God's Heart And Love For Israel Will Never Change.
The Feasts (Holidays) And Focuses.
FALL FEASTS:
Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah)
- Repentance, restoration and returning/regathering to God.
Atonement (Yom Kippur)
- Reparation and redemption/forgiveness from sin (fullness of redemption)
Tabernacles (Sukkot)
- Rejoicing and thanksgiving for God's presence, protection, and provision, as well as the establishment of God's Kingdom.
SPRING FEASTS:
Passover (Pesach)
- Redemption
Unleavened Bread (Chag HaMatzot)
- Personal role in pursuing righteousness.
Firstfruits (HaBikkurim)
- Resurrection
Pentecost (Shavuot)
- Revelation and gift of the Word and the Spirit.
Rosh Hashanah, The Feast Of Trumpets
The Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year
This feast, Rosh Hashanah, is the first of the Fall feasts, the Jewish New Year which occurs in the middle of September on our calendar. It is quite different than the American New Year celebration, which is marked by parties and alcohol. This Jewish feast/holiday is remembered as a holy day, sanctified with prayers. It's a time of sobriety and introspection and "making it right" with God. It commemorates a fresh start, a new beginning, and a clean slate into the new year.
These ten days from Rosh Hashanah to the next holiday, Yom Kippur, are called Ten Days of Awe, days of repentance and returning to God.
The primary spiritual action on this day is the blowing of the shofar, the ram's horn. The sound of the shofar ushers in greater intimacy with God.
God wants to encounter us.
- The sound of the shofar is a call to return to repentance, to turn our wills and our ways to align with God's Word and will.
- The sound of the shofar is a time of new beginnings and blessings.
- The sound of the shofar is the sound of freedom.
- The sound of the shofar is the sound of change, transformation and hope.
- The sound of the shofar is the sound of the Lord's promise of provision.
- The sound of the shofar is a call to return.
"Come, let us return to the Lord...that we may live in His presence." Hosea 6: 1-2
A Sweet New Year
The Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year
Honey-dipped apples and challah bread are part of this Jewish New Year celebration, which represents a sweet new year.
The stickiness of the honey prophetically symbolizes sticking to God and God sticking to us.
The Hebrew word for bonding is deveikut, which is the same word used in Genesis when a man is cleaving to his wife. The word challah, in Hebrew, represents a fresh cycle of the new year ahead.
Yes, we are all in need of a fresh cycle, new beginning and fresh start. Take note that a cycle in the dictionary consists of something regularly repeated, a complete set. Also, it could be defined as a revolution, a pattern, and a rhythm that is consistent and ongoing.
Shouldn't our walk of faith in Yeshua (Jesus) be consistent and regular?
In our American New Year's celebrations, we speak of making New Year's resolutions. Our Jewish brothers and sisters got it right. Sticking to God and Him sticking to us is the only way to start. However, not just once a year, but each day.
We need to resolve some things so our commitment to the Lord is strong and continual.
"L'Shannah Tovah!" which in Hebrew means "For a good year!"
Repentance & Returning
A Ritual With Significant Meaning
Rosh Hashanah is a time when we should examine ourselves, our lives and turn from any sin or from any actions for which the Holy Spriit will bring conviction. The Ten Days Of Awe and wonder should cause us to revere the Lord and return to Him with all of our hearts, minds and strength.
It is a Jewish tradition and practice that during Rosh Hashanah there is a "casting off" that the prophet Micah spoke of saying, "He will again have compassion on us. He will subdue our iniquities, and You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." Micah 7: 19
So, literally on the afternoon of the first day of the high holidays, an entire Jewish congregation will walk to a body of water and stand on the banks emptying their pockets as a prophetic picture of "casting off" their sins. Many folks will bring small pieces of stale, old, leavened bread to represent their sins.
We don't want to carry old leaven (sin) into the New Year.
The Year 2023/2024 Is A Year Of Open Doors
The Jewish Calendar Is The Year 5784--Year Of Open Door
"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3: 7
Yom Kippur, The Day Of Atonement
The Word Atonement--"To Make Reparation For Wrongdoing."
Reparation Is Making Repair
Forgiveness And Atonement In The Old Testament
Forgiveness And Atonement In The Old Testament
Before any repair takes place, forgiveness must transpire first. Being forgiven and forgiving others is the only way we can truly be free. That freedom frees us to love, frees to connect and enjoy relationships with others, with ourselves, and with God.
Forgiveness In The Old Testament
"For the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the Lord. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purifications possible."
Leviticus 17: 11
Forgiveness And Atonement In The Old Testament
Forgiveness And Atonement In The Old Testament
Forgiveness And Atonement In The Old Testament
In the Old Testament on Yom Kippur, the Hebrews received forgiveness and atonement in the form of an animal sacrifice. Two goats were brought into the temple, only one used as a blood sacrifice. The high priest laid his hands upon the head of the sacrificial goat symbolizing the transference of sins from him, the entire nation, to the animal who would bear the burden, rendering a prayer of confession. The priest would then tie a scarlet, woolen cord to the horns of the goat and tie a second scarlet cord to the entrance where the Holy of Holies was. The priest would then place both hands upon the other goat, the scapegoat, (Azazel), again, reciting the prayer where all sin was transferred.
Jesus Provided The Way Of Escape. He Is The Way Of Escape.
The Scapegoat
After the prayers, the scapegoat was then taken into the wilderness where the goat would be thrown over a steep, jagged cliff, so its body would be completely torn apart before it reached the bottom.
Remember, "The people took Jesus to the edge of a cliff wanting to push him off, but He escaped." Luke 4: 29-30
A Supernatural Phenomenon Occurred.
Once The Sacrifice Was Complete...
Something supernatural happened. What was it, we ask? The red cords that were tied to the horns of the scapegoat and placed at the entrance of the Holy Place SUPERNATURALLY TURNED FROM RED TO WHITE.
Also, the white linen garment the priest wore that was stained with the blood of the animal that was sacrificed, TURNED WHITE too. This was signifying all of Israel's sins were as crimson; but God washed them as white as snow.
This actually STOPPED occurring after the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The animal sacrifice was no longer effective. To this I shout, "GLORY!"
"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1: 18
I love that Jesus asks, "Let's reason together." Let's talk about this!
The Prophet Isaiah Spoke Of The Suffering Yeshua.
"...His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and His form marred beyond human recognition." Isaiah 52: 14
God tells us that without the shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness of sin.
Yom Kippur points us to the ultimate redemption of the world, through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
Honoring The Passover With A Sedar Meal.
Honoring The Passover With A Sedar Meal.
Honoring The Passover With A Sedar Meal.
Honoring The Passover With A Sedar Meal.
Honoring The Passover With A Sedar Meal.
Armand's First Sedar Meal.
Honoring The Passover With A Sedar Meal.
Armand's First Sedar Meal.
THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY--TO INSPIRE IN 2025
Enjoy these short daily inspirational thoughts to carry you throughout your day.