I’m wanting to let you know a little secret about me. You might not have known this, but I have a love for history. Wish I would have known this before I started down the path of everything to deal with Art, but it doesn’t come as a shock to me.
It probably had its beginnings in 1976. That was the year of America’s bicentennial and everything had to do with the history of the beginning of our country. Red, White and Blue everywhere, and my mom had even made me a “Molly Pitcher” outfit that I absolutely loved wearing. I was in the 5th grade and got some strange looks from my classmates, but I didn’t care!
September 25-27 is the commemoration of another historical date that is important to the Jewish community. Before you think that this doesn’t involve you, let me remind you that thankfully, all Christians have been grafted into the vine of the Jewish people through the sacrifice of Christ! Thanks goes to Paul who wrote a majority of the new testament and took the message to the masses. (makes me feel like a slug)!
This is even under scrutiny because the apostle, Luke is known to have written the most words and his book in the Gospel is by itself longer than all thirteen of Paul’s letters combined. Pa-tay toe, Pa-tah-toe…..can we just agree that they were both prolific writers of the new testament and have helped so many people know and understand the life of Christ?
The holiday (Holy Day) that has been celebrated by Jewish people for such a long time that I am addressing here is Rosh Hashanah and will be celebrated beginning on the evening of September 25th and ending the evening of September 27th. It is also the Jewish New Year and one of the seven Festivals the Jews were told by God to commemorate and set aside in honor of His name.
Rosh Hashanah probably had its beginnings around the 6th century B.C., but it wasn’t cited in what was Judaism’s founding religious text, the Torah until around 200 A.D. Although Rosh Hoshana is not explicitly named, a special religious, sacred occasion was always had around the time that the Rosh Hoshana is commemorated today.
Another name that Rosh Hoshana is known by is the “Feast of Trumpets” and before you go envisioning a bright and gleaming brass Trumpet, you need to see a shofar in your mind. I can just hear it’s sense of urgency calling out to people to be alert and ready to prepare your hearts. The sound of the horn serves as a call to repentance and a “reminder to Jews that God is their king,” according to History.com. It’s a call to “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” Ephesians 5:14 NIV This is my heart’s cry for our Jewish brothers and sisters.
Perhaps this is why I’ve stumbled across this wonderful holiday to put on my blog this year. I have always loved the Jewish culture, history and traditions, like the use of shofars. Someday I hope to personally get one, but it wasn’t until I started researching this most holy day, that I’m planning on doing what my Jewish brothers and sisters are doing at this time. Maybe it’s because I’m feeling introspective. I’ve got a lot of stuff going on right now and need this sweet reminder of who is in control and I probably could use a little horn blowing right now!
I want to give Him honor and let Him know how lost I would be without him. John 15:4-5 states, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” NIV
So here’s to staying connected in Him and to each other. I don’t know if you sense this inside like I do, but ever since Covid, there’s been an unseen force trying to divide us all and separate us. Newsflash: he’s been trying to do this since the garden of Eden! I know you know of whom I speak, so to combat this, I try to be friendly and share smiles with whoever I see to let light into someone’s life. Yep, it’s as simple as that and I let God take care of the rest.
I hope that this has tickled your interest some and maybe got you asking Google your own questions about the meaning of Rosh Hoshana. It is meant to be an introspective time when we think of our shortcomings and how much we miss the mark of being close to God, but don’t lose hope. The one who fulfills so many messianic prophecies has not only rescued Hebrews, but He included Gentiles like me! If you are interested in this, I would look up, “How many prophecies did Jesus fulfill?” on http://www.gotquestions.org
Don’t forget who you are and whose you are! We are called to go out in the highways and the byways to spread His message of love and hope to the world and I can’t say it better than He did, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 14-16
Women Warriors, Raise Your Swords! 