Christene Jackman

. . .Shofarot at the ready, as the cantor called out the type to be blown, we blew our ram's horns, loud and strong. Over and over again the Soundings filled the air, calling the us to repentance, calling the world to repentance. At the last trumpet call, the Tekiah HaGedola (the Great Trumpet), when the note was held out as long as humanly possible, spontaneous applause and shouting/teruah was pulled from our hearts.

Afterward, when we stepped outside, gasps of surprise and awe filled the air as we looked up. There in the eastern sky . . .

As I was trying to find the melody and chords that would reflect his state of mind so many centuries ago, I thought of how David had a such a tender heart towards God.  When he came to himself through the mirror of Nathan the prophet, he would have been devastated. He had betrayed his King, his Elohim, his Faithful One, the Holy One of Israel. In my mind's eye, I can see him weeping, heart-broken on the cold stone floor . . .

Discover a deeper insight into Psalm 49:1 . . .

Many people are surprised to learn the our God, the God of Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya'akov, is a God of Judgment. They prefer to think of Him as a cuddly teddy bear who dismisses sin with a weak wave of the hand. God IS love, yes. But He is also holy, holy, holy. That has not changed. His "eyes are too pure to look on evil." In keeping with His character, He must ...

Therefore thus says the LORD:
"If you return, Then I will bring you back;
You shall stand before Me

If you take out the precious from the vile
You shall be . . .