“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8
From a prophetical standpoint, the mention of the trumpet, and its specific, powerful and clear sound, is significantly important as it announces God’s timing for certain events that shall certainly occur on this earth in the last days. When Joshua and the people of Israel were confronted by the defiant walls of Jericho, that gateway into Canaan, the call of God was for trumpets to be blown in the process of taking the city. This the priests would do every day for seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. It was then that the Lord instructed the people: “…that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall flat.” (Joshua 5:5) The sound of the trumpet was not only a sign that God would do something, but that the time had come for Him to do it.
We were not there that day when the sound of the trumpet sounded, and the people shouted, and the wall fell flat, but the trumpet still is sounding today, specifically with regard to announcing that God is working, and that the time of His working has come. Why do we need to address the matter of the trumpet? It is for the reason that the Apostle Paul brings before us, that of the necessity of hearing clearly, and precisely the word of the Lord from the Scriptures, a word that is quickened or made alive by the Spirit of God, gripping our hearts, and making them to burn as Christ by His Spirit speaks to each believer. The trumpet is that clear, sounding, powerful conviction that comes with the revelation of the will of God at a precise moment, a moment that demands not only the believer’s attention, but his clear, precise, and whole-hearted response. At the time of the trumpet’s sound, when God speaks to the heart in quiet and powerful clarity and conviction, the disciple of Christ is called upon to rise up, put his armor on, to go forth and follow Christ into His battle, where His victory has already been won, but which we are to be participants in the manifestation, or realization of it.
In the first chapter of the book of Joshua, we see that Joshua is having one of those “trumpet” moments, for God calls him specifically, powerfully, clearly, and convincingly, announcing that the time has come to “…go over Jordan, and all this people, unto the land which I do give them, even to the people of Israel.” (1:2) The time for the conquest of the promised land had come. Joshua is not to look back at his predecessor, Moses, for he is dead. Christ alone is to be the object of Joshua’s vision, and faith. In Joshua’s calling, as well as that of the people, concerns a “measure” of land that is promised, precisely vast and good to be conquered. God makes this very clear, and yet, within the limits of the will and calling of God, victory is promised wherever one walks, and over every enemy which will be encountered. The essential, fundamental factor for success that must never be compromised, or neglected, is communion with God, this being maintained by the study, and meditation of His word daily. The centrality of worship is understood as the ark of the Covenant would remain in their midst, ever going before them. For Joshua whose calling certainly exceeded all that he was and had with regard to natural abilities, the essential of faith in the faithfulness of God was central. Christ made it absolutely clear that in order to fulfill that calling, Joshua had to know the strength which God alone could give, with the unwavering courage to believe and obey God at every turn. Christ’s victory would be assured, declared with the clarity and conviction of the trumpet by His promise.
Dear Father, Speak with trumpet sound. In Jesus’ name, Amen.