What is Rosh Chodesh (New Moon)?

Just as with the other appointments God makes with humanity, Rosh Chodesh, Hebrew for “head of the month” or “new moon,” is another that provides a visible cycle of nature for keeping track of when the celebration will take place.

The instruction for observing the celebration is in the Bible: Numbers 29.

But historically, God’s people would determine the New Moon by the sighting of the first sliver of the waxing crescent by at least two people. Since the Middle Ages, astronomical calculations have allowed for the anticipation of the celebration worldwide.

God doesn’t give us much of a clue as to what He wants to teach us on each New Moon. Visibly the disc of the moon goes through phases from full reflection to full shadow and back again, and wise people have speculated it has something to do with renewal of ourselves. Just as the Creator said He made the first couple in His image and sought to restore them when they foolishly wandered after what they thought was something better, we can remember that He continually recreates us to fully reflect the light — true wisdom and righteous living — that He gives to us.

Unlike those who pay homage to the “mystic rhythms” of the sun, moon and stars because they detect something greater than the sum of the “parts” at work, we worship the Creator of those celestial works of engineering prowess and beauty.

Hallel Fellowship gathers on the New Moon to celebrate God’s blessings, seek His sustaining power in prayer and contemplate a passage of Scripture together. We’ve noticed that by keeping a log of the blessings asked for and received from one New Moon to another that perhaps that is what God is after, wanting us take time to remember Who in our lives really matters above the busyness that saps our energy and time.

After all, the New Moon will factor into God’s plan for the world He will recreate:

“For just as the new heavens and the new earth Which I make will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “So your offspring and your name will endure.
“And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me,” says the LORD.

Isaiah 66:22–23 NASB

If you would like to celebrate the New Moon with Hallel Fellowship, visit the calendar page and look for the scheduled New Moon meeting for each month.

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New Moon in the Bible

• Held first day of the month (Num. 10:10)
• Celebrated with blowing of trumpets (Num. 10:10; Psa. 81:3-4)
• Sacrifices (Num. 28:11-15)
• A SEASON FOR
  • Inquiring of God’s messengers (2nd Kings 4:23)
  • Worship in God’s house (Isa. 66:23; Eze. 46:1)
  • Entertainments (1st Sam. 20:5, 18)
• Observed with great solemnity (1st Chron. 23:31; 2nd Chron. 2:4; 2nd Chron. 8:13; 2nd Chron. 31:3)
• Restored after captivity (Ezra 3:5; Neh. 10:33)
• Mere outward observance of, hateful to God (Isa. 1:13-14)
• Disliked by the ungodly (Amos 8:5)
• The Jews deprived of, for sin (Hos. 2:11)
• Observance of, by Christians, condemned (Col. 2:16; Gal. 4:10) [See this study of these assertions.]

Source: Torrey, R.A., Reverend. “Entry for ‘Feast of the new moon,'” The New Topical Text Book.