Rosh Hashana - Blow the Shofar

Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “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. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the LORD. Lev. 23:23-25

Rosh Hashanah is on the first day of the seventh month, Tishri. The blowing of the Shofar is a key part of the Rosh Hashanah service.

Now what is a shofar, and how is it blown?
A shofar is an animal horn fashioned into an instrument to blow sounds. Generally, a shofar is a ram’s horn, though the longer ones are a different animal.
Two different sounds of a shofar are mentioned in Num. 10:5-8. T’kiah is one extended, unbroken sounding of the shofar. There were two different theories concerning what T’ruah which means “blowing” was referring to. Some say that it was three groaning notes, called ‘shevarim’. Others say that it was nine very short wailing notes, which later came to be called ‘t’ruah’. The blowing of the shofar on Rosh Hashanah includes t’kiah as well as both shevarim and t’ruah. The final t’kiah is especially long and drawn out and is known as ‘t’kiah g’dolah’ or the great t’kiah. I encourage you to attend a Messianic Rosh Hashanah service and hear these for yourself.

Now why do we blow the shofar on Rosh Hashanah?
There are possibly ten things it could be a memorial or reminder of (Lev. 23:24):

First, we need to praise God as king. A shofar was blown at a king’s coronation. Yeshua the Messiah is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 19:11).

Second, we must be faithful to the Torah. When the Torah was given to Israel at Mount Sinai, there was a great shofar blast, and the people trembled (Ex. 19:16). Yeshua the Messiah is the living torah or Word of God (John 1).

Third, we must be faithful to the teachings of the prophets, who raised their voices like a shofar.

Fourth, we need to be in awe of God (Amos 3:6), especially in this season, which is referred to as the Ten Days of Awe.

Fifth, it is a call to examine ourselves and repent of our sins during this time.

Sixth, a substitution was given for us. In synagogues it is customary to read the portion of the Torah which recounts how God provided Abraham with a ram as a substitute sacrifice instead of Isaac, whom Abraham bound on the altar on Mount Moriah. This pictures for us how Yeshua, God’s Son, died in our place to atone for our sins.

Seventh, the Messianic Age will be ushered in by a shofar blast (Isa. 27:13).

Eighth, one day the Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem (Zech. 6:12-13).

Ninth, one day there will be a resurrection (Dan. 12:1-2, 1 Thess. 4:13-18).

Tenth, we need to prepare for the final judgment (Daniel 12:1-2, Rev 20:11-15, Rev. 21:27).