Saturday, March 28, 2009
Ashes to the Empty Tomb
Click on the Player below to Listen to the Audio Recording of Today's Devotion...
Click on the Player below to Listen to the Audio Recording of Today's Devotion...
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SHOFAR USES
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point (Pinnacle) of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here. For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'" Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:9-13
In biblical times, the shofar announced the beginning of each new moon or month. The seventh month was announced with longer blasts for the special holy days of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Succoth. On Rosh Hashanah, the shofar was blown a minimum of one hundred times, including a series of thirty blasts indicating the hope of the Messiah's coming.
In local Galilean villages, the hazzan (synagogue leader) announced the beginning of weekly prayers by blowing the shofar. Sabbath ended with another blast on the ram's horn. 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 was not by mistake that the devil led Jesus to the Pinnacle of the Temple to tempt him. Jesus did not fall for Satan’s scripture twisting. He leaves him there until an opportune time. That time is the passion week of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus will indeed cry out in a loud voice, from Jerusalem, not from the temple but from a Cross. IT IS FINISHED! Translated -- He (Satan) is finished!!! Redemption has come!
Prayer
Jesus – you cried out from the cross as you paid my price for sin. You died for me – you have forgiven me – for a purpose, so I can serve you in new ways! Guide and direct me in those ways. Amen
Jesus – you cried out from the cross as you paid my price for sin. You died for me – you have forgiven me – for a purpose, so I can serve you in new ways! Guide and direct me in those ways. Amen
Posted by Tim Hetzner at Friday, March 27. 2009 
Categories: SHOFAR USES
Tags: Ashes to the Empty Tomb
Categories: SHOFAR USES
Tags: Ashes to the Empty Tomb
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