Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Trumpets in Battle

When Gideon heard the account of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, "Arise, for the LORD has given the camp of Midian into your hands." He divided the 300 men into three companies, and he put trumpets and empty pitchers into the hands of all of them, with torches inside the pitchers. He said to them, "Look at me and do likewise. And behold, when I come to the outskirts of the camp, do as I do. "When I and all who are with me blow the trumpet, then you also blow the trumpets all around the camp and say, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.'" So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and smashed the pitchers that were in their hands. When the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers, they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing, and cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" Each stood in his place around the camp; and all the army ran, crying out as they fled. - Judges 7:15-21 NASB

Broken Pitchers like Gideon's Weapon
Another time of trumpets in Israel’s history. Gideon was called by God to lead the Israelites into battle. God helped Gideon choose 300 soldiers and then they did a really unusual tactical movement. Instead of using spears or other weapons, they used trumpets—ram’s horns or shofars—and pitchers which made a terrible racket when they were broken and released the bright light of the torches inside. Between the sound and flash of lights when the pitchers were broken and the wailing shofars the Midianites, confused and fighting themselves, were scared off. Israel won the battle.

God had a plan and Gideon and his troops carried it out. God has a plan for our lives and is there to help us in battle—especially in spiritual battles. But listen for the sound of the trumpet because God may be calling us to repent. He expects obedience—just like Gideon was obedient to God in the battle with the Midianites. Will you be obedient to God? What is He calling you to do?

Prayer ~ Lord God, You said that You would  bless the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and You bless all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. Revelation 1:3. Lord, I am listening to Your words—give me wisdom to hear not only what You say…but to understand what You mean. Then help me to obey like Gideon.

Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 1-3

© 2017 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.

No comments: