PROCLAIM

If you had to guess what Scripture names as the most-mentioned musical instrument...what would you guess?

Yesterday's SS lesson was great; I'm smitten with my teacher.  We were talking about what will happen when the Lord returns.  And that will include the Final Trumpet call of God.

Now do you know the instrument?  It's the shofar, an instrument which has not changed in 5,000 years.

Of course, God doesn't change, either.  It gives me comfort to know that He is the same THOROUGH and INSTRUCTIVE God yesterday, today, and forever.

He gave instruction that the shofar be made from a hollow-horned bovid, such as the ram.  Yemeni Jews also use the kudu, which is long and twisted.  The purpose of the instrument is to proclaim the message "awake, sleeper!"

In Old Testament days, the blast of the shofar was used in battle as well as in the temple to announce festivals, the new moon, and the new year.  Joshua used the shofar at Jericho when the walls came down. Moses went up on the cloud-encircled Mt. Sinai while the people below partied with a golden calf.  But when they heard the blast of the shofar, Scripture says they trembled.

Today Jews use the shofar primarily for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.  And silver trumpets also play a part in worship.  Sometimes both instruments play together and other times, worship calls for them to play alone.  There are different sound patterns which convey differing messages.  The shofar's short blast is to awaken/stir...a series of broken notes represent hearts broken over sin...an alarm sound of staccato notes warn of the enemy's approach...and a long blast was for a coronation.

When believers read 1Thessalonians 4:16, 17 we know we will hear God's trumpet.  And we wonder if that will be a silver trumpet or the shofar?  There are differing opinions and God will do as He pleases... but I'm going with the shofar.  Here's why:

JEWISH TRADITION

Abraham was told to cut off the horns of the sacrificial ram 

that took Isaac's place.  He used the left one (The First Trump) 

and throughout generations, it was supposedly
passed down from Abraham through Moses.  

Jews believe that the right horn (aka The Last Trump) 

will be the one blown to announce the Messiah one day.

REASON

Christians might reason that the silver trumpet was used for
 occasions such as calling to assembly and breaking camp.  

But the shofar was used for matters of heart.

We also reason that the silver trumpet is man-made, 

while the shofar is from the "God-made" ram.  

That reminds us that when God told Solomon how to build His temple, 

instead of choosing man-made bricks, He chose stones that He had made.

Is there a spiritual application to all this "shofar talk"?  In order for the shofar to be made ready for use, it first needed cleanup (the removal of skin/blood/flesh).  Then the inside rough edges had to be sanded down in order for the best possible sound...an opening sufficient for the "Breath of life" to flow through.  Isn't that our story?

The entire life of the ram (from being used as a sacrifice to the finished instrument) was used in the praise of God.  Could we have a more glorious purpose than to be living shofars, announcing the coming of the King?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VI3xVpCiMM