Audio Download

“Musical Instruments in the Bible”

Part 5 – Wind [Shofar=Cornet/Trumpet – Part 2]

The shofar

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Excerpt from https://www.biblestudy.org/bible-study-by-topic/musical-instruments.html:

Hebrew: Shofar
KJV Name: Cornet/Trumpet
Strong’s: #H7782
References: Exo_19:16, Exo_19:19, Exo_20:18, Lev_25:9, Jos_6:4-20, Jdg_3:27, etc.

The Hebrew word shofar is recorded 72 times in the Hebrew Old Testament, all of which are mistranslated in the KJV. It is erroneously called a trumpet 68 times and a cornet 4 times (Psa_98:6, 1Ch_15:28, 2Ch_15:14, Hos_5:8). The shofar and trumpet, according to the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, are two distinct instruments as delineated in Psa_98:6 and 1Ch_15:28.

The shofar is mentioned more than any other musical instrument in the Bible. It is the only instrument that survives in its original form that is still used in modern Jewish liturgy. It was usually made from the curved horn of a ram or goat. Shofars announced the New Moons and Sabbaths (Psa_81:3), warned of approaching danger, and signaled the death of nobility.

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In our last study we were introduced to the first two verses where the word Shofar is used in the KJV in Exodus 19:16 and Exodus 19:19. The nineteenth chapter of Exodus introduces the nation of Israel to the voice of JEHOVAH, who we know to be Jesus Christ. That voice was symbolized by the breath that is required to blow the Shofar. The horn represents the power of the beast (Ecc 3:18) that is taken away by being cut off from the animal’s head, and then the priest would use that horn to make different sounds to give various commands to the camp of Israel.

JEHOVAH can now be heard by all the camp of Israel, and His voice is so powerful it causes all in the camp to tremble with fear (Exo 19:16) as a shadow of the truth that it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Lord who judges us (Heb 10:30-31).

Exo 19:16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

Heb 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The first time the word JEHOVAH is used in the KJV bible is in Exodus 6:3, where we learn of God’s covenant with Israel to take them out from under the bondage of the Egyptians which represents our bondage to sin in this life (Exo 6:1-6).

Exo 6:1 Then the LORD said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh: for with a strong hand shall he let them go, and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.
Exo 6:2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
Exo 6:3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
Exo 6:4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.
Exo 6:5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.
Exo 6:6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: (Joh 8:36)

Our deliverance from that bondage to sin can only happen by receiving God’s holy spirit (Rom 8:9) that brings fiery judgment into our lives causing us to cease from sinning (1Pe 4:12, 1Pe 4:17, 1Pe 4:1-2). The events we are reading which unfolded for the nation of physical Israel at mount Sinai are typical of the events that would happen for the Israel of God on Pentecost (Gal 6:16).

The first event in Exodus that saw three-thousand people physically die due to rebellion happened on Pentecost (Exo 32:28-30). The death of the three thousand represents the process of judgment all flesh must go through in order to be purified by God’s word to inherit the kingdom of God, which flesh and blood cannot inherit (1Co 15:50). The three thousand being added to the church on Pentecost (Act 2:41) also represents judgment in our lives which now conforms us to the mind of Christ (Rom 12:2, 1Co 2:16) through a lifelong process of mortifying the deeds of the flesh and considering ourselves dead to sin and alive in Christ (3x10x10x10=3000 – Rom 6:11).

Exo 32:30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

Rom 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Moses typifies Christ who says to the people “Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.” This event was typical of the true reformer Jesus Christ whose sacrificial life was the only sacrifice that could atone for all the sins of the world (Joh 1:29-32). If Christ’s life is in us (Joh 6:63) as our hope of glory (Rom 8:9, Col 1:27), then we are accepted by God through Christ (Eph 1:6). We become a living sacrifice in Him, part of that one seed (Joh 14:20, Gal 3:16) that fills up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ (Col 1:24, 1Jn 4:17), atoning for the sins of the world with Christ’s life within us. Christ gives us the strength to become a trespass offering to the Lord (Lev 14:12-14, Lev 16:8-10, Lev 14:4-8).

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
Joh 1:31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
Joh 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Lev 14:12 And the priest shall take one he lamb, and offer him for a trespass offering, and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the LORD:
Lev 14:13 And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the holy place: for as the sin offering is the priest’s, so is the trespass offering: it is most holy: [1Jn 4:17]
Lev 14:14 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot:

Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.
Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering.
Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him [Col 1:24, Col 1:27], and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness [“for a trespass offering”].

Lev 14:4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:
Lev 14:5 And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water:
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water:
Lev 14:7 And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
Lev 14:8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

The next verse where we see the word Shofar being used is also found in the book of Exodus (Exo 20:18-19), which describes the judgment of God that the people saw “the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet^H7782, and the mountain smoking” that they removed themselves from, and stood afar off, “and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.” These actions of Israel demonstrate mankind’s inability to go unto the light to be cleansed through that judgment (1Jn 1:5-8, Joh 6:44).

Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die [Rom 6:11].

1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Then we come to the book of Leviticus (Lev 25:8-12) where the word Shofar^H7782 is translated “the trumpet^H7782 of jubile” that is sounded “on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet^H7782 sound throughout all your land.” This day of jubilee represents the liberty which will be given to all the world once God’s holy spirit is given to all humanity (2Co 3:17). Physically the jubilee was a time of freeing Israel of all physical land debt that may be owned. That debt being lifted is a symbol of all the sins of all the world being forgiven and washed by the blood of the lamb (Rev 21:4). The debt of our sins is paid through Christ who takes away the sins of the world through His land, his body, the church that is the body of Christ (Eph 5:30, Col 1:24), which will be used to bring the world into giving an accounting in the great white throne judgment, where mercy will triumph over judgment (Jas 2:13).

The mercy God shows to the elect today will be extended to the rest of God’s creation in the lake of fire, also called the great white throne judgment (Rom 11:29-33), and these verses (Lev 25:8-12) parallel with the 49 days that preceded the 50th day of Pentecost where liberty was given to those who were called and chosen in this age to receive God’s holy spirit, the free gift of salvation that began to be given on Pentecost. Liberty comes “by grace (5×10=50) are ye saved through faith” and “that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” That faith is “not of works, lest any man should boast, anymore than anyone in Israel had a right to boast for the free gift of having their debt taken away from them after 50 years on jubile^H8643 (Eph 2:8-9).

H8643 terû‛âh ter-oo-aw’ Jubile
From H7321; clamor, that is, acclamation of joy or a battle cry; especially clangor of trumpets, as an alarum: – alarm, blow (-ing) (of, the) (trumpets), joy, jubile, loud noise, rejoicing, shout (-ing), (high, joyful) sound (-ing).
Total KJV occurrences: 36

H7321 rûa‛roo-ah’
A primitive root; to mar (especially by breaking); figuratively to split the ears (with sound), that is, shout (for alarm or joy): – blow an alarm, cry (alarm, aloud, out), destroy, make a joyful noise, smart, shout (for joy), sound an alarm, triumph.
Total KJV occurrences: 45

How the world will ultimately feel (Rev 21:4) when they know that their debt has been paid in full through Christ, and they are given saviors who come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau, so that in time God will be all in all (1Co 15:28, 1Co 12:6, Eph 1:23) is revealed in the meaning of the word itself, which is where we get our word jubilation. The jubilee also falls on the day of atonement, reminding us that all the world will be made one with God through putting off our flesh [fasting] via the acceptable fast (Isa 58:5) that can only happen with the life of Christ within us redeeming us and making us one with our Father, who will be all in all one day (1Co 15:28).

1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

1Co 12:6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Eph 1:23 Which is his body [Eph 5:30], the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Lev 25:8 And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years.
Lev 25:9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet^H7782 of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.
Lev 25:10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
Lev 25:11 A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.
Lev 25:12 For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The last verses with the word Shofar in it which we will be looking at in this study is found in Joshuah 6:4-20, where we see the word Shofar used twelve times, but using the English word trumpet(s)^H7782. This section of scripture drives home the point of what a unified, complete [7] body of Christ has the power to do with the word of God working in our lives, and how, as priests at that time, God was showing the world with this story of Joshua (Jos 6:4-20) what His intentions were for all of humanity who would be judged and saved, each man in his own order, by those who were made kings and priests (Rev 1:6, Rev 5:10) and will be used to pour out God’s judgments upon the world having already been judged themselves in this life (1Pe 4:17). As with the previous study using chapter 19 of the book of Exodus, we are only focused on the significance of the Shofar in these verses in the book of Joshua. For a more in-depth study on the 6th Chapter of Joshua, please see these two excellent studies given by Grant: The Book of Joshua – Part 6: ‘The Irony of the Moon Standing Upon a Moon’ for its Destruction – Joshua 6:1-17 and The Book of Joshua – Part 7: Fame and Fear of the Sword Wielded by the Elect of God will go Globally – Joshua 6:18-27.

These seven angels in the book of revelation are represented by those priests who surrounded the walls of Jericho taking the symbolic actions that were accomplished to conquer this land. The book of Revelation is a repeat of this event but with greater detail of the process and order that this judgment will take (1st to 4th angel [Rev 8:6-12], 5th and 6th angel [Rev 9:1-21], the seventh angel [Rev 10:1-11, Rev 11:1-15]). It is with the entire church or complete church (7) that the complete judgment of God, symbolized by seven trumpets, will bring the walls of Jericho down. The walls of Jericho represent everything in the world that resists God and must be overcome within us if we are going to be used to save the world through God’s judgments upon the world in the great white throne judgment. God willing we are hearing His voice today, with eyes that see and ears that hear and see the meaning of the shofar that should be continually blowing in our ears until our last breath, being judged in this age and enduring those judgments until the end of our lives through Christ (1Jn 2:16, Gal 5:17).

