In Biblical days, the shofar was used in a variety of ways: The first and most important was to announce the onset of the beginning of the Sabbath and holidays. This was in pre-calendar days when people couldn't always be sure when the festival would begin. It would be used at the coronation of a king, or as a sound to rally to battle. It was used by Gideon (Judges 6 & 7) to confound the enemy, the Midianites, who so outnumbered Gideon's 300 men. It was used by Joshua to bring down the walls of Jericho !

More and more, we find churches incorporating the use of the shofar at the beginning of Sunday services, calling the congregation to prayer. How fitting to use the same instrument with which Jesus was also called to prayer.