Dear Global Christian Warriors,
During this Feast of Tabernacles on the eighth day we are told to have a "holy convocation." This is a solemn assembly to experience His gift of repentance. May you experience this blessing! One account gives the timing to begin Tuesday evening, October 18 through October 19.
Please join me and others to spend time with the LORD, putting an axe to any roots which impede your path to His Purity. Then replace that false filter, that stronghold, with His Holy Word as your Way forward.
This is a summary by one of our sisters, Carla Joy Clements of Visual Story Bible Ministries:
TUESDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 18, 2022
A ‘Joel 2’ type repentance Tuesday night, October 18, 2022 at sunset*.
Gather, pray and cry out for God’s mercy throughout the night.
It is an Appointed Time on God’s Biblical Calendar.
AN APPOINTED TIME FOR REPENTANCE ~ Joel 1:14 & Joel 2:15
“Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly [atzerah] for the day of the LORD is near” (Joel 1:14-15). A time to wail, mourn, spend the night in sackcloth and ask God for mercy. “Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly [atzerah], gather the people… weep… and say, ‘Spare Your people, O LORD’” (Joel 2:15. 17).
FEAST OF TABERNACLES & ATZERAH
The word ‘atzerah’ is used to define a specific Solemn Assembly at the end of Feast of Tabernacles. The LORD tells His people to celebrate “Feast of Booths for seven days … On the eighth day… have a holy convocation… it is an assembly [atzerah]” (Leviticus 23:34-36). There is great rejoicing, feasting, eating and drinking during the Feast. Then God wants His people to stop the celebration and shut everything down for the 8th day Solemn Assembly Atzerah. This Appointed Time of God is a rehearsal and “shadow of what is to come” (Colossians 2:17). Although the 8th day is part of the Feast of Tabernacles, it is NOT a day of celebration and it is NOT a day of rejoicing.
The Hebrew word ‘atzerah’ comes from the root word ‘atzar’ (Strong’s H6113) which means to stop, restrain, shut up, or close. This combination of celebration and solemn assembly reminds us “the day of the LORD is great and very terrible” (Joel 2:11). It is a living picture showing both great and terrible. Great (feasting/rejoicing) and terrible (solemn/His judgment). It recalls both the kindness and severity of God.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES & ATZERAH ~ Numbers 29
“You shall observe a feast to the LORD for seven days… On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly [atzerah]; you shall do no laborious work” (Numbers 29:12, 35). This Appointed Time is its’ own sabbath day. This 8th day Atzerah is defined as a no work day ~ a high holy day, a sabbath.
FEAST OF TABERNACLES & ATZERAH ~ 2 Chronicles 7
King Solomon dedicated the Temple during Feast of Tabernacles. The glory of the LORD filled the House of God so powerfully that the priest could not stand (2 Chronicles 5:14). “Solomon observed the Feast [of Tabernacles] at that time for seven days…on the eighth day they held a solemn assembly (atzerah)” (2 Chronicles 7:8-9). We see the pattern God established. They celebrated seven days, then had a Solemn Assembly Atzerah on the 8th day.
FEAST OF TAERNACLES & ATZERAH ~ Nehemiah8
God’s people had been in captivity in Babylon for the past 70 years because they had not been willing to walk in God’s ways. They had not given the Land its’ Sabbath rest (2Chronicles 36:20-21; Jeremiah 25:11). Now, they were back in the Promised Land willing to obey God. As Ezra read, they heard how God commanded through Moses that the sons of Israel should celebrate Feast of Tabernacles and live in booths during the seventh month. “They celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly [atzerah] according to the ordinance” (Nehemiah 8:17-18).
THE SOLEMN ASSEMBLY GOD’S WORD OF WARNING ~ Isaiah
It is not enough for God’s people to come together and repent if hearts are not truly broken over sin and injustice. “They have revolted against Me… people weighted down with iniquity… They have abandoned the LORD… the whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint” (Isaiah 1-5). The city has become “a harlot… rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe” (Isaiah 1:21-23).
Isaiah, the prophet, is sent to proclaim this message from God to His rebellious people, “I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly (atzerah)… even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen because your hands are covered with blood” (Isaiah 1:13-15). It is God’s heart cry for His people to come back to Him. “Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18). The LORD’s intent is for us to repent so that we can be cleansed to serve Him and walk in obedience to Him and correctly reflect Him.
