Feast of Trumpets

A very brief description of Feast of Trumpets

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."
(Leviticus 23: 23-25)

Some would think this a good feast to begin our study, because the Hebrew Civil calendar celebrates the new year at the same time, but really, I see this feast more as the finale’ – like turning to the last page of the book before reading the first chapter; however, chronologically, it is the next feast coming up: the first day of the seventh Biblical month, Teshrei, which falls on September 23, 2006 for us Westerners. So after wrestling with this issue, I have decided to both begin and end the study of feasts with Trumpets, so you will see it again, and then you will understand what I’m talking about. Till then, trust me, and be patient! It is worth the wait!

Yom Truach means day of blasting. On the first day of the seventh month, both trumpets and shofars (rams horns) are blown throughout the day to celebrate this feast. (I love it, because I am a trumpeter!) When Abraham took Isaac to the mountain, a ram was provided as sacrifice because of his faith and obedience. Shofars are made from rams horns. (It takes a little getting used to blowing a shofar. They don’t smell so great, but they make a marvelous sound!)

Numbers 10:1-10 gives instructions to make two trumpets of silver, and describes reasons to blow them:

• to announce a sacred assembly


• to sound an alarm for battle


• to honor God as a memorial at feasts and times of rejoicing

There are numerous illustrations throughout the Bible of the enactment of trumpets in these ways. Following is just one example for each:

• In Exodus 19: 16-20, the Lord had Moses assemble the people as a sacred assembly at the foot of the mountain. As God descends in fire and smoke upon the mountain, trumpets blasted. (vs 16 & 19) {I’m thinking these trumpets were blown by angels}.
  
• Perhaps the most well known for sounding the trumpet in battle is Joshua 6 when the trumpets sounded (v 20) and the people shouted and the walls of Jericho came down.
  
• King David wrote of praising God with the trumpet at feasts and times of rejoicing in His goodness, {along with singing and dancing!} (Psalm 47; 81;150) (I love it!)

The trumpet was also used by the Groom to announce his approaching arrival to his waiting Bride so she would be ready when he came to take her to their wedding. We will discuss this in much greater detail when we revisit this feast and it will amaze you what an absolutely beautiful picture this is of the return of our Lord, Who has gone to prepare a place for His Church Bride ( John 14:2-3) and will sound His arrival for Her with a loud trumpet! (Matthew 24: 30-31; I Thessalonians 4:1-18; I Corinthians 15).

Rosh Ha Shana is a civil holiday. It means “head-of-the-year.” occurring on the first and second days of Teshrei, causing it to coincide with the Feast of Trumpets. {For this reason, many people do not recognize any difference between the two and miss out on the full meaning of Trumpets}. Rosh Ha Shana is the civil new year’s day. The Biblical new year is the first month at Passover.

Perhaps this time is chosen for the civil new year because of the events in Nehemiah 8 when the people were gathered on the first day of the seventh month to hear the book of the law which had not been read for some time, thus re-instituting it, along with the feasts, to their lives and culture.

Though there is feasting for Rosh Ha Shana, it is also a time to reflect and examine one’s life before God as one begins a new year. The ten days from Feast of Trumpets to the Day of Atonement are known as the “Days of Awe.” During this time God's people are called to self-examination, repentance, and restoration.

Of course, every feast has its traditional feast foods. A few can be found at:

http://judaism.about.com/od/roshhashanarecipes/