The Sounding of the Shofar preview for September 20-22,2017

(updated from September  2015 by Freda Reynolds)

This year RoshHashanah will begin on September 21,2017

Leviticus 23:23-25 “The Festival of Trumpets²³ The Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. On the first day of the appointed month in early autumn,^[e] you are to observe a day of complete rest. It will be an official day for holy assembly, a day commemorated with loud blasts of a trumpet. ²⁵ You must do no ordinary work on that day. Instead, you are to present special gifts to the Lord.”

The Shofar is to be blown by two witnesses who see the new crescent moon rising on the 1st of Tishri. The feast of trumpets begins on the first day of the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. (Numbers 29:1) “Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall do no laborious work.  It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets,“

So why is this of any importance to us as Christians?   Because it is part of our heritage. We cannot forget that our Christian faith came to us from a Jewish lineage.  Judeo-Christian both are part of who we are. Once we have become a part of the kingdom of God, we are born into the faith that came through the Jews.  

Now, why should we study the truth in scripture about the Feast of Israel?  We study because there are truths God wants to reveal to us.  We study to show ourselves approved unto God as workmen who should not be ashamed of the gospel.  All the gospel.  The feasts are part of that history and reveal shadows and truths of God’s plan throughout the ages.  When you study the feasts you find the next event of God’s calendar is the feast of Trumpets.  There are seven feasts: Passover when Christ died at Calvary, Unleavened bread when he was placed in the tomb for three days, First Fruits when Jesus rose from the grave and Pentecost when Jesus returned to heaven to prepare a room for his bride.  He will return at the appointed time.  The last three feasts will be at his return for His bride.  The feast of Trumpets when He comes to receive His bride, The Day of Atonement when He comes with His bride at the 2nd coming and the feast of Tabernacle when we rule and reign with Him in His kingdom. 

 

The shofar or ram’s horn (trumpet) is an important part of the celebration and is the most mentioned musical instrument in the bible. During this celebration, it is sounded with 100 blasts.  The first blast is a long continuous blast which is to sound the alarm.  Wake Up! Judgement is coming, today is the day to repent . Then there are 3 short blast followed by 9 quick blasts.  That is done 11 times making 99 blasts of the shofar. The last long blast is symbolic to the Jews as the Last Trump when Messiah will come.  The shofar or ram’s horn is blown to remind the people that judgment is coming. Amos 3:6 “When the shofar is blown in the city, don’t the people tremble?”  Symbolically, it is to awaken the slumbering ones.  The sound of the trumpet calls us to return to the Lord and seek His face. The sound of the trumpet about which Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:16 says, that “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then, we, who are still alive will be caught up (raptured) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so, we will always be with the Lord.”

There is much to study in God’s word; much more than we could cover here. There are deep treasures to be revealed by the Holy Spirit that will encourage and give us hope for the day.  

The feast of trumpets is a study that unveils the hope that one day we will hear the trumpet sound and we will in a twinkling of an eye be taken up to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus.

I find great hope in that thought.  

This poem is a reminder that God speaks to us.  He brought this in the very early morning hours of September 15, 2015 which was to be the 1st day of Tishrei.  A reminder to me that there is an urgency today to call people to awaken from our slumber and tremble at the thought that friends and neighbors need to hear that there is coming a day when Christ will return.  

I’m listening for a trumpet; are you???

 

Rosh Hashanah – The Feast  of Trumpets – Sept. 15, 2015 poem by Freda Reynolds

I’m listening for a trumpet
To call me safely home
It’s the blowing of the shofar.
To call God’s children home

I’m waiting for the Savior
Who’s prepared a home for me
He’ll call me from His heaven
To be with Him for all eternity

With eager expectation
I sense the time is near
Oh what joy there to behold
I’ll walk on streets of gold

Surrounded by such beauty
More perfect than was Eden
The colors there more splendid
In brilliance as always was intended

I’ll walk in cool of evening
I’m told there’s a crystal river                                    
Where the river of life is streaming       
That flows from the Throne of God

I’ll sing a song that’s new with music never heard
Such perfect melodies and harmonies on us will be conferred
Stirring new sensations from colors, sights and sound
The wonders of the heavens around us will abound

Our bodies renewed with strength and vigor given
Twill be glorified and driven by grace in His provision
The healing of our memories washed clean by Calvary
All sorrows wiped away no longer hold their mastery

What joy we have that’s coming
My heart and spirit cries  
Don’t miss this celebration
The calls’ to every nation

 

Just listen for the trumpet
It’s the blowing of the shofar
When God calls His children home

 

 

 

Freda Reynolds