The Feast of Trumpets gets its name from the ordained blowing of trumpets which were blown as “a memorial of blowing of trumpets” (Leviticus 23:24). The Hebrew word for “memorial” is zikkārôn. Which – according to the Dictionary of Biblical Languages (DBL) – means “to commemorate” or “call to remembrance.” The Feast of Trumpets symbolizes a future event. How can we memorialize something that has not happened yet?
Zikkārôn also means memorializing our right or claim to an inheritance based on a prior agreement. In other words, we have a right to a future inheritance based on a past covenant. One purpose of trumpets in ancient Israel was to “call” the people together. Our calling was our Father’s trumpet call to each of us now. If we had not been called and enlightened with Our Father’s Holy Spirit, we would have nothing to memorialize and no inheritance to look forward to (Ephesians 1:18-19). Hope generates the kind of conviction and emotion we need to endure patiently to the end and to receive the salvation promised at Christ’s return (Romans 8:22-25).
Hope consists of two basic elements – desire and expectation. Both elements define our level of hope.
For the blowing of the trumpets on this day is about the inheritance and promise God has given to His people. And, if we have both high desire and high expectations, it has already happened in our minds becoming our personal memorialization – our trumpet blasts! In Romans 8:28–29 “… we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Hope consists of two basic elements: desire and expectations
- If we have no desire and no expectation, it is complacency.
- If we have little desire and little expectations, it is a mere wish.
- If we have high desire and no expectations, it is despair.
- If we have no desire and high expectations, it is dread.
- If we have high desire and high expectations, that is hope!
Trumpets is truly a memorial for us now, a memorial of promises that began with our baptismal covenant.
Bill Hutchison