Today in the Bible

Tishrei 1, 5784; from sunset September 15, 2023, to sunset September 16, 2023

Today, according to Leviticus 23, is one of the LORD’s Appointed Times.  Leviticus 23 is a special chapter which is the key to unlocking a greater understanding of the Bible.  Why?  These are God’s self-proclaimed Holy Days.  These are days when He has acted in the past and/or will act again in the future.  They are His plan to redeem His creation.  Let’s take a broader look at these Holy Days.

Today is commonly called, “The Feast of Trumpets.”  However, in the original Hebrew, the word “trumpets” is not present.  Instead it is called a “zichron teru’ah.”  As you can see from the chart, it is the first Appointed Time occurring in the late summer/early autumn timeframe.

If we look at the Appointed Times occurring in the springtime, they all seem to be related to Jesus’ first coming.  He is our Passover Lamb.  He is the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  The Holy Spirit was made available to us on the first Feast of Weeks (aka Pentecost) after His death and resurrection.  Do you see a pattern here?  The LORD’s Appointed Times are times when God will act on our behalf.

Since Jesus fulfilled the spring Appointed Times when He first came; we anticipate that He will fulfill the remainder of them when He returns.  For this reason alone it is worth studying them to gain a better understanding of what to expect when He comes again.  So let’s take a look at the meaning of “zichron teru’ah.”

Zichron (זִכְרוֹן) comes from the root זכר (zkr) which means “to think (about), meditate (upon), pay attention (to); remember, recollect; mention, declare, recite, proclaim, invoke, commemorate, accuse, or confess.”

Teru’ah (תְּרוּעָה) comes from the root רוע (rua) which means “to shout, raise a sound, or cry out.”  A teru’ah is “an alarm or signal.”

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.’” – Leviticus 23:23-25 (NAS)

This date is mentioned again in Numbers 29 which gives us a more detailed description of what the offering made by fire should look like.

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 trumpets.

And you shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without defect; also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs. And offer one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their libations, according to their ordinance, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD. – Numbers 29:1-6 (NAS)

Once again, the word “trumpet” is not present in the original language; once again, it is the word “teru’ah.”  So, the word teru’ah really refers to the sound that is made by a trumpet.  If a trumpet is unavailable, a shout or an intense prayer will work just fine.  God will remember (zichron) you.

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