Rosh Hashana

Lev. 23:24-29 Tishri (September and October) Feast of Tabernacles The Seventh month, the Holy Month starts the New Year 'The day of remembrance’ “Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation, you shall do no laborious work. It will be to you a day for blowing shofars.” Num. 29:1 Tishri is the seventh month, and because the seventh month is holy, the spiritual New Year begins with this month. In the Scriptures this day is called Yom Teruah, (A day of sounding the shofars). ‘Speak to the sons of Israel, saying the seventh month on the first of the month; you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.’ (Lev. 23:24). It is the beginning of ten days called the ‘High Holy Days’ or ‘Days of Awe’. Because of their meaning these days are also called ‘Days of Repentance, Days of Admitting, Days of Returning’. The observance concludes with Yom Kipper, the Day of Atonement. The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible to discuss this holiday. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar). The holiday is instituted in Leviticus 23:24-25 The shofar is the Hebrew word for trumpet or horn, a ram's horn which is blown somewhat like a trumpet. This instruction in the Old Covenant to blow the ram’s horn became a significant day of remembrance (Gen. 22:13-14). The shofar was blown to signify important occasions. At the sounding the following words were spoken, ‘you, who are asleep, wake up! You, who are in a trance, arise! Search your doings and repent; remember your Creator….’ Romans 13:11 says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and the Messiah will shine on you.’ (Eph. 5:14). The bending in the shofar represents a human heart in true repentance bowing before G-d and the blowing was a means of getting G-d’s attention, to be remembered and protected by Him. (Num. 10:9-10). One of the most important observances of this holiday is hearing the sounding of the shofar in the Synagogue. A total of 100 notes are sounded each day. There are four different types of shofar notes: 1. Tekiah, a 3 second sustained note; 2. Shevarim, three 1-second notes rising in tone, 3. Teruah, a series of short, staccato notes extending over a period of about 3 seconds; 4. Tekiah gedolah (literally, "big tekiah"), the final blast in a set, which lasts 10 seconds minimum. The Bible gives no specific reason for this practice. One that has been suggested is that the shofar's sound is a call to repentance. The shofar is not blown if the holiday falls on Shabbat. No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Much of the day is spent in Synagogue, where the regular daily liturgy is somewhat expanded. In fact, there is a special prayer book called the machzor used for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because of the extensive liturgical changes for these holidays. This was the first G-d’s religious practice (the first one: lighting Chanukah candles). The second popular observance during this holiday is eating apples dipped in honey, a symbol of our wish for a sweet new year. They also dip bread in honey (instead of the usual practice of sprinkling salt on it) at this time of year for the same reason. Another popular practice of the holiday is Tashlikh ("casting off"). Walking to flowing water, such as a creek or river, on the afternoon of the first day and empty their pockets into the river, symbolically casting off their sins. Small pieces of bread are commonly put in the pocket to cast off. This practice is not discussed in the Bible, but is a long-standing custom. On this holiday instead of the usual twisted loaves of bread, the challah, for this meal has a different shape. The loaf is rounding, symbolic of our desire for a full and round year. Three strands are braided together to give significance to this celebration. 1. It is a day to honor the kingship of G-d and His authority over creation. 