1 Yom Teruah - 5770 Scripture Readings Torah Bereshit 21:1-13, Sh mot 29:1-6 Haftarah 2 Kings 11, 2 Chronicles 5, Psalms 96, Psalms 98, Yeshi yahu 9:1-7, Nechemyah 8:2-10 Nazarene Codicil Mattiyahu 24:21-31, Mattiyahu 25:1-13, Luke 1:26-35, 1 Thess 4:13-18, Rev 8, 9, 10, 11, 19:1-16 Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Yisra el, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, it shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, and a holy convocation. (JPS Bible) This day is known as Yom Teruah it s actually called by several different names: Yom Teruah (Day of Shouting Blasts), Rosh Hashanah (Head of the Year), Yom Hazikaron (The Day of Remembering) and Yom Hadin (The Day of Judgment). Yom Teruah is the first of the Fall holy days and, according to HaShem s calendar, as with each new month, it is deduced by the sighting of the new moon. The new moon, for the most part, occurs every 29 days. In Yisra el, Members of the High Court assemble in a courtyard in Yerushalayim. They wait there to receive the testimonies of the appearance (or really the non-appearance) of the new moon from two trained and reliable witnesses. Once known, they then sanctify the new moon and separate each new month accordingly. According to Jewish tradition - because all new moons are sanctified by the Sanhedrin on the basis of the testimony of two witnesses, HaShem (G_d), and all His hosts of Heaven, must literally wait up to twenty-four hours for men to sanctify the new moon before He can come and judge us. In the case of Yom Teruah a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah, there is no mention in Scripture that there has to be a new moon sighting before one can celebrate this moed (The L_rd s Appointed Time) Sure, it s assumed because it s a new month but it doesn t state that a moon has to be seen. Scripture simple states, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month it shall be a solemn rest unto you, and a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns. Historically, there are several occurrences where two-evening periods pass before the sliver of the new moon is seen; technically, the new moon sighting is not the sighting of the moon at all if a sliver is sighted, it would then be day two of the new month. I hope that makes sense? There are many misunderstandings and sometimes confusion as it pertains to this holy day, for instance If the moon's crescent was seen the night when it was expected to be seen, then that month would have 29 days, and the new month would have begun the prior evening; if however, no new moon or no sliver was seen, then the declaration of the new month is held the next night or until a sliver of the moon is seen in the sky and that month would have 30 days?
Hebraically speaking, Yom Teruah, a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah, is the only one of the Feasts of the L_rd that it can be said, "No one knows about the day or the hour"; as a matter of fact, that is one of its names, The Day That No One Knows the Day or the Hour! This is why someone always has to be on watch for the new moon. Mattiyahu 25:13 Stay alert, because you do not know the day or the hour. Without knowing the Jewish culture or the Middle-Eastern culture, it is almost impossible to truly decipher Scriptures properly. There are many areas within Scripture that the Western mind, or the Western way of looking at things, could create something that isn t there, or totally miss something that is there! And this is a perfect example No one knows about that day or hour. Some Believer s would take that as a day when no one knows when Y shua is coming back! Ahhh, but the Hebraic mindset would recognize that clue as Yom Teruah, a.k.a. Rosh Hashanah!! As