A Bugle? A Bible?

A bugle? A valveless musical instrument? Who would ever imagine it as a lethal weapon of war? But it was--in the hands of Corporal Adolph Metzger, a 5’ 5” tall immigrant and veteran of Gettysburg. Adolph became honored and famed, not for masterfully playing the bugle, but for wielding it as a weapon in a fatal battle. Even his enemies that took his life honored him as a brother warrior for his bravery with the bugle. Adolph died in Red Cloud’s War when a U.S. military contingency from Fort Phil Kearney in Dakota territory was lured from the fort by a coalition of Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe native Americans. The U.S. force of infantry and cavalry, of which Adolph was the bugler, was ambushed where the trail was flanked by precipices. Over 1,500 warriors rose from the gullies on both sides. By some estimates over 40,000 arrows were fired, along with many bullets, at the 78 soldiers. All 49 infantrymen in a short time were slaughtered. The dismounted cavalry soon would be likewise. As his fellow cavalrymen fell around him, Adolph continued to fire his rifle until he was out of ammunition. As the native Americans surrounded and closed in upon him, Metzger grabbed the pipe stem of his bugle and bludgeoned the attacking enemy with its bell. He clobbered Indians in the head until the bugle was a twisted piece of brass. Wounded over a dozen times, Adolph finally fell to the ground. Overly impressed by such bravery, the Native Americans did not mutilate, carve up his body, and scalp Adolph as they did the rest of the fallen. Instead, they cut a cross on his chest to indicate that he died facing the enemy and honored him by covering his body with a buffalo robe as they would have done for one of their own heroic fallen. A bugle as a weapon? Who would have thought? Several years ago, I came across this story while reading U.S. western history. Recently, as I read it recounted by another author, I could not help but think of Samson of Israeli history, surrounded by Philistines, caving in heads with the jawbone of a donkey. Then I thought of Jesus. In the wilderness surrounded by wild beasts and demons, He is tempted by Satan. Never has there been such an onslaught massed against just One. Yet, that One, surrounded by darkness, like Samson surrounded by Philistines and Adolph by American Natives, took a unique weapon in His hand and wielded it against His attacker. This One, Jesus, wielded the Word of God. Colloquially put, he brandished not a bugle but the Bible. Successfully. Victoriously. Satan sulked whimpering away. We too, as believers, may find ourselves surrounded by the enemy as the three I noted above. Apostle Paul indicates we will. Our foe is the spiritual forces of evil, dark cosmic powers. We are attacked soul, mind, body. Our belief. Our faith. Our hope. Our very way of life. “Don’t run,” the Apostle admonishes. “Stand your ground. Don’t capitulate, armor up. Fight. Take in your hand your weapon, the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.” In my mind’s eye I see each surrounded by a menacing enemy: Samson silhouetted against a blue sky his donkey’s jawbone raised high; Adolph, his bugle. I can also see a badgered believer with his Bible raised high to defend himself against attack. As the enemy closes in, I feel like shouting to the surrounded believer, “Slash, parry, thrust, whack, smite. Wield the Word against the Wicked One.” The accuracy of the blow is determined by using the specific passage which best answers the attack made. The beleaguered besieged believer’s story will not end as Adolph’s. Unlike Adolph with the bugle, no believer has ever perished wielding the Word. Even if they physically were killed, they, completely victorious, immediately entered the presence of God to live eternally. Adolph’s bugle became a mangled mess; the jawbone, Samson tossed aside; but the Word of God is unaffected despite the many times it’s been used to dispatch and devastate the attacking enemy. The Sword of the Spirit’s edge is still razor-sharp. The enemy IS attacking. Closing in for the kill. “Take the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph 6:17). Wield the Word. Remember Samson. Jesus. Adolph Metzger. What’s that in your hand? Not a bugle, but a Bible. It was said of Adolph Metzger, “He never once turned his back on the enemy.” Stand firm. Stand tall. Stand your ground. Fight bravely. The enemy, not you, will fall.