The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 109

to draw near ; we are to speak in full assurance of faith. This, I confess, mny be pressed too far. There was notliing of the trumpet-tone in the publican's prayer. ~ere may be a_cc.eptable pra1er in a sigh, in a. cry _of an~uish1 in the groaning o~ a prisoner. But 1t 1s not the Wlll of God that his children s ordinary intercourse with him should be of that sort. They are to call on him with a gladsome confidence that he is able and ready to help them. And many of them do this. There are Christian people whose prayere are always rising into the ringing tones of the silver trumpet. I have spoken first of the general design or spiritual intention of this ordinance of the silver trumpets. ~et us now not~ TBE PARTICULARS :-1. It belotiied to the pri&t'a office (ver. 8). It 1s not to be confounded with the Levitical serVIce of song instituted long after by D:nid. 2. It served a variety of secular uses. Public asae:Ob!ies were convened by the sounding of the trumpets, as they are convened among us by the ringing of bells (vers. 2, 3, 7). And they were the bugles by which military eignals were given (vera. 4-6). That it was the priests who blew the trumpets on all such occasions reminds us that Israel was, in a special sense, " an holy nation; " and may also carry forward our minds to the time when "holiness to the Lord" will be ,vritten on the life of all Christian nations in all their relations. 3. The blowing of the silver trumpets found place chiefly in the service of the sanctuary. The particulars are noted in ver. 10, and are of uncommon interest for the Christian reader. (1) The trumpets were to be blown over the sacnfa;es. How this waa done appears from the example rele.tcd in 2 Chron. :x:xix. 26-28. The intention was as much a.a to se.y, "0 thou that dwellest in the heavens, give ear to us when we cry; remember all our offerings and accept our burnt sacrifice. Grant us the wish of our heart, and fulfil all our counsel." (2) The i,acrifices particularly named as to be thus signalised are tlte burnt offering and the peace offering. Not the sin offering. The omission can hardly have been accidental. When I have fallen into some notable sin, I am to humble myself before God with shame. The cry of the publican is what befits me, rather than trumpet-toned exultation. The sin offering is most acceptably presented without blowing of trumpets. As for the burnt offering, which denotes dedication; and the peace offering, which speaks of communion with God and of our communion ,vith each other in the Lord ; these are most acceptable when they are attended with gladness and thankful exultation in God. (3) The blowing of the silver trumpets was especially to abound at the great solemiiities. That is to say, at the new moons, at the three great festivals, the "solemn days " of the Jewish year, and on all days of special gladness ( cf. 2 Cbron. v. 12; vii. 6 ; Ezra iii. 10; Neh. xii. 35), (4) Above all other solemn days, the first day of the seventh month was to be thus distinguished. The seventh month waa that in which the Feaet of Tabernacles happened-at the full moon, in the end of September or beginning of October, after the Lord had crowned the year with his goodneea. The new moon of this month was the Feast of the Blowing of Trumpets (cf. Levit. xxiii. 24); and fitly ushered in the Feast of lngathering, the moat 3oyoua of all the festivals of the year.-B, Vere. 1-10.-Pke 'U$e of the trumJJ.efs, There is a manifest connection between the cloud and the trumpets. At Sinai there was "a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud" (Exod. xix. 16). This seems to have been a miraculous sound, but Jehovah now orders Moses to bave two silver trumpets made for permanent use. 'l'hus trumpete as well as cloud were remembrancera of Sinai. God uses sound along with light to signify his will to his people ; he appeals not only to their eyes, but also to their ears. Though the cloud was there they were not ever watching it. The longer it rested, the Iese conscious of its presence they became. TLerefore God added the sound of the trumpets, a sudden, startling sound, to stop each one in his work, or raise him out of his sleep. !. GOD TAKES SUFFICIENT MEANS TO C'ON\'EY TO MEN ALL THAT IT Ja NEEDFUL FOR THEM TO KNOW, Exactly where they would next pass, and how long stay there, and bow long be in the wilderneRs the Israelites knew not; but when the hour came for them to m:ive, it wo.e of the fi;st importance that none should be in ignoro.n~e or doubt. Bo with regard to the practical matters of the gospel; we may take 1t as t1erf<:<:tly certain that difficulties with regard to salvation and Obrilltian duty are in CB. X. 11-28.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 87