So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. Esther 2:16
We have now entered the biblical month of Tevet(טֵבֵת in Hebrew), which is the tenth month of the biblical calendar, in the year of Ayin Tet. This month is a vital point in the year that represents a time to come into a new sphere of authority, a time to see what has been concealed and a time to subdue our carnal nature. We are in such an amazing time in history as God is restoring His glory to the church.
The month of Tevet is the first month of the winter season, which comprises of the three months of Tevet, Shevat and Adar. The three tribes corresponding to the months of winter are Dan, Asher and Naphtali; who in the desert encampment around the tabernacle were situated to the North. Their joint camp was known as the camp of Dan, whose name means “a judge”. Every year during the winter season we have an opportunity to subdue our carnal nature, see what we have not seen and allow Holy Spirit to empower us to judge all things correctly. This is so important because it allows us to finish this season of blessing well and position ourselves to begin a new cycle of God’s blessing again during Passover.
The winter season is also the time when we are most vulnerable from the enemy because he desires to be seated on the mount of the congregation on the sides of the north. Isaiah 14:12-13 says, “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”This reference to the sides of the north is directly related to the camp of Dan which was situated on the sides of the north. The alignment of the Dan, Asher and Naphtali is a representation of how the Lord establishes His glory as our rear guard.
The month of Tevet is linked with the Hebrew letter Ayin, which is the letter that represents the ten year season we are currently walking through. The letter Ayin takes the form of an eye or a well. This reveals the necessity to see clearly in order to judge with a sound mind and relates to our ability to move in revelation. The letter Ayin is also the number 70 which relates to coming out of captivity and being commissioned to do exploits. We must see what the enemy has tried to conceal from us and see how he is trying to position himself in the place of judgment. If we fail to do so then we find ourselves in battles we were not supposed to fight. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.”
Tevet is also linked with the Tribe of Dan, who was Jacob’s first son born to Bilhah Rachel’s handmaid and his fifth born son overall. When Dan was born Rachel said, “God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son”, as such his name means a judge. The root word for his name means to subdue or to judge. When Jacob blessed Dan he said, “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.”When Moses blessed Dan he said, “And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.”Dan was a mighty warrior but was also one given the ability to judge because he was filled with great wisdom.
It’s Time to Access Our New Place of Authority
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. Esther 2:16
I find the story of Esther to be very bitter sweet. Most times when we hear a message on Esther we hear about Haman being hung on his own gallows, about receiving half the kingdom as the king raises his scepter to us or being positioned for such a time as this. All of these aspects of her story are truly “sweet” but there is a risk to romanticize them and forget that she was kidnapped from her home and taken to the king’s palace against her will. This bitter beginning is what makes her testimony so wonderfully sweet.
When Esther was taken from her home against her will she could have responded with bitterness towards God and probably would have without Mordecai showing her how to view her circumstance. Mordecai skillfully revealed to her the wisdom she needed to walk through the process that God was leading her into. I do not believe that this was God’s perfect will for Esther or the Jewish people for that matter. But in the midst of captivity God found someone He could favor to reignite His plan to prosper His people. God’s perfect will was to prosper His people as they devoted their hearts and lives to Him. As they chose a different path, generations were led into captivity. This pattern is still alive and well all over the world.
I do however believe Esther would have become a queen alongside one of the kings of Israel if they had not gone into captivity because it was part of her redemptive promise. In this season we must view things from God’s perspective so we see the glory He is unveiling. There are times in our lives we find ourselves in circumstances that we did not choose, but God can prosper us anyway! There is grace available to empower us to prosper this month as we allow the Lord to renew our sight. This is needed so that we are able to look past the negative aspects of our lives and see His goodness working on our behalf. Even if we find ourselves taken captive by a circumstance we have no control over we have access to gain authority over it this month.