Believers, we re not supposed to be left out in the dark as to the things of the L_rd! When people think that way that s a bad interpretation of Scripture. Our Father in Heaven doesn t want us to be clueless; He wouldn t want us to be caught off-guard what kind of G_d is that? Why do you think He even tells us in Mattiyahu 25 to stay alert?! He s giving us a clue! Listen closely to what Rav Sha ul says. I Thessalonians 5:1-6 But you have no need to have anything written to you, brothers, about the times and dates when this will happen; because you yourselves know well that the Day of the L_rd will come like a thief in the night. When people are saying, "Everything is so peaceful and secure," then destruction will suddenly come upon them, the way labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there is no way they will escape. But you, brothers, are not in the dark, so that the Day should take you by surprise like a thief; for you are all people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We don't belong to the night or to darkness, so let's not be asleep, like the rest are; on the contrary, let us stay alert and sober. Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed. The command seems to be that we know the season and yet, we are to stay alert!! Yom Teruah is the ONLY moed that we do not know the day or the hour in which to keep it. Therefore, we have to be on the alert and watch closely for it! 2
3 A second interesting point about this holy day is that nowhere in scripture can you find an actual name of this day, that is, The 1st Day of the Seventh Month! Again, the day that no one knows the day. da.ber el-be.nei yis.ra.el le.mor ba.kho.desh ha.she.vi.i be.e.khad la.kho.desh yih.ye la.khem sha.ba.t zikh.ron te.ru.a mik.ra ko.desh. Teruah - Teruah is the Hebrew for Shouting or Blasts - Teruah is found in the KJV Bible, 36 times - It s translated as shout, shouting, alarm, sound, blowing, and joy. Hence, this moed is the Day of Sounding and/or Shouting for joy; specifically, the blowing of Trumpets and the Shofar! Oddly enough, not all things associated with this day are what one would consider joyful. Whenever the Scriptures speak of the Shofar and the sound it makes, it describes the sound as a shout or an alarm. Here is a list of some events where Scriptures indicate the Shofar was sounded: At the giving of the Torah to the people of Yisra el --Exodus 19:8,19 To announce the great Sabbatical year of release The Yovel Year --Leviticus 25:9 When Yisra el conquered Jericho -- Joshua 6:20 To assemble Yisra el during war -- Judges 3:27; 2 Samuel 20:1 To announce the ascension of a new king in Yisra el -- 1 Kings 34:39 To warn Yisra el of impending danger -- Amos 3:6; Jeremiah 6:1; Ezekiel 33:6 Here is a list of some events where Scriptures indicate the Shofar will be sounded: At the final ingathering of the exiles of Yisra el -- Isaiah 27:13 To announce G_d's miraculous end-time intervention to deliver the people of Yisra el Zech. 9:14 To herald the coming Messianic Age -- Matthew 24:29-31 At the Resurrection -- 1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 In connection with the coming of the King of Kings Messiah Y shua -- Revelation 11:15-18 There are many other references to the sound of the Trumpets and the Shofar in Scriptures; many can be found in the Psalms; such as what we read today, Psalm 96 and 98. Also, there is little written about Yom Teruah, in regards to details on how to keep the Feast. In Nehemiah 8, we get the only account of the keeping of this Moed. In this account, we see the story of all of the people of Yisra el gathering together, and asking Ezra the priest to read to them "the Book of HaShem s Torah, a.k.a. the Book of the Law of Moshe."
