Shofars in Christian Contexts

[DeanZF]

Psalm 100 & The Shofar



Our psalm for today's service was actually my very first experience with the Psalms when I was a child. That simple set of verses impacted my little heathen heart even then, so it's kind of special to me.



And here it is again! And in a very different context.

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands!

Or some would prefer "all you nations", strongly implying all the people groups on the planet, not merely the ground and certainly not merely the nation Israel. This is also shout joyfully, call loudly, shout for joy. One version says, "Shout praises to the Lord, everyone on this earth!"



There is a time for piety and for quiet reverence. The various words of praise tell us that plainly. However, there is also a place for loud, raucous, extreme, exhuberent expressions of praise. When this empty vessel of a shofar is raised to the lips, there is the hope or even the promise of a joyful noise being made unto the Lord and unto all the lands, calling them into joyous celebration of our God and Who He wants to be in our lives.



And look how this psalm ends:

For the LORD is good;

His lovingkindness is everlasting

And His faithfulness to all generations.

We are part of that "all generations" that the psalmist names, just as we are part of the "all ye lands" mentioned in the first admonition to praise Him.



Dare we not obey?