Do not sound a trumpet before you.

 

Friday, September 22, 2023


Psalm 51

1 Kings 12:1-17

Matthew 5:43-6:4


Do not sound a trumpet before you.


Every Anzac Day, all the nations brass bands and pipe bands, after playing their local dawn service, congregate in the closest regional centre for a big parade in the middle of town. Most of this time is spent pawing the dirt in the muster area waiting your turn; a good parade organiser makes sure there are plenty of military groups in between in each band. Sometimes, however, the nightmare situation happens, and two bands are set off with few or no soldiers in between them. There is always one band clearly more superior than the other: the better band is left blowing over the top of the lesser band, and the lesser band is stuck doing little more than miming on their instruments.


When Jesus says we should not sound a trumpet when we give charity to the poor, one of the things He is doing for us is saving us from embarrassment. Because on the final day, the trumpet shall sound, the dead shall be raised, and we will all go before the judgement seat of God. If we march to our judgement playing our own tune, we will look very silly indeed when we pull up next to the angelic trumpeters who have just heralded the new creation.


Our own grace and mercy is not something we can polish up and show off to other people. It comes from Jesus. Don’t show off, Jesus says, because it came from me in the first place. Save yourself the indignity.


The sound of the trumpet to which Jesus is heralded is less of a military march, anyway. It is more like a dance. Don’t embarrass yourself trying to look better than Jesus. Join the dance instead.

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