<p>14:8 <i>For if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle, who shall prepare himself for war?- </i>Again, the purpose of speaking or making a noise was for the benefit <i>of others</i> and not for any selfish reasons. &quot;The battle&quot; could refer to the day of the Lord, or the daily spiritual strife. The Old Testament use of 'trumpet' language relates to the following ideas:<br />- To prepare for war<br />- To indicate the need to move on<br />- Convicting others of sin (Is. 58:1; Jer. 4:19)<br />- Warning of invaders (Ez. 33:3-6)<br />- A proclamation of the urgency to prepare for the day of the Lord (Joel 2:1)<br />- The certainty of salvation and God's response to prayer: &quot;Ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God (Old Testament idiom for 'your prayers will be answered'), and ye shall be saved&quot; (Num. 10:9).<br /><i>All</i> of these elements ought to feature in the work of our twenty first century priests.&nbsp;</p>