Today (Monday, 26 September 2022), New Zealand is remembering Queen Elizabeth II with a one-off memorial public holiday. With her death, an era has passed and gone. And none of us are sure what’s next for the monarchy. (See my previous post A World in Transition.)
But there is another exciting event also happening today and tomorrow that you may not be aware of. It’s Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year. In the Hebrew calendar, the whole world is moving from the year 5782 to 5783. However, this isn’t simply a commemoration of the transition from one year into the next. Rosh Hashanah has spiritual significance that is quite amazing, given what is happening today.
Enthronement of the King
According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of the creation of the universe. It is also a celebration of the coronation of God as king of the universe.
Did you get that? On the day we are remembering the death of our incredible monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, we are also celebrating the enthronement of our God as King!
In fact, in Leviticus, this day is a day for trumpets [ram’s horns or shofar’s] to blow an alarm, to jolt us awake so we remember who we are really commemorating – that God is King!
The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the first day of the seventh month you are to have a day of Sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do no regular work, but present a food offering to the Lord.’”
Leviticus 23:23-25 (NIV)
At Rosh Hashanah, ram’s horns were to be blown to the north, south, east and west. They were to announce to all corners of the world that God was King.
The violent shofar blasts being heard today are also intended to bring breakthrough in the spiritual realm. To extend the Kingdom of God – to expand the borders; to multiply and bring increase. It’s the same word that is translated as “multiply” in Genesis 1:26 where God says to all living creatures, including humanity, “Be fruitful and multiply” (in the LXX or Greek version of the Old Testament).
Our God reigns!
Today is the day to declare “Our God reigns!” To put the previous season behind us and to boldly step into the new, knowing that a new year has begun. This is a year to break away from old things and step forward into the new. It is a year of provision and multiplication. This is the year when we will know that our God reigns and we will move forward in Kingdom expansion.
Even if you are reading this long after this actual event, it’s significance remains. God is getting our attention. And He will continue to do so in the coming days.
Here’s how the Psalmist puts it:
1 Clap your hands, all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome,
the great King over all the earth…
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises;
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble
as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings of the earth belong to God;
he is greatly exalted.
Psalm 47 (NIV)
