Video cover image by 7trumpetsmusicband CC BY-SA 4.0
- What if we had a silver trumpet that we could blow at any time and God would come to our rescue?
- Actually such trumpets really existed!
- We have effectively the same thing if we can understand it.
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Sermon Slides - The Silver Trumpets
Goal
To be motivated to sing praises to God and be empowered in our prayer lives.
Silver Trumpets
The Silver Trumpets
- The Promise regarding the Silver Trumpets
- Stories of them being used
- The New Testament
1. The Promise regarding the Silver Trumpets
Numbers 10:1–10
- The LORD spoke to Moses:
- “Make two trumpets of hammered silver. You will use them for assembling the community and for directing the traveling of the camps.
- When both are sounded in long blasts, the entire community is to gather before you at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
- However, if one is sounded, only the leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans, are to gather before you.
- “When you sound short blasts, the camps pitched on the east are to set out.
- When you sound short blasts a second time, the camps pitched on the south are to set out. Short blasts are to be sounded for them to set out.
- When calling the assembly together, you are to sound long blasts, not short ones.
- The sons of Aaron, the priests, are to sound the trumpets. Your use of these is a permanent statute throughout your generations.
- “When you enter into battle in your land against an adversary who is attacking you, sound short blasts on the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God and be saved from your enemies.
- “Also in the time when you rejoice, such as on your appointed festivals or at the beginnings of each of your months, you must blow with your trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, so that they may serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am the LORD your God.”
CSB with some changes by AMF
1 Chronicles 16
- He (David) appointed some of the Levites to serve before the ark of the LORD,
to offer prayers, songs of thanks,
and hymns to the LORD God of Israel.
- …and to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of God’s covenant.
- That day David first gave to Asaph and his colleagues this song of praise to the LORD:
- Give thanks to the LORD!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations!
- Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds!
- Boast about his holy name!
Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!...
- Recall the miraculous deeds he performed,
his mighty acts and the judgments he decreed,
…
- Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good
and his loyal love endures.
- Say this prayer:
“Deliver us, O God who delivers us!
Gather us! Rescue us from the nations!
Then we will give thanks to your holy name,
and boast about your praiseworthy deeds.”
- May the LORD God of Israel be praised,
in the future and forevermore.
Then all the people said,
“We agree! Praise the LORD!”
Pattern:
- They engaged with God
- on the basis of his covenant faithfulness
- and then his presence came
2. Stories of them being used
2 Chronicles 13 —Attacked by King Jeroboam
- But as for us, the LORD is our God and we have not rejected him.
- Now look, God is with us as our leader. His priests are ready to blow the trumpets to signal the attack against you.
You Israelites, don’t fight against the LORD God of your ancestors, for you will not win!”
- Now Jeroboam had sent some men to ambush the army from behind. The main attackers were in front of the army;
the ambushers were behind it.
- The men of Judah turned around and realized they were being attacked from the front and the rear.
So they cried out for help to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets,
- …As the men of Judah gave the battle cry,
the LORD struck down Jeroboam and all the attackers before Abijah and Judah.
2 Chron 20 —Jehoshaphat
- Then… the LORD’s Spirit came upon Jachaziel son of Zechariah…
- “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Don’t be afraid and don’t panic because of this huge army! For the battle is not yours, but God’s.
- Tomorrow march down against them as they come up the Ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the ravine in front of the Desert of Jeruel.
- You will not fight in this battle. Take your positions, stand, and watch the LORD deliver you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Don’t be afraid and don’t panic! Tomorrow march out toward them; the LORD is with you!’ ”
- Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground, and all the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD and worshipped him.
- Then some Levites… got up and loudly praised the LORD God of Israel.
…
- Early the next morning they marched out to the Desert of Tekoa.… Jehoshaphat stood up and said: “Listen to me, you people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem! Trust in the LORD your God and you will be safe! Trust in the message of his prophets and you will win.”
- He met with the people and appointed musicians to play before the LORD and praise his majestic splendor. As they marched ahead of the warriors they sang: “Give thanks to the LORD, for his loyal love endures.”
- When they began to shout and praise, the LORD suddenly attacked the Ammonites, Moabites, and men from Mt Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
…
- Jehoshaphat and his men went to gather the plunder; they found a huge amount of supplies, clothing and valuable items. They carried away everything they could. There was so much plunder, it took them three days to haul it off.
- On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, where they praised the LORD. So that place is called the Valley of Berachah to this very day.
- Then all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem with Jehoshaphat leading them; the LORD had given them reason to rejoice over their enemies.
- They entered Jerusalem to the sound of stringed instruments and trumpets and proceeded to the temple of the LORD.
- All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the LORD had fought against Israel’s enemies.
- Jehoshaphat’s kingdom enjoyed peace; his God made him secure on every side.
3. The New Testament
Acts 16
- About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the prisoners were listening to them.
- Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken,
and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose.
Acts 4
- After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything…
- When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God
- …And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness…
- When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.
Three steps
- Praised God for his faithfulness and for his promises
- Prayed for his help
- God’s presence came dramatically—the place shook
So what is our motivation for praising God?
- Because he is good
- Because he delights in our praises
- Because it brings his presence
2 Chron 5 —Singers fall down
- The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the LORD with one voice.
Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they loudly praised the LORD, singing:
For he is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
The temple, the LORD’s temple, was filled with a cloud.
- The priests could not stand because of the cloud; the LORD’s splendor filled God’s temple.
Suggestion
- Remember some specific incidents when God has helped you and thank him for them
- Start to sing songs of praise to him, about his character and promises
- Bring your request
- If you want God’s power in your life, and his presence in your life, then blow the silver trumpet!
- We blow the silver trumpet by singing praise to him in an engaged way.
- Actually singing them to him!
Updated on 2021-07-20 by Andrew Fountain
