SIMPLE OBJECTS: TRUMPETS

(Message by Tanny Keng)

0. Introduction

a) God often uses simple, ordinary objects to accomplish his tasks in the world. It is important only that they be dedicated to him for his use. What do you have that God can use? Anything and everything is a possible "instrument" for him.

1. Object: Trumpets
(Text: Joshua 6:3-5)

i) 3 You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. 4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him.” (Joshua 6:3-5 NKJV)

2. Who used it?

a) Joshua.

3. How was it used?

a) To flatten the walls of Jericho.

4. What is the text all about?

a) Why did God give Joshua all these complicated instructions for the battle? Several answers are possible:

@1. God was making it undeniably clear that the battle would depend on him, and not upon Israel's weapons and expertise. This why priests carrying the ark, not soldiers, let the Israelites into battle.

@2. God's method of taking the city accentuated the terror already felt in Jericho.

@3. This strange military maneuver was a test of the Israelites' faith and their willingness to follow God completely.

b) The blowing of the trumpets had a special significance. They had been instructed to blow the same trumpets used in the religious festivals in their battles to remind them that their victory would come from the Lord, not their own military might.



The End ...

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