The Ensign & the Shofar
“All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when He lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when He bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.”
“All you inhabitants of the world, you who live on the earth: when a banner is hoisted on the mountains, look! When the shofar is blown, listen!”
REFERENCES:
Isaiah 6:8 KJV: "Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I: send me."
Jeremiah 22:29 KJV: "O earth, earth, earth, heard the Word of the Lord."
Isaiah 5:26 KJV: "And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:"
Psalm 16:6 KJV: "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage."
Psalm 16:6 MSG: "You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir!"
Psalm 16:6 NIV: "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance."
Psalm 16:6 NCV: "My share in life has been pleasant; my part has been beautiful."
Psalm 16:6 Complete Jewish Bible: "Pleasant places were measured out for me; I am content with my heritage."
Ezekiel 48:35: " It was round about eighteen *thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there (Jehovah Shammah). "
VOCABULARY:
Ensign: flag, standard; especially military or naval indicating nationality; a sign or emblem of a particular thing; a beacon indicating the principles or ideas around which the people could rally or gather; sign as a rallying point; from the Hebrew word meaning "to be lifted up;" SYNONYMS: flag, banner, standard, emblem, symbol, badge
See: look at, inspect, perceive, consider, learn about Hear: shama (shawmah) listen, obey, understand, consent
Trumpet: shophar; which comes from Hebrew word shaphar = to be pleasing, be beautiful, fair, comely, to be beautiful
Bloweth: blow, strike, clap, trust or drive of a weapon; pledge oneself Inhabitants: dwell, remain, have your abode
World: world, habitable part; from the Hebrew word meaning bring, carry, lead away
Dwellers: settle down, abide, reside, establish
THE ENSIGN & THE SHOFAR
I felt led of the Lord to open my Bible and start reading, and the first scripture I came to was Isaiah 18:3. Holy Spirit immediately started speaking to me. Now, although I concur with one source that said that "Isaiah 18:3 is one of the most obscure in Scripture; more easily understood by those for who it was first intended, than by us now," and although what I want to talk about today, has nothing to do with the history of the chapter (if you are interested, read the last page of this study for a summary of the chapter), I completely believe that there is meat for us today in this verse.
“All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when He lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when He bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.”
“All you inhabitants of the world, you who live on the earth: when a banner is hoisted on the mountains, look! When the shofar is blown, listen!”
First, I think it is important to establish that when this verse talks about "the inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth" it is not referring to the Church. The Church does not inhabit this world; we do not dwell on this earth!
The word "inhabitants" is not a noun but a verb. It means to dwell, remain or have your abode. Hebrews 13:14 (Complete Jewish Bible) says, "for we have no permanent city here; on the contrary, we seek the one to come." The abode of the Church is in Heaven where we are already seated with Christ.
The word "world" means world, but it comes from the Hebrew word meaning to bring, carry, and lead away. The Church is not part of this world because we have already been lead away from it to Christ. The world consists of those who still yet need to be brought into right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
"Dwellers" settle down, reside, and establish. Hebrews 11:10 tells us that Abraham kept his eye "on an unseen city with real, eternal foundations - the City designed and built by God" MSG. We are the seed of Abraham! Our eye is on what is to come. We are not to look at the real-estate of this world for our permanent home. Anything we establish here will be burned in the fire.
We, the Church, are the ensign that the Lord raises and we are the shofar that He sounds to get the attention of the inhabitants of the world and the dwellers of earth! In Isaiah 18:3 He is telling the world that when He shows a sign (the ensign) they are to look, and when He makes a sound (blows the shofar) they are to listen. Like I said, this verse is not referring to the church but it is about the church. Do you remember having Show & Tell in elementary school? Do you remember how great you felt when you had something to show (a new toy) or something to tell (a great vacation, new baby brother or sister, etc)? Do you remember there was always 1 or 2 kids in the class who had nothing to show or tell? I felt really bad for them (when I wasn't one of them!!).
Well, I believe that this world is the Lord's classroom and every day is “Show & Tell”. Every day, our lives should be an ensign to show the goodness and power of the Lord, and every day, our lives should be a shofar sound of victorious overcoming. The world should be able to look at us and hear us and know that God is real, that He is love, that He is active in the life of His children, and that He is trying to get their attention.
An Ensign is a flag or a standard; especially military. It is a sign; a beacon that indicates the principles or ideas around which people rally. Ensigns are to be lifted up. When you said "yes" to Jesus, you signed up to be a sign, an ensign. When the inhabitants of the world look at you, Who do they see?
“Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I: send me.””
When we accepted Jesus into our heart, we gave the Lord permission to send us wherever He wanted to, for His glory. We are sent to be a sign. Whether He sends you down aisle 6 of Stop & Shop to pray healing over the man in the wheelchair or overseas to people who have never heard the name of Jesus, we are meant to be seen so that His message can get to the inhabitants of the world and dwellers on the earth.
A shofar is the Hebrew word for trumpet. There are 3 main blasts:
Tekiah - long single blast = the sound of the King's Coronation Shevarim - 3 short wail like blasts = call to repentance
Teruah - 9 staccato blasts of alarm = to awaken the soul
The Tekiah will sound when Jesus comes back.
I believe it is the job of the church to sound the Shevarim and Teruah now! The world will stay asleep until we sound the alarm to awaken their souls and move them to repentance! When you signed up to be a part of God's army, you submitted to being His voice. When the dwellers of the earth listen to you,
“O earth, earth, earth, hear the Word of the Lord.”
He is a God that wants to be heard! How can they hear without us?
SUMMARY FOR HISTORY FOR ISAIAH 18:3
He lifts up an ensign upon the mountains, and blows a trumpet, by which he proclaims war against the enemies of his church, and calls in all her friends and well-wishers into her service, v. 3. He gives notice that he is about to do some great work, as Lord of hosts. 2. All the world is bidden to take notice of it; all the dwellers on earth must see the ensign and hear the trumpet, must observe the motions of the divine providence and attend the directions of the divine will. Let all enlist under God’s banner, and be on his side, and hearken to the trumpet of his word, which gives not an uncertain sound. III. The assurance God gives to his prophet, by him to be given to his people, that, though he might seem for a time to sit by as an unconcerned spectator, yet he would certainly and seasonably appear for the comfort of his people and the confusion of his and their enemies.
God's care for his people; and the increase of the church.
This chapter is one of the most obscure in Scripture, though more of it probably was understood by those for whose use it was first intended, than by us now. Swift messengers are sent by water to a nation marked by Providence, and measured out, trodden under foot. God's people are trampled on; but whoever thinks to swallow them up, finds they are cast down, yet not deserted, not destroyed. All the dwellers on earth must watch the motions of the Divine Providence, and wait upon the directions of the Divine will. God gives assurance to his prophet, and by him to be given to his people. Zion is his rest for ever, and he will look after it. He will suit to their case the comforts and refreshments he provides for them; they will be acceptable, because seasonable. He will reckon with his and their enemies; and as God's people are protected at all seasons of the year, so their enemies are exposed at all seasons. A tribute of praise should be brought to God from all this. What is offered to God, must be offered in the way he has appointed; and we may expect him to meet us where he records his name. Thus shall the nations of the earth be convinced that Jehovah is the God, and Israel is his people, and shall unite in presenting spiritual sacrifices to his glory. Happy are those who take warning by his judgment on others, and hasten to join him and his people. Whatever land or people may be intended, we are here taught not to think that God takes no care of his church, and has no respect to the affairs of men, because he permits the wicked to triumph for a season. He has wise reasons for so doing, which we cannot now understand, but which will appear at the great day of his coming, when he will bring every work into judgment, and reward every man according to his works.