◄ Psalm 81:3 ►
Sound the ram's horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.
Study Bible
Sound the ram’s horn
The ram's horn, or shofar, is a significant instrument in biblical tradition, often used to signal important events or gatherings. It is associated with the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16, 19) and the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6:4-5). The shofar's sound is a call to worship, repentance, and remembrance, symbolizing God's voice and presence among His people. It is also used in eschatological contexts, such as the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:1) and the return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

at the New Moon
The New Moon marks the beginning of the Hebrew month and is a time of renewal and reflection. In ancient Israel, it was a day of rest and worship, as seen in Numbers 10:10 and 28:11-15. The New Moon is a reminder of God's creation and His control over time and seasons. It also points to the new beginnings and spiritual renewal available through faith in God.

and at the full moon
The full moon signifies the middle of the month and is often associated with the timing of significant feasts, such as Passover and the Feast of Tabernacles. These feasts are times of celebration and remembrance of God's deliverance and provision. The full moon's brightness can symbolize the fullness of God's revelation and the light of Christ, who is the Light of the World (John 8:12).

on the day of our Feast
The Feast likely refers to one of the major Jewish festivals, such as Passover, Pentecost, or the Feast of Tabernacles. These feasts are times of communal worship, thanksgiving, and remembrance of God's covenant faithfulness. They also foreshadow the ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7) and the one who tabernacles among us (John 1:14). The feasts are a reminder of God's redemptive plan and the future celebration in His eternal kingdom.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ram's Horn (Shofar)
A musical instrument made from a ram's horn, used in ancient Israel for religious and ceremonial purposes, including calling people to worship and signaling important events.

2. New Moon
The beginning of the lunar month in the Hebrew calendar, often marked by special observances and sacrifices as a time of renewal and dedication to God.

3. Full Moon
The middle of the lunar month, which in the context of this Psalm, is associated with the celebration of a feast, likely the Feast of Tabernacles or another significant festival.

4. Feast
Refers to the appointed festivals in the Jewish calendar, such as Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles, which were times of communal worship, remembrance, and celebration of God's provision and deliverance.
Teaching Points
The Call to Worship
The sounding of the ram's horn is a call to worship and a reminder of God's sovereignty. It invites believers to pause and reflect on God's faithfulness and provision.

Significance of God's Appointed Times
Observing the New Moon and full moon feasts underscores the importance of God's appointed times. These moments are opportunities for renewal, reflection, and recommitment to God's covenant.

Community and Celebration
The feasts were communal events, emphasizing the importance of gathering together as a body of believers to celebrate God's goodness and faithfulness.

Symbolism of the Shofar
The shofar symbolizes awakening and alertness to God's presence and purposes. It serves as a spiritual wake-up call to align our lives with God's will.

Rhythms of Rest and Renewal
The regular observance of these feasts and new moons teaches the importance of establishing rhythms of rest, worship, and renewal in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the use of the ram's horn in Psalm 81:3 reflect the importance of worship in your own life?

2. In what ways can the observance of God's appointed times, such as the New Moon, inspire you to create regular rhythms of worship and reflection?

3. How can the communal aspect of the feasts in ancient Israel inform your understanding of the importance of community in your faith journey?

4. What are some modern-day equivalents to the shofar that can serve as reminders of God's presence and call to worship in your life?

5. How can you incorporate the principles of rest and renewal, as seen in the observance of the feasts, into your weekly or monthly routine?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Leviticus 23
This chapter outlines the appointed feasts of the Lord, providing context for the celebrations mentioned in Psalm 81:3, including the blowing of the shofar.

Numbers 10:10
Discusses the use of trumpets in calling assemblies and marking the beginning of months, connecting to the use of the ram's horn in Psalm 81:3.

1 Samuel 20
Describes the New Moon festival, highlighting its significance in the life of Israel and its role in communal worship and covenant renewal.
Sermons
The Consecration of MusicR. Tuck Psalm 81:1-3
A Revelation of Three Great SubjectsHomilistPsalm 81:1-16
Exhortation to Sing God's PraisePsalm 81:1-16
People
Asaph, Jacob, Joseph, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Appointed, Blow, Feast, Feast-day, Festival, Full, Holy, Horn, Month, Moon, Solemn, Sounded, Trumpet
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 81:3

     4212   astronomy
     4654   horn
     4681   ram
     4951   month
     7398   New Moon festival

Psalm 81:1-3

     5421   musical instruments

Psalm 81:1-7

     8609   prayer, as praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 81:3-4

