Blow those trumpets.
The seventh month in the Hebrew calendar is Tishri. The Days of Awe or the High
Holy Days, includes Feast of Trumpets; the month of Elul (prior to Tishri); and
Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, ten days after the Feast of Trumpets. The
month of Elul is a time of preparation for atonement, a time of introspection
and inspection. This year the Hebrew New Year, also called Feast of Trumpets or
Rosh Hashanah, which is also considered a judgment day, is on September 17-18,
2012. It actually began at sunset on September 16th.
Blow those trumpets.
God commanded the Israelites to blow their trumpets. Typically the shofar horn
or trumpet is blown every morning during the month of Elul, except on Shabbat. This
is to wake people up to the coming judgment. Numbers 10:10 states: Also in the day of your gladness and in your
appointed feasts, and on the first days of your months, you shall blow the
trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace
offerings; and they shall be as a reminder of you before your God. I am the Lord
your God. (NASB) God is Lord and King—He is the center of this feast—the center
of life and judgment. As King he would be coroneted, as other kings and this
often occurred in the fall.
Blow those trumpets.
Have a holy convocation or sacred assembly. This would occur in the synagogue
rather than in homes. The celebration would focus on the God and King who is
creator and would continue to renew his creation. This commemoration of the birthday
of the world is intertwined with God judging all living beings creating a
period of repentance. That is what is occurring in this Days of Awe—personally looking
into our hearts to see what we’ve done in our lives in this past year—and what
we need to change to improve our lives in the coming year. Although this is a
public convocation, it has personal time, too. So during Elul the Israelites
took time for inspecting their lives. Now celebrate the New Year with foods
like apples dipped in honey to remind us of the sweet life we desire for the
coming year. Feast on festive foods and on the Word of God, our creator and
judge.
God of Heaven and Earth—be merciful to us in
your judgment.
© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
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