Day of Trumpets - Yom Teruah
- Yom Teruah is the first fall feast – it marks the start of the fall feast season. “Yom” means day and “Teruah” means “to make a loud noise,” which is why Yom Teruah is also called the “Day of Trumpets” or even “Day of Shouting.”
- This year, it falls Sundown September 27 (Tuesday) to sundown September 28, 2022 (Wednesday)
- Honestly, there’s not a ton about it in the bible, but let’s check it out!
Head of the Year - Rosh Hashana
- The Jewish New Year (despite Ex 12:2)
- Held that this was the day God began creation, the day Adam was created, the day Solomon was born, and the day the first temple was dedicated
- This verbiage didn’t appear in the bible and arrives until the Mishna cirq. 200 A.D.
Origin
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The Bible tells us it is a memorial of the blowing of trumpets, a day of remembrance for when God shouted down the 10 commandments (which occurred on Pentecost)
- Ex 19:16-20
On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
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Heralds the Messiah’s second coming in prophecy
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Kicks off the “10 days of awe” or “time of repentance” (a time of seeking recompense with your neighbor and God) - a time of introspection
- The Jews believe that this period of time falls between when the Books are written (on day of trumpets) and when they are decreed (day of atonement). They hold that your actions here can alter the decree
- As Christians, this is a reminder that even if we change at the last minute, there is always salvation on the table
- Believed that the first day is when “the books” are written, for the judgement to be passed on the 10th day
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When Israel first came back into the land, post-captivity, they were fully settled by the 7th month. On the Day of Trumpets, Ezra (the priest) brought forth the Law of Moses and read it before all from morning to night (Nehemiah 8:1-6)
In the Bible
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Leviticus 23:23-25
And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall present a food offering to the Lord.”
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Numbers 29:1-6
On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets, and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the Lord: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the ram, and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you; besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its grain offering, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offering, according to the rule for them, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord.
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During the feast, the people would bring various offerings to the Lord. In Numbers 29:1-6, we read about these offerings
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Stop work and remember the Lord
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First day of the seventh month and you were to present a fire offering to the Lord
What Does It Mean?
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It falls on the first day of the month, a day no one can know
- Hebrew culture in the bible followed and astrological and agricultural calendar
- That is, the month started on the sighting of a new moon and the year started when barley was nearly ready to harvest (for use during Passover 2 weeks into the year)
- A lunar month is about 29.5 days, however, since the moon had to be visible the month could end after 28, 29, or 30 days, depending on weather conditions and when the ending month began
- As a result of the shortness of days in a month the Jews, even today, occasionally hold a second-twelfth (some would say a thirteenth) month (Adar Bet, which would be something like “December pt2”) to “reset” for the harvest at Passover
- Nerdy note: our months are based on the Julian calendar which was more closely aligned to this. Things only shifted away when we swapped to the Gregorian calendar and added days to catch up to the sun; that’s why September, root meaning seven, is our ninth month and October, root meaning eight, is our tenth month, etc
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Since we don’t know for sure when the first sliver of the new moon will be sighted, we have to be completely ready for Yom Teruah before it comes
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It’s a rehearsal for the ultimate Yom Teruah when Jesus returns (Zechariah 9:14-16, 1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
Lord God will sound the trumpet and will march forth. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed
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Col 2:16-17
Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ
Question
Should we celebrate? Yes and no. Like we talked about last week, there’s no real requirement for a Christian to keep this feast. We already have the only sacrifice we’ll ever need. However, it’s a time that God has marked in his calendar to “Meet with the kids” (moed = appointment) and it serves as a good time to draw closer to God through introspection and repentance, reflect on the past year, and revel in Jesus’s return. While that should be celebrated year round, just like Christmas or Easter, the feasts serve as marked times to lean into the message. Likewise, it’s a dedicated time to give to the LORD. In Jewish custom - though rarely practiced today - some would purchase a bird and wave it over their heads for the 10 days of awe, slaughter it, and give it to the needy on the 10th day. Taking that into today’s context, consider setting aside a portion of money and donating it on the Day of Atonement. Regardless of how it’s celebrated, we can take the call to action in Numbers as a sign that we should always give God our best and acknowledge Him. He will always accept a cheerful sacrifice, whatever that looks like.