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Today is the first day of the tenth month on the Biblical calendar. The festival of Hanukkah continues for a few more nights in the first part of this month as Jews all over the world remember the re-consecration of God's Temple in Jerusalem in the days of the Maccabees.
On this day, the waters of Noah's flood receded enough that the mountain tops became visible again. Noah continued to wait in the Ark which was resting on Mount Ararat.
In this month, Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. On the very same day, God told Ezekiel, who was exiled in Babylon, not to mourn over the death of his wife as a sign that the Temple would be destroyed and they would not be able to mourn. Three years later, it was in this month that Jerusalem was struck down and Ezekiel's tongue was loosed after a prolonged period of muteness. Ezekiel also prophesied in this month about Egypt's destruction and downfall due to their being a faulty ally to Israel.
In this month, the returned exiles under Ezra's leadership sat down to investigate the matter of intermarriage with pagans and determine an orderly course of action for sending away the pagan wives and children.
It was also in this month that Esther was first presented to the King and was chosen to become his wife. In time, her status and favor with the King positioned her to become the deliverer of the Jewish people in her generation.
The prophet Zechariah proclaimed that the fast of the tenth month which commemorated Jerusalem's downfall would become a day of feasting and gladness. Therefore, he encouraged the people to love truth and peace.
Since Babylonian exile, this month has been called Tevet which means "goodness."
This is a month for looking to the new things that God has in store and not looking back or mourning the past (consider Lot's wife.) Therefore, in Jesus' name, may the goodness of the Lord fill you with His grace to follow Him completely. May He position you for every good work He has prepared for you, and may you step into the purity required for the joyful season ahead.
Shalom and love,
Wendy
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