Feast of Trumpets — Day of Soundings
One of the seven festivals of Yahuah is here—the first of the fall feasts: the Feast of Trumpets.
Can you believe it’s already been six months since Passover? Time seems to be moving so quickly! In just a few days, we’ll be preparing for the Day of Atonement, and soon after, the joyful celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot).
Since this special day is already tomorrow, it makes me stop and wonder: what does this day mean to Yahuah, and how are we meant to keep it?
The first mention comes in Leviticus 23:23–25:
“And Yahuah spoke to Mosheh, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yisra’el, saying, “In the seventh [chodesh], on the first day of the [chodesh], you have a rest, a remembrance of Teru’ah.”’”
But what does Teru’ah mean? Looking at Strong’s Concordance (H8643), it carries the sense of:
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a shout
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a clamor, whether of joy or alarm
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the blast of a trumpet or shofar
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rejoicing, jubilee, a loud and joyful sound
So in essence, this day is a “remembrance of joyful noise.” That may sound unusual at first—until we remember how often Scripture calls us to lift up our voices to Yahuah!
Consider these Psalms:
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“Raise a shout to Yahuah, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to Yahuah with the lyre, with trumpets and the voice of the shophar!” (Psalm 98:4–6)
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“Serve Yahuah with gladness; come before His presence with singing!” (Psalm 100:1–2)
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“Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to Elohim with a voice of singing!” (Psalm 47:1)
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“Elohim shall go up with a shout, Yahuah with the sound of a shophar. Sing praises to our Sovereign!” (Psalm 47:5–7)
From these passages we see that Yahuah delights in a people who make a joyful, wholehearted noise in His presence.
What else does He command for this day?
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“You do no servile work, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to Yahuah.” (Leviticus 23:25)
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“On the first day of the seventh chodesh, you have a set-apart gathering; you do no servile work—it is Yom Teru‛ah.” (Numbers 29:1)
So, just like the weekly Shabbat, we rest from ordinary work and gather together as His people.
For our group of like-minded believers, this means coming together with worship music (almost everyone brings an instrument!), studying the Word, sharing insights, eating a meal, and yes—lifting up our voices in a mighty shout and sounding the shofar together. It’s a day of joy, remembrance, and unity in Yahuah.
This year, make sure to gather with family and friends this Wednesday, September 17th, to keep the Feast. Whether by blowing a shofar or using your own “built-in instrument,” lift up a shout of joy to Yahuah!
For further study: Isaiah 27:13, Joel 2, and 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17.
Shalom,
JS