REMISSION OF DEBTS
FEAST OF TABERNACLES
“At the end of every seven years,
at the time of the year of the remission of debts,
at the Feast of Booths” (Deuteronomy 31:10).
Could it be the remission of debts is proclaimed every seven years on the 8th day Solemn Assembly Atzerah of the Feast of Tabernacles? Many believe we are at the end of the seventh year, the Shemitah year, on God’s Calendar.
FEAST OF TABERNCLES & ATZERAH ~ John 7-10
The book of John gives great insight into Feast of Tabernacles. Looking closely, we see “the Festival of the Jews was near, the Festival of Booths [Tabernacles]” (John 7:2). On the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, the seventh day, the apostle John notes: “Now on the last day, the great day of the Feast, Jesus stood and cried, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me… from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water’… this He spoke of the Spirit” (John 7:37).
Scripture notes after the Feast of Tabernacles, “everyone went to his home” (John 7:53). On the next day, the 8th day Solemn Assembly Atzerah, Messiah returns. “Early in the morning He came again into the Temple… and He sat down to teach them” (John 8:2). The woman caught in adultery was brought to Jesus (John 8:3). Jesus said, “He who is without sin… throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). There were no witnesses left to condemn her. Jesus alone was left to be the Judge and offers her mercy. This 8th day is a day to ask Him for mercy. “Return to Me with all our heart, with fasting, weeping… rend your heart… Who knows whether He will turn and relent and leave a blessing” (Joel 2:14). What a picture of our status today. It is not only Israel who is an adulterous woman! Gentiles also play the harlot and commit adultery with pagan idols and commit acts of immorality (Revelation 2:14). “God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all” (Romans 11:32).
ASSEMBLY ATZERAH ~ Jeremiah 9
“For all of them are adulterers, an assembly (atzerah) of treacherous men… Lies and not truth prevail in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil” (Jeremiah 9:2-5). It is terrible. Do you think this sounds like our situation today? Here is what the LORD of hosts says, “Call for the mourning women… send for the wailing women. Let them make haste and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may shed tears… Now hear the word of the LORD, O you women… teach your daughters wailing… for death has come up through our windows; it has entered our palaces to cut off the children from the streets” (Jeremiah 9:17-21).
FEAST OF TABERANCLES
THE GLORY OF GOD’S PRESENCE
When the manifest glory of God increases, the level of agreement must increase. There is a plumb line from heaven being put in our midst. God’s people must get lined up with Him for their own safety. “I am the LORD, that is My name. I will not give My glory to another; Nor My praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). God is jealous of His glory and He does not change His standards. If His people do not have greater agreement with Him, then there is going to be trouble.
Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17-18). God is calling His people to holiness and purity. God wants His people to be vessels of His glory, giving a correct reflection and estimate of who He is. God is calling His people to repentance.
*Date set according to new moon sighting in Israel
Carla Joy Clements
Visual Story Bible Ministries
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To strengthen your own times of repentance, do you want to find others also repenting near where you live, to join you in prayer? Please email us for information, pastorjeff@repentday.com. And please use our repentance materials on our website, www.repentday.com, and join us in our several weekly repentance calls, including a powerful 2 hour Africa Kneels zoom call on Thursdays. Email us for that information.
Do you see repentance as vital for our times? To our knowledge National Day of Repentance is the only Christian ministry focusing solely on personal and national repentance in every nation and applying it in our lives.
No church, no denomination supports us, only YOU! Though we work as volunteers, costs and requests for food pour in each day far beyond our capacity to fulfill these requests.
In Luke 8:3 we see three women who understood the mighty move of God in front of them and wished to provide "from their substance." The Lord Jesus tells us in John 14:12 that he who believes in Him will do greater works for the Kingdom because He is now with the Father. We believe this move of His Gift of Repentance, now bursting forth in Africa, is such a work.
Would you please pray for us? And then give from a cheerful heart as the Lord leads? THANK YOU!--whatever amount you give, we pray that you'll receive a blessing--- 2 Corinthians 8: 2-4 and Luke 8:3--- and Fruit that will abound to your spiritual account, Philippians 4:17.
God bless you.
Pastor Jeff Daly
National Day of Repentance
pastorjeff@repentday.com
you tube channel: national day of repentance
National Day of Repentance is a 501c3 tax exempt nonprofit organization
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