CURRENT MOON |
"What" IS the New Moon??
The "new moon" is actually the "beginning" of the phases of the moon cycle. It marks the beginning of each new month.
=The new moon (10th moon of the year) began its cycle on Wednesday, December 04, 2013=
* Psalm 81:3- Blow the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
In the book of Numbers, chapter 9, verse 1, it tells us that YHWH spoke to Moshe (Moses) in the wilderness of Sinai in the first month of the second year after Israel's deliverance from Egypt... that is the time frame of the instruction given to blow the trumpets on their "new moons" (or the beginning of months)...
"And YHWH spake unto Moshe/Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps." (Numbers 10:1-2). The following verses, from chapter 10, tell them how and when to blow them. Verse 10 says, "Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginning of months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your Elohiym: I am YHWH your Elohiym."
Then, in Numbers chapter 28, verses 1-2, YHWH instructed the children of Israel to offer unto Him His offerings in their due season... verses 11-15 deal with the "new moon" offerings-- "And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto YHWH... this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year."
This is pretty much all we have telling us anything about "celebrating" during the new moon; although there are some Scripture references showing where it was observed as a "feast day" (and it still is). Now... I USED to think since Israel is dispersed, and they (and we, who are joined to them through YHWH's covenant) no longer offer animal sacrifices--- that we should blow the trumpets (shofars) in gratitude and thankfulness to YHWH, until He comes and restores Israel; that the blowing of the trumpets (shofars) are "to be a memorial before our ALMIGHTY ELOHIYM". So my conclusion was: as long as one blows the trumpets (shofars) during the new moon as a memorial-- it would please YHWH. HOWEVER... I really don't know anymore *if* we should be blowing trumpets (shofars). That was the for the PRIESTS of Israel to do-- NOT for every Israelite or every Israelite family to do... the PRIESTS blew the shofars FOR the children of Israel. Not only are "they" (and "we") NO LONGER in the land "keeping" the covenant-- MOST of us AREN'T PRIESTS. So, I'm UNSURE and UNDECIDED about blowing the shofars. I'm more inclined to think we should NOT... but that would be for *you* to decide for yourself. I STILL believe we should ACKNOWLEDGE the new moon feast and observe it and celebrate during it-- the WHOLE CONGREGATION was instructed to do that, and we are able to do that as well. But ONLY the PRIESTS were instructed to blow the shofars. Is it ok for "us" to do that now, since there are "no priests" to do it for us? I DON'T KNOW. ?? You decide...
*Note- I, personally, think it is important to talk about "why" the trumpets are-- OR ARE NOT-- being blown, and to teach your children about it (if you have children). Anything else you incorporate into your "celebration" is totally up to you!
Scripture References for the new moon:
*Numbers 10:10; 28:11-15 (above)
*Psalm 81:3 (above)
1 Sam. 20: 5, 18, 24, 27 (gives an account where King Saul, Jonathan, and David were keeping the new moon feast)
2 Kings 4:23 (when the Shu'-nam-mite woman was going to find the prophet E-li'-sha for her son that was ill, her husband asked her about going-- because it wasn't the new moon or the Sabbath)
1 Chr. 23: 31 (Israel instructed to observe the new moons)
2 Chr. 2: 3 (King Solomon's desire to observe the new moons)
2 Chr. 8: 13 (King Solomon observed the new moons)
2 Chr. 31: 3 (Hez-e-ki'-ah appointed offerings for the new moons)
Ezra 3:5 (they observed the new moon)
Neh. 10: 33 (they vowed to observe the new moon)
Is. 1: 13-14 (YHWH speaks to Israel concerning their new moons and feasts, because they had corrupted themselves)
Is. 66:22-23 (A prophecy that in the eternal day, we will observe the new moon feasts and Sabbaths to worship YHWH)
Ez. 45: 17; 46: 1, 3, 6 (A description of the future temple, and the observance of the new moon feast and the Sabbath)
Hosea 2: 11 (A prophecy that Israel's new moon feasts would be taken away by YHWH)
Amos 8: 5 (Israel despised the new moon feasts)
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