A Sound of Remembrance

God rewards people who exercise faith in Him, and this was often demonstrated through obedience to God's word.  The God who knows the secret thoughts and motives of the heart commanded the children of Israel in Numbers 10:9, "When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies."  God was fully aware when His people were oppressed, but they were called to acknowledge their dire circumstances and sound an alarm with the silver trumpets kept in the tabernacle.  They did so because they believed God would hear and save them in battle.

Upon reading this I was reminded of a situation in the life of King Saul who commanded trumpets (shofars) be blown after a battle in 1 Samuel 13:3-4:  "And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!" ⁴ Now all Israel heard it said that Saul had attacked a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel had also become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called together to Saul at Gilgal."  Jonathan, the son of Saul, attacked a garrison of the Philistines who oppressed Israel for years.  Interesting, isn't it:  the silver trumpets were supposed to be blown before the battle, yet king Saul commanded shofars be blown after the fight.  The Law of Moses said the silver trumpets were sounded so God would remember and save His people, yet Saul sounded trumpets to broadcast the attack of Jonathan his son (who feared God) upon enemy Philistines to the people.  This is a classic example of "tooting your own horn," to boast in his accomplishments to impress his subjects--even when the victory had not yet been won.

If we lament over Saul's fall from grace due to pride, we do well to examine our own hearts.  Some of the sins of which we are guilty we recognise as sinful, but there are sins of pride which are as natural for us as breathing:  these are sins all the same.  Better to admit our inability to fight our own battles and cry out to the LORD in humility and patience than to fight for ourselves and boast in a brave attack or even a hard-won victory.  It would have been better for Saul to blow the silver trumpet before a battle than to broadcast a favourable outcome afterward, for all victories are by the grace of God.  How much more appropriate would it have been in that case  for Saul to put the shofars away and offer peace and freewill offerings before God for His faithfulness and help.  Instead of sounding the alarm to seek God's help, Saul sought the recognition and help of man.

David, a man after God's own heart that He made king after Saul, wrote in 1 Chronicles 16:23-29, "Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. ²⁴ Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. ²⁵ For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods. ²⁶ For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. ²⁷ Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and gladness are in His place. ²⁸ Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, give to the LORD glory and strength. ²⁹ Give to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness!"  How good it is to proclaim the good news of God's salvation and ascribe to the LORD glory and strength before the battle rather than taking any credit ourselves after the battle is won.  May our lives be a declaration of God's goodness and majesty as we seek Him and offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto Him.