The ram's horn, known as the shofar (from the Hebrew root meaning "beauty") is one of the oldest Jewish symbols. The Torah states that the giving of the Ten Commandments was preceded by loud shofar blasts upon Mount Sinai. Joshua brought down the walls of Jericho with shofar blasts. The shofar was used in Biblical times to proclaim the Jubilee year and Rosh Hashanah, to accompany other instruments, to induce fear, to call the people to war, to escort processionals, and to solemnize coronations. It was an ancient belief that the loud sound from the shofar deterred demons, and Jewish tradition has linked the blowing of the shofar with this function.
Of all the shofar's associations, none has been so enduring as its connection to Rosh Hashanah, the New Moon of the New Year. This holiday continues to center around sounding of this ancient instrument. Although the Talmud permits that shofars be made from the horns of sheep, goat, antelope, and gazelle, as well as the ram, it strongly recommends that the latter be used because of the rams association with the story of Isaac, which is read in synagogues on this festival. When the angel stayed Abraham's knife before it killed Isaac, G-D commanded Abraham to sacrifice a ram instead of his son. In remembrance of Abraham and Isaacs willingness to do G-D's will, the rabbis favored the curved rams horn over the other animals. The curve is said to represent mans will bending to the will of G-D, and his heart bowing to the King. They also forbade the use of cows horn because of the worship of the golden calf recorded for us in Exodus 32.
As believers in Messiah, the words bowing, submission, worship and service come to mind when we consider the curvature of the shofar. The process that believers go through in learning true submission to Y'shua reminds us of the process of making a shofar useful for service.
1. Heat softens the horn and pressure is applied to straighten the end.
We too experience heat and pressure as Y'shua works in our lives.
2. The horn is pressed against the grinding wheel and turned from side to side. As the rough exterior is removed, the beautiful texture is exposed.
3. A drill is used to pen a path for air to flow through the horn so it will make a clear sound.
We are being made into vessels through which the Ruach Hakodesh can flow making our lips produce fruit of thanksgiving to Him.
4. A special polishing compound is used to smooth out the roughness left by the grinding process and to produce a shine.
As we submit to Y'shua, and resist the adversary, He will cause us to shine for Him.
From Biblical times, the shofar has been associated with Messianic redemption. The Midrash claims that the left horn of the ram sacrificed by Abraham was sounded on Mount Sinai and the right horn will be blown "in a time to come at the assembling of the dispersed" by the Messiah Himself. Isaiah prophesied: "An in that day a great horn shall be sounded, and they who were lost in the land of Assyria, and they who were dispersed in the land of Egypt, shall come and worship YHVH on the holy mountain in Jerusalem." (Isaiah 27:13) In the Middle Ages, the legend arose that Elijah would herald the coming of the Messiah by blowing the shofar 3 days before His arrival. The shofar will also announce the resurrection of the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:52)
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