The Fall of Jericho - Joshua 6

Man, good singing tonight.

All right. What a lovely song in the sweet by-and-by if you would take your Bible and turn with me to Joshua chapter, number 6, Joshua chapter number 6, as we are continuing our study. Through the Book of Joshua.

Joshua chapter number 6.

And will begin reading their inverse. Number one, A Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel, none went out and none came in, and the Lord said to Joshua, see, I have given Jericho into your hand is king and the Mighty Man of Valor. You shall March around the city. All you Men of War, you shall go all around the city once this you shall do six days and seven priests shall bear seven, trumpets of ram horns before the Ark by the seventh day. You shall March around the city seven times and they make a long. And when they make a long blast with the Rams, warm, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, they all that all the people shall showdowns with a great shout? Then the wall of the city will fall down flat and the people shall go up every man, straight before him. Then Joshua the son of nun called the priests and said to them. They got the Ark of the Covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of ram horns. Before the Ark of the Lord and he said to the people for seed and March around the city and let him who is armed Advance before the Ark of the Lord. So it was Joshua has spoken to the people that the seven priests bearing, the seven trumpets of ram horn, Rams horns, before the Lord's at Advanced and blue, the trumpets and the Ark of the Covenant, the Lord followed them. The armed men, went before the priest and blew the trumpets in the rear guard, came after the arc, while the priests continue blowing the trumpets by Joshua had commanded. The people saying, you shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall I wear a seat out of your mouth. Until the day, I say to you, shout, then you shout shout. So he had the Ark of the Lord Circle the city. Going it's going around at once, then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp and Joshua Rose early in the morning and the priests took up the Ark of the Lord. Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams horns before the Ark of the Lord went on continually and blue with the trumpets and the armed men, went before them. But the rearguard came after the Arc of the, of the Lord, while the priests continue blowing the trumpets, and the second day, they marched around the city once and return to the camp. So they did six days. But it came to pass on the 7th day that they arose early about the dawning of the day in March around the city 7 times in the same manner, on the day, on that day, only they March around the city seven times and the seventh time. It happened. When the breeze blew the trumpets that Joshua said to the people, shout for the Lord has given you the city. Now, the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction it and all who are in it. Only Rahab, the Harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house because she hit the messengers that we sent and You by all means, abstain from the accursed things less. You become a curse when you take of the accursed things and make the camp of Israel, a curse and trouble it. But all the silver and gold in vessels of bronze and iron are consecrated to the Lord. They shall come into the treasury of the Lord. So the people shouted, when the priests blew the trumpet,

