23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
26 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.
28 And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the Lord your God.
29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.
30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people.
31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. Leviticus 23: 23-32 KJV
The blowing of trumpets is a memorial, and some scholars offer what I believe to be a good interpretation based upon the present audience. They have witnessed God on the mount, received the ten commandments and entered into a covenant.
18Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19When the soundof the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.…Exodus 19: 18-20
It is a reminder of the covenant and a call to repent, as we see it moves in to a feast of atonement, a humble and holy convocation, that requires something from the participant that cannot be over stated. The Lord looks for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is a call to sincere affliction, for whatever soul is not found that way, has like Annanias and Saphira or the sons of Aaron, leaned upon their own way and such strange fire. The call to approach is the call to repent and the same for Christians in this day. It is not a call to arrogance or a comparison with your neighbor, but rather a humble appeal to mercy, an approach made in the blood of One who could only approach. It is no mere holiday, we would like to believe there are no eternal implications or that this is another God that we find in the Old Testament. Beg for sincerity, wisdom and love. I think love itself encompasses these things and would admonish such, but we would warm ourselves in the "light" of our own strange fire here as well. We get the call, we repent and soon we will dwell in tents like strangers. What a glorious day!
15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16Let us then approachthe throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15&16
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