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| Volume 26 Number 3 March 2024 |
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| Volume 26 Number 3 March 2024 |
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The Trumpet Must Be Sounded!
Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor
In correcting the abuse of the miraculous gift of tongue speaking, Paul used an everyday illustration that all would have understood. “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8 NKJV). The context is that those who had the gift of tongues were not to use it unless there was an interpreter, because if the language were not known and was not interpreted, the words would seem to be sheer nonsense. The illustration of a trumpet giving a distinct and certain sound was so applicable in Paul’s day because they were used frequently in antiquity.
In Bible times, there were specifically three groups of people who used trumpets with regularity: watchmen, warriors and worship leaders. Trumpets were used by watchmen to warn (Jeremiah 6:1; Isaiah 58:1). Warriors used them to sound the battle alarm (Judges 7:19-20), and trumpets were used by worship leaders to call people to assemble (2 Chronicles 13:12; Numbers 10:8). When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he used the trumpet to illustrate the Word of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Like a trumpet, the Word of Lord must sound forth! Consider the analogy still further.
Like a trumpet, the Word of the Lord must be plain!
When a trumpet sounds forth in the way it is intended to sound forth, there is no question as to what instrument is playing. I have quite an untrained ear to discern instruments and music, but I can always pick out a trumpet. It gives a plain and distinguishable sound, indeed. To the prophet Habakkuk, God declared, “…Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2). God commanded Moses to instruct the people. “And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 27:8). The Word of the Lord does no one any good if all we ever do with it is beat around the bush or stall implementing into our lives. God has a message for humanity, and it must be heard plainly. To the Messianic prophet of old, God commanded, “Now go, write it before them on a tablet, And note it on a scroll, That it may be for time to come, Forever and ever” (Isaiah 30:8). If the Word of the Lord is not spoken plainly, who will prepare his soul for eternity?
Like a trumpet, the Word of the Lord must be public!
I remember clearly one place where my family and I lived for several years was near an obscure grave from the Civil War. The name was barely legible. Every year on Memorial Day, some volunteers would show up at that grave and play taps on the trumpet. That amazing sound could be heard for miles! The Word of the Lord is not meant to be kept hidden or made quiet. The Thessalonians understood this clearly, for Paul wrote that the Gospel had been made so public by them that folks heard it in all of Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thessalonians 1:7). So public was their sounding forth the Gospel that, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The Christians in Rome had done a similar thing (Romans 1:8), as did those in the Colossian church, too (Colossians 1:3-8). Certainly, our Lord’s desire was for the Gospel to be made public (Matthew 28:18-20).
Like a trumpet, the Word of the Lord is powerful!
When it comes to salvation, the Word of the Lord is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25). When we consider our world today, sin’s trumpet seems loud and powerful. In fact, it appears like we hear Satan’s trumpet everywhere. Yet, the Word of Lord is more powerful! Sometimes God’s Word may seem powerless for many because the children of God have not sounded it forth. In my Christian life, I have heard Christians say that sharing Christ with others is done by just living out one’s faith each day. While we must live out our faith, there is no substitution for proclaiming the Word of God. I can live the best Christian example every single day, and those I meet will never be saved until they hear the message that changes lives (Romans 10:13-17). Some attempt to change the Word of God, saying that today it is too offensive and harsh. That, Dear Friend, is a lie from the devil! While a trumpet is beautiful to look upon, you never get the benefit of it until the trumpet is played. It must be taken out of its case and sounded forth in order to hear its power. The Gospel must be opened and heard for all to hear that Divine, amazing power that changes lives and eternity.
Conclusion
Like the trumpet of old that was used by three groups of people, the trumpet, the Word of the Lord, today must be used by three groups as well. Watchmen, who are God’s shepherds (Hebrews 13:17), must sound forth the trumpet of the Gospel. Warriors, who are all Christians, also must sound it forth. In addition, worship leaders (e.g., preachers) must not conceal the power but open it and allow that beautiful message to be heard plainly, publicly and powerfully. The trumpet, God’s Word, must be sounded!
