Are You Ready for the Trumpet to Sound?
Good Morning Friends,
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son. However, since Christ died on Passover to make us holy (Unleavened Bread) and rose on First Fruits, and since the Spirit came at Pentecost, it is intriguing to think that Christ will come again on Trumpets. Are You Ready for the Trumpet to Sound?
Scripture: [God] has made everything suitable for its time.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NRSV)
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Make two silver trumpets; you shall make them of hammered work; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation, and for breaking camp. When both are blown, the whole congregation shall assemble before you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if only one is blown, then the leaders, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall assemble before you. When you blow an alarm, the camps on the east side shall set out; when you blow a second alarm, the camps on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered, you shall blow, but you shall not sound an alarm. The sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets; this shall be a perpetual institution for you throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, so that you may be remembered before the Lord your God and be saved from your enemies. Also on your days of rejoicing, at your appointed festivals, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over your sacrifices of well-being; they shall serve as a reminder on your behalf before the Lord your God: I am the Lord your God.
Numbers 10:1-10 (NRSV)
Speak to the people of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of complete rest, a holy convocation commemorated with trumpet blasts. You shall not work at your occupations; and you shall present the Lord’s offering by fire.
Leviticus 23:24-25 (NRSV)
Message: Today… according to the Hebrew day that began at sundown and goes to sundown… is the Festival of Trumpets. It is called Rosh Hashanah and it is a celebration of the new moon and the New Year for Jews. It is a time for the blowing of the Shofar and a time to contemplate God as not just our Father but also our King. It is interesting that yesterday was world communion Sunday. We had the fruit of the vine and bread, but today those celebrating Rosh Hashanah have apples and honey. The symbolism is strong. But I am a Gentile and not a Jew. Replacing their holiday with my own just seems to miss the mark. Still in some ways I might be redeemed a bit by learning more and seeing what God might do. The Festival of Trumpets is the fourth in a series of seven Hebrew festivals. Look it up in Leviticus if you like. You will learn that on this day people are called to a holy convocation to celebrate God… and perhaps for Christians celebrate Him because He could show up any minute. So it is a good time to stop worrying about all the stuff in your life and a good time to start praying. Today’s devotional calls us to wake up to a new way of thinking, a new way of behaving, to a truth that is unfolding, something to be experienced. It is a new year. And here our purpose is to practice and experience a whole series of obedient moments with God so that He can work us into His harmony. The spiritual discipline of the celebration is to bring peace…the Hebrew concept of Peace. Not the space between war but the Shalom, the risk and fight of being a peacemaker so that the gap that separates us from God is gone. We are to be God’s people even though we are for the most part Gentiles. We are to be made complete and blameless at the same time together. The sin that separated us has been forgiven. Perhaps Christ the King needs to come back to rule over us. So perhaps today would be a good day to practice beginning with the end in mind.
Pray in the sounding of the trumpet that we remember that God will never leave nor forsake us. Pray that in reading and contemplating God’s Word that all the loose ends and experiences of our life can become connected for a Holy purpose. Pray for Jerusalem as a great place of pilgrimage for the people of God to worship the King of Kings. Pray for it as a place of blessings and justice…a holy place. Pray for a time of undeniable holiness. Pray for a day when the most common of things would be claimed by God. Pray that every trumpet we hear be a call to worship. Pray that the sacred and the common become one. Pray that the Kingdom of the World become the Kingdom of the Lord and of Christ. Pray that before we make our final crossing of the River Jordan into the Promised Land that we worship the King of Kings giving thanks for His faithfulness and the future blessings He has promised. Pray we always be listening for the trumpet.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 