Selah, Meditations on Yom Teruah

Yom Teruah is a one of the Moedim (Appointed Times of YeHoVaH) also known as the Feast of Trumpets. This memorial is commanded in Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6.

The only specifics given in the command for observation of this Holy Day are that we're to rest, have a holy convocation (a Shabbat Rest to The LORD), make a Teruah (a loud tumult, with Shofar or Shouting), and offer sacrifices at the Temple (which we don't do anymore, because Yeshua – the ultimate Sacrifice Lamb - made the ultimate sacrifice for us all, for all time.And the Jewish people don't do because the Temple isn't operational.)

"Rosh HaShana", on the other hand is the civil new year celebration, probably brought about in Babylonian captivity. We acknowledge it, because all of Israel, and the Jewish people scattered abroad celebrate it – some sort of mix it up with, or transpose it over Yom Teruah. 

However, we don't actually celebrate that, as a feast of YeHoVaH, because it isn't Scriptural. GOD's NEW YEAR was instituted in the first Hebrew month, 14 days before Pesach, or PASSOVER. When we are celebrating the Death and Resurrection of Yeshua, The Messiah (Jesus The Christ – Anointed ONE).

Over the years we've heard references to the Battle of Jericho, concerning Yom Teruah, because that is the victory, where, after marching around silently for seven days, at God's command to Joshua (whose name carries the same meaning as Yeshua), God's armies were instructed to Teruah - blow shofars and shout at the top of their lungs – they did so, and the fortified walls of the enemies of God's people came tumbling down!

In recent years, I have come to a revelation that this holiday is also the most likely time of our Savior's birth. Because, as “the Shepherds were abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night “ (most likely because they were in route to Jerusalem, to provide lambs for the sacrifices, for the observance of Yom Kippur, ten days later) they heard a great tumult – a Teruah – in the sky announcing the Birth of the long prophesied Messiah – The Lamb of God, who was to take away the sins of the world!

There are many opinions on this though, and Scripture isn't clear. At any rate, Yom Teruah, The feast of Trumpets, ushers in the Ten Days of Awe, a time of Teshuvah, Repentance, before Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement!

This year I am getting this message about what to celebrate, and how. First of all, we are to be in a spirit of awe and repentance, personally and nationally, as “The Church” and as a people. We are to joyously and vigorously DECLARE aloud, with shofars, voices and worship the Birth of our LORD, and HIS VICTORY over our enemy!

We can also use this opportunity to prepare, in the next ten days, to celebrate HIS Atonement for US, so that we can then demonstrate His Victory over the enemy in our own lives!

Let's destroy some strongholds and tear down some walls this year with our shouts and declarations of HIS POWER, GRACE and MERCY over our lives, The Church and our Nation!

B'Shem Yeshua Ha Meshiach! Amen!