Shuvah

This is the first sabbath of the new Jewish calendar year. It is also the sabbath that comes between the Feast of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah, which has recently passed, and the most solemn Feast of the LORD, Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which will occur in a few days. This time between the two feasts is called Shuvah, meaning "return". It comes from the Hebrew root word shub which means "return, recover, come/go back, to restore, refresh, repair, be brought back". At the same time, shub can also mean "turn away from, refuse, hinder, reject". When we return to God, we are purposefully turning away from, refusing and rejecting those things that are not of God, refusing and rejecting them. As we will see in one of the sabbath readings, the people of God are not always aware of how far they have drifted from God, but God is aware, and calls His people to return. Jesus found this same condition even among those who believed in Him. They could not see how much their sin had enslaved them, and that they needed Jesus, the Son, to set them free from it. In fact, they were offended that He would contend such a thing (see Jn. 8:30-40, Jn. 9:39-41). However, the systems of this world, and even our own flesh, are continually working to separate and distance us from our God. We can all use this precious time allotted by God to return to him. As I read this week's Sabbath scriptures and other verses, it seemed to me that we were being told about a serious but magical time in the LORD. I know that the use of the word "magical" might seem strange when applied to a discussion about the things of God, but that's the word that came to mind. When I looked up the definition of "magical", I found that it included "supernatural, mystical, extraordinary, exceptional, remarkable, superlative, amazing, unparalleled" and so on, so I'll stick with the use of the word "magical". In fact, Shuvah is so magical, no one would want to miss experiencing it when they find out what it means, and its far-reaching results. Here is our first example of the magic of Shuvah from this week's sabbath reading: "O Israel, return (shub) to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity; take words (dabar - utterance, promise, precept, a royal mandate, oracles, a thing done) with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, 'Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. Assyria (in the sense of being, or relying on, one who is fortunate, successful, prosperous) will not save us, we will not ride on horses, nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands (meaning by the strength of our own efforts and the idols we create), 'You are our gods.' For in You the fatherless finds mercy." (Hos. 14:1-3). The return to the LORD begins through the words out of our mouths, as is mentioned three different ways in v. 2, above. The prophet Jeremiah also wrote of what our declaration should be as we return to the LORD, as we are also turning away from the abominations that exist apart from Him: "...And you shall swear (saba - swear, take an oath, repeating a declaration seven times), 'The LORD lives', in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him they shall glory." (Jer. 4:1-2). Even the nations will be affected by the declaration of those who return to the LORD. That's magical! We can also see in the verses from Hosea 14 above, that whether we do or do not have earthly fathers, we are "fatherless" unless we can recognize and say that we need God as our Father. Now here is the "magic" of shub, or return, as the LORD says in response: "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him, I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. Those who dwell under his shadow shall return (shub- see above); they shall be revived (haya/hava - saved, have life, be restored to life or health, revive from death/ breathe, declare) like grain, and grow like a vine. Their scent (zeker - remembrance, memorial, bring to remembrance) shall be like the wine of Lebanon...Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them." (v. 4-7, 9). In Hosea 13, the LORD also declared: "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. 'O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!' Pity (for Death) is hidden from My eyes." (Hos. 13:14). When the apostle Paul wrote about our resurrection in Christ (1 Cor. 15:51-55), he quoted these verses from Hosea, adding "Death is swallowed up in victory." which he repeated from Isaiah. However, the seeds of it all were planted in Shuvah, return. Our way of return to our Father, and resurrection, or Shuvah revival from death, is Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life (Jn. 14:1-7). In another reading from this week's sabbath in Micah 7, we can read about the far-reaching effects of Shuvah return. The prophet saw the condition of the people: "The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net...Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, like those who glean vintage grapes; (but) there is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires." (Micah 7:2, 1). The prophet described these terrible things that he saw, and the resulting lack of the first fruits that signify the favor and provision of God for His people, which would include the first fruits of the resurrection, Jesus (see 1 Cor. 15:20). The prophet then turned to the LORD and said with his mouth: "Therefore I will look (sapa - look well, keep watch, lean forward and peer into the distance, to shine, to be bright, to overlay with gold and silver) to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me...'Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage...as in days of old...Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?' He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue (kabas - bring into bondage, tread down, conquer and subjugate) our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. 'You will give truth to Jacob, and mercy to Abraham, which You have sworn to our fathers from days of old." (Micah 7:7, 14, 18-20). In Malachi 3, the LORD said to His people: "Return (shub - see above) to Me, and I will return (shub) to you." (Mal. 3:7). We can see clearly here that Shuvah return is reciprocal, rather than a one-way activity. His people weren't even aware of how far they had drifted from the LORD, and had to ask Him (Mal. 3:7, 13). After explaining how they had departed from Him as revealed in their tithes, offerings and their words, the LORD promised this if they returned: "And try Me now in this...if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes...And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land', says the LORD of hosts." (Mal. 3:8-12). Even a book of remembrance will be written before the LORD "for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. 'They shall be mine', says the LORD of hosts..." (v. 16-17). Here is a "magical" Shuvah transformation from Isaiah: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return (shub) to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon...For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands...And it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." (Isa. 55:7, 12-13). Even creation experiences the magic of a Shuvah return according to Isaiah's prophecy. Isaiah wrote that a Shuvah return is so magical, that the resulting effects in the earth will be an everlasting sign to all. It is always wise to enter into the Shuvah return to the LORD that is traditionally observed during the ten days between the Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement, and not ignore the opportunity. Why would we not want to return, especially in these perilous times, considering the power, blessing, and "magic" found in the return of God's people to Him? If you would like to enter into a Shuvah return to the LORD, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, I am returning to You. So many things have pulled my eyes off of You, and pulled my heart away from You. I recognize the sin in my life, and confess it in my return to You. You gave Your Son as my Shuvah Return, as my Atonement, and as my Sacrifice for my sin. I declare with the words and saying of my lips that You are my Father, my Shepherd, my Reviver, and my Restorer. You have saved me, and revived me from death to life and health. As I return to You, LORD, pour out Your Shuvah blessing and "magic" upon the earth, so that all nations and all creation may see it, and that it may be to You 'for a name, and an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off'. You are an 'amazing, extraordinary, superlative, unparalleled' God! I return to You in Jesus' name, AMEN."