The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound by the great river Euphrates." Rev. 9:13, 14.
In the fifth trumpet a demonic plague brings humanity to the point at which a great number of people seek death but cannot find it (Rev. 9:1-6). The sixth trumpet grants a third of humanity their wish. As horrible as the sixth trumpet is, the passage begins with a voice from the four horns of the altar. Scripture presents the horns of the altar as a place of mercy.
When David reached about 70 years of age, his health deteriorated and his control over the kingdom diminished. Instability threatened as his sons jockeyed to take his place as king. Adonijah, next-oldest son after Absalom, gained the support of Joab, head of David's army, and of Abiathar the high priest. Since both men had been loyal to David during Absalom's rebellion, Adonijah seems to have assumed that he had David's support. But key people in the army and among the priests did not join in Adonijah's "coronation" outside Jerusalem (1 Kings 1:5-10).
Nathan the prophet conspired with Bathsheba to get David involved (they alone seem to have known David's preference for Solomon, his son with Bathsheba). David decided to transfer the throne to Solomon immediately. So Zadok, the second-high priest, anointed Solomon king, and, to great celebration, Bathsheba's son sat on David's throne in Jerusalem. After a blast of trumpets a mighty crowd chanted, "Long live King Solomon!" (verses 11-40).
The noise of this rival coronation drifted south to where Adonijah and his followers were also celebrating. "What's with all this noise coming out of the city?" Joab demanded (verse 41). At that moment Abiathar's son arrived with the news of David's action. In an instant Adonijah's guests fled for their lives. Left alone, Adonijah could think of only one thing to do. He went directly to the sanctuary and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, invoking God's protection on his life. Solomon respected the action and let him live, on condition of good behavior in future (verses 42-53).
As horrible as the sixth trumpet is, mention of the horn of the altar puts a touch of mercy into the plague. The door to salvation has not yet closed. As the earth slides into the final stages of self-destruction, it is still possible to hear the voice of Jesus and to repent. When life causes us to hit bottom the way Adonijah did, the only sensible thing to do is hang our helpless souls on the mercy of God.
Lord, "nothing in my hand I bring, simply to They cross I cling." I choose today to lay aside pride, achievements, status, and success. I look to You for all I need.
In the fifth trumpet a demonic plague brings humanity to the point at which a great number of people seek death but cannot find it (Rev. 9:1-6). The sixth trumpet grants a third of humanity their wish. As horrible as the sixth trumpet is, the passage begins with a voice from the four horns of the altar. Scripture presents the horns of the altar as a place of mercy.
When David reached about 70 years of age, his health deteriorated and his control over the kingdom diminished. Instability threatened as his sons jockeyed to take his place as king. Adonijah, next-oldest son after Absalom, gained the support of Joab, head of David's army, and of Abiathar the high priest. Since both men had been loyal to David during Absalom's rebellion, Adonijah seems to have assumed that he had David's support. But key people in the army and among the priests did not join in Adonijah's "coronation" outside Jerusalem (1 Kings 1:5-10).
Nathan the prophet conspired with Bathsheba to get David involved (they alone seem to have known David's preference for Solomon, his son with Bathsheba). David decided to transfer the throne to Solomon immediately. So Zadok, the second-high priest, anointed Solomon king, and, to great celebration, Bathsheba's son sat on David's throne in Jerusalem. After a blast of trumpets a mighty crowd chanted, "Long live King Solomon!" (verses 11-40).
The noise of this rival coronation drifted south to where Adonijah and his followers were also celebrating. "What's with all this noise coming out of the city?" Joab demanded (verse 41). At that moment Abiathar's son arrived with the news of David's action. In an instant Adonijah's guests fled for their lives. Left alone, Adonijah could think of only one thing to do. He went directly to the sanctuary and grabbed hold of the horns of the altar, invoking God's protection on his life. Solomon respected the action and let him live, on condition of good behavior in future (verses 42-53).
As horrible as the sixth trumpet is, mention of the horn of the altar puts a touch of mercy into the plague. The door to salvation has not yet closed. As the earth slides into the final stages of self-destruction, it is still possible to hear the voice of Jesus and to repent. When life causes us to hit bottom the way Adonijah did, the only sensible thing to do is hang our helpless souls on the mercy of God.
Lord, "nothing in my hand I bring, simply to They cross I cling." I choose today to lay aside pride, achievements, status, and success. I look to You for all I need.
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