Shana Tova!

God established the feasts when he brought Israel out of Egypt.  He called them the feasts of the Lord.  Jesus celebrated the feast when he walked among us as a man.  I desire to understand their significance for me.

“The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: “These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.”  Leviticus 23:1

I intended to start my study of the feasts with Passover as it was the first feast the Lord established.  God has different ideas.  A friend reminds that it is the beginning of the Feasts of  Trumpets and another tells of a service where they will celebrate. 

We sound the shofar when we begin our day.  

Two youngest and I enter the building to the greetings, “Shana Tova!” (meaning “a good year”).  “The Feast of Trumpets is the first of the fall feasts. The Jewish people call this feast Rosh Hashanah, which literally means "Head of the Year," and it is observed as the start of the civil year (the religious year starts with Passover) on the Jewish calendar.” It is the beginning of the “Days of Awe” a time of introspection and repentance before the Lord.   These Days of Awe end with Yom Kipper, the Day of Atonement, one of the most holy days of all.

Leviticus 23:23-24, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation.”

Numbers 29:1, “And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no manner of servile work; it is a day of blowing the horn unto you.”

We listen as music and prayers are lifted in both Hebrew and English.  Princess daughter remarks, “It is prettier with they sing in Hebrew.”  The prayers speak to God’s faithfulness and call his people to remember all he has done on their behalf. 

Throughout the service the shofar is sounded.   Five line the back of the sanctuary holding their shofar, ready to blow at the appropriate time.  When they begin their blasts these verses come to my mind and are quoted in the service,

“According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

Joy explodes within me and I am encouraged not only by the music and words but also by the sounding of the shofar. 

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”  2 Peter 3:8-10

I leave feeling like it is a new year.  Something inside has been stirred and my eyes focus a little more clearly on the heavens. 

Are you ready for Jesus return?

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The Feasts of Trumpets began on the evening of September 8, 2010.  This is the period of the Days of Awe which will end with Yom Kippur on September 18, 2010. 

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