Today we celebrate the Feast of Trumpets (Yom T’ruah, Rosh Hashanah). Leviticus 23:23-25
The Bible only names this feast as the “Day of Blowing,” specifically the blowing of the shofar and the silver trumpet. The shofar and the silver trumpet seem to be used interchangeably in the Old Testament.
- New Moon feast in Numbers 10:1-2,10
- New Moon feast in Psalm 81:3
God likes the blowing of the trumpet over grand occasions.
- At the giving of the Law (Exodus 19:19)
- At the conquest of Jericho (Joshua 6:20)
- Assembly for war (Judges 3:27, II Samuel 20:1)
- Warning of danger (Amos 3:6 , Jeremiah 6:1, Ezekiel 33:6)
- Start of the Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9)
- At “trumpets”, a rest, holy convocation, and a time for special offerings
- Honoring the new king’s ascension to throne (I Kings 34:39)
- Signal the time of ingathering of the exiles (Isaiah 27:13)
- Coming of Messiah (Zechariah 9:14, I Thessalonians 4:16-17)
- Honoring God (Psalm 47:5)
Everytime you see or hear a shofar remember God’s provision of a ram for Abraham and Isaac. Genesis 22:1-14
The Gemara, a commentary on Judaism’s oral law shows Jewish tradition for this feast. In this tradition, God has three books that are opened on this feast day:
- One book for the completely righteous – their name is immediately inscribed in the book of life.
- One book for the completely wicked – their name is immediately inscribed in the book of death.
- One book for the average person – their name is held in suspension from this feast until the Day of Atonement (10 days following).
The Jewish greeting during the Feast of Trumpets is “May your name be inscribed in the book.”
The Jewish tradition is that one’s name is inscribed in the book through intentional, complete, and sincere repentance.
Another Father led his only begotten Son up the same mountains of Moriah. Father God led His Son, Jesus, up Moriah’s mountains as the sacrifice for the sin of all humanity.
Genesis 22:14’s prophesy finds it’s fulfillment in the death of Jesus.
Repentance, in both the Old and New Testaments, is the grand occasion the feast of trumpets celebrates.
Notice the flow of the three feasts (today and the next two Sundays).
- Repentance The Feast of Trumpets
- Atonement The Day of Atonement
- Presence The Feast of Tabernacles
This is God’s ministry flow for His people: Repentance, Atonement, Presence.
Consider the view of repentance presented in Psalm 32.
- Be honest about my need for repentance. Psalm 32:2
- Acknowledge the danger of sin and the damage of guilt. Psalm 32:3-4
- Confess my sin fully. Psalm 32:5
- Hide in God. Psalm 32:5-7
- Seize the hope. Psalm 32:11
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-repent-5-steps
God reveals, in Revelation 20:11-15, that the Jewish tradition of books in heaven is true.
In both Old and New Testament times, one’s name is written in God’s book through the blood atonement applied in repentance!
Listen – My Story
- Do you like the sound of various trumpets?
- Are you comfortable with feasts, festivals, and celebrations? If so, what is your favorite?
Lift – Prayer
- Please pray for each person in your group who is practicing repentance today.
- Please pray for those interested in traveling to Texas for flood relief work.
- Please pray for the Children’s Ministry Center in Iraq.
- Please pray for Pastor Philippe’s safe travel to Anchorage this week.
Learn – Digging Deeper
- Read Genesis 22:1-18. How many similarities do you find between Abraham/Isaac on the mountains of Moriah and Father God/Jesus on the mountains of Moriah? (God is AMAZING!)
- Read Genesis 22:14. What did God provide on Isaac’s mountain. Read John 1:29. What did God provide on Jesus’ mountain?
- Review the Five Steps of Repentance from Psalm 32. Which steps are the most challenging for you? Why?
Life – Taking it Home
- In response to this teaching, what action steps do you need to make this week?
- Are you taking the appropriate steps of repentance?