You Crown the Year
New years’ celebrations transcend lands and cultures. We celebrate the beginning of our year on January 1, a timing that dates back to the Ancient Roman calendar even before Christ was born. Different cultures begin their year at different times and have varied ways of celebrating, but the meaning behind the celebrations are common to all. We reflect on the year gone past, give thanks for what we have in the present, and anticipate what is to come in the next year.
Here in Australia, our new years’ celebrations are very secular. However, for many cultures, the new year is a sacred day, and the Bible is no different. In fact, Jews celebrate not one, but two new years’ festivals! The Passover, commemorating when God led His people out of Egypt in the book of Exodus, doubles as the start of the Jewish ecclesiastical new year. However, the civil new year is celebrated six months later at the Festival of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25). The trumpets represent crowning God as King of the next year.
Our God is a God for whom times and years matter. There is a time for everything under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and the book of Leviticus sets out many annual celebrations and special years. Moreover, as David sings in Psalm 65, God gives us all we need in the proper season: “You crown the year with your bounty.” As we look back on 2025 and look forward to what 2026 has in store, let’s give glory to God, the King of this year and every year.
Happy new year!
James.