Judges 7:1-8:17 Luke 23:13-43 Psalm 97:1-98:9 Proverbs 14:7-8
As a French horn player, I cannot imagine using a horn to lead a battle against an army of tens of thousands. I do, however, notice that the French horns start playing at the high points of many films. In fact, a former French horn player from Hillcrest Church moved to Los Angeles to play just such dramatic parts for movie sound tracks in Hollywood. There’s something about that sliding change of pitch you get on a horn that tells you the good guys are about to win! Dah dahhhhh! Dah dahhhh. Can you hear it? Be ready!
In our One Year Bible reading today from Judges chapters 7 and 8, we read the exciting conclusion to the story of Gideon. He has risen from his humble fear-filled beginning to become the fearless leader of the 300 Israelites who blew their rams’ horns, broke their clay jars, held their torches high and yelled, “A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!” With that began God’s awesome conquest of over 120,000 enemy soldiers! Psalm 98:6 in today’s readings says, “With trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn, shout for joy before the Lord, the King.” Gideon and his troops did just that. They blew the rams’ horns and God provided the victory!
Gideon’s victory, with the horns blaring, is a great word of encouragement for us. Gideon’s story proves that God can use any of us, and any number of us, to accomplish great things for His kingdom. As a horn player myself, I know that Gideon’s victory also foreshadows the final victory for all who put their faith in Jesus Christ. The trumpet or ram’s horn refers to the shofar. The shofar is still used today in church’s and synagogues and we look forward to the day that Jesus will return with the sound of the trumpet/shofar: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore, encourage each other with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).
Our New Testament reading for today has a clear word for anyone who has not yet decided to be listening for that final shofar blast and to put their faith in Jesus Christ, the one and only way to eternal life in heaven. In Luke 23:42-43, a thief on the cross turns to Jesus and says, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Friends, be listening for the horns blowing, not just on movie sound tracks, but for that day when Jesus comes back. No matter what your life may have been like up until today, you can choose to be with Jesus in paradise! You can also choose to be a leader bringing others to that saving knowledge of Christ.
Encourage each other with these words!
Pastor Paul
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