AV: Pursue and Press Through

The Hebrew month of AV begins tomorrow (July 26, 2025). Av is considered the most difficult of the year. It begins in the third week of the dire straits (the narrow place), and the difficulty culminates on the ninth of Av (August 3, 2025), which is a fast day.

The ninth of Av is a dark day in Jewish history; here are just a few examples why; the ten spies brought back a negative report of the ninth of AV, the First and Second Temple were destroyed, the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 on the ninth of AV, and in 2005 Israel gave up their right to Gaza, and we see where that has led.

Av was not supposed to be a negative month; it should have been the month Israel entered the Promised Land. While there can be negative things that happen this month, God primarily wants it to be a time of advancement and discernment in our lives.

Ephesians 5:16 instructs us to redeem the time, for the days are evil. There is coming a day when God will restore unto Israel all that has been destroyed (Joel 2). We can learn valuable lessons from Israel’s mistakes, as well as from our own, which helps us move forward in life.

1 Corintians 10:1-13 KJV “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

This is a month to overcome every test and trial, to be led in victory, and to begin walking in the promises of God in areas where we haven’t been.

Think back to the twelve spies; they all saw the same thing, but ten focused on what they thought they couldn’t overcome, while Joshua and Caleb focused on the bounty of the land that God had promised them. Ten men looked at the natural, two men saw with the eyes of faith, and those two men got to enter the land. When it came time for Caleb to inherit the promise, he said he was as strong at eighty-five as he was when he was forty-five¹, talk about blessing!

Look at David as a young man; he defied Goliath while others hid. Why? Because he understood covenant, he knew the uncircumcised Philistine had no covenant with God and could not win.

The enemy wants us in fear; he wants us to see the negative and to meditate on the negative. Let’s look at what Scripture says about meditation:

Joshua 1:8 KJV “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Psalm 119:9-11 AMPC “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to it]. 10 With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or willfully] from Your commandments. 11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Jesus said in Luke 6:45, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Proverbs 4:20-23 KJV ” My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Our meditation doesn’t begin with the brain; it starts with the heart. Revelation 3:20 says that Jesus stands at the door and knocks. The first thing we must realize is that this verse is not an altar call for salvation. Jesus is speaking to the Church. Secondly, it is the door of our hearts.

Don’t let the enemy overtake you. Not this month, not any month. Don’t give fear, doubt, worry, or negativity a place in your mind. Remember Philippians 4:8 KJV “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

You can be victorious! Look at Joshua and Caleb. Look at Joseph and Job, and all they went through; yet they never allowed themselves to be moved from trusting in God. But more than all of those examples, look to Jesus!

Hebrews 12:1-6 AMPC “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds. 4 You have not yet struggled and fought agonizingly against sin, nor have you yet resisted and withstood to the point of pouring out your [own] blood. 5 And have you [completely] forgotten the divine word of appeal and encouragement in which you are reasoned with and addressed as sons? My son, do not think lightly or scorn to submit to the correction and discipline of the Lord, nor lose courage and give up and faint when you are reproved or corrected by Him; 6 For the Lord corrects and disciplines everyone whom He loves, and He punishes, even scourges, every son whom He accepts and welcomes to His heart and cherishes.” Verse eleven says, ” For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems grievous and painful; but afterwards it yields a peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it [a harvest of fruit which consists in righteousness—in conformity to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action, resulting in right living and right standing with God].”

Let the Holy Spirit speak to you through these words. How do you need to prepare to push through Av and be victorious as you enter the month of Elul and prepare for the High Holidays?

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1. Joshua 14:10

Resources to Understand the Hebrew Months and Holy Days

*The Book of Our Heritage – The Jewish Year and Its Days of Significance: Eliyahu Kitov

*A Time to Advance – Understanding the Significance of the Hebrew Tribes and Months: Pierce/Heidler

*The Jewish Publication Society Holiday Anthology Series