The High Holy Days are Here!!
“These are the appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts’” Lev 23:2, NIV.
The Festival of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah): Numbers 29:1-6.
§ 1 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets.
§ 2 As an aroma pleasing to the LORD, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.
§ 3 With the bull, offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah[a] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths[b];
§ 4 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.[c]
§ 5 Include one male goat as a sin offering[d] to make atonement for you.
§ 6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the LORD, a pleasing aroma.”
Many Americans use January 1, New Year’s Day, as a time to plan a better life, making “resolutions.” However, those who closely follow the Bible do not look at “resolutions” as a one-day evaluation/decision. During the month of Elul (the month before Rosh Hashanah), we have focused on our spiritual life, God’s love for us, His attributes of mercy, and our love for Him. This period has helped to ready us to meet the Lord on the High Holy Days.
The season of Teshuvah & spiritual preparation is drawing to a close as we are quickly approaching Rosh Hashanah (beginning Sept 24) and Yom Kippur (beginning Oct 3). Can we even count the ways during this brief 4 weeks that the Lord has gently shown us, individually, His love and His desire for us; His desire for us to re-align of our spiritual direction. He has revealed areas where we each need to ‘tighten up our walks before Him’. Hasn’t this been an amazing experience??!! Stretching, yes; but good, because we know in Whose hands we have entrusted our lives.
Rosh Hashanah begins the day after the month of Elul finishes. The shofar (ram’s horn or trumpet) is blown on Rosh Hashanah to herald the High Holy Days. It is blown to awaken those who are spiritually sleeping and calls worshippers to turn to God. It also announces that a great event is about to take place.
Within this three-week period there are three major Biblical festivals!
- Rosh Hashanah (aka Feast of Trumpets; Lev. 23:23; Num. 29:1- 6; which begins Wednesday evening, 9/24/2014),
- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement; which begin Friday evening, 10/3/2014),
- Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles or Booths; which begins Wednesday evening, 10/8/2014).
God’s Holy Days are an integral part of His calendar.
This year, we are again going to have exciting time during these days! Last year the Lord met us in amazing ways – let’s get ready for what the He is going to do this year!!! Come to each of the Festivals with expectancy in your heart!
Exercise: greet one another with “Shanah tova!” Happy New Year!
Footnotes:
- Numbers 29:3 That is, probably about 11 pounds or about 5 kilograms; also in verses 9 and 14
- Numbers 29:3 That is, probably about 7 pounds or about 3.2 kilograms; also in verses 9 and 14
- Numbers 29:4 That is, probably about 3 1/2 pounds or about 1.6 kilograms; also in verses 10 and 15
- Numbers 29:5 Or purification offering; also elsewhere in this chapter
Prayer:
“Glorious Father! The month of Elul has been a great experience – thank You for having helped us prepare spiritually for Your festivals. We come with expectancy in our hearts – thank You for loving us even more than we can imagine – even more than we love ourselves. Bless each intercessor with favor in the work place – help us to be blessings to our co-workers. Bless our children and families. Help them to know You and to walk in Your ways. Be with our soldiers – thank You for their voluntary service. Heal the sick among us. Bring Your peace to J’lem. Protect the persecuted church in the Middle East.Turn our country back to You. In Your most holy Name, B’shem Yeshua, we pray, Amen”,.”