Jos 6:4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets^H7782 of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets^H7782.

In this first verse (Jos 6:4) we’re introduced to the seven priests who bear seven trumpets before the ark, and compass the city seven times, and then they blow with trumpets^H7782. What this is showing God’s elect today is that there is work to be done as fellow labourers in Christ, who must be about our Father’s business as Christ was (Joh 5:17, 1Jn 4:17). This entails us overcoming the sin within our members by completely [7] encompassing the cities within us as one body of Christ, each member being a joint that supplies to that body. Then in the following verses, we will see what that unified work of Christ through His body will ultimately produce within those who are blessed to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection (Rev 20:6). The fruit of the elect’s life is demonstrated today in the unity or singleness of mind God gives us (Php 2:2). Our discipleship in the Lord alone makes it possible for us to love one another and grow as one body that is overcoming by grace through faith (Joh 13:35, Rom 5:5, 1Jn 5:2, Eph 2:8, 1Co 13:7-9).

Jos 6:5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpets^H7782, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

Babylon will fall in one symbolic hour, meaning it won’t take long for all the world to know they have been deceived by the devil, as we all were, and in the day that the seventh trumpet sounds, Babylon will fall. That falling will be a process for the world just as it will have been for the elect who were the first to have the corruptible nature of Adam judged (Rev 14:8, 1Co 15:52-53, Rev 11:15).

Rev 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

Rev 18:17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Rev 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Jos 6:6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets^H7782 of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.

Joshua gave command to the priests to “take up the ark of the covenant” symbolizing the life of Christ, our hope of glory within us (Col 1:27). Going before the ark there were seven priests bearing seven “trumpets^H7782 of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD” symbolizing how all the words of the Lord go before us (Psa 119:160, Mat 4:4) as one body of Christ with His banner of love over us (Son 2:4, Psa 60:4, Rom 5:5). The priests are seven, symbolizing the complete church with the unified message of the salvation of all being completely proclaimed with seven trumpets [complete] to all nations with a unified message or blast of the trumpets (we are many trumpets but the same spirit that blows each trumpet [1Co 12:4, 1Co 12:8-9]).

Jos 6:7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.

Joshua, a type of Christ, gives us our marching orders as we are led by the spirit of God where we will find liberty in Christ (Rom 8:14, 2Co 3:17). Those who are armed “pass on before the ark of the LORD” and represent the elect who are the first to experience this promised victory of God Who arms us with the mind of Christ and the whole armor we need in this spiritual battle in which we are engaged (Rom 13:12, Eph 6:11-13).

Rom 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Jos 6:8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets^H7782 of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets^H7782: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
Jos 6:9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets^H7782, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets^H7782.

The imagery created in these two verses (Jos 6:8-9) demonstrates how we are surrounded by God’s mercy and how nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ before or behind (Rom 8:36-39). The armed men represent the strength of Christ that goes before us as we go into battle and blow the trumpets which declare our imminent victory in him. Then “the rereward^H622 came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets^H7782” to demonstrate how both flanks are covered, the back and the front, to remind us that nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (1Sa 17:47).

Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1Sa 17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’S, and he will give you into our hands.

H622 rereward ‘âsaph aw-saf’
A primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence to receive, take away, that is, remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.): – assemble, bring, consume, destroy, fetch, gather (in, together, up again), X generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover [another from leprosy], (be) rereward, X surely, take (away, into, up), X utterly, withdraw. Total KJV occurrences: 199

Jos 6:10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

The lesson in verse 10 for God’s elect is to not operate in our flesh: “Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.” God is not concerned about our opinions but is wanting us only to do what He commands us, and to speak when He wants us to speak, which takes a miraculous event in our heavens (Mat 6:2, Mar 13:10-13).

Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mar 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
Mar 13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
Mar 13:12 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
Mar 13:13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Jos 6:11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
Jos 6:12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
Verse 11 reminds us that we are in the world but not of it as “the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.” Christ, our hope of glory within us, is represented by Joshua who rises early in the morning as a shadow of the one who is working in us both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure in this life (Php 2:12-13). His pleasure, as his workmanship, is that we seek for the Lord early, and in doing so we will find Him (Pro 8:17, Jer 29:13, Heb 11:6, Mat 6:33) as priests who take “up the ark of the LORD” (Col 1:27).

Jos 6:13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets^H7782 of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets^H7782: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets^H7782.