Nehemiah 8:9-10 Nechemyah, the Tirshata, Ezra the Cohen and Torah-teacher, and the L'vi'im who taught the people, said to all the people, "Today is consecrated to Adonai your G_d; don't be mournful, don't weep." For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah. Then he said to them, "Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can't provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our L_rd. Don't be sad, because the joy of Adonai is your strength." On this day, tradition states that the Shofar is to be shouted one hundred times. These shouting s have various sounds and include the tekiot, shevarim, teruot and Tekiot Gedolah. The Tekiah or "blast," is one long blast with a clear tone. The Shevarim or "broken," is a sighing sound of three short calls. The Teruah or "alarm," is a rapid series of nine or more very short notes said to signify tears or crying. And finally, the Tekiah Gedolah or the great Tekiah, is a single unbroken blast, held as long as humanly possible. The purpose of the sounding of the Shofar one hundred times is to arouse HaShem s compassion for Yisra el and that includes us!! The tradition and purpose of sounding the one long blast (Tekiah Gedolah) is intended to confuse hasatan and prevent him from accusing Yisra el before the Holy One. It is said that when hasatan hears that the Tekiah Gedolah has been sounded, he becomes confused, fearful and is apprehensive that this additional sound might be that of the Great Shofar of Mashiach coming. Tradition states that when the people of Yisra el hear the Shofar sounded on Rosh Hashanah, they are brought to a level wherein they are indeed capable of bringing about the final redemption; that is, when they sound the Shofar in fulfillment of the mitzvoth of this day, their closed hearts are opened, they regret their sins, and their thoughts turn to repentance, and remembering the coming of Mashiach. Hasatan knows that there is power in the blasts of the trumpets and in the Shofar. Though they might originate from man's lips, they can very well culminate with the coming of Mashiach ben David. As there are ten days of teshuvah (repentance and return to G_d) between Yom Teruah and Yom Kippur, there are ten purposes for this particular moed. They are, as follows: 1. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Creation, the day when G_d created the world and became its Supreme Ruler. As it is customary to sound trumpets to glorify a king and proclaim one's subservience to him, so too should we show our acceptance of G_d's dominion by sounding the Shofar. 4
5 2. The sounding of the Shofar serves to remind us of the resurrection of the dead, as read in 1 Corinthians 15:52 It will take but a moment, the blink of an eye, at the final Shofar. For the Shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised to live forever 3. The sounding of the Shofar served as a reminder of the revelation at Mount Sinai, which was also accompanied by Shofar blasts. Thus, by listening to the Shofar and remembering that event, we once again accept upon ourselves the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. 4. The sounding of the Shofar serves to remind us of the warnings of the Prophets; as the verses of Yechezkel 33:4-5 states, If the sword comes and takes away someone who heard the sound of the Shofar but paid no attention to it, the responsibility for that person's death will be his own - he heard the Shofar but paid no attention, so the responsibility for his death is his own; whereas if he had paid attention, it would have saved his life. 5. The sounding of the Shofar serves to remind us of the destruction of the Beit ha-mikdash, the Holy Temple. Thus when we hear the Shofar, we should pray for the rebuilding of our Holy Temple. 6. The sounding of the Shofar serves as a reminder of the Shofar of the ram at the binding of Yitzchak, who offered his life to G_d but in whose place the ram was sacrificed instead. As such, we too should ready our lives. 7. The sounding of the Shofar instills a sense of reverence that leads us to humble ourselves before G_d; as it reads in Amos 3:6 - When the Shofar is blown in the city, do the people not tremble? 8. The sounding of the Shofar serves to remind us of the forthcoming great Day of Judgment As read in Zephaniah 1:14-18 The great Day of Adonai is near, near and coming very quickly; Hear the sound of the Day of Adonai! When it's here, even a warrior will cry bitterly. That Day is a Day of fury, a Day of trouble and distress, a Day of waste and desolation, a Day of darkness and gloom, a Day of clouds and thick fog, a Day of the Shofar and battle-cry against the fortified cities and against the high towers [on the city walls]. "I will bring such distress on people that they will grope their way like the blind, because they have sinned against Adonai. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their bowels like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them. On the day of Adonai's fury, the whole land will be destroyed in the fire of his jealousy. For He will make an end, a horrible end, of all those living in the land." 9. The sounding of the Shofar serves as a reminder of the future ingathering of the dispersed exiles of Yisra el and to awaken our yearning for it, which Yesha yahu 27:13 states, On that day a great Shofar will sound. Those lost in the land of Ashur will come, also those scattered through the land of Egypt; and they will worship Adonai on the holy mountain in Yerushalayim.
