“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting… But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the Lord your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the Lord your God.'” Numbers 10:1-3,7-10
How useful the silver trumpets! How sweet and pure and strong their sound! Their hearty blast summoned and warned and directed the people, in each instance a lovely attention draw to the LORD. Punctuating the dry eastern air, trumpet blows signaled gathering, movement, the taking up of arms, divine protection, and celebration. Each blast would remind them the LORD was their God.
Is there a perpetual signal in our lives that recounts the abiding presence of the Lord? He is nigh in every breaking of camp, every regrouping, fracture, or reassignment of home, career, and schedule. He attends our every assembly of worship, discussion, collaboration, instruction, and disagreement. He resides over every war, injustice, and grief, His comfort near in every oppression of body and spirit, every threat of disruption or loss, every attack of betrayal, disappointment, or loneliness. Do we sound the trumpet to remind ourselves, to prompt gladness and praise because He is our God in the midst?
How might we incorporate the trumpet blow into our beginnings and resolutions, our going forth and our giving up? We can discipline ourselves to praise Him at the fore of every day, enumerating His goodness and promises, and offering ourselves as living sacrifices in practical worship and work. We can regularly pause to be glad, note gladness, speak gladness, and spread gladness wherever we are. No matter what a day holds, it can be a day peppered with gladness because we know the One who holds it and works His will for good and glory. (Isaiah 43:7; Romans 8:28; 12:1; Colossians 3:23; James 1:2)
Imagine the effect on others and the atmosphere around us if we chose to blow our trumpets by exalting God’s name and sounding off His love and grace with a smile. Who will we remind, with the countenance of gladness and peace, that the LORD is God?
Lord, may every day be the day of my gladness in You. Attune me to hear Your call to stay or to move, to battle or rest or sacrifice, all with grateful and willing heart so You are the One glorified.
As the rain and snow 