey together through the month of Elul, preparing our hearts for the Fall Feasts — beginning with Yom Teruah (the Feast of Trumpets) and culminating in the Feast of Tabernacles.