The Sound Of The Shofar

Do you know what a Shofar is? 

It's a ram's horn that is blown as a warning to all who hear it. I had one as a boy, long before I knew what it was, and what it was used for. It has a very distinctive, penetrative sound... almost supernatural... hear it here

The sound of the shofar in Biblical times was the sound of the presence of God – the sound of God coming down to his people from his Holy mountain.  It was so loud the people trembled. 

Sounding the trumpet (shofar) has the ability to stir the heart to repentance. It calls us to return to God. Many Christians forget that the Old Testament is as just as important as the New Testament. 

Whether we realize it not, there is a battle raging, and we are all involved in it. It's not a battle involving countries, cities or states. It's an age-old war between good and evil. The battle is between those who want to walk in the light and those who want to walk in the darkness. We are talking about God vs. Satan. As the days get darker, and evil more pronounced, the time is past to sit on the fence; we must choose our side! Our bubble of self-isolation has been burst! Light and dark have never been more clearly defined... What was once right is now more often seen as wrong, evil is promoted as good.

 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 NIV

Thousands of years ago a battle for the "hearts and minds" of God's people, the Hebrews, raged on the banks of  the western side of the Jordan River at Jericho. This walled city stood as a barrier to the Promised Land. It was the first great stronghold of the enemy that was intent on keeping God’s people from obtaining the promises of God. Its walls were built to withstand anything that an enemy could throw against them. 

What was God's plan to defeat this impenetrable city? Have the priests walk around the walls for once a day for six days, carrying the Ark of The Covenant and on the seventh day, walk around the walls seven times, blowing their shofars. When the assembled Hebrews heard the sound of the shofar they were to shout as loudly as possible; well, we all know the outcome, the impervious walls came tumbling down... read the Biblical account here

The Hebrew word shofar occurs 72 times in the Old Testament and is usually translated into English as trumpet and simply means “ram’s horn.” What could possibly be so special about a ram’s horn? Even though a shofar can be made from the horn of any kosher animal, the ram’s horn shofar is the most desirable type of shofar. The curve of the horn pictures the bent or humble spiritual demeanour of the heart one must have before the Creator and the Holy One of Israel—a heart of contrition and repentance.

The shofar was most commonly used in ancient times to sound a warning, usually blown by watchmen, alert for the enemy approaching. The ancient priests also used to blow the shofar to call God's people to repentance, or to give notice that judgement is afoot. This priestly call was a warning to the people to "get right before God" 

The times we are living in are dangerous and for those who have ears to hear, the shofar is sounding.  

Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the Lord is coming,
For it is at hand:  Joel 2:1 NKJV

The word translated in this verse as trumpet, is the Hebrew word shofar.  

The shofar is blowing, can you hear it?