Rosh Hashanah

Today's post is courtesy of First Fruits of Zion.

God never created a separate calendar with separate holy days for Gentiles. The biblical festivals are God's appointed times. Unless Gentile believers were meant to never have days of worship or religious festivals, the appointed times of the LORD are also meant for them.

And Abraham made a great feast. (Genesis 21:8)

The appointed times of the spring--Passover, Unleavened Bread, the Omer and Pentecost--have all seen some sort of Messianic fulfillment in the passion of our Master Yeshua and the giving of the Holy Spirit. The lull between the spring festivals and the fall festivals can be compared to the long years of waiting between Messiah's first coming and second coming. Appropriately, the appointed times of the fall commence with a trumpet blast. The first day of the seventh month is a special Sabbath. The Torah refers to it simply as a "reminder by blowing of trumpets." It is a day of trumpet blowing.

Just as Messiah's second coming will be heralded by the blast of trumpets, the first day of the seventh month begins with an appointed time referred to as the Feast of Trumpets.

For disciples of the Messiah, the Feast of Trumpets is a reminder of that appointed time yet to come when the Master "will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (Matthew 24:31). It is a day on which we anticipate the coming judgment, the trumpets of the book of Revelation, and the beginning of the end. It is a glimpse of the future, a shadow cast backward through time. As such, the Feast of Trumpets is relevant for everyone who believes in Messiah's return. It is an important festival for the all disciples of Yeshua.

In Jewish tradition, the Feast of Trumpets is called Rosh Hashanah, a title that literally means "Head of the Year." It is called Rosh Hashanah because the first day of the seventh month is regarded as the biblical new year. Unlike conventional, secular new year celebrations, the Jewish new year is not a drinking party. On the contrary, it is a day of sober reflection and introspection. We consider our behavior over the past twelve months and use the occasion to make amends, offer apologies and repent for our misdeeds. This process is an important part of the cycle of sanctification. The new year is a time for correcting the mistakes of the past and making resolutions to do better in the coming year. This cleaning-of-the-slate process is meant to prepare us for the holy Day of Atonement that comes ten days later.

Obviously the appointed times of Leviticus 23 should be celebrated by Jewish believers, but should they also be kept by Gentile believers? Of course! Gentile believers have a divine invitation to participate in the cycle of sanctification. If God is throwing a party, and He has invited all of His children, all of His children should come.

The biblical calendar is a wonderful gift. Observing the holy days infuses the entire year with sanctity and godliness. The festivals draw families and communities together and focus their attention on God. Moreover, each of the biblical festivals uniquely foreshadows the work of Messiah and the plan of redemption. The appointed times communicate deep spiritual lessons to those who practice them. Every festival draws us closer to the living God and His holy Son.