Keeping Watch

Shana Tova!  It means, “Good Year!” in Hebrew and is the traditional greeting during Rosh Hashanah.  This will be my family’s second time celebrating the Jewish New Year.  And as I often do, I feel the need to share with others why we celebrate this Jewish holiday because, after all, we’re Christians, not Jews. 

“”And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation.  You shall do no customary work.  For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets’” (Numbers 29:1).

Rosh Hashanah means “Head of the Year” or “New Year”.  However, you will not find the words Rosh Hashanah in the Bible.  In Scripture, the holiday is called Yom Teruah which means “Memorial of Blowing (of trumpets)” and it was a God-given appointed time for His people to meet with Him.  It wasn’t called Rosh Hashanah until after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70, more than 1500 years after its inception during the time of Moses.

In the Bible, the trumpet or shofar (ram’s horn), was blown for two primary reasons: to call a solemn assembly in God’s presence or when Israel was going to war.  During the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah), the shofar is blown for both reasons.  Old Testament prophets often spoke about a future day when God would directly intervene in the affairs of men; calling this day “The Day of the Lord”.  This day begins with the blowing of the trumpet.  It heralds the day when God will redeem Israel and bring judgment on all nations. 

“Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill.  Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming.  It is close at hand -”  Joel 2:1

The Feast of Trumpets is to occur on the first day of the Hebrew month of Tishri when the New Moon is only a slight crescent.  It required two witnesses to verify it was indeed a new moon.  A second day was added to this feast to ensure the priests did not miss the new moon.  Watchfulness was key.

So, why should we, as Christians, celebrate an Old Testament, Jewish holiday? 

First, it is one of seven GOD-GIVEN feasts that is just as relevant to Christians as it is to Jews.  The first four feasts are spring feasts (Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits and Shavuot/Pentecost) and were fulfilled in Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit.  The next three feasts occur in the fall (Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah, Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles/Sukkot) and will be fulfilled when Christ returns to rapture the Church, judge the wicked and create a new heaven and new earth.  Pentecost, the last of the spring feasts, ushered in the Church Age which is what we’re living in now.  As the Church, we are “watching” for Christ’s return and the fulfillment of the last three feasts.

Second, Jesus and his disciples spoke of “The Day of the Lord” and told believers to keep watch and be prepared for when Christ returns. 

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” (Matthew 24:42).

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52) Emphasis mine.

When Jesus returns, it will be heralded with the blasting of trumpets!  The Feast of Trumpets is a time for Christians to remember how God kept His promise of salvation through Christ and how He is faithful to keep His promise of His return.  How sweet that will be!  Let’s not forget to keep our eyes and ears turned toward heaven!

Third, every blessing which the Church enjoys come from covenants made with Israel.  The provision of salvation to the Church came from covenants made with Israel.  It should not seem odd, then, that the Feast of Trumpets, which was given to Israel, would depict not only Israel’s redemption, but also the rapture of the Church and God’s judgment on the world.

For me, Rosh Hashanah is a time of remembering all the things God has done for me and my family.  It’s a time to remember that God is the sovereign creator and ruler of this world and that everything happens in accordance with His plans.  It’s a time to remember His grace and mercy and to seek His forgiveness.  The sounding of the shofar was often used to awaken God’s people to a spiritual revival.  Isn’t it wonderful that God has ordained a time for us to reflect on our walk with Him and get into better step with Him if we need to!?

Our family uses this book to guide us through celebrating the Biblical feasts and understanding the importance of these feasts as Christians. 

Enjoy some apples dipped in honey as you remember God’s goodness and look forward to a sweet, new year!