Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year) began last Wednesday at sundown, September 8, 2010 which turned Tishri 1, 5771 on the Hebrew calendar. Keep in mind the Jewish day always begins at nightfall. (Gen 1:5b, “And the evening and the morning were the first day”)
The Feast of Trumpets (also called Rosh Hashanah or Yom Teruah) begins by the blowing of trumpets (shofars or rams horns). There are 100 blasts of the shofar:
- Tekiah blast“- awakening sound, one long blast (3 second)
- Shevarim, “broken”- three shorter ones- weeping, lamenting, broken heart
- Teruah, “alarm”, nine quick blasts in short succession (totaling 3 seconds)
- These series are blown 11 times for a total of 99 blasts
- After that, the final blast is knows as Tekiah Hagodolah, “great blast” or “THE LAST TRUMP”! (minimum of 10 seconds)
Rosh Hashanah began 10 Days of Awe that will end on Yom Kippur, Day of Atonement that begins at nightfall Friday evening, September 17, which begins Tishri 10 on the Hebraic calendar. Yom Kippur ends the 40 days of Teshuvah (repentance, turning back to God). For 40 days they have been reading aloud Psalm 27, as they make a Chuppah (canopy or covenant covering) over themselves and their loved one. They have also been making restitution to those who they have harmed, giving to the poor and doing acts of kindness. (things we should do daily, but neglect)
At the time of the blowing of the trumpets on Rosh Hashanah, it is believed by the observing Jewish people that these blasts are heard in heaven and 3 books are opened. Malachi 3:16, “Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (17) “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels.* And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him. (18) Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.” (Also see Revelation 20:12)
- Book of the Righteous sealed with the seal of God who would immediately be written for good life the next year (Revelation 3:5)
- Book of the Unrighteous, who would be judged during the year; the totally unrighteous whose names are blotted out.(Ps 69:28)
- Book of the Intermediate, those who are not completely righteous or wicked. They would have until the Day of Atonement to make restitution and get right with God or they would not be in the Book of Life. (Joel 3:14)
L’Shanah Tovah Tikatevu
Literal Hebrew to English Translation: “May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year.” This traditional Rosh HaShanah greeting wishes others a good year and is often shorted to “Shanah Tovah” (Good Year).
Years ago, the Rabbis realized that Ha’Satan (The Accuser) actually has the numberical value of the Hebrew letters of 364. They believed that there was one day that Ha’satan did not have access to them, The Day of Atonement which is the day when the blood was put on the Mercy Seat on the Holy of Holies for the sins of the nation.
As a believer, I am spending the Days of Awe praying for our nation, the nation of Israel and for the Jewish people to find Jesus as their Messiah.
Ezekiel 22:30, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.”
How many is our LORD going to find this year? Are you one of those who stand in the gap?
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