Biblical Holidays: Feast of Trumpets

Group Questions:

1. Psalm 81 is a Psalm written about the Feast of Trumpets. I’ve included it with my own notes.

2. God uses many symbols to communicate his redemptive nature. What are some symbols of God’s forgiveness in the Bible?

Some of my thoughts:

–Stones thrown in water.

–The cross itself.

–The empty tomb. (Our sins did not defeat Jesus)

–Baptism. (Water = sins washed away)

–Sweet food. (God made live sweet again.)

–Passover lamb, blood over the doorframe.

–The sin sacrifices, blood was shed symbolizing forgiveness.

–The “scapegoat” in the Old Testament carried away the nations sins.

3. This feast day focuses not only on God forgiving our sins, but on our need to forgive others. What happens when we choose not to forgive?

(Notice: One of the traditions of this feast day is that Joseph was released from prison. Joseph’s life is marked by people being very cruel to him, yet he forgave them and did not harbor bitterness.)

4. Have you ever been to a Trumpets celebration? What was it like?

5. Trumpets focuses on the sweetness of God. What are some things that are “sweet” about God to you? How does God make your life sweet?

(Spurgeon said, “To be forgiven is such sweetness that honey is tasteless in comparison with it.”)

6. Trumpets is a prophecy of the Second Coming of Jesus. Do you think Christians today are looking forward to the coming of the Lord?

Psalm 81:7

Sing for joy to God our strength.

shout aloud to the God of Jacob!

2 Begin the music, strike the tambourine, (Notice joyful celebration)

play the melodious harp and lyre. (Today: Guitar and drum)

(When right with God, want to sing. Ful of joy.

Life is sweet. Spiritually full.)

3 ,

and when the moon is full, on the

4 this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

5 He established it as a statute for Joseph when he went out against Egypt (Tradition: Joseph released from prison Trumpets), where we heard a language we did not understand.

(Better translated: We heard a voice we had not known.” Message come from God.

6 He says, (GOD) “

their hands were set free from the basket.

God interrupts Trumpets: I made life good for you.

How has God lifted burdens off your shoulders?

7 In your distress you called and I rescued you,

(Reminds them: In the past, when you were in trouble, you repented – and I accepted your repentance and rescued you. I Forgave you.)

I answered you out of a thundercloud; (Probably refers to Mt. Sinai)

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

8 “, O , and I will warn you —

if you would but to me, O Israel!

9 You shall have no foreign god among you; you shall not bow down to an alien god. (Throughout year, our hearts lead astray. Get out of focus/Tune.) 10 I am YHWH your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

11 “But my people would not listen to me; (1. Don’t hear his voice)

Israel would not submit to me. (2. His commands are a burden)

12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts

to follow their own devices. (3. Our hearts become hardened)

(Result = The joy is gone. God is work.)

13 “If my people would but listen to me, (LISTEN)

(At the Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud told them to “listen” to Jesus. Matt 17:5)

if Israel would follow my ways,

TO ME. ME. = REPENT.

Question: What area of your life this past year been ignoring God’s voice?

14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their foes! 15 Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever.

16 But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;

with from the rock I would satisfy you.”

HONEY: Life is sweet when you’re close to God.

SATISFY: Life without God, hungry or more. .