484. ISA 27:13. THE GOSPEL TRUMPET
Isa_27:13. The Gospel Trumpet
"The great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish."’97Isa_27:13.
Doubtless this prophecy had a literal reference to the restoration of the Jews through the instrumentality of Cyrus. A prophecy which had a most exact and faithful fulfilment. But we intend the accommodation of the text to the joyful proclamation of the gospel of Christ. Blessed as were the captive people of God when they heard the proclamations of Cyrus to return to their own country; yet more blessed are they who hear the joyful tidings of salvation, as published by the heralds of the cross. Let us notice, in applying the great trumpet to the gospel,
I. The Significancy of the Metaphor.
II. The Nature of its Proclamations.
III. The Blessedness of its Effects.
I. The Significancy of the Metaphor.
The gospel may be likened to a trumpet,
1. As an instrument of sound.
It is intended to make specific announcements,’97to arrest attention,’97to give directions. Now this is the design of the gospel. It announces the grace of God to man; his love to a perishing world; and a free and full salvation to every repenting believing sinner. But it is described,
2. As a great trumpet.
Great in its author; great in itself; great in its design; great in the universality of its application to the whole world; great compared with the use of all other trumpets. Immediately connected with the great God,’97the great Redeemer,’97the great concerns of souls,’97and the great destinies of the eternal world. Now consider,
II. The Nature of its Proclamations.
1. It proclaims peace between God and man.
This was the song of angels, "Glory to God," &c. Preaching peace by Jesus Christ. It is the ministry of reconciliation. Thus as trumpets proclaimed the cessation of arms, and gave the announcement of peace, so the gospel proclaims the favor and peace of God towards our fallen world.
2. It proclaims war between man and sin.
Sin has the usurped dominion over men. It reigns as a despotic tyrant. It keeps the sinner in a state of hostility towards God. But the gospel brings the recipient of it to wage war with all moral evil. He now becomes a soldier of Jesus Christ. He puts on the gospel armor, and fights the good fight of faith. He rallies round he standard of the cross, and obeys the sound of the great trumpet in this holy and spiritual war.
3. It proclaims he assembling together of the army of Jesus.
Thus, as trumpets were employed to bring together the scattered troops, and likewise to collect the tribes in the desert for their religious assemblies, the gospel calls men to the assemblies where the soldiers of Jesus meet together, and where the congregation of the Lord worship his holy name. "Forsake not the assembling," &c.
4. It proclaims the acceptable year of the Lord.
The jubilee was introduced with the sound of trumpets. This was indeed a joyful sound,’97to the poor,’97to captives,’97and to the people in general. Thus Jesus at the commencement of the gospel jubilee, sounded the great trumpet,’97"And when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor," &c., Luk_4:17-20. Consider,
III. The Blessedness of its Effects.
"They shall come," &c. Observe,
1. The characters.
"Ready to perish." A striking description of unconverted sinners. In a state of misery, wretchedness, and disease. Slaves groaning in their chains. Borne down by the yoke of the tyrant. Without strength And as to their own power, without hope. Exposed to eternal death. In the gall of bitterness, &c. In the horrible pit, &c.
2. The influence the gospel exerts.
They must of course hear it. And the text supposes that they hear it with interest’97with joy: so hear it, as to be influenced by it. Now this influence is seen in the movement produced’97"For they come," &c.
(1) From whence? From the dreary region of death. From the land of oppression. From their exiled slavish condition.
(2) To what do they come? They come to the kingdom of God’s grace. To the cross. To the house of prayer. To the fellowship of his saints. No longer aliens or foreigners, but fellow-citizens, &c.
(3) How do they come? With weeping on account of their sins. With gladness on account of their redemption. With faith in the gospel’s proclamations. With heartfelt joy to receive the blessings of salvation.
Application
1. How blessed are our ears, who have been favored with the sound of the great crumpet.
"Jesus! transporting sound!
The joy of earth and heaven;
No other help is found,
No other name is given,
By which we can salvation have,
But Jesus came the world to save."
2. The dignified yet responsible office of the Christian preacher. To blow the trumpet. To convey the sound of mercy to the perishing. To blow it loudly, distinctly, incessantly.
"O for a trumpet’s voice,
On all the world to call," &c.
3. The duty and interest of sinners. To hear, and come to Christ for life and salvation.
4. Neglecters and despisers are their own destroyers.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS