What is the horn of salvation in the Bible?

What does the horn of salvation mean?

In his “Exposition of the Bible”, John Gill illustrated the horn as the force used to drive, scatter and destroy Israel’s enemies and save them from evil.

In Psalms 18:2, the power of the horn is described as “the Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation and my high tower.

Through this scripture we can see God’s stability and strength to protect:

“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68-69).

In order to understand the early meaning of the “horn,” it is helpful to study its use in Old Testament sacrificial ceremonies.

Horns in Old Testament Ceremonies

Horns in the Ark of the Covenant

In Exodus 27:2we find the instructions for the construction of the altar in the temple: “And thou shalt make the horns thereof in the four corners: the horns thereof shall be like, and thou shalt overlay it with brass.”

The horns were used to indicate the corners of the altar. The horns and the altar had to be made of the same wood. The brass coating was necessary so that the horn could withstand fire and preserve the wood from destruction.

Our bodies are represented by wood and the blood of Christ is the layer of brass that enlightens us and protects us from divine wrath.

The horns, the multifaceted power of God

The “Horn” is a symbol that reflects the multifaceted powers of our Lord. God has and will overcome all evil, whether the opposition is spiritual or physical. He established the law for his people, which allowed man to realize his sinful nature. He sent this Son who provided the perfect sacrifice by being born of a virgin. This was of paramount importance, because the sin was not imputed to him.

Throughout his 33.3 years of life he was sinless although he was tempted in every way as man is today. His last act as a physical man consisted of offering himself freely to death. He then conquered physical death through his resurrection who provided the path to our spiritual salvation.

The horn is representative of this perfect sacrifice. Our Lord also has the power to govern, protect and preserve His believers on a present basis. His Spirit leads, guides and directs us when we allow His presence.

The “horn” also promises future protection for all believers. When Christ returns to the earth for all believers, we will ultimately be delivered from the presence of all evil. The flesh of the believer will no longer be tempted by any of the things, princes or principalities of this Earth.

In 1 Samuel 2:10, these powers are eloquently described in these terms: “The adversaries of the Lord will be cut to pieces; there will be thunder from heaven upon them; the Lord will judge the ends of the earth; and he will give strength to his king, and lift up the horn of his anointed. ”

This scripture notes both the existence of evil and the omnipresence of God. The supremacy of His strength results in a great proclamation on the part of His believers who testify to victory through His power.

Horns in Prophecy: Daniel and the Apocalypse

The prophet Daniel in 7:24 proclaims: “a) The ten horns of this kingdom are ten kings who will arise. And another will arise after them. and he will be different from the first, and he will subdue three kings.

The “horns” in this example are symbolic of the powers created by the formation of nations following the division of the Roman Empire. These nations are the “ten toes” seen by Nebuchadnezzar in the second chapter of Daniel.

The book of Revelation 17:12 also mentions the prophetic illustration by stating: “(a)and the ten horns which thou hast seen are ten kings which have not yet received a kingdom; but receive power as kings an hour with the beast; and their power will be one hour. “

Notice that these horns are missing crowns, because the beast with which they were to rule has not yet been revealed. The reign of the beast must be established quickly but will also be short-lived, as John says in his use of “an hour with the beast” and “their power will be an hour.”

The “horn of salvation” of Jesus Christ reflects an everlasting and everlasting reign. His redemption results in the salvation of souls in the present state and will ultimately result in the removal and transformation of the physical body. Jesus conquered death and the grave through crucifixion and resurrection.

After the tribulation, Satan’s captivity will also remove temptation and the presence of sin. He will have overcome sin, the law, the depravity of man and Satan. For these victories and their anticipation, we who place our faith in Jesus Christ are granted “the horn of salvation.”

Horns like trumpets

In Joshua 6:4, the seven priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant around the city were to “carry before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and on the seventh day you shall surround the city seven times, and the priests shall sound the trumpets . ”

Some commentators refer to these instruments made from ram’s horns as “jubilee trumpets.” These trumpets were used to remind the Israelites to remember and keep the law.

David, in Psalms 18:2 could not hide his enthusiasm found in the protection and provision of his God. Once we fully understand the greatness and perfection of the believer’s salvation, we cannot stop praising our Lord. We must sound and warn a lost and dying world by sounding our “Horn of Salvation”.

Chad is a believer in Christ, lawyer, amateur golfer, runner, dog lover and writer. He enjoys serving his church as a deacon and Sunday school teacher. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter and his dedication to golf by3sixteen.com. He and his wife Brandi reside in Tennessee with their canine son Alistair.

Photo credit: Pexels / Jenny K