Not “ROSH HASHANNA” Adapted from Eddie Chumney‘s book
THE BIBLE gives us appointed times where GOD wants to meet with his people. The Set-Apart time are going to talk about today is YOM TERUAH, BLASTING OF SHOFARS. This day is also part of a subset of feasts, the FALL FEASTS, THAT directly connect to HIS second coming, WHEREAS the spring feasts tell us something about his first coming AND plan to be a propitiation or sin-offering for the sins of mankind.
Why this Feast?
YAHWEH has always had a heart to warn people before He proclaims judgment. YAHWEH warned the people before the flood, and He warned Nineveh before it was ruined. He does not want anyone to receive the wrath of His judgment (Ezekiel [Yechezekel] 18:21-23,30-32; Zephaniah 2:1-3; 33:1-7; 2 Peter 3:9).
THIS day is references in Leviticus 23
The Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. 25 Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’
Leviticus 23
Yom Teruah is a day of rest and blowing of Shofars. The hebrew word used here is זִכְר֥וֹן which means a memorial, remembrance reminder or a sign.
Are we told to blow trumpets because God wants us to remember something? And if so, what is it that God wants us to remember? Or, is the Day of Trumpets used to blow and shout to get God’s attention, so that he remembers HIS people?
-for example: Jericho was an obstacle that was preventing the people from entering the holy land
Joshua was told that the priests were to circle the great walled city Jericho AND blow the shofars for six days. SO, Joshua had the armed men march around the city once each day, for six days. The priests were to carry the ark, blowing trumpets, but the soldiers were to keep silent. Joshua was also to Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. At the End on the seventh day, the people were to give a great unified shout!
But Joshua had commanded the people, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!”11So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.12Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.13The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the LORD and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding.14So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.15On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.16The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, “Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. ………. and Verse 20 .. “So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”
Joshua 6:11-16, 20
Perhaps both views can be correct.
Which ever way we look at this, The bible also tells of how God always loudly proclaims his impending judgement upon a people. He never wants people to be caught unaware of what HE intends to do. AND it can be a good reminder during trials and tribulations that GOD has not forgotten his people or the fact that HE PLANS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WICKEDNESS ON THE EARTH, something that can be an encouragement when his people undergo tribulation.
“But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. 22 None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. 23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?” –
Ezekiel [Yechezekel] 18:21-23
“Therefore, I will judge each person according to his conduct, O house of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and turn from all your wickedness; then it will not be an obstacle leading to iniquity. 31 Throw away all your sins you have committed and fashion yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I take no delight in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent and live!
Ezekiel [Yechezekel] 18:30-32
Bunch yourselves together like straw, you undesirable nation,
Zephaniah 2:1-3
before God’s decree becomes reality[c] and the day of opportunity disappears like windblown chaff,
before the Lord’s raging anger overtakes you—
before the day of the Lord’s angry judgment overtakes you!
3 Seek the Lord’s favor, all you humble people of the land who have obeyed his commands!
Strive to do what is right! Strive to be humble!
Maybe you will be protected on the day of the Lord’s angry judgment.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
This (Yom Teruah/Feast of trumpets) is also a prophetic feast that points to the return of the messiah!
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who [j]are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep [k]through Jesus. 15For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive [l]and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [m]shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18Therefore, [n]comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessolonians 4:13-18
NOTICE he comes with a shout and the sound of a trumpet! Trumpets were always used to sound a battle cry, and we know that when Messiah returns HE will come with an army too :
And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2 Thessolonians 2:8
A The Rider on a White Horse and sword of his mouth, consuming the adversaries of God
11Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13He is clothed in a robe dipped inb blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rulec them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:11-16
Why must we shout and blow trumpets and why must we repent?
Because we want the Father to remembers us!
40 “But if cthey confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they dcommitted against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their euncircumcised heart is fhumbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will gremember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will hremember the land.
Leviticus 26:40-42
ENCOURAGEMENT: what happens if we repent and humble ourselves before GOD?
14 They shouted out their oath of loyalty to the Lord with trumpets blaring and rams’ horns sounding. 15 All in Judah were happy about this covenant, for they had entered into it with all their heart. They earnestly sought after God, and they found him. And the Lord gave them rest from their enemies on every side.
2 Chronicles 15:14-15
IN CONCLUSION, Yom Teruah is a
- DAY OF SEEKING THE FATHER
- DAY OF REST
- DAY OF BLOWING TRUMPETS
- DAY OF SHOUTING TO THE LORD
addendum – Why do the Jews celebrate something called Rosh Hashanna? Here is a quote from a newspaper (ha’aretz in their own country :
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, the day the Hebrew calendar begins. But that wasn’t always the case.
In fact, the ancient Hebrews probably had no concept of when the year started at all. Nor did they give the months names: the Torah merely enumerating them – “the first month”, “the seventh month.”
Nowadays we celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the first day of the fall month of Tishrei. But in biblical times, that period was explicitly called “the seventh month”. During the First Temple period (8th to mid-6th century BCE), the year began in the spring, on the first day of Nisan.
Also, when listing the holidays, the Bible always starts with the spring holiday of Passover, in the seventh month – Nisan.
God tells us when the new year begins, and its isnt based on some babylonian civil calendar
Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month is the beginning of months for you; it shall be the first month of your year. Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man must select a lamba for his family, one per household. If the household is too small for a whole lamb, they are to share with the nearest neighbor based on the number of people, and apportion the lamb accordingly.
Exodus 12:1 PASSOVER. AVIV , BARLEY HARVEST BUDS APPEARING
Hebrew Messianic Israel 