The Command to Guard the Month of the Aviv

First Day of the Month of the Aviv and the head of the Biblical New Year–Rosh Hashanah; Month of Nisan in Jewish circles.

We must first understand what it is we’re guarding. Why is it important? What it’s composed of.

We find in Exodus that the month of the Abib is the start of the biblical year for us; the head of the year; Rosh Hashanah:

” This month (Hebrew=chodesh; also new moon) shall be unto you the beginning of months (Hebrew=Rosh chodeshiym=months or seasons); it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Exodus 12:2; KJV).

Abba commanded us to:

“Observe (Hebrew=shamar; to keep; to guard) the month of Abib and keep (Hebrew=asah; to do) the  passover (Hebrew=pesach) unto YHVH, thy Elohim: for in the month of Abib YHVH thy Elohim brought thee forth out of Egypt by night” (Devariym 16:1; KJV).

The Aviv state of the barley is central to the start of the Biblical Month of Aviv

How to Guard the Month of the Aviv 

So how should we keep the Month of the Aviv? (See our post on observing and guarding the month aviv.) First order of business is to prepare:

• Pray and consider maybe a day or two of fasting in preparation for receiving the upcoming Spring Feasts of YHVH. Getting in the right frame of Spirit and mind is essential for the upcoming Holy Days to be as meaningful as they possibly can be for us.
• Start cleaning out the leaven from our homes.
• Purchase unleavened bread products, in particular matzah.
• Arrange for the time off from work for the first and last day of Unleavened Bread.
• Hosting celebrations might be a little challenging this year given the situation the world is facing now with the Coronavirus pandemic. But generally we would look to having at the very least a commemorationof what is typically referred to in Christian circles as the Last Supper. Some prefer to commemorate the time with a traditional Jewish Seder or formal dinner. So planning is something we might want to begin right now.
• First Fruits is generally the time-framewhen we send financial support to those ministries that feed us. So it may be something to begin praying about. 

Both calendars are in sync for the month of Aviv (aka Nisan)

• Passover–4/8/2020–This year again falls on Wednesday  (Judaism keeps 2 Passovers–add 4/9/2020)
• Feast of Unleavened Bread–4/9–15/2020
• Day of Firstfruits–4/12/2020 (Sunday–1st Day of the Week)
• We begin the count to Shavuot on the Day of Firstfruits. (Judaism begins the count towards Shavuot this year on Day 2 of what they call Passover which would actually be day 2 of FUB for us.)

The difference being that Shavuot or Pentecost will occur at 2 opposing times on our calendars: For us Shavuot will be Sunday, 5/31/2020; for the Jewish Calendar it will be Thursday, 5/29/2020.

It is important to know when the count towards Shavuot begins so one will keep it on the correct day–Thursday or Sunday.

Closing Thoughts and Reflections

We have the opportunity during these difficult times which happens to be occurring during the Month of the Aviv, to make the most of this Spring Feast season. Many of us are sheltering in place in our homes in what many see as self-quarantine. So instead of focusing on the situation that the world seems to be obsessed by these days, let us use the time to get closer to Yah as we recognize that which Yeshua did for us; the elimination of sin from our lives; and the work of the Ruach HaKodesh operating in our lives.

Be joyous yet solemn. Sound the shofar. Meditate. Pray without ceasing. Study every passage related to the history and instructions YHVH gave us for Passover and study the Passion story. Ensure we look at this thing from a Yeshua-focused perspective while being obedient in our keeping of the Spring Feasts.

Shalom and Blessings