ROSH
CHODESH
Rosh Chodesh (head of the month) or for us the
beginning of a new month was a very important festival in Israel and a
significant event on the Jewish calendar.
According to Jewish custom ‘the sanctifying’ of the New Moon was the first
commandment given to Israel (Exodus 12:1, 2) after being delivered out of
Egypt. The Jewish calendar being lunar (of
the moon) was how all Jewish holydays and festivals were determined. It was very important that that the new moon
be declared every month to determine the date of Israel’s festivals.
The first time that the waxing crescent (new) of the
Moon is visible from Jerusalem marks the beginning of Rosh Chodesh (head of the
month). The moon disappears into
blackness at the end of each month and the reappears and grows into its
fullness beginning in the new month. The
moon changing from darkness to light is symbolic of our salvation and
deliverance. The disappearing and
reappearing of the moon are symbolic of renewal and blessings from the Lord.
The word for month ‘chodesh’ is etymologically related to ‘chadash’ which means
‘new’. Rosh Chodesh teaches us that we
can have new beginnings, fresh anointings, restoration and abundant blessings
because of the goodness of God.
We have just left the month of September which is
Tishrei on the Jewish calendar. The
month of Tishrei is related with the tribe of Ephraim which means ‘fruitfulness
in affliction’. Ephraim was a son of
Joseph who received “a double portion inheritance” teaching us that even in our
afflictions God can bless and prosper us.
October which is Cheshvan on the Jewish calendar is tied to the tribe of
Manasseh who was Ephraim’s older brother whose name means ‘I will forget’. These two names are indicative of the
redemptive plan God had for their father Joseph. In this case one child is connected to
letting go of the past and the other child with moving into the future! That is
the theme of Rosh Chodesh, moving with faith and expectation for glorious
things in the new month.
Rosh Chodesh is an expression of the ‘first fruits’
principle. In life there is something very
special about the ‘first’! The best way to honor God is to give Him the first
of everything! So at the beginning of the month celebrate by doing some of the
following:
- Have a meal with your family or life group
- Ask the Lord to show you someone to bless
- Give the first time of the day to Jesus by prayer or reading
- Declare that good and glorious blessing are coming to you this month
- Celebrate the joy of new beginnings!
