Elul is the sixth month of the Scriptural year. It is the month that comes right before the High Holy Days—Rosh HaShana/Yom T’ruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, which occur in the 7^th month of Tishrei. Elul is known as the month of repentance. It is the month we prepare ourselves for the “Days of Awe” or the “Ten Days of Repentance,” which begin with Yom Teruah (Tishrei 1) and end with Yom Kippur (Tishrei 10). Rosh Chodesh Elul begins a forty-day period that ends at Yom Kippur.

In the sixth month, the prophet Yehezqel (Ezekiel) had a vision of the esteem of Elohim and the Spirit showed him all the abominations of the Set-Apart Place (Ezek/Yehez. 8). The sixth month is also the month YAHUAH spoke to the prophet Haggai to rebuild the House of Elohim (Haggai 1). Elul appears in Scripture in Nehemiah/Nehemyah 6:15. The 25^th day of Elul was the day the walls of Yerushalayim were completed. After the completion—all the nations recognized that it was the work of Elohim (vs. 16). 

According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Chodesh Elul is the day Moshe ascended Sinai for his third 40-day period. The first 40 days, Moshe received the first set of tablets containing the commandments. When he returned, the people had sinned with the golden calf (Ex/Shem. 32). Afterwards, Moshe ascended Sinai for his second 40 days, during which he interceded for the people so YAH would have compassion and not destroy them (Ex/Shem. 32,33). At the end of the second 40 days (29^th of Av), YAH forgave the people and instructed Moshe to return the next morning (Rosh Chodesh Elul) with the second pair of stone tablets. Moshe saw the esteem of Elohim pass before him, and YAH declared His Covenant of Compassion: “YAHUAH, YAHUAH, an El, compassionate and showing favor, patient, and great in kindness and truth, watching over kindness for thousands, forgiving crookedness and transgression and sin, but by no means leaving unpunished, visiting the crookedness of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation” (Ex/Shem. 34:6,7).

The month of Elul is believed to be a time when YAH draws near to His people. It is like a king when he goes out to the fields among the people; he is much more accessible than when he is in the palace. This month, we remember YAH’s Covenant of Compassion, which was completed in Yahushuah, and we approach Him in repentance while He is near: “Seek YAHUAH while He is to be found, call on Him while He is near” (Is/Yesh. 55:6). We draw near to Him with sincere teshuvah. 

Teshuvah, usually translated as repentance, means ‘return’ in Hebrew. Teshuvah is a gift of Elohim through His Son Yahushuah. Because of YAH’s great compassion, He gave His only brought-forth Son to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins and be an everlasting atonement for our sins. True repentance (teshuvah) comes only through Yahushuah. Teshuvah is a process that can only be completed in Yahushuah. Teshuvah is 4 steps:  

2)      Regret (genuine shame/embarrassment for one’s actions)

This month, we return to YAH in sincerity. When teshuvah is complete and sincere, YAHUAH is trustworthy to forgive (selichah), wipe away our sins (mechilah), and grant atonement by the blood of Yahushuah (kapparah). Our old self passes away, and YAH makes us a renewed creature in Messiah Yahushuah (2 Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15).

It is a custom to blow the ram’s horn everyday during the month of Elul as preparation for Rosh HaShana. The ram’s horn is a call to awake! Awake from our sleep, examine our lives, repent of our sins, and return to YAHUAH! The shofar is a call for teshuvah.

       And as we hear the sound of the ram’s horn, may we remember the ram that took the place of Yitschaq (Isaac) on the altar (Ber/Gen. 22). May we remember how that points to Yahushuah, who took our place on the stake. In YAH’s great compassion, He spared Yitschaq. In His great compassion, He gave His only Son to spare the entire world from death. Yahushuah took our punishment and became our atonement. As we hear the shofar, may we remember Yahushuah’s sacrifice for us and return to Him. Repent. YAH is compassionate.