And it happened. When the people heard the sound the trumpet, When the people shouted with a great shout that the wall fell down flat, then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city and they destroyed all that was in the city, both, man and woman, young, and old, ox, and sheep, and donkey with the edge of the sword. But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country going to the harlots house. And from there, bring out the woman and all that she has as you swore to her, and the young man who had been spies Went in and brought out Rahab her father, her mother her brothers and all that she had. So that they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold in the vessels of bronze and iron. They put it into the treasury, the house of the Lord and Joshua spared Rahab the Harlot, her father's household and all that she had. So she dwells and is real to this day because she hear The Messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Then Joshua charge them at that time. Saying cursed, be the man, before the Lord, who Rises up and build the city of Jericho, he shall lay a foundation with his first born and with his youngest, he shall set it up its Gates. So the Lord was with Joshua and his Fame spread throughout all the country. Let's pray Our Father God. We thank you. Lord. So much for this day that you've given us. Follow me. Thank you. Lord, for this time. Tonight to read your word to read entire chapter of this tremendous miracle. And father I pray that as we study this briefly, I pray, God, that you would help us to apply the trews. Lord to our heart and life. I pray that we would see the spiritual implications Lord of what historically happened so many years ago. Father, I pray that you would give us listening ears and hearts receptive to your word and father help us as we enter into a time of prayer. Father, help us to pray fervently. For those who are in need and follow, may you bless the children in the youth that are studying. At this moment, downstairs fall. We love you, ask all these things in Christ name. Amen, you probably have heard the old song, the old spiritual Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho, right? And that Baseline goes, and the walls came tumbling down, something like that. It's both right and wrong. Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho and the walls came tumbling down where the walls, they certainly tumbledown, they they certainly collapse. The Bible tells us that first 20 that every one, every man charged into the City and they took the city, but there was no battle actually to be fought. I mean, God gave Jericho into Israel's hands and the whole account of this romantic 6 chapter its centres around the gracious gift of The Sovereign Lord, if there was ever a case study of the Lord, as the hero of this narrative, it is this chapter right here? Israel was not responsible for the great Victory there in Jericho Joshua himself though. He was much greater after this. This defeat of Jericho, Joshua was not responsible for this. This defeat of Jericho God, what? God was the one? Who gave them a mighty Victory, other three things I want us to notice briefly this evening. Concerning this chapter, I noticed. First of all, Israel had a problem. Israel had a problem and of course it was the mighty walls of Jericho is the walls of Jericho will. Look at that in just a moment but Israel. Yes had a problem but Israel was not the only one with the problem. We see that inverse number one, Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel, none went out. None came in, so it's houses, they're rather matter-of-factly. That's Jericho was under siege, they had shut down the gates, no one was able to leave. No one was able to come in and you think about it. Here Jericho does not know much at all about the God of Israel but what they do know cause them to fear they had her just as Rahab had heard how God had Deliver them from the hand of evil Pharaoh. They had heard how God had parted the Red Sea, a so many years ago they had heard how God sustained 2 million shoes in the wilderness without any water or food and now they see with their very own eyes. Many many, thousands of men who are here and they know that somehow someway to million Israelis have just crossed the Jordan River during its most widest point during flood season. So they don't know much about Gaba. What they do know is that the god of Israel is a god of Miracles and a guy that that must be feared and so they shut down all the interest snowman house and no man in Now, as far as the city of Jericho goes Jericho is known to be the world's oldest city. Joshua's date was surrounded by a system of two massive stone walls. The outer wall with six feet, thick and about 20 feet high. The inner wall is about twelve feet, thick and 30 ft High between the walls, was a guarded walkway and that was about 15 ft wide. So just a massive Fortress, a massive defense Fortress around the entirety of the city. So, Israel's problem was that they had a city to conquer, but there were some extremely huge walls in the way. And then we think about it for Israel, hear this was Jericho for them would be a sort of a benchmark for them. It was at Jericho that they would Flex their muscles and experienced military Victory and Conquest, But trying to put yourself. In the shoes of the average is Israelite Soldier. I mean, for most of these men, Jericho was the first city that they had ever seen, that was surrounded by these massive walls. It must have looked and no doubt it look like an absolute impossibility that they were somehow going to concur. This city. However, they listen to the instructions that they were given to that were given to them by the Lord. And as we know the story, The Walls fell down flat. Some may wonder why we are preaching through and teaching through this old historical book. That is filled with Wars and bloodshed and battles after battle. My beloved, listen such is the Christian Life, right? Such as the Christian Life. Once we have passed.

Over the Jordan into the Promised Land. Once we have passed from death into life once we have received Christ and are saved. Is everything a bed of roses?

Are we living in a world that has no battles? Know we Face battles ourselves. We Face some mighty walls at times our self. so as we go through life, we have obstacles that we face very often.

Perhaps it is a

family issue. Perhaps it is a financial issue. Maybe it is a health issue. There are millions of different things that we could mention tonight that we from time to time half the face while living in this whole world. notice and verses 2 through 5, we have a Divine initiation

Verses 2, through 5 consist of God's instructions to Joshua, which are then passed on to the priests in verse six. And then it is passed on to the people there in verse 7. And so it is here that the tactics are revealed. It is here that the agenda is set for the rest of this account. Why won't you notice and Versa 2? It says in the Lord said to Joshua. See, I have given you Jericho into your hand, it's king and the Mighty Men of Valor. The first two is eight is a great statement of fact, is a great statement. Of fact, though it's experience is entirely futuristic. It hasn't happened yet. God says to Joshua, see, I have given Jericho into your hand. Another word. See, draws Joshua's attention to this as the Supreme Revelation on which everything else Should hang? In other words, God is saying to Joshua. Look and focus here. Get your mind set on this. There is not a shred of doubt about the outcome of Jericho. That's a really vs2 is an echo of a promise that God gave to Joshua back in Joshua 1:3, which came with a command to go over the Jordan River. And their God said to Joshua, Joshua 1:3 every place, the sole of your foot shall tread upon. I have given it to you.

It is not yours and experience, but the fact that it will be is so certain In the Providence of your Sovereign all-powerful God, the future can be expressed by a tense of completed action. I have given and so on that basis, the command is given. You shall March around the city and it lays out all the instructions there and verse 3, And following. For each of the next 6 days, the whole Army is to March around the city walls once. But the emphasis here is not on the fighting men.

