Leviticus 23:23–25

The words "the LORD spoke to Moses" introduce a new subject here. Let me say in passing that this gives an interesting help in classifying the subjects of the entire chapter. The first communication covers the Sabbath, the Passover, and the feast of unleavened bread. The second covers the wave sheaf, the wave loaves, and the ungleaned corners. After that comes a long interval that passes unnoticed, and then the stirring feast of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month.

The Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of First-fruits, and Pentecost were the first four. These all came close together. Then there was an interval of about four months, during which there was no "Feast of Jehovah" and no "holy convocation" of the people at Jerusalem. A long pause fell between the Feast of Pentecost and the next feast, the Feast of Blowing of Trumpets. Through all of it Jehovah sent no fresh call to His people. The Lord had a purpose in this, and a lesson for us to learn. The meaning is perhaps that the first four feasts picture truths already fulfilled, while the last three picture truths not yet fulfilled. The long gap between Pentecost and the next feast perhaps pictures the more than 1900 years from the day of Pentecost to our own day.

God is inaugurating a fresh testimony. The trumpet is clearly a figure of His intervention to announce some signal change. It may be for judgment, as we find in some cases; it may be a distinct testimony in grace, as we know elsewhere. It is clearly a loud summons from God to people on the earth. Here, as we read, it is not merely a blowing of trumpets, but "a memorial" of blowing of trumpets. It is a recall of what had long passed out of memory — God calling to mind what had once been before Him, but long dead and gone.

The Feast of Trumpets is God's taking up Israel afresh to awaken them. Plainly then this feast comes after Passover and Pentecost, and stands quite apart from them. Those two are where our interest lies. So the first thing disclosed in it is God's loud summons to a people who once had a place before Him and again come into remembrance for mercy, not judgment.

"For the calling together of the assembly." This was the first occasion of their use. These trumpets were made of silver. That suggests that whatever Jehovah says to His people, He says it on the basis of redemption. In Luke's record of our Lord's discourse — one about events that fall at the same time as the feast of trumpets — we hear Him say, "your redemption is drawing near" (Luke 21:28). Comparing this with Matthew's account of the same discourse we read, "And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other" (Matt. 24:31). This is the answer to "the calling of the assembly." What is more, they are called to redemption, as the silver would show.

At this feast Israel are again reminded that their blessings do not come from their labours, but from the sacrifice of Christ. All their efforts to establish themselves in the land will prove useless. Disappointment and judgment will follow their toil and conflicts. If they are to have a sabbath they must learn to "do no servile work," and instead to "offer an offering made by fire to the LORD." Christ has done all the work, alone upon the cross.

A new subject starts here with the words, "the Lord spoke to Moses"... after that we have a long unnoticed gap, and then comes the stirring feast of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month. This command leads us on to the time, now fast approaching, when the remnant of Israel will "blow the trumpet" for a memorial, calling to mind their long-lost glory, and stirring themselves up to seek the Lord.

Notice that, strictly speaking, all the feasts are pictures of what happens on earth and in connection with Israel. The one possible exception is the eighth day of tabernacles. The church period, as such, is the stretch of time from Pentecost to the seventh month.

At the very start of this closing period of God's dealings, what do we read? "A memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets." God is beginning a fresh testimony. The trumpet is clearly a picture of His stepping in to announce a major change. It may be for judgment, as we find in some cases; it may be a distinct testimony in grace, as we know elsewhere. It is a loud summons from God to people on the earth.

It is helpful to notice that the word "memorial" here means "a remembrance." It is the same word used of the twelve stones taken out of Jordan. Will not the moment of Israel's awakening bring many things to their remembrance? "The first day of the month" points to a new beginning. Not in the first month as when God first led them out of Egypt but the seventh month, their second new beginning.

It is a recall of what had long passed out of memory. It is God calling to mind what had once been before Him, but long dead and gone. It is the recall of His ancient people on the earth. The Jew is brought into remembrance before God again. Hundreds, one might say thousands, of years had passed since they had stood before Him as His people. The return from Babylon was only a partial work. As a whole, Israel never returned, but stayed scattered across the world.

Israel had lost God's blessing through their own fault. The people should have reflected the light of the glory of the Lord, just as the moon reflects the sun, but that light had disappeared. Now the new moon, an image of the restored people, had begun to reappear. The full splendour of this light was not yet visible, but this first quarter moon pointed to the future display of the glory of the people of God.

We read this command to do no ordinary work at nearly every feast... it shows that in all God's dealings with man, with His heavenly people or with His earthly people, we can do nothing. Israel's return will not be our work, and it will not be the work of the Jew. It will be the work of God, Who will blow the trumpet.

Here, in the blowing of trumpets in the seventh month, we have the set time to favour Israel. Closely linked with it is the great day of atonement... Here alone Israel sees her sins put away by the One she has rejected until now, though He was offered long before... So the way opens for the feast of ingathering, when the people can enjoy the triumph of grace to the full.

The words "the Lord spoke to Moses" introduce a new subject here, and this helps us sort the subjects of the whole chapter. The first message gives the Sabbath, the Passover, and the feast of unleavened bread. The second gives the wave sheaf, the wave loaves, and the ungleaned corners. After that we have a long unnoticed gap, and then comes the soul-stirring feast of trumpets, on the first day of the seventh month.

The Feast of Trumpets is God taking up Israel afresh to awaken them. Undeniably then this feast is after and quite distinct from Passover and Pentecost, in which we have our interest. So the first thing disclosed in it is God's loud summons to a people who once had a place before Him and again come into remembrance for mercy, not judgment.

The blowing of trumpets signifies the regathering of Israel back to their land. Matthew 24:31 shows it: "And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." The trumpet speaks of clear, declared testimony. The Jews, so scattered for centuries, will be awakened to return to their land.

So the blowing of trumpets was another "holy convocation." Again, the people were to do no customary work. Human energy will have nothing to do with this great regathering of Israel (v. 25). It will be the work of God alone.

We read this command to do no ordinary work at almost every feast. Here it stands in very close connection with the blowing of the trumpet. It shows that in all God's dealings with man, with His heavenly people or with His earthly people, we can do nothing. It is not our work, and it will not be the work of the Jew that they return; it will be the work of God who will blow the trumpet.

The feast of trumpets is a distinct feast, and it is not directly connected with the land. There was an offering made by fire — God was acknowledged in the sacrifice — but the blowing of trumpets is what characterises it.

Notice that the word "memorial" here means "a remembrance." … "The first day of the month" shows a new beginning. Not in the first month, as when God first led them out of Egypt, but the seventh month — their second new beginning. On this day they have "a rest." … It seems that a moment is coming when they will lay down the things they are so busy with today, commercialism and politics. Then, at rest, they will have time to review their position in the sight of God. … What is more, Jehovah will get His rightful place among them again, as shown in the "offering by fire to Jehovah."

On the first day of the seventh month there is the feast of trumpets. This is the day of the new moon, speaking of a weak testimony raised up by the Lord. This testimony will grow steadily until the day of atonement on the 10th of the month (in repentance). Following this, the feast of tabernacles starts on the 15th of the month — at full moon, speaking of a full testimony.