And I saw the seven angels who have stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. Rev. 8:2.
One day my friend Jim found himself in Beijing, China, desperately needing a size 11 shoe. Now, getting a size 11 shoe is not a problem in North America or Europe, but it can prove an almost hopeless task in China. Jim browsed around in a large open market that contained many stalls with brand-new shoes, but none of them fit.
At one particular shop Jim finally found a pair of shoes that did fit somewhat, but were not to his liking. The salesperson pleaded with him to buy the shoes and kept coming down in price. Politely Jim thanked him and tried to walk away. The salesperson grabbed his arm tightly and with another tremendous drop in price implored him to purchase the shoes.
After several minutes he escaped the man's grasp and went looking further down the aisle. To his mild amusement, the salesman followed him with the shoes in hand (which had now come down to about $8). Finally Jim bought another pair from the man to end the whole episode. If the man had not been so persistent, Jim would not have bought the shoes. What does this have to do with the seven trumpets?
The concept of trumpets has a rich background in the Old Testament. Six Hebrew and two Greek words are translated as "trumpet" or "blow the trumpet." Of 134 uses in the Greek Old Testament, 75 are in the context of worship, 33 refer to battle situations, and 10 warn that an enemy is approaching (Eze. 33).
The most important of these references is Numbers 10:8-10. The passage tells us that trumpets were sacred instruments whether used in worship or in battle. They called on God to remember His covenant. When He heard the trumpet's call, He would protect and defend His people in battle (verse 9). And as priests blew trumpets over the sacrifices of Hebrew worship, God "remembered" His people and forgave their sins (verse 10).
Thus whenever the priests sounded the trumpets God acted. So the blowing of trumpets was a symbol of covenant prayer. When God's people pray on the basis of His promises, He will respond. He will deliver them from human enemies and also from sin.
On the surface the seven trumpets sound like a litany of war and disaster. But at a deeper level they portray a spiritual concept. They symbolize God's people calling for Him to right the wrongs on this earth. And like the shoe salesman in Beijing, it pays to be persistent.
Lord, help me to renounce retaliation in my everyday life. Help me, instead, to trust You to do what is right and deal with my "enemies" if that becomes necessary.
One day my friend Jim found himself in Beijing, China, desperately needing a size 11 shoe. Now, getting a size 11 shoe is not a problem in North America or Europe, but it can prove an almost hopeless task in China. Jim browsed around in a large open market that contained many stalls with brand-new shoes, but none of them fit.
At one particular shop Jim finally found a pair of shoes that did fit somewhat, but were not to his liking. The salesperson pleaded with him to buy the shoes and kept coming down in price. Politely Jim thanked him and tried to walk away. The salesperson grabbed his arm tightly and with another tremendous drop in price implored him to purchase the shoes.
After several minutes he escaped the man's grasp and went looking further down the aisle. To his mild amusement, the salesman followed him with the shoes in hand (which had now come down to about $8). Finally Jim bought another pair from the man to end the whole episode. If the man had not been so persistent, Jim would not have bought the shoes. What does this have to do with the seven trumpets?
The concept of trumpets has a rich background in the Old Testament. Six Hebrew and two Greek words are translated as "trumpet" or "blow the trumpet." Of 134 uses in the Greek Old Testament, 75 are in the context of worship, 33 refer to battle situations, and 10 warn that an enemy is approaching (Eze. 33).
The most important of these references is Numbers 10:8-10. The passage tells us that trumpets were sacred instruments whether used in worship or in battle. They called on God to remember His covenant. When He heard the trumpet's call, He would protect and defend His people in battle (verse 9). And as priests blew trumpets over the sacrifices of Hebrew worship, God "remembered" His people and forgave their sins (verse 10).
Thus whenever the priests sounded the trumpets God acted. So the blowing of trumpets was a symbol of covenant prayer. When God's people pray on the basis of His promises, He will respond. He will deliver them from human enemies and also from sin.
On the surface the seven trumpets sound like a litany of war and disaster. But at a deeper level they portray a spiritual concept. They symbolize God's people calling for Him to right the wrongs on this earth. And like the shoe salesman in Beijing, it pays to be persistent.
Lord, help me to renounce retaliation in my everyday life. Help me, instead, to trust You to do what is right and deal with my "enemies" if that becomes necessary.
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