What Are the 10 Days of Awe?

The Days of Awe is a unique ten-day period that begins on Rosh Hashanah and ends with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Rosh Hashanah is the Hebrew New Year, meaning “Head of the Year.”

The Rosh Hashanah shofar is blown as a call to examine yourself and repent, which leads to revival and renewal of the covenant between your heart and God.

It’s a sacred time of introspection—a time to reflect on and renew your relationship with God. It is also a time to reconcile differences with one another. Many use this time to forgive and restore relationships with family members, friends, and within the body of Messiah if discord was present in the past year.

What Is a Shofar?

A shofar is a ram’s horn trumpet used by Jewish people in ancient times for religious ceremonies and as a battle signal. It is also sounded during feasts and celebrations, such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Jewish tradition holds the belief that judgment is pronounced on each person on Rosh Hashanah, but it is not made absolute or “sealed” until Yom Kippur. Therefore, the Ten Days of Awe are an appointed opportunity to mend one’s ways to alter the judgment in one’s favor.

The actions that can impact this decree are “Teshuvah, tefilah, and tzedakah”—repentance, prayer, and good deeds.

Judgment and Mercy

God is a Just Judge. “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.” —Psalm 7:11

• Judgment: The word carries much weight and negativity. However, you can rejoice in His righteous judgment. Here is the explanation…

Judgment is defined as “a formal utterance of authoritative opinion.” God, being the ultimate authority, is the Righteous Judge.

The Hebrew word for judgment is mishpat. It is the act or procedure of deciding a verdict. In the Bible, it is associated with the justice and righteousness of a God who does not twist or corrupt His power.

God is merciful. “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” —Ephesians 2:4-6

• Mercy: The word reflects gentleness and compassion. In Hebrew, a combination of several words translates as “mercy.” The words are ahavah, rachamin, and chesed. 

The word ahavah refers to God’s unending love for Israel, similar to the love between husband and wife. The word rachamim refers to the womb, as in a connection between a parent and a child.

Another word, chesed, means mercy and steadfast loyalty. Psalm 85 is also associated with the Hebrew word emet, which conveys faithfulness to God’s will.

How Do Judgment and Mercy Come Together?

To rest in God’s authority means that you welcome His instruction and that judgment is your friend and teacher. His instruction turns you to Him, and His judgment is your justification! 

We have been justified by faith, and we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Messiah (Romans 5:1)! Our faith in Yeshua’s sacrifice justifies us, and His Spirit instructs us, turning us back to God–our Friend, Teacher, Father, and Savior! 

Tradition holds that Rosh Hashanah is the Day of Judgment for all of humanity. On this day, man is judged for all his actions, and all that will transpire and occur during the coming year is recorded.

As a Believer, you can view the Days of Awe as a beautiful picture of salvation. Is it not true of each of us that we deserve a judgment that is not in our favor?

And yet, through Jesus, we have the opportunity to repent, to teshuvah, to return to the Lord. 

Is it not also true that this life is but a vapor? The Days of Awe remind us that our days to seek reconciliation with our family and friends are numbered.

We all experience broken relationships, whether from the past or the present. Be intentional during this appointed time to seek to make amends with one another. Begin the New Year with purified hands, a clean heart, and healed relationships. Begin the New Year right with both God and man.

Deepen Your Faith

As you can see, studying and understanding the Jewish roots of Christianity can give you context into the full story you’ve been grafted into. Understanding your spiritual heritage reveals more of God’s character–each of the feasts ultimately points to Jesus, His first coming and His second.

Participation in God’s Holy Days is not about adhering to regulations and legalism; it’s about experiencing more of your Mighty God and Savior. He established these appointed times as Feasts unto Himself.

• “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.” –Leviticus 23:2 (emphasis added)

They are everlasting ordinances, cycles, patterns after His heart for all His people for all time. Joining is not a “have to”; it’s a get-to. 

Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of a new season and a new year. How did God awaken you to wholeness this past year? How can you reconcile with those you love before starting your new beginning? Hear the Lion of Judah roar and align your voice with His. Anticipate that He will carry out His promises in this new season!