“If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1 Cor. 14:8)
Our text forms part of Paul’s argument against the public use of tongues when there was no interpreter present. The point he makes in verses 7-11 was that unclear and unintelligible sounds achieve nothing. If the musician fails to make distinct sounds on his instruments, the hearer will not recognize any tune (v.?7). If the bugler fails to make distinct sounds on his trumpet, the hearer will not recognize any military command (v.?8). And if two parties talking together share no common language, neither party will recognize what the other is saying (vv.?9-11). The apostle’s point is simple: tongues without interpretation in the church had no greater value or meaning than tuneless noises made by a musical instrument, a war-trumpet, or the words of a foreigner.
The Christian life certainly qualifies as a “battle.” For, whether we like it or not, the present world is very much a combat zone in which we are caught up in the clash between two diametrically opposed kingdoms. While the battle still rages, we need to be ever alert and to enlist in God’s resistance movement, of which Peter wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant. Your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist…” (1 Pet. 5:8-9, Lit.).
Thankfully, the New Testament gives no “uncertain sound” when preparing us for battle. And it is just as well that it speaks so plainly; for, otherwise, we would be in grave danger of underestimating our arch-foe.
It is clear that the early church took the devil and his activities very seriously indeed. Towards the close of His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus warned His apostles that Satan had come to focus his attention on them: “The Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has earnestly desired to have you [plural], to sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for you [singular], that your faith fail not” (Lk. 22:31, Lit.). And previously, the disciples had learned from the Lord’s own lips that Satan headed a whole empire of hostile spirit intelligences, united into a highly-organized and well-ordered kingdom under the supreme mastermind of evil (Mt. 12:22-26; 25:41).
The apostle Paul speaks of the cosmic powers and spirit-forces arrayed against us, warning us in words calculated to send shivers down our spines that “our conflict is not against blood and flesh, but against the principalities, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of evil in the heavenlies” (Eph. 6:12, Lit.).
During the battle, the assault by the enemy (Mt. 13:39; Lk. 10:19) takes three main forms: persecution, deception, and temptation.
Persecution
Peter wrote of the devil’s opposition by way of persecution: “the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour … knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brotherhood that are throughout the world” (1 Pet. 5:8-9, Lit.). For his part, Paul explained to the church at Thessalonica that he had sent Timothy to them because the affliction which he had predicted had broken out on them: “when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labour might be in vain” (1 Thes. 3:5). Paul was clearly concerned that the devil would exploit the Thessalonians’ sufferings for Christ to discourage and defeat them. Many years later, the apostle John conveyed our Lord’s words to the church at Smyrna: “the devil is about to throw some of you into prison” (Rev. 2:10).
Deception
But the devil’s attack often takes the form of deception and false teaching, when he appears, not so much as a lion, but as a serpent. “I am jealous over you with a god-like jealousy,” Paul told the Corinthians, “for I betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear lest by some means, as the serpent deceived Eve through his cunning, your thoughts should be seduced from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:2-3, Lit.). The apostle wrote later concerning those who would “depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).
He knew that Satan was a master of disguise, well able to masquerade as the champion of what was good and right: “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:14-15).
Temptation
Satan’s attack can take the form of straightforward temptation to sin, as it did, for example, in the case of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. For just as in Genesis 3 the devil had successfully used a man and his wife to mar the first creation, so now it seems that he attempted to do the same with the new creation. But Peter challenged Ananias, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” (Acts 5:3).
Paul knew that the enemy stands ready to exploit any situation to his own advantage. The apostle could see the red light flashing, for example, in a believer’s anger. “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath [your exasperation, irritation], nor give place [room, scope, opportunity] to the devil” (Eph. 4:26-27). Paul clearly regarded anger nursed in the heart as sending Satan an open invitation to exploit the situation.
When telling the Corinthians that sexual intercourse within marriage is the mutual right of both husband and wife, Paul made it clear that, if they chose to abstain to make time for prayer, this should be only for a short time “lest Satan tempt you through your lack of self-control” (1 Cor. 7:5). He was well aware that sensual attractions were rife at Corinth and that if the saints didn’t adopt the God-appointed means of satisfying their desires, they might easily succumb to Satan’s!
Indeed, Paul knew that Satan was able to take advantage even of the saints’ zeal for the purity of the local assembly. Writing of the once-guilty-now-repentant brother at Corinth, Paul said, “I urge you to reaffirm your love to him … lest Satan should take advantage of us [should make a gain at our expense, should defraud us]; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor. 2:8-11). Paul could see that the assembly, which was now as reluctant to restore the man as once they had been to discipline him, was in real danger of being outmaneuvered and outwitted by the devil.
We can hardly miss Paul’s repetition of the word “lest”:
• “lest by some means the tempter had tempted you” (1 Thes. 3:5)
• “lest Satan tempt you through your lack of self control” (1 Cor. 7:5)
• “lest Satan should take advantage of us” (2 Cor. 2:11)
• “lest by some means, as the serpent deceived Eve through his cunning” (2 Cor. 11:3)
Clearly, the apostle was forever peering over his spiritual shoulder lest, in some way or other, the devil managed to steal a march either on him or on other believers. Well then did Peter counsel, “Be sober, be vigilant.”
May God help us to put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11-17) and to see that His Word abides in us (1 Jn. 2:14), so that we might “be prepared for battle.”