Why Day of Trumpets is Important

Why Day of Trumpets is Important

The Founded in Truth Fellowship welcomes its community to delve into the significance of a special day in the biblical calendar: the Feast of Trumpets, also known as Yom Teruah and Rosh Hashanah. This day, explained by Matthew Vander Els, is not merely a religious observance but a profound memorial with implications for understanding God, history, and our present lives.

The speaker highlights that the Feast of Trumpets is one of the seven biblical feasts mentioned in the Bible, each designed to remind Israel of specific aspects of God, serve as a memorial, or reinstitute formal worship. These feasts, referred to as "biblical feasts of the Lord" in Leviticus 23, are crucial for understanding the context and message of the Bible.

Before the advent of written languages, stories were the primary means of passing down history and traditions. The biblical feasts, in this context, serve as recurring narratives, telling the story of God's interactions with humanity across generations. Just as Passover retells the story of God's deliverance from slavery in Egypt, emphasizing a greater exodus from sin and death through Yeshua (Jesus), so too does the Feast of Trumpets carry a significant story.

Other feasts like Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits (Yom HaBikarim), and Shavuot (Pentecost) also function as memorials of God's acts and provisions. Yom Teruah, or Rosh Hashanah, stands as a memorial with a forward-looking aspect, marking the beginning of the agricultural new year with the early rains. This season signifies a new cycle of God's promised blessings. Furthermore, Yom Teruah serves as a reminder that God remains on His throne, regardless of worldly circumstances. It is also a day to reflect on God's justice and our actions in the past year.

Interestingly, the biblical accounts in Leviticus 23 and Numbers 29 offer relatively few specific details about the observance of Yom Teruah compared to other feasts like Passover, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. While other feasts have extensive chapters dedicated to their practices, Yom Teruah is described concisely as a "memorial of trumpets," a day for meditation and remembrance of who God is. It is also known as a day of shouting or clamor (teruah), occurring on the first day of the seventh month, a time for gathering, ceasing regular work, and making a loud noise by blowing trumpets and shouting.

Various theories exist regarding the primary purpose of Yom Teruah. One Jewish scholar, Baruch Levine, suggested its sole purpose was to announce the upcoming Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot), which occurs two weeks later. While seemingly minimal, this highlights the idea of Yom Teruah as a proclamation of something significant. The number seven holds biblical significance, and the feast's commencement on the seventh new moon of the year further underscores its importance.

The sounding of the trumpet (shofar) is central to Yom Teruah. In Exodus 19, the trumpet blast at Mount Sinai signaled the people of Israel to consecrate themselves and approach God. Thus, the trumpet represents a signal of drawing near to God. Historically, Yom Teruah occurs at the end of the hot, dry summer in Israel, a time when vegetation withers. Pagan cultures in the region had myths, such as the cycle of Tammuz, to explain this seasonal die-off and renewal. In contrast, Israel's fall feasts, including Yom Teruah, celebrated Yahweh as their provider and king during this season of renewal when the land begins to turn green again. The blowing of trumpets proclaimed God's enduring kingship.

Over time, Jewish tradition has associated Yom Teruah with themes of God's kingship and judgment, including the belief that the Book of Life is opened on this day. These themes, while not explicitly detailed in the initial biblical mentions, naturally evolved from the understanding of Yom Teruah as a proclamation of God's sovereignty and a signal to prepare for the subsequent Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) and the Feast of Tabernacles.

Yom Teruah serves as a crucial reminder that God is in control. In a world often filled with distractions, the "memorial of clamor" is meant to refocus our attention on the King who already reigns. As believers, our primary allegiance is to the kingdom of heaven (Philippians 3:20). We are called to be ambassadors of this kingdom while living in the present world. The example of early Christians during a plague in the Roman Empire illustrates this principle. Despite persecution, they cared for the sick, even their enemies, demonstrating the love and mercy of Yeshua in a time of crisis. This historical account serves as a challenge to believers today to rise above the divisions and hatred of the world and reflect God's character.

Psalm 81 is seen as attesting to the significance of this feast day, referred to as the day of shouting that occurs on the new moon. While the psalm begins with the theme of Yom Teruah, it also recounts Israel's redemption from Egypt and their subsequent turning away from God. By the first century AD, Yom Teruah had become associated with approaching the king, the king's coming, times of judgment, and enthronement. Philo of Alexandria described it as the "great trumpet feast," linking it to the trumpet sound at Mount Sinai and interpreting the trumpet as a symbol of war and a thank-offering to God, the peacemaker.

Today, the observance of Yom Teruah involves a community coming together in worship, giving a shout to the Lord, and blowing the shofar. This practice signifies the beginning of a season of change, both communally and individually. It is a time to reflect on the past year and look forward to what God has prepared, with the understanding that God's kingship remains constant.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Refocus on God's Kingship: Take time to consciously acknowledge God's sovereignty in all aspects of your life, especially when worldly events or personal struggles seem overwhelming.
• Reflect and Repent: Use this time as an opportunity for introspection, considering your actions over the past year and seeking reconciliation with God.
• Proclaim Your Allegiance: Remember that your primary citizenship is in the kingdom of heaven, and let your words and actions reflect this allegiance above earthly political or social divisions.
• Be an Ambassador of Love and Mercy: Inspired by the example of early Christians, actively seek opportunities to show kindness, compassion, and grace to others, even those who may hold opposing views or be considered enemies.
• Listen for God's Call: Just as the trumpet at Sinai signaled a drawing near to God, be attentive to God's voice and direction in your life.
• Anticipate Future Redemption: Hold onto the hope of God's ultimate redemption and the return of Yeshua, symbolized by the final trumpet blast.
• Drive Away Distractions: Use the "clamor" of this day as a reminder to intentionally remove distractions that pull your focus away from God and His kingdom.

References

• Leviticus 23
• Numbers 29
• Exodus 19
• Philippians 3:20

Resources Mentioned

• The Bible

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