Re-Focus

 

On the counter, in my office, sits an unusual item; a rams horn. Another word for this peculiar item is a shofar. It might seem a strange item for a Christian pastor to have, because its use is deeply steeped in the Jewish faith.

The shofar held many purposes in the Jewish faith. It was used to intimidate the enemy, to declare war, and to call people to worship. It is one of the oldest wind instruments in the world made from a ram’s horn.

Jewish tradition links the ram's horn to the ram caught in the thicket and then sacrificed by Abraham in place of his son, Isaac in Genesis 22. It’s an incredible story of faithfulness to God. (If you haven't read it check it out!)

If we read Joshua 6, we see that the army of Israel marched around Jericho to the signal of the shofar causing the walls of Jericho to fall!

In Matthew 24:31 Jesus described a coming day of judgment that will be announced by the blowing of the shofar.

In biblical times, the shofar announced the beginning of each new moon or month.

In local Galilean villages, the hazzan (synagogue leader) announced the beginning of weekly prayers by blowing the shofar.

Sabbath ended with another blast from the shofar.

At the Temple, priests were trained to blow the shofar from a place called the "Pinnacle Corner," or the pinnacle tower. When nearby people heard the sound, they were reminded to confess their sins and to look to God for forgiveness. It makes me think of our time in Lent. In this time leading up to Easter. A time of contemplation.

Why talk about a Jewish horn during this time of Christian contemplation?

Because like the Jewish people of that time, we too need to be reminded. We too need to re-focus our attention towards God.

When the sound of the shofar cut through the hustle and bustle of everyone’s day, their minds and attention turned away from their preoccupation with themselves…and directed their hearts and minds to their heavenly creator.

I think of that when I look at the simple horn sitting in my office.

The other day I was caught up in a million and one worries, plans and thoughts. As my mind swirled like a storm, I glanced over to this simple object sitting on my counter.

The word that came to mind was RE-FOCUS.

Turn to God. Stop what you are doing and redirect your attention to the one who holds you in the palm of his hand.

In Jesus’ life, whether in Jerusalem, at the Temple, or in the synagogues of Galilee, Jesus heeded the shofar's call. Our savior was a Jewish man who followed the scriptures of what we call the Old Testament today. Worship of God was of the utmost importance in Jesus’ life, and so the sound of this simple ram’s horn would have been for him, a deep and profound call to his Father.

What is calling to us today? What are we hearing as we move towards Holy Week, the death and resurrection of Christ? Will we pause to honor this Holy Holiday? Will we reflect on what his death means for our lives? Will we repent and give our lives to the one who gave his so freely for us?

During the crucifixion, Jesus hung on the cross, as the world continued around him. Incredibly, the Bible says at the ninth hour- (3pm), at the moment when the Passover lamb was killed for the whole nation, Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "It is finished. Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46)."

Can you picture the whole city busy in its work, people caught up in their lives….

But suddenly the shofar blows, and those who believe in God stop a moment.

In the quiet, the Lamb of God dies at the instant of the Temple sacrifice.

What a profound way of describing for us what Jesus Christ came to do: He died as our Passover Lamb. To take away the sins of the world once and for all.

Listen for the horn. Pause and remember. Repent and ask God for his abundant forgiveness.

He’s calling to us. Are we listening?

-Pastor Patti

 

You can hear the sound of the shofar here: https://youtu.be/9ht0ailWQf8

Take some time today to listen to this sound and reflect on all that this Easter Season means for us.