The emphasis, as you read these verses, the emphasis is on the Ark of the Lord, the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of what the divine presence of almighty. God, the Ark of the Lord is mentioned, many times in the preceding verses. And there it is. A reminder. It is a tangible way to reveal and show to the children of Israel that God is with his people. He is with them in the very midst to accomplish his victory for them. It is a visual visual reminder that God is not some distant deity. no, listen, he is leading his people by his mighty presence just as he had done, throughout all the Wilderness years, This is why there is such an emphasis also on the number seven in our text, the number seven at Ker's, some four times and just one verse alone there in verse 4. Of course, seven is the number of what divine Perfection and it's a number of completeness reflecting the seventh day of rest. At the end of the six, literal days of creation So here the six days. The Six-Day circling, the city are to find their completion there. To find their culmination in the seventh day, with its seven circuits are seven revolutions around Jericho. The presence of the Ark is heralded by the seven priests each with a Ram's Horn. Trumpet blown continually it says in verse 9 Culminating in a long blast, after the seventh circuit on the seventh day, which is the sign for a great shout from the people and then the collapse of the mighty walls of Jericho. Are you cannot help but Wonder. As you read this narrative and you read the instructions that almighty God has given to Joshua then Joshua gave to the priests in the priesthood to the people. You can't help. But wonder what was the reaction that Joshua received when he told the people? The instructions of how they were going to conquer this Mighty City? Well, from a human standpoint, obviously, it seems like a horrible ineffective. Plan does it not? I mean, if a general was to tell Soldier today that this is the Strategic plan to conquer a certain city, they would be laughed out of town. But do remember this. These were people who had seen the Jordan River parted. And these are people who walked across the Jordan River on a drive on dry ground, they had seen the mighty miracle of God. And so, the commands they were given were met then with complete obedience because of promises on which they were built were met with complete faith. As a matter of fact, this is how the New Testament teaches us to look at this extraordinary event, Hebrews 11, and verse 30,000 by faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after they have been encircled for 7 days. So the walls of Jericho fell by God's Sovereign, will they failed by his resistible power? Yes. But also in response to the faith of Israel indicated by their obedience to these instructions.

Now the focus of verses eight through 14 is the detailed execution of the commands and prepped and preparation for the fall of the city, which has been described in verses 15 through 21. But notice thirdly, I promised Deliverance. I promised deliverance, we see another. Work of God's grace and verse 22 and 23. It says, but Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country Going to the harlots house. And from there, bring out the woman in all that she has as you swore to her. And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out rehab her father. Her mother her brothers and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. now where the scarlet cord in the window, Rahab's house would have been easily recognizable as remembered Joshua chapter 2. It tells us that it was built right against one of these walls, but now that the walls are damn, it is even more visible. And the house is still standing by a miracle. But whatever the detail, the two spies now, returns of the story. And with specific obedience to a direct command, from Joshua be going to rahab's house and bring her out. But not only her, all of her family. She's Rescue by Israel faithfulness, to the promise made in because of her faithfulness to them.

Remember because of her faith in God as the true Living God, she and all who belong to her. As verse 25 tells this is saved alive. My what a miracle this is of Rahab believing upon God, living in a pagan land, but yet she believed upon God and cause she believes it's on. God, God, save her and her family, but Sally not office. Say this for 24. Verse 24, calluses but they burned the city and all that was in and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold in the vessels of bronze and iron. They put into the treasury of the house of the Lord and Josh was spared Rahab the Harlot, her father's household been all that she had. So she dwells in is real to this day because she hit the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. I still think about this. Rahab and her family. Began outside the camp of Israel in the latter part of Earth. 23 tells us that, but soon they were living among the people And eventually she finds her true place in the genealogy of none, other than the Lord Jesus Christ and Matthew 1:5. My soul, what's Grace? This is But this teaches us that acts of faith, acts of faith, have long-lasting effects, that's long-lasting effect. But another thing that we can learn here is that disobedience

curses can also have a long-lasting effect. This is seen in verse 26. Then Josh would charge them at that time. Saying cursed, be the man before the Lord, who Rises up and build this city Jericho.

He shall lay its foundation with his first born. and with his youngest you shall set up its Gates, So, because Jericho was the first city of the conquest overcome solely by the power of God. And because it belongs exclusively to God, any active, rebuilding would be seen as an act of rebellion before the Lord. And that's equivalent to the Arrogant Defiance that first brought his judgment on the original city until verse 26 makes the terms crystal clear. In 1st Kings chapter 16 verse 34. It shows it's out working. Many generations later. You say verse 26, what does that mean? I mean, well, first Kings 2 houses that 530 years later It says in his days. Hi Al of Bethel built Jericho. He laid his foundation. He's rebuilding some 530 years later. He lays its foundation with a Byrum, is first born. And with his youngest, son, zglob. He set up its Gates, according to the word of the Lord, which she had spoken through, Joshua, the son of nun. Another words, this man paid an ultimate price for trying to rebuild the city of Jericho. He lost his first born. He lost another son, which goes back to the curse. That was brought upon it by Joshua and course, Joshua is speaking here from a revelation from God himself.

