Days of Awe (Ten Days of Intentional Prayer) from Yom Teruah to Yom Kippur (Intro to Gate series)

Yom Teruah, Day of Trumpets,  is observed on the first day of the seventh Biblical month.  This is in the fall usually in the month of September.  This year it was on September 17th, 2023. Ten days after Yom Teruah is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, also called the Time of Teshuva.  It is a Jewish tradition to observe what is called the Days of Awe between these two appointed times.  Sadly this is often observed by many in a very unBiblical way.  But, I see in scripture that we are called to “remember” during these days.  When we read the passages in scripture in regards to Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, we see a call to remember, what Yehovah has done, and says He will do, we see a call to remember the cost of our sin, we see a call to remember our need for repentance and redemption.  Leviticus 23, Numbers 29, Deuteronomy 31-32, Nehemiah 8, Ezra 3, Joel 2, Isaiah 58, Matthew 24, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessalonians 4, Revelation 11, are a few of many passages that I have considered in how and what we should do during the days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur.

The Days of Awe are not a Biblical counting of days, nor is it in scripture anywhere.  But it is a Jewish tradition.  Before I observed the Biblical Feasts, I observed the traditional Christian/Catholic holidays.  When I grew up I was taught about Lent and Advent.  The Days of Awe would be similar to these holidays.   My family when I was a child, didn’t always observe Lent or Advent, but sometimes we did.  We recognized these were not necessary or commanded holidays.  But sometimes we liked to just take these days and really be intentional to pray and meditate on God’s Word, and to search our hearts.  For me as an adult now that is how I feel about the days between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur.  There is NO commandment to observe these days, but there is something special about setting these days aside to be intentional in prayer.  But since there is controversy about these days being pagan rooted, I choose to call them Ten Days of Prayer.

There are many prayer books, and devotionals written specifically for these 10 days.  I have enjoyed several, and sometimes I have just made up my own.  This year, I am using a book I found online. 10 Days at Ten Gates

Some times these days are also called the Time of Teshuva.  Typically, teshuva is translated from the Hebrew as repentance, but it literally means return, as if turning back to something you’ve strayed or looked away from.  So this is a time to turn our hearts and mind towards our Creator and Redeemer.

If you have never observed a set apart time for repentance, or ten days of intentional prayer between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur then this is a great year to give it a try.  I will be posting each day during these ten days, so feel free to join me here.  All you have to do to be intentional in prayer during this season is remember our Creator, Redeemer, and our need for Repentance.

May Yehovah God bless us all as we seek Him.

Shalom

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Written by ktmom15

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