Day of Trumpets

“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 [teruah], and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the LORD…”
— Numbers 29:1-2a ESV

In Hebrew, the word teruah means “a shout” or “a blowing.” Yom Teruah became known as the “Day of Blowing Trumpets” or the “Day of the Awakening Blast.” This sacred time of Teruah was set aside by a loud sound of trumpets that would represent the booming sound of Yahweh’s voice. During this time, there would be no work and everyone would gather together for sacrificial worship.

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.
— Exodus 19:16-19 ESV

In order to understand this special day, we must look back on the context. When the people were told to observe this day of trumpets, it was a reminder to them of their experience with meeting Yahweh. Yom Teruah would always call God’s people to remember the original meeting and would call them to prepare and look forward to a future meeting.

Yom Teruah also marked the beginning of ten days of consecration and repentance. It is also called Rosh Hashanah, which means “Head of the Year,” because it marks the beginning of the Jewish civil calendar. The blowing of the trumpets on the first day of the month on the first day of the year heralded a solemn time of preparation for the Day of Atonement, which would come ten days later. This preparation time was called “Ten Days of Repentance” or “Days of Awe.”

This evening, October 2, 2024, we will have a holy gathering (convocation) in order to prepare and pay attention. We’re going to listen to the shofar and then worship the Lord together, and we’re going to celebrate the shift to the new Hebrew year of 5785, the Year of Double Grace.

Seeking His face!
Matt