Isaiah 27:13

THE GOSPEL TRUMPET

Isaiah 27:13. And it shall come to pass in that day that the great trumpet, &c.

The Jews had been scattered every-whither—some wandering in Assyria, and some exiled in Egypt; but their coming back, as by the call of a trumpet, is here predicted. The passage is strongly descriptive of the exiled and perishing condition of sinful men, and of their return at the trumpet-call of the Gospel.
I. THE SINNER’S CONDITION. He is—

1. An exile.
2. He is ready to perish.

II. THE GOSPEL TRUMPET.

1. It was not fashioned by man.
2. It is great in its power. In a still night you may hear a brazen trumpet two or three miles away; but this is so mighty that it is not only heard from heaven to earth, but it is to arrest the attention of all nations. Men with physical hearing all gone catch the first strain of it. Men buried half a century in crimes have heard it. It is the power of God unto salvation. Instance some of the men who have heard it.

2. It is great in its sweetness.

3. It is a trumpet of alarm. It puts us on our guard against the foes who are advancing to destroy us.

4. It is a trumpet of recruit. It summons us to join the standard of the Son of God.

5. It is a trumpet of retreat. It warns us against the fool-hardiness of entering into temptation.

6. It is a trumpet of victory. It tells of victories achieved, and of others still more glorious yet to be won.

7. It is a trumpet of awakening. As chaplain I was a little while in the army. Early every morning we were awakened by a trumpet sounding the réveille. At that sound all the troops arose from the tents, hastened to their places in the line, and answered the roll-call. That done, they went to their morning rations. We who are the soldiers of Christ cannot always be marching and fighting. The evening will come. The shadows will gather, and we must go to the white tents of the grave. There we shall sleep soundly. But the night will pass along, and the first thing we shall hear will be the trumpet-call sounding the réveille of the resurrection; and we shall come up and fall into the long line of light, the trophies of Christian conflict gleaming in the unsetting sun. The roll shall be called, and we shall answer to our names; and then we shall go to the morning repast of heaven (1 Corinthians 15:52).—De Witt Talmage, D.D.: Christian World Pulpit, i. 410.

THE GREAT TRUMPET

Isaiah 27:13. And it shall come to pass in that day, &c.

This prophecy was literally fulfilled (Ezra 1); but it has a wider meaning, and thus also it shall be fulfilled.

I. THE GREATNESS OF THE GOSPEL. “The great trumpet.”

1. It is designed for the world. When liberty was proclaimed for the slaves of the West Indies, the slaves of America remained in bondage. When the slaves of America were liberated, the bondmen in Cuba, Peru, &c., were not set free. But here is a blessing for the whole world. “Which shall be to all people,.… a light to lighten the Gentiles” (Luke 2:10; Luke 2:32). One side of the earth can only enjoy the rays of the sun at the same time; but this “light” shall shed its rays on the whole world.

2. It is designed for the world in its most important interests. There are inventions and scientific discoveries—such as the steam-engine, &c.—which are valuable to the whole world. But they are valuable only in regard to the present life. But the Gospel meets the wants of the soul, and concerns the endless life beyond.

3. It is so great that all other things in the world are small in comparison with it; trade, learning, &c.

4. It is so great that it bestows greatness upon everything it touches. Upon oratory, although it is independent of excellency of speech. Upon any country in which it is proclaimed and accepted: e.g., Great Britain, America. Under its shelter liberty, learning, &c., flourish (H. E. I. 1124–1132).

II. THE MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL. “The great trumpet shall be blown.” What is the good of a trumpet without some one to blow it? (Romans 10:14.)

1. Who is to blow it? Not angels (Hebrews 2:5). The law was given by the ministry of angels; by them the trumpet was blown on Mount Sinai (Acts 7:53). But they recognise that the trumpet of the Gospel is to be blown by man (Acts 5:20; Acts 10:31). This treasure is in earthen vessels. Gideon’s Lamps. Men are better than angels for this purpose. This is proved by the fact that God ordered it so. But there are other minor satisfactory arguments, such as:

(1.) The danger of glorifying the missionary above the mission.

(2.) The angels’ disadvantages. They lack the necessary experience. Blessed lack, in all other respects! They have never been contaminated by sin, and hence know not how to speak to the heart of the sinner. By men the trumpet is now being blown, and will be blown to the end of time. The trumpeters are falling, ministers are dying, but the ministry is alive!

2. How is it to be blown?

(1.) Clearly (1 Corinthians 14:8). If the promises are proclaimed, care must be taken to show to whom they belong. So with the threatenings, &c.

(2.) Vigorously. It must be done thoroughly, or not at all.

(3.) Bravely (Ephesians 6:19). The question is not what will “take,” what is popular, what would please the masses, but “What saith the Lord?”

III. THE OBJECTS OF THE MINISTRY. “They which were ready to perish.”

1. Pagans are such (Romans 1) “Them which sat in the region and shadow of death” (Matthew 4:16).

2. Every unconverted sinner. They are all to be addressed as those who are “ready to perish.” The matter cannot be compromised because they are seat-holders, contributors, &c. Your kindness shall not prevent our blowing from the trumpet the tones you need to hear.

IV. THE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL. “And they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.”

1. Whence shall they come? From their Pharisaical hiding-places, the quicksands of excuses, &c. They are bound in the chains of slavery; but “they shall come!” This is as certain as the deliverance from Babylon. Take up your harps and strike them!

2. How will they come? Weeping. Without delay. Confidently.

3. Whither and to whom will they come?

(1.) To Christ; they cannot live without Him.
(2.) To His house.

APPLICATIONS.—

1. Thousands have come; will you?
2. God has another trumpet.—Gweithiau Rhyddiethol (pp. 174–176), by the late Rev. W. Ambrose, Portmadoc. Translated from the Welsh by the Rev. T. Johns, Llanelly.