2. It is a day of remembrance, a time to consider one’s place in the universe and one’s personal part in the unfolding of G-d’s plan for the world. It is a time when the past is recalled, memories are aroused, the future is envisioned, and personal inventories are taken. 3. The third thread refers to the revelation of G-d and the sounding of the shofar is a symbolic signal to G-d’s people that it is time for a spiritual awakening. Tashlikh is normally observed on the afternoon of the first day, before afternoon services. When the first day occurs on Shabbat, many Synagogues observe Tashlikh on Sunday afternoon, to avoid carrying (the bread) on Shabbat. Religious services for the holiday focus on the concept of G-d's sovereignty. The Hebrew calendar is very old; it is believed that the counting of years originated with creation. There are a number of ways to count the months. One system begins the counting in the spring. Each month opens with the appearance of a new moon. Every time there is a new moon, a new month begins. Hebrew festivals are calculated on this lunar calendar. In keeping with tradition it is fitting that the seventh month is holy, just as the seventh day is always been honored. Therefore, the calendar begins with the seventh month. Judaism has several different "new years," a concept which may seem strange at first, but think of it this way: the American "new year" starts in January, but the new "school year" starts in September, and many businesses have "fiscal years" that start at various times of the year. In Judaism, Nissan 1 is the new year for the purpose of counting the reign of kings and months on the calendar, Elul 1 (in August) is the new year for the tithing of animals, Shevat 15 (in February) is the new year for trees (determining when first fruits can be eaten, etc.), and Tishri 1 (Rosh Hashanah) is the new year for years (when we increase the year number. Sabbatical and Jubilee years begin at this time). Rosh Hashanah will occur on the following days of the Gregorian calendar: • Jewish Year 5768: sunset September 12, 2007 - nightfall September 14, 2007 • Jewish Year 5769: sunset September 29, 2008 - nightfall October 1, 2008 • Jewish Year 5770: sunset September 18, 2009 - nightfall September 20, 2009 • Jewish Year 5771: sunset September 8, 2010 - nightfall September 10, 2010 • Jewish Year 5772: sunset September 28, 2011 - nightfall September 30, 2011 • Jewish Year 5773: sunset September 17, 2012 – nightfall September 19, 2012 • Jewish Year 5774: sunset September 20, 2013 – nightfall September 22, 2013 • Jewish Year 5775: sunset September 24, 2014 – nightfall September 25, 2014 The Hebrew word Rosh means ‘head or beginning.’ Hashanah means ‘the year.’ The more common biblical name is the ‘Feast of Trumpets.’ It is a time set apart for a new beginning with G-d. The account of Isaac in Genesis 22 is remarkably similar to the sacrifice of Y’Shua: he was his father’s only son; he was freely offered by his father; the wood for the sacrifice was carried on his shoulders, and the place of the sacrifice was on the hill in the land of Mariah which became Jerusalem. ‘Then Solomon began to build the house of G-d in Jerusalem on Mt. Mariah.’ (2 Chr. 3:1). In Gen. 22:1-14 G-d’s provision of a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac’s place, a living picture of what was to come in His greater gift of Y’Shua. Remember this is a time of reflection and preparation. The major emphasis in your family should be: to remember your Creator, go to Him for forgiveness, and He will have mercy. Telling of the story of the High Holy days. (Rev. 6:4-9). The entire story of the exodus – the story of Passover, our first festival – illustrates the salvation of the believers. First there was the blood of the Lamb - which delivered you from death, Then the trip through the Red Sea -baptism, Then the wandering of the wilderness – this life on earth, Finally Jericho – heaven, when the shofar sounds.

