ON THE VANGUARD

HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH!
"You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
Micah 7:19

It may seem funny to announce "Happy New Year" in September, but according to the Jewish calendar, that is exactly what today is. Starting at dusk, or around 6:00pm, Jewish believers will celebrate their new year. So let us take a few minutes to learn the history of this season and how it relates to us today.
Rosh Hashanah kicks off what is known as the high holy season, ushering in the holidays of Yom Kippur and Sukkoth, which I will write about on those dates as well. The purpose of this holy day can be placed in a single word - regathering. It is in this season that we are encouraged to regather into a pure faith in God and repent for sins past. History reveals that on this day, the Israelites were urged to take account of their spiritual condition and make changes needed which would insure the next year would be pleasing to God.
In the forty days between the first day of Elul through the tenth day of Tishri, known now as Yom Kippur, we are urged to prepare ourselves spiritually as we enter this new year. This preparation is based on the dates in history when Moses ascended Mount Sinai and received the second set of Tablets, or Commandments. It is also in this forty day time that rabbis have thought that Jesus went into the wilderness following His baptism. Historical evidence indicates that the month of Elul served as the perfect time of preparation for the greatest spiritual message to ever come to Israel: return to God.
Since the theme of this season is repentance, the shofar is sounded daily to alert the faithful that the time of repentance is near. As evening draws tonight, families will engage in a meal of customary dishes and attend synagogue for the evening service where again the message, music, and prayers will revolve around repentance. In some traditional groups, the following afternoon will be spent near a body of water where the ancient service of Tashlich will occur. Taken from Micah 7:19, people will cast bread crumbs or pebbles into the water to represent their sin, and rejoice in their forgiveness.
There is so much more to write concerning this high holy day, but the theme and purpose have not changed and is not only for the Jewish people. It is a message for us all. As we stand on the brink of a spiritual new year, let us also prepare. I urge myself - I urge you - to take this day and confess any sins to God. Maybe you may even want to throw a few rocks into the lake or river as an outward sign of an inward expression. However is best for you, I encourage you to repent so that as this new year starts we walk into it blameless and blessed by God, and ON THE VANGUARD!