The same message from Joshua 6:8-9 is repeated for us here in verse 13; how the Lord protects us so that the message of the kingdom of God can reach every nation as a witness, “and then shall the end come” (Mat 24:14). It is a joyful and light burden to bear “seven trumpets^H7782 of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD” (Rom 8:18, 1Pe 4:13) and it is a work we must continually be about, which our Father in heaven knows, and so He makes provision for us. “The armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets^H7782.”

Jos 6:14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
Jos 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

Now the second day comes, and the same series of events follow for the priests and the people involved in this typical great cloud of witness event (Heb 12:1). The gospel message has a glorious and exciting redundancy to it that is shown on this second day and right through until the sixth day. Then the seventh day comes about, and on this day “they rose early about the dawning of the day” symbolizing the mindset of those virgins who will be made ready (Rev 19:7) just prior to Christ’s return having risen early to trim their lamps, all the while looking to the Lord (Mat 25:1-5, Rev 3:18, Mat 25:10, Psa 25:14-15). This section of scripture (“And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times” – Jos 6:15) coincides with Revelation 8:1-6 where we read:

Rev 8:1 And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Rev 8:2 And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.
Rev 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
Rev 8:6 And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.

Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
Psa 25:15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Jos 6:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets^H7782, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
Jos 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

‘The Lord has given you the city’, meaning God will ultimately give us all victory over our sinful flesh, each man in his own order (1Co 15:23). That victory is preceded by the priests blowing with the trumpets^H7782 and obeying the command of Joshua to shout (1Th 4:15-18).

1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

The city that is “accursed” represents our flesh that hangs on a tree (Deu 21:23), and the one who survives this war is “only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house” who represents the body of Christ who were part of the harlot system and now come out of her by God’s grace. Rahab and all that were with her in her house were as good as dead, like Jonah in the belly of the great fish, yet God had planned to show mercy to them all (Rom 11:20-22, Rom 11:30-31). The ‘all’ denotes “we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.” The function of those who come out of Babylon today is to hide “the messengers that we sent” as we are hidden in Christ (Col 3:3-4). To that end, we may grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord (2Pe 3:16-18) and be saved in a moment and a twinkling of an eye at the last trump (1Co 15:52). The whole world was falling around Rahab and all that are within her house (like today), yet God was faithful to the ones who feared Him and delivered and spared them in the midst of this judgment upon the city (1Pe 4:17-18, Mal 3:16-18).

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved [typified by Rahab and her house], where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Mal 3:17 And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Mal 3:18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

Jos 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
Jos 6:19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

In verse 18 we are admonished to keep ourselves from the accursed thing, which represents the false doctrines and lies of Babylon found within the city that has been destroyed, and so were admonished in like manner with these spiritual admonitions given from Christ by the apostle Peter (2Pe 3:14-18).

2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness [“keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it“].
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

The riches that we take out of Babylon are represented by “all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD”. These are the spoils of war that must needs be purified by the judgement and purification process that comes upon us via the destruction of the old city (Heb 10:32, Heb 12:6), and then “they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.” The treasury of the LORD represents where we lay up the true refined and purified treasures of God’s word in our hearts that tell us we now have been blessed to lay hold of exceedingly great and precious promises “that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (Mat 6:19-21, 2Pe 1:4, 2Co 4:7-10).

Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

2Co 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Co 4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
2Co 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Jos 6:20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpets^H7782, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

How we take the city is by hearing “the sound of the trumpets^H7782” and then acting upon that command, both to will and to do of God’s good pleasure (Rom 2:13, Php2:12-13). We know it is by the faith of Christ within us as our great shield, that we have been blessed to receive (Eph 6:16, Rom 3:27), that we will take the city as expressed with these words “the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.”

Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified [Rom 10:17].

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Rom 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith [Eph 2:8].

Conclusion

The verses that come to mind that I want to end this study off on regarding the Shofar are found in (Heb 11:32-38) which says “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.” There were so many men and women of God who “through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions” and “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to fight the armies of the aliens.” Also “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.”

The reason I mention these verses in particular is to remind us that all these victories that God gave to those mentioned in the 11th chapter of Hebrews, are typical of the victory that can be ours if we are granted to hear the voice (shofar^H7782) of the true Shepherd and heed the warnings that are being given to us in this age as the trumpets blow in the church, where the manifest knowledge of Christ is being made known in His body (Eph 3:10). All that they endured (Heb 11:32-38) reminds us that we must arm ourselves with the mind of Christ (1Pe 4:1-2), knowing nothing less will be expected of the body of Christ who will enter into the kingdom of God through much tribulation (Act 14:22) and affliction that will be accompanied with God’s mercy that will endure forever, seeing us through it all (1Co 10:13).

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Next week I plan to look at the next and last of the wind instruments, the Ugab, which is an organ, along with the sumponia which is a dulcimer.