Verse 27 says, so the Lord was with Joshua and his and his Fame spread throughout all the country. You say, wow, that's tremendous from here. Israel. Every battle that Israel faces, they win is just a piece of tape from here on out. No, next after we shall see. It's it's a defeat. but, Let's look at this. What does this mean for us today? But how can we apply these truths as 21st century Believers? Considering this, this Conquest in this conferring of Jericho,

First of all, it's important to underline that the church is not to apply the principles that are laid out, that God, laid out for the nation of Israel, that for us to conquer, we do not shed blood. We do not conquer and Destroy entire cities. We don't do that. That's a principle. That is directly applied to the nation of Israel at that time and point in history. Now evil is still rampant in our world. Yes. And perhaps the mark of how much we are truly God's people is How Deeply we first share his hatred of sin in our own life. And then how determined we are to turn from it. So that's something that we can see here that God's God's hatred for seeing is so great. That he is determined that he was going to destroy the entire city. And that should be the way we look at sin in our life that we want to destroy it. We want to kill it because God hates it. And so the question is this do you hate yourself?

And you truly can't hate other sins until you really hate yours first, right? It's so hypocritical for us to look at the sins of others. Yet, we ourselves are living in sin, so

Do you hate your sin? And if so, how determine then are you to turn from your sin and repentance?

Another thing is wherever we see, manifestations of evil. We are to oppose it. We are to do so vigorously and purposefully but we are not to use the weapons of this world to do it, okay? A good illustration of this would be. Abortion and those who are against abortion. And every now and then you'll hear of some quote on quote Christian who takes matters in his own hands and he goes movies to abortion clinics. He takes the gun. He starts shooting people, No, that's not. How? it is to be done and that he is a seeing and that is not done in the name of God that is done in the name of Satan himself.

So whenever we see manifestations of evil, yes, we are to oppose it vigorously. Yes. We are to oppose it purposefully, but we don't use the weapons of this world. We use the weapons. God has provided for us because these are spiritual Wars that we're facing. And there are several ways in which the New Testament will help us apply Joshua chapter 6 correctly. You can jot down a second. Second Corinthians chapter 10, verses 3 through 5. 2nd Corinthians, chapter 10, verse 3 through 5 or Paul States for though. We walk in the flesh. We are not Waging War according to the flesh, but the weapons of our Warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take thought at and take every thought captive to obey Christ until he tells us very plainly that the Warfare is for the minds and hearts of men and women to liberate them from the change of this world from the bondage of sin and Satan the flesh. How do you do that? Through the proclamation, in application of the Gospel of God's grace. That's how

you cannot hold a gun to a man's head and say believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and be safe. That's not obviously how we win the world to Christ. Another verse to write down as if he's in 612 and 13. Paul States, we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of over this present, Darkness against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand firm. So far from Christians, engaging in some form of a holy war against other human beings. We are to concentrate on the ground that Christ has already won for us in his great. Redemptive work and to fight the spiritual battle against the onslaughts of the devil. In the Heavenly places. This is why truth righteousness, the gospel of peace Faith, salvation. And the word of God are the vital weapons of the spiritual warfare. It is not a Jihad. but Jesus, who wins the victory for the people of God, And so, we are just see the Jericho's of our contemporary World collapse, before the gospel of God's grace, it will be on the terms of our commander of the Lord's army and buy his life-giving power alone. What was his commands? Matthew 5:44. And verse 45 or Jesus said, love your enemies. And pray for those who persecute you. So that you may be sons of your father who is in heaven. So this new testament perspective, lift the battle beyond the time perspective of this world to the Eternal realities of the, Heavenly Kingdom, and a life of the world. That is to come Christians are not fighting individuals. We're truly not even fighting a different belief systems or religious systems. The Lord's army is set to fight the world and the Flesh in the presence of evil outside and within us. And behind both manipulating them for the destruction of Christ. And his church is the Devil Himself.

Our battles Are Spiritual battles.

but if the enemy can get us to fight Earthly battles with human weapons, such as I gave an example of how

Abortion clinics sometimes, set times by wicked men are shot.

Nothing will please the devil more than that.

But if the enemy can get us to fight Earthly battles with human weapons, and especially when those battles are between Believers in churches, nothing gives him a Greater Joy than that. So I pray that we would take these this historical book. This is storacle chapter and see the mighty hand of God in it and that the Lord would by the power of the Holy Spirit. Apply it to our heart and life. For the betterment of his kingdom and for the furtherance of his kingdom. Are we going to take just two moments for some prayer requests?