It’s Time to See what has Been Concealed
And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. Genesis 8:5
As I stated earlier, this month is linked with the Hebrew letter Ayin, which pictures an eye. This month represents a time to sharpen our vision so that we see what has been concealed. The powers of darkness operate in a way that conceals God’s truth which makes liberty seem inaccessible. This is how the occult works to hold entire cities and even nations captive under a veil of oppression. Remembering Esther’s story this was the way Haman devised his plan to destroy the Jewish people. He came to the king convincing him that having the Jews alive in his kingdom would not profit him. The truth that was concealed is that God had blessed the Jewish people and that the king could access God’s covenant blessing by aligning with them.
Seeing what has been concealed and revealing God’s covenant plan is a part of the miracle of the Hanukkah season. Just as when Jesus came there is a light shining in the midst of darkness but the darkness cannot comprehend it. If we are walking in the light as He is in the light then darkness cannot overtake us! In fact we have the ability to be beacons of hope shining through the darkness and revealing the light of God’s love to those who have not comprehended it. Because the Kingdom of Light dwells within us we are able to see what the enemy has concealed. This gives us the ability to deal with the darkness of this world. I would like to remind us here that the operation of the Kingdom functions through the gate of faith and love.
As we move through this month it is important that we move by revelation as there are weapons formed against us. The devil has a plan to place himself on our seat of judgment during this season and stop us from fully accessing our authority in days ahead. As Esther moved by revelation when it was revealed to her by Mordecai she was able to find favor with the king and stop the plans of the enemy. There is grace available to us this month to see what has been concealed as our senses are sharpened to discern good and evil. We can see by revelation the plans of the enemy and position ourselves correctly to unlock God’s redemptive plan for our lives.
It’s Time to Subdue Our Carnal Nature
And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter.And they made an end with all the men that had taken strange wives by the first day of the first month. Ezra 10:16-17
When Jacob blessed Dan he said, “Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.”Notice here that Jacob relates Dan’s ability to judge as a serpent by the way. I find it interesting that the devil is also called a serpent in the garden when he deceived mankind to receive his judgment on the matter of the tree of good and evil. This allows us to see that how we deal with the serpent this month either causes us to fall backward or to see the salvation of the Lord.
As a point of information, there is a teaching that comes from Jewish mysticism that links the liver with our ability to judge a matter correctly. It is said that the liver is angry because it produces heat as it cleanses the blood of impurities. Anger is a wonderful quality when its fire is ignited by injustice but it can be a snare that takes us captive if we allow a root of bitterness to form.
According to this teaching the serpent represents the state of immaturity of the soul found in our carnal nature. This immaturity is characterized by anger that is a result of sinful desires. As such the venom of the snake is hot like the fire of anger. The venom of anger can either paralyze us spiritually as it distorts our judgment or it can be converted into anti-venom that serves to counter act its deadly affects. Fasting helps us subdue our carnal nature and gain authority over the serpent as personified in tribe of Dan.
As such this is a good time to fast so that our spiritual eyes are sharpened. I know by experience that fasting sharpens our ability to see when it is coupled with daily prayer and devotion but this fact still remains a mystery to me. This can also be seen in the story of Esther as she and the Jews fasted for three days once Haman’s plans were revealed. She was getting ready to place herself in a life or death situation by going into the king’s chambers uninvited. Her fast reveals that she felt she needed to be sure she was addressing this matter with sound judgment. It would have been disastrous for her and those she had the ability to save if she had stomped into the king’s chambers infuriated that he had written the decree enabling the demise of the Jews.
There is enabling power available to us this month to subdue our carnal nature so that we address every matter the way Esther did; with sound judgment. This is highly significant because there are people waiting for you to gain victory of the plans of the enemy so they can walk in victory with you. We must be level headed and always react with wisdom by faith and love to fully capitalize on every opportunity. The apostle Paul said it this way in the book of Ephesians;
“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”Ephesians 5:6-16
I decree that you will see beyond every ploy of the enemy and see God’s plan working in the midst of every situation. I release the anointing to see this month. Be filled with grace to submit yourself to God and resist the devil so that he flees in Jesus name!