6 And finally 10. Rosh Hashanah marks the first day of the Ten Days of Repentance. We therefore sound the Shofar as a means of announcing a warning that this period has begun. It is as if we announce, Those who choose to repent should do so now, and if they choose not to do so, let them not come later and complain about their fate. Similarly, this too is the manner in which kings exercise their dominion, announcing their decrees to the accompaniment of trumpet blasts. Yom Teruah is a very special day; in many ways, it is a pivotal day in world history. It pictures the pivotal changeover between the time of man, the world of hasatan, to the age of G_d, a.k.a. the Millennial Reign, and the Kingdom of G_d. Yom Teruah is also rather unique, in that when it occurs on the weekly Shabbat, such as today, it is the only biblical festival to which specific sacrifices were offered; i.e. 1. The Daily offerings. 2. The Shabbat offerings. 3. The New Moon offerings. 4. The Festival offerings. So why were there offerings and how do we go about making an offering if the Temple is done away with. Well what s key to remember about this day is that it is also the beginning of the Ten Days of Awe which culminate at Yom Kippur, a.k.a. the Day of Atonement. It is a time for reflecting on the choices victories and short-comings of the past year. It is a time of recommitment to the L_rd for the year ahead. It is a time to acknowledge our need of repentance, to be more constant in prayer, and to regard the needs of others as superior to our own. Though we do not have the Temple present with us today, during this season especially, and during every day of the year, our offering and sacrifice should come in the form of caring for the needy, helping those less fortunate, praying for the sick and the giving of oneself instead of always taking or expecting. Tradition states that this is the time when the L_rd inscribes in one of His Book His assessment of your year past - and the expectation of your year ahead! There is a day coming and closer now than ever before when the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will return to claim His people and to assert His sovereignty over the olam (world).
7 Many folks say to me, Is it fitting and right that we who have Y shua, need to continue to mourn and repent during these High Holy Day seasons? The discussion always seems to go in the same direction every year with different folks, Y shua died to end the curse for our sins and give life. Since we have already obtained atonement, we should not join in with the mourning, pleading, and repenting. Rather, for us a Believer s, Yom Kippur should be a day for dancing and rejoicing in the atonement Y shua made. To which my response usually is: Is there a New Testament verse that says, Rejoice and repent not, for you have it, and you have no need to mourn over sin, no need to strive for holiness, and no need to ask for mercy from the throne of grace? Is there such a verse? Please, understand, I mean no disrespect to people who have thought otherwise. But I do think that people get ideas like this from pop-religion and not from our Holy Scriptures. The theme of this Holy Day is repentance. The season of repentance actually begins 30 days earlier on Elul 1 or around the second or third week in August; and, after Yom Teruah, it lasts for 10 more days until Yom Kippur. Each day of this season the shofar is blown it is intended to signify a time of a meaningful introspection. This season is called the season of t shuvah. During this season we should strive to have a spiritual awakening - a time to examine our lives to see how we might better live our lives as Abba would have us live them. On this day of Yom Teruah, we gather with in congregations and with other congregations around the world. We listen to the trumpets and allow them to awaken our hearts from a spiritual slumber and to seek His forgiveness, and His strength and His guidance in repentance. As Believers through Y shua's perfect sacrifice we are redeemed; and as such, we take this opportunity to draw closer to Him and cleanse our lives of sin. It is a joyous occasion? Sure! Its joy due to the redemption provided us by Y shua HaMashiach; however, never should we forget that, while we might have been blessed with salvation, we have not yet been made perfect - we still walk in the flesh. And moreso, again, while it maybe a joyous occasion, let us not forget our family and friends who do not yet know Him. It s 2:00 PM.have you prayed for your lost friend today?
8 In closing let me say this Confirming the scriptures, the heavens declare His splendor and the soon return of our Righteous King, just as prophets and the heavens pointed the way to His birth 2000 years ago! During this season - a season yet to be fulfilled by our King - let us diligently watch for this fulfillment - His return! Let us prepare and be ready to stand in awe before your Redeemer! This Yom Teruah, as we hear the sounds of the Shofar, let us prepare our lives and our hearts for the soon coming of our L_rd, Savior and King Mashiach Y shua Adonai! Amen? Amen! Baruch HaShem and Shabbat Shalom!!