Prophetic Tour For America

Jer. 11 [1] The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, [This discourse is supposed to have been delivered in the first year of the reign of Zedekiah.] [2] Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; [This covenant - alluding to the book of the Law (Deuteronomy 31:26) found in the temple by Hilkiah the high priest, five years after Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office (2 Kings 22:8-23:25'). The Law was delivered by Moses, to which the people more than once promised obedience. Hear ye - Others besides Jeremiah were to spread G-d's will to the people; it was the duty of the priests to read the Law to them (Malachi 2:7).] [3] And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, [After the reading, the prophet appears to sum up the things contained in what was read to them; as if he had said, “Ye hear what the L-rd said unto you: remember, the sum of it is this: The man is cursed who obey not; and he is blessed who obeys. From these declarations G-d will not depart.”] [4] Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: [In the day - that is, when. The Sinaitic covenant was made some time after the exodus, but the two events are so connected as to be viewed as one. Iron furnace - (Deuteronomy 4:20 , 1 Kings 8:51 ). "Furnace" expresses the searching ordeal; "iron," the long duration of it. The furnace was of earth, not of iron (Psalms 12:6 ); a furnace, in heat and duration enough to melt even iron. G-d's deliverance of them from such an ordeal aggravates their present guilt. Do them - namely, the words of the covenant (Jeremiah 11:3). So - (Leviticus 26:3 Leviticus 26:12 ).] [5] That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD. [Oath - (Psalms 105:9-10.) So be it, O L-rd – Hebrew, Amen, taken from Deuteronomy 27:15-26. Jeremiah hereby solemnly concurs in the justice of the curses pronounced there. ] [6] Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them. [Proclaim all these words - Jeremiah was to take a prophetic tour throughout Judah, to proclaim everywhere the condemnation in the book of the Law found in the Temple. Let the same covenant, with the blessings and cursings, be read in every city of Judah, and in all the streets of Jerusalem, that all the people may know their duty, their privileges, and their danger. Hear . . . do - (Romans 2:13 , 1:22).] [7] For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice. [Even unto this day - I brought upon them.] [8] Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. [Imagination - rather, "stubbornness." Words - threats (Jeremiah 11:3 Deuteronomy 27:15-26). Did them not - For this G-d threatens to bring upon them all His words of threatening, annexed to the covenant of the Law.] [9] And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [A conspiracy is found - All sorts of people have done alike, as if they had conspired together, determined to cast off the Divine yoke, and no longer to have G-d to reign over them, a deliberate combination against G-d and against Josiah's reformation. Their idolatry is not the result of a hasty impulse (Psalms 83:5, Ezekiel 22:25).] [10] They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers. [They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers - A great reformation had taken place under the reign of Josiah, and the public worship of idols had been abolished, and most of the high places destroyed; but under the reign of his son and his successors, they had turned back again to idolatry, and were become worse than ever. It required a captivity to cure them of this propensity: and G-d sent one: after that, there was no idolatry among the Jews.] [11] Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. [I will not hearken – G-d will not hear them crying to Him in their adversity, who refuse to hear Him speaking to them in their prosperity. Cry unto me - contrasted with "cry unto the gods," (Jeremiah 11:12). Not hearken - (Psalms 18:41, Proverbs 1:28, Isaiah 1:15, Micah 3:4.)] [12] Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble. [Cry unto the gods . . . not save - (Deuteronomy 32:37 Deuteronomy 32:38 ). Compare this verse and beginning of Jeremiah 11:13, Jeremiah 2:28. In the time of their trouble - that is, calamity (Jeremiah 2:27).] Have we not promise our obedience ‘in G-d we trust?’ If G-d can cut off His people from disobedience - why do you think He would He not do the same to us? People tend to shrink at the word law, but G-d’s Laws are His instructions on how to live. Why isn’t the Laws preached anymore? We are not under the letter of the Law but the Law still exists, it was not put there to condemn us but to teach us how to live G-dly lives, that all the people may know their duty, their privileges, and their danger, there are 613 Oral Laws swash down to 7 Noachide Law to 10 Written Laws. All are cursed who obey not; and all is blessed who obeys! From these declarations G-d will not depart regardless of nationality, male or female. We have gone far astray, what is wrong we call good, are government is passing laws that should not have been put in place. We all will pay the price for disobedience. We have cast off our Divine yoke and turn to idolatry in our hasty desires. We need to turn back to the iniquities of our forefathers – In G-d we trust. G-d will not hear America crying to Him in their adversity, who refuse to hear Him speaking to them in their prosperity. The time of our trouble will soon be upon us, it’s not too late for each individual to make a change, were He leads. Open up your hearts and ears to what He is saying to you.

Strategic Season

A new year and a new season settling in, time is disappearing as the days are rapidly bringing new changes. Holiness and righteousness is once again being preached in some churches. They are correcting their mistakes and bringing back the Written Word, well in the mean time the world is falling apart not knowing which direction to go, running to and fro. Grace has been preached so long it became a blanket of ‘free will’ to do as you please; you’re not under the letter of G-d’s Law. People have not been told or forgotten G-d is not only a loving, forgiving Father but also a righteous judge and what is done in secret will be brought to the light. Signs of the days of harvest are more prominent now then ever before, angels with sickles are coming down to separate the wheat from the tare. No more playing church, it was never meant to be a social club, a religious spirit has crawled in (holier than thou). Originally churches have started with ‘no walls’, we have made them monuments, put on a pedestal. G-d is not into denominations, just take what you have learned that is truth and spread the Word. Nation by nation are preparing to go against Israel, beware which side you back up for it has been written that Israel is still G-d’s chosen people. Tune in your ear to hear the sounds of heaven’s cry. Watchers speak the Word with all confidence; cry out for wisdom for our nation and leaders. Many will turn aside to seek other ways but G-d’s people must follow Him, even if the path is rocky and steep. Our lives here are all about relationships, especially with the Father, pressing in, being tried and going the distance. G-d is offering each of us a fresh start, a clean slate. It is true weeping comes in the night but overwhelming joy comes in the morning.