The Feast of Trumpets, also called Rosh Hashanah (The head of the year) on the civil calendar, along with the other fall feasts of the LORD, is described in Lev. 23. It is to be observed on the first day of the seventh month. All are to come together in a holy assembly, and the day is to be treated as a Sabbath. Trumpets, or shofars (ram's horns), are to be blown in one long blast called a tekillah (listen above), as a memorial to the LORD (v. 23-25). This single long blast proclaims the Kingship of the LORD, and His crowning. When we hear this sound, it reminds us to crown the LORD as King in our own hearts and lives.
Earthly rulers come and go, and their power ultimately corrupts them. They rule to benefit themselves and the state at the expense of the people. Even King David, called a man after God's own heart, used his position as king to number the people, and to take another man's wife. To cover up his adultery, David used his kingly authority to send the husband, his loyal servant and soldier, to that man's death on the front lines of battle.
God's reign as King, on the other hand, is to benefit His people and all of creation. He rules as a Servant, as a Father, and as Justice for those who would never see justice otherwise. Those around us should be able to see this Kingship of God through His Kingship in our own lives.
Many Christians do not understand the significance of observing the feasts of Israel. Jesus, and the New Covenant in His blood, are not separated from the fall feasts, but rather, are the fulfillment of them. These feasts are a pattern on earth of the heavenly:
"...we have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the LORD pitched, and not man." Earthly priests "... serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." Heb. 8:1-5 excerpt
From His position of power and Kingly authority in that heavenly tabernacle, Jesus is the mediator of an even better covenant (v. 6). He ascended to this position at the right hand of majesty "far above all heavens, that He might fill all things." (Eph. 4:10)
We can see Christ fulfilling the other fall feasts, as well.
The three wailing shofar blasts called shevarim (listen above), blown on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, represent the sobbing of hearts in repentance, and the desire to be reconnected, or reconciled, back to God. This is a day to afflict the soul, as well as a day of fasting. It is a Sabbath. (Lev. 23:26-32).
Jesus fulfills this feast as He is our reconciliation with the Father, and calls us to a ministry of the same reconciliation (2 Chron. 29:24, Ez. 45:15, Heb. 2:17):
Jesus fulfills this feast as He is our reconciliation with the Father, and calls us to a ministry of the same reconciliation (2 Chron. 29:24, Ez. 45:15, Heb. 2:17):
"And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." 2 Cor. 5:18-19
Like David's repentant cry, the cry of our hearts should be:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. 51:10
Like David's repentant cry, the cry of our hearts should be:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Ps. 51:10
The shofar call of the Day of Atonement is a call to examine ourselves, judging ourselves that we are not judged and condemned (1 Cor. 11, 28-31-32), to grow up into Him, our Atonement, Christ (Eph. 4:13, 15).
The nine quick shofar blasts of the third fall feast, the Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkot, are called teruah (listen above).The rabbis refer to these blasts as a "spiritual alarm clock" to awaken us from spiritual slumber.
Jesus taught the same idea as He told the parable of the ten virgins. He said that while all slumbered and slept, the awakening cry went out, "The bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." (Mt. 25:5-6). We are to be prepared, and to make ourselves ready, for this awakening call of our Bridegroom as He takes us into His tabernacle, to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Jesus taught the same idea as He told the parable of the ten virgins. He said that while all slumbered and slept, the awakening cry went out, "The bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." (Mt. 25:5-6). We are to be prepared, and to make ourselves ready, for this awakening call of our Bridegroom as He takes us into His tabernacle, to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
On this holy convocation of the Feast of Tabernacles, which lasts seven days, we are to build booths out of the greenery of goodly trees to remember how God provided tabernacles, or tents, for His presence, and for His people in the wilderness after He brought them out of Egypt (Lev. 23:33-44). He was with them every step of the journey.
The New Covenant tabernacle of God, and of our dwelling, is described:
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself, shall be with them, and be their God." Rev. 21:3 (Lev. 26:11-12)
The fall feasts, like the spring feasts, are not limited to the Old Covenant, nor only to the Law of Moses. They are a pattern and shadow of the work of the Father and His Son in heaven, and in each one of us in earth. "Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.".
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