The Trumpet of Salvation

In this past week, we have heard the trumpet call to remembrance of the Armistice and of the men and women who gave their lives in the defense of our country.

Trumpets played a prominent role in Old Testament life. In rural civil life, it sounded the alarm of impending attack, calling the people together to close ranks, with a common purpose of defense. In religious life, the silver trumpet (shofar) announced special assemblies, feasts and holy days. Then in the month of ‘Tishri’ (October), a rams horn ‘shofar’ was blown to announce the ‘new year’ and to summon the nation to a week of spiritual preparation for the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). The ram’s horn was a reminder of God’s provision of the substitutionary lamb for Abraham to sacrifice instead of Isaac (Gen.22). The week of preparation involves self-examination, repentance and putting-right, but it is God who provides “atonement” (wiping out of the debt).

In the New Testament, the trumpet is rarely mentioned. The civilized world has been ‘Hellenised’; minds and souls are won with words, discussion and debate. Thus John presents Christ as the “word of God”, and the call of the trumpet has been replaced by the call of the preacher. Time and again we read of preaching Christ or the gospel of Christ (eg. Acts 5:42, 1 Cor.1:23). Yet the message is the same as that of the trumpet - there is warning of the danger of falling short of God’s standards, the call to self-examination and repentance, and the good news that atonement, salvation and forgiveness is available from God through His provision of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death.

“If any man have an ear, let him hear” (Rev.2:7,11,29, 3:6,13,22, 13:9).

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