SOUND THE TRUMPET: IT'S A BRAND NEW YEAR! Dr. Jim Cecy
Introduction: Most cultures have a special way to usher in the New Year. God has a better idea…. This first day of the civil year is called Rosh Hashanah = “The Head of the Year”
I. A TIME FOR REFLECTING Lev. 23:23-25 "The Lord said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites: 'On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of rest (lit. a Sabbath), a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present an offering made to the Lord by fire.'"
A. Reflecting On The Goodness Of God
The Sabbath = “A Day of Delight”
Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (“delight” = Hebrew: anag = “treat as a delicacy”) "God, give us a sweet new year." • "Thank you, God, that you permitted us to live this past year."
B. Reflecting On The Mercy Of God Lev. 23:24 “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.” Rosh Hashanah = The Feast of Trumpets The Shofar = a ram’s horn used throughout Jewish history. The shofar was blown on New Years as a call to reflect on sin and God’s mercy. • The rabbis taught that New Year's was a time for most of mankind to reflect on their lukewarmness toward God. Rev. 3:15-19 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent." Rosh Hashanah = Yom Haden = “The Day of Judgment” = “The Day of Evaluation” = Spiritual Report Card Day Taking Inventory on My Spiritual Condition Fellowship • Doctrine • Worship • Service • Evangelism • Discipleship • Prayer • etc.
II. A TIME FOR REPENTING New Year’s REFLECTING should lead to specific New Year’s REPENTING Romans 2:4 "And do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness? Do you think lightly of His forbearance and patience not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” Numbers 29:1-7 "'On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, prepare a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. With the bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are offerings made to the Lord by fire--a pleasing aroma. "' On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves and do no work." God set apart the first part of the year as a time for His people to repent. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
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Psalm 103:1-4 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion…” The A.C.T. of Repentance ADMITTING the Sin in Our Mind (Greek: metanoeo) CONFESSING the Sin with Our Mouth (Greek: homologeo) TURNING from the Sin in Our Manner (Greek: epistrepho) "Na as vaneesma" = "We will listen and we will obey."
III. A TIME FOR REJOICING Nehemiah 8:9-12 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the Lord your God. ”Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, ”"Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." The Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for this is a sacred day. ”Do not grieve." Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
A. Rejoicing In The Truth Of God’s Grace In Our Lives. Cf. Genesis 22 and the story of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son – pointing to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
B. Rejoicing In The Hope We Have For The Future The blowing of trumpets is also related to Christ's return. (Mt. 24:31; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess 4:13 ff.) • Preparing for His imminent return • Preparing for my possible death "Lashing Tova -- Ketivah vi-chatima Tova."= “May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year.” The "Book of Life" is a metaphor that refers to those who have responded to the grace of God and accepted His Messiah: Yeshua Ha Meshiah (Jesus the Messiah). He is only one way to true and lasting hope…
Conclusion: Dear Master, for this coming year, Just one request I bring. I do not pray for happiness, Or any earthly thing. I do not ask to understand, The way Thou leadest me. But this I ask, Teach me to do. The thing that pleaseth Thee. I want to know Thy guiding voice. To walk with Thee each day. Dear Master, make me swift to hear, And ready to obey. And thus the year I now begin A happy year will be, If I am seeking just to do The thing that pleaseth Thee.
La Shanah Tovah Tekaten = May You Have A Good Year © 2009 Dr. James M. Cecy, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com and www.jaron.org
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