Blessings for the Hebrew Month of Tammuz
Tammuz—The Fourth Month of the Hebrew Year 5783 June 20–July 18, 2023
Shining by Declaring
We know that this fourth month (see historical sketch below) is a time to be watchful. On the other hand, we are always to be watchful. Also, just as much as we are to be watchful, God wants us to shine. He wants us full of joy and confidence.
I’m amazed at the negative example of King Saul. The prophet Samuel anointed Saul to be king. Samuel told Saul that he would meet prophets and would himself prophesy and be changed into another man. All of that happened. In fact, Saul’s prophesying was so strong that people thought he too had become a prophet (see 1 Sam. 10:11–12).
But what happened? Instead of openly sharing this amazing testimony with those around him, Saul kept silent. He didn’t even tell his family. He missed out on the surge of faith and confidence that comes when we confess/declare what God has done for us. His silence led to the beginnings of doubt and an obsession with the need for more “confirmations.” Instead of being present when the new king was chosen, he hid among the supplies (see 1 Sam. 10:22).
Let’s not be that way. Let’s boldly keep declaring the goodness and power of God. Keep testifying. Keep breaking Satan’s power and overcoming him with the word of our testimony (see Rev. 12:11).
Historical Sketch
One of the intriguing days of this month is Tammuz 17 (July 6), which marks the beginning of the three weeks known as the “dire straits.” These “dire straits” end on Av 9 (July 27), the date the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 423 BC—and then the second Temple destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.
Tammuz 17 is forty days after Moses ascended Mount Sinai at the first Pentecost (Shavuot). He came down the mountain and then broke the stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments had been written because the people had made a golden calf and were worshiping it. It was also on Tammuz 17 that the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Babylonians, and again by the Romans hundreds of years later in 70 AD.
So traditionally, Tammuz 17 is a day to be watchful. But we do it with shining and joy!
The Month of Tammuz
1. A month to see and establish the brilliance of your righteousness. Even when negative things happen, we can shine brighter and brighter through praise and declaration. See Isaiah 58:8 [1], Psalm 112:4 [2], and Daniel 12:3 [3]. Note that Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians during this month (see Jeremiah 39:2) [4], a very negative thing. However in this same month, Ezekiel also saw the glory of God (Ezek. 1:1) [5]. Believe to see the glory of God. Remember that we have just come through Pentecost, which has to do with words that we speak. God wants us to declare His truth, His gospel, and His power. As we do so, the more He confirms with signs and wonders and miracles (Heb. 2:4) [6]. Remember this whole decade of the 5780s is linked with proclaiming and declaring. Let’s shine in what we say! Declare, “I choose the boldness to make positive declarations!”
2. A month to make choices so we fulfill our potential. The month of the tribe of Reuben. He lost his inheritance as firstborn. Reuben is an example of someone with great potential who didn’t deal with his basic issues and failed to excel. The Lord wants to deal with blind spots and other unresolved issues so we can spring ahead. Genesis 49:3–4 describes Reuben as follows: “Beginning of power; excellence and dignity; unstable as water” [7]. Declare, “Lord, I will keep declaring your goodness and what you are doing in me. You will take care of my blind spots!”
3. A month to shine through our worship. Worship even when there are delays. God wants us to really shine this month, and one of the ways will be through worship. Ask the Lord to take your worship to a new level. Note that Moses’s face glowed after being with the Lord. Also notice that the people worshiped the golden calf (Exod. 32:1) [8] because they couldn’t accept delay. Therefore, thank God for any delay and keep worshiping Him. As we submit to Him in worship, He also brings issues in our lives into submission. Also note that God has given praise to us as a horn or weapon (Ps. 148:14 [9]). Declare, “Lord, no matter what situation I find myself in, I choose to declare that you have an answer.”
4. A month to either accept your calling or to speak an evil report of who you are. We have a choice of which it will be. People fall into negativity because they don’t know how to speak out who they are. You must like yourself. If you don’t, then there’s something about the Lord that you don’t like. Look at past prophecies of who you are and declare them during this month. They will be like seeds you sow which will bring a great harvest in late September/early October (Feast of Tabernacles). Declare, “Lord, I am your child. You have called me. You have a greater destiny for me than I imagine and the time is now.”
5. The month of the letter chet [ח], which means “light radiating from your eyes.” The devil tries to put this light out. Chet is also tied to the number “8,” which signifies new beginnings; it also is referred to as the letter of “life,” but can also mean “sin.” Through this letter, God is showing us that we can, and must, choose correctly so we don’t fall into negativity. See Isaiah 42:6 [10] and Revelation 1:14 [11]. Declare, “Lord your fire is burning in me. It’s your fire inside me that causes my eyes to shine with your light and life.”
6. The “filmstrip” month. Take time to look at yourself. If you keep going the way you are, how will you end up? Therefore, stop and make any necessary adjustments. Ask the Lord to show you how you might end up if you aren’t careful to walk with Him. Declare, “Lord, you are faithful to show all areas that need to change and you will reveal them at a time when I can successfully deal with them.”
7. The month where we must allow ourselves to be soft and vulnerable to the Lord. This month is linked with the constellation of the crab. Our shell must be removed so that we are vulnerable. If you don’t allow yourself to be vulnerable, you will become hardened and won’t be able to enter into the next stage of growth. Ask the Lord to remove any hardness or shell from you. Declare, “Lord, when adversity arises, I choose not to be stubborn and withdraw, but instead will quickly look to you.”
8. A month to guard your heart—what you feel and think, as well as your eyes—what you allow yourself to see. “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse” (Deut. 11:26). See also Deuteronomy 30:15, which states, “I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” Declare, “I choose life.”
9. The month of the right hand—the aligning covenant. See Song of Solomon 5:2–12. Remember your covenants—the right hand has to do with covenants and relationships. Ask the Lord for a new level of intimacy with Him. We have just come through the month of Pentecost, which was about aligning. Now watch for those the Lord brings to align with you to move you ahead into your destiny. Declare, “The more I come into intimacy/friendship with the Lord, the better my covenants with people will be.”
(This material comes from my 2006 notes taken from a series of lectures [on CD] given by Chuck Pierce [Glory of Zion]. I highly recommend his website for more materials and more in-depth explanations. —Ron Sawka)
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References
[1] “Then your light will shine like the sunrise; your restoration will quickly arrive; your godly behavior will go before you, and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard” (Isa. 58:8).
[2] “In the darkness a light shines for the godly, for each one who is merciful, compassionate, and just” (Ps. 112:4).
[3] “But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever” (Dan. 12:3).
[4] “It lasted until the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year. On that day they broke through the city walls” (Jer. 39:2).
[5] “In the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was among the exiles at the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw a divine vision” (Ezek. 1:1).
[6] “While God confirmed their witness with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will” (Heb. 2:4).
[7] “Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength, outstanding in dignity, outstanding in power. You are destructive like water and will not excel, for you got on your father’s bed, then you defiled it—he got on my couch!” (Gen. 49:3–4).
[8] “When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, ‘Get up, make us gods that will go before us. As for this fellow Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him!’” (Exod. 32:1).
[9] “And He has exalted the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints—of the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Praise the Lord!” (Ps. 148:14).
[10] “I, the Lord, officially commission you; I take hold of your hand. I protect you and make you a covenant mediator for people, and a light to the nations” (Isa. 42:6).
[111] “His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and his eyes were like a fiery flame” (Rev. 1:14).