The Shofar in praise and prophecy today.

The Shofar, or trumpet as it is called in most Bible translations, is largely now used as an instrument of praise to God. Blown by God Himself first on Mt. Sinai giving the Law to Moses and in turn to Israel, the Lord God blew it again at Pentecost with the resulting sound of a rushing mighty wind. He will blow it again in Israel at the Day of the Lord. (Zech. 9:14; Matt. 24:31)

It is natural for a child to imitate his Father. If our heavenly Father blows a shofar on different occasions, we should too. The apostle Paul tells the Ephesians to “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children.” Indeed, Jesus Christ, God the Father’s Son, is heard in the book of Revelation sounding like a trumpet to John, giving him the prophetic vision of future events. John earlier recorded in his gospel Jesus shouting and raising the dead with healing power as Lazarus walked out of the tomb. This prefigures the shofar and voice command yet to come for the living and dead among us. .

The way shofars are blown give different meaning to its voice. A Hebrew word translated “Jubilee”, when shofars are blown, for instance is “Teruah” and means to blow, rejoicing loudly and its root means “joyful noise”. Yet this word is derived from “Ruach”, meaning “breath or spirit’. We all have a windpipe (shofar) built into our chest and are enjoined to “Shout unto God with the voice of triumph”. (Ps. 47:1) Verse 5 says that God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Yes, God “Meets him that rejoices. .

A long note blown is called the “Tekyiah”. This word means to thrust as with a knife, to clap or strike and blast. Spiritual warfare is done with the shofar in this way.

When we blow the shofar we scatter and confuse the enemy. Satan does not know if it is we who are blowing it or the angels who have come to the battle alongside us or the Lord Himself.

No wonder the Lord God placed the musicians and singers in the front of the army in battles, for instance 2 Chron. 20. Joshua placed trumpets ahead of the Ark at the Jericho campaign. The people shouted with a great shout (their built-in shofars) and the priests blew the trumpets. Down came the walls. (Joshua 6:20) See also Judges 7:20. Go, and do thou likewise.

So, as ancient Israeli priests blew the shofars over sacrifices, calling an assembly for repentance or for battle, we, as New Testament kings and priests should do the same. We lift up our voice like a trumpet and give the sacrifice of praise from a pure heart. We call the assembly. We scatter the enemy. We sound the alarm on the Holy mountain in the Spirit and call the nations to repentance with the shofar. We warn them of the coming Day of the Lord. This is the shofar in praise and prophecy today.

by Rev. Tom Cubberly
October 27, 2005