Today’s Topic: Feast of Trumpets
Scripture: Leviticus 23:24-25
Greetings Kingdom Citizens
The Feast of Trumpets, according to the Lord happens in the seventh month (Tishri) on the first day (Tishri 1). This feast is celebrated by the blowing of trumpets. But the trumpets the scripture is referring to is called the Shofar. It is a “trumpet” made from a ram’s horn. The Feast of Trumpets in Israel is known as Rosh Hashanah and I introduced you to this holiday in our previous series called the “End of the Age/Return of the Lord”. But what we will do today is talk a little about this holiday and in the next message talk about what it means for the saints.
The word Rosh Hashanah means “head of the year”. Now you may say well is not the first month of the Jewish year Abib (Nisan)? It is but remember in Israel you have two different year running at the same time. You have the Ecclesiastical year starting with the month of Abib (Nisan) but you also have the Civil year that starts with Tishri, which is the seventh month of Ecclesiastical calendar.
Rosh Hashanah is the first of the autumn feasts. Now remember that in autumn is the time that the plentiful and largest harvest is cultivated and Rosh Hashanah starts what the Jews call “The Days of Awe” and the High Holy days. This is a very solemn feast beacuse watchfulness was a main ingredient to this feast because they would look to the skies for the new moon to appear signaling the beginning of the New Year. In addition, the people of Israel considers their sins before God and enters a period of repentance and asking of forgiveness from God those one has harmed and of restitution. In addition for this holiday there was to be a holy convocation (assembly) for the blowing of the Shofar.
I want to take some time and really explain why this is called the Feast of Trumpets and why this Shofar is blown. The blowing of a shofar is very common back in that time. The blowing of the shofar means three things:
1. A Warning of Danger
2. Calling of a Holy Assembly
3. The Arrival of a King
Now the shofar is blown in three different but distinct ways:
1. Teruah: 9 quick blasts in short succession
2. Shevarim: 3 medium wailing sounds
3. Tekiah: One long, straight blast
Now the last climatic blast on the shofar is called the Teki’at Shofar is one long blast and it is the signaling of good news and victory. It is the last blast that is referred to as the last trump.
Now I have told you much about the Jewish customs to this feast and like all of the feasts they are prophetic of something to be revealed. In the next message we will look at Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets) and what it means for the saints. You do not want to miss this.
At the Father’s Service,
Elder Calvin Calhoun Jr.
