The Shofar and its signifigance

[hippo's hope is HIM]

^^ So it is a ram's horn.

I know that it is used to invite the Holy Spirit, to call assemblies, and to announce war...but is it symbolic for other reasons??

When did they first use the shofar ?, Is that even how you spell it?

Reason for all the questions is that I was at a prayer meeting for my city, and to start it off, they blew shofars, it was really awesome.

And in chat last night, someone had said that they use Shofars in worship.....so got any input??

[Guest yod]

ah...such a good topic!

The shofar was the only amplified sound that they had in those days. Because it could be heard for long distances, it was used for making many different kinds of announcements.

Different tones and patterns would be interpreted differently by the hearer. It's use was mainly military (literal and spiritual warfare) to warn of approaching danger, to launch an attack, to announce victory

And the term "horn" is used to symbolize strength throughout the OT. In other words, it was believed that the army whose horn was the strongest was the strongest army. Maybe that is why the Midianites were defeated when Gideon's army of only 300 men all blew their shofar at the same time while surrounding them?

Do you remember how they blew the horn as motivator to battle in "Lord of the Rings"? It sort of worked that way.

The only place in the Bible where "horn" was not a shofar is the silver trumpets for Rosh Hashanna (New Year) which begins on the 1st day of the 7th month. Throughout history, many christians who have studied this particular celebration have concluded that it speaks of the rapture. In fact, the 7th Day Adventists began when a Baptist preacher came to this conclusion and encouraged many people in 1844 to sell their belongings and wait with him on rosh hashanah for the Lord's return.

I'm sure Shilo will be getting to that Feast soon enough...

[Ovedya]

Shofar, sho good! :oww:

[Guest yod]

[Guest shiloh357]

The word Shofar means "hollow."

A shofar has no purpose until someone blows through it. It will sit on yourshelf and be absolutely useless without your breath blowing through it.

Likewise, until God picks us up and uses us, we can't really do anything worthwhile. We only realize our true purpose and calling when He picks us up and His breath (the Holy Spirit) fills us. Only through His Spirit do we realize out true potential.

[traveller]

The word Shofar means "hollow."

A shofar has no purpose until someone blows through it. It will sit on yourshelf and be absolutely useless without your breath blowing through it.

Likewise, until God picks us up and uses us, we can't really do anything worthwhile. We only realize our true purpose and calling when He picks us up and His breath (the Holy Spirit) fills us. Only through His Spirit do we realize out true potential.

wow Shiloh - that's one of the greatest illustrations that I've ever heard. Simple, yet dramatic. Thank you. :il:

[Guest shiloh357]

Here is a good Messianic Jewish Article on the Shofar. It gives twelve reasons to blow the shofar. This article is really good

The Shofar is the ceremonial instrument of Judaism. Wherever the Scriptures read "trumpet" they almost certainly refer to a Shofar. Shofrot are made from the horns of kosher animals (except cattle), usually sheep or the African antelope called the kudu. Other animals whose horns can be made into a Shofar include goats and other antelope such as the Oryx. The sounding of the Shofar has many meanings. Here are twelve (courtesy of Messianic Rabbi L. Jacobs).

TWELVE REASONS WE BLOW THE SHOFAR

1. When we hear the shofar we are to remember G-d's Kingship. In ancient Israel the new king's reign was announced with the shofar (1 Kings 1:34). When we blow the shofar we remember that Yeshua is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and we are to be obedient subjects.

2. When we hear the shofar we are to remember to be G-d's worshippers. G-d seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. The shofar is used in worship and in fact heads the list of instruments in Psalm 150 which are used to worship G-d. "Praise Him with the shofar."

3. When we hear the shofar we are to remember our need to repent. The shofar signaled the approach of danger. We are in danger without repentance. "Blow a shofar in Zion and sound an alarm on My holy mountain... consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly. Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning, and rend your heart and not your garments" (Joel 2:1, 12- 13).

4. When we hear the shofar we are to remember the faithfulness of the Patriarch. The shofar is made from a ram's horn. It reminds us of the Akedah, the binding and Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac. Because of this act of faith, G-d promised to bless the Jewish people and give us victory over our enemies. The shofar is a reminder of our covenant with G-d because of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

5. When we hear the shofar we are to remember the binding of Messiah Yeshua, our ultimate Akedah. Abraham prophesied that G-d would provide for Himself the Lamb for the burnt offering (Genesis 22:8). Messiah Yeshua was offered up as the Lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world on that same spot two thousand years later.

6. When we hear the shofar we are to remember the shofar that accompanied the revelation of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai, and that all Scripture is divinely inspired by G-d.

7. When we hear the shofar we are to remember the words of the prophets. I set watchmen over you saying, "listen to the sound of the shofar" (Jeremiah 6:17). Prophets are like a shofar which warn of danger. Israel was judged for ignoring the prophets. There is even greater judgement if we ignore Messiah Yeshua.

8. When we hear the shofar we are to remember the battle alarm for war. "Near is the great day of the L-rd, near and coming very quickly... a day of shofar and battle cry" (Zephaniah 1:14-16). Messiah will return and fight during the greatest battle of all time, the battle of Armageddon. We are in the middle of a battle that has been raging for the soul of humanity. Satan and his fallen angels are fighting for people to share their destiny. Messiah Yeshua is fighting for people to share His eternal destiny.

9. When we hear the shofar we are to remember the end of all warfare. The shofar was blown at the end of battle (2 Samuel 2:28, 18:16). The shofar is a reminder that our final victory is ahead. When King Messiah returns He will end all wars, battles, and injustice.

10. When we hear the shofar we are to remember our resurrection that will take place at Messiah's return when the shofar blows (1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16).

11. When we hear the shofar we are to be reminded of the Jewish people's restoration to the Land of Israel. Messiah Yeshua will gather all of Israel's exiles. "You will be gathered up one by one, O sons of Israel. It will come about also in that day that a great shofar will be blown" (Isaiah 27:13).

12. When we sound the shofar we are asking G-d to remember us. The sounding of the shofar is like a prayer that ascends to G-d's throne saying, "O L-rd, may the sound of our shofar ascend before Your throne. Remember Your covenants, forgive us, save us, and deliver us."

The sounding of the Shofar is commanded particularly for the holiday of Rosh HaShana, which is also called Yom Teruah, "The Day of Sounding (the Shofar)." There are four traditional soundings, or calls - although the exact sequence of soundings is not prescribed but has developed in each Jewish community over the centuries.