     5595   trumpet

Library
Chapter I Beginning and Early Days of the Orphan Work.
BEGINNING AND EARLY DAYS OF THE ORPHAN WORK. "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."--1 Peter, i. 7. Mr. George Mueller, the founder of the New Orphan-Houses, Ashley Down, Bristol (institutions that have been for many years the greatest monuments of modern times to a prayer-answering God), gives in that most valuable and instructive book, "A …
George Müller—Answers to Prayer

Ask what I Shall Give Thee. 1Ki 3:05
 …
John Newton—Olney Hymns

How Christ is the Way in General, "I am the Way. "
We come now to speak more particularly to the words; and, first, Of his being a way. Our design being to point at the way of use-making of Christ in all our necessities, straits, and difficulties which are in our way to heaven; and particularly to point out the way how believers should make use of Christ in all their particular exigencies; and so live by faith in him, walk in him, grow up in him, advance and march forward toward glory in him. It will not be amiss to speak of this fulness of Christ …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence, …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Heart's Desire Given to Help Mission Work in China.
"Sept. 30 [1869].--From Yorkshire L50.--Received also One Thousand Pounds to-day for the Lord's work in China. About this donation it is especially to be noticed, that for months it had been my earnest desire to do more than ever for Mission Work in China, and I had already taken steps to carry out this desire, when this donation of One Thousand Pounds came to hand. This precious answer to prayer for means should be a particular encouragement to all who are engaged in the Lord's work, and who may …
George Müller—Answers to Prayer

The Fifth Day in Passion-Week - Make Ready the Passover!'
When the traitor returned from Jerusalem on the Wednesday afternoon, the Passover, in the popular and canonical, though not in the Biblical sense, was close at hand. It began on the 14th Nisan, that is, from the appearance of the first three stars on Wednesday evening [the evening of what had been the 13th], and ended with the first three stars on Thursday evening [the evening of what had been the 14th day of Nisan]. As this is an exceedingly important point, it is well here to quote the precise …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Spiritual Hunger Shall be Satisfied
They shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 I proceed now to the second part of the text. A promise annexed. They shall be filled'. A Christian fighting with sin is not like one that beats the air' (1 Corinthians 9:26), and his hungering after righteousness is not like one that sucks in only air, Blessed are they that hunger, for they shall be filled.' Those that hunger after righteousness shall be filled. God never bids us seek him in vain' (Isaiah 45:19). Here is an honeycomb dropping into the mouths of …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Covenanting Adapted to the Moral Constitution of Man.
The law of God originates in his nature, but the attributes of his creatures are due to his sovereignty. The former is, accordingly, to be viewed as necessarily obligatory on the moral subjects of his government, and the latter--which are all consistent with the holiness of the Divine nature, are to be considered as called into exercise according to his appointment. Hence, also, the law of God is independent of his creatures, though made known on their account; but the operation of their attributes …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Man's Inability to Keep the Moral Law
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them, in thought, word, and deed. In many things we offend all.' James 3: 2. Man in his primitive state of innocence, was endowed with ability to keep the whole moral law. He had rectitude of mind, sanctity of will, and perfection of power. He had the copy of God's law written on his heart; no sooner did God command but he obeyed. …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

How Does it Come?
How does the Filling of the Spirit come? "Does it come once for all? or is it always coming, as it were?" was a question addressed to me once by a young candidate for the Baptism of the Holy Ghost. There are many asking the same question. We have considered how the Fullness is obtained, but now we proceed to consider, How does the Fullness come? In speaking of the blessing of being filled with the Spirit, the New Testament writers use three tenses in the Greek--the Aorist, the Imperfect, and the …
John MacNeil—The Spirit-Filled Life

The Nature of Spiritual Hunger
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness Matthew 5:6 We are now come to the fourth step of blessedness: Blessed are they that hunger'. The words fall into two parts: a duty implied; a promise annexed. A duty implied: Blessed are they that hunger'. Spiritual hunger is a blessed hunger. What is meant by hunger? Hunger is put for desire (Isaiah 26:9). Spiritual hunger is the rational appetite whereby the soul pants after that which it apprehends most suitable and proportional …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

Justifying or Sanctifying Grace
Sanctifying grace is defined by Deharbe as "an unmerited, supernatural gift, imparted to the soul by the Holy Ghost, by which we are made just, children of God, and heirs of Heaven." As it makes sinners just, sanctifying grace is also called justifying, though this appellation can not be applied to the sanctification of our first parents in Paradise or to that of the angels and the sinless soul of Christ. Justification, as we have shown, consists in the infusion of sanctifying grace, and hence it …
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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