007-Joshua 6
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You're walking by faith, not by sight, but you have something that you think, "This is unconquerable. This is impossible. This is tough. It's formidable." It might be an internal Jericho, some flaw in your character, some weakness, some weakness where you're tempted in an area more than any other area of your life, some Achilles' heel. Could be anger. Could be lust. Could be impatience. Others have external Jerichos: an unsaved friend. You just can't seem to get the victory in that. Perhaps, it's a debt, or even a disability. It seems impossible. Maybe it's a work for the Lord you feel God's called you to, but you think, "I could never do that. That's too big. I'm not good enough. I'm not significant enough. It's too hard of a battle." Things looked impossible for the children of Israel.
1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.
1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 3 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.
now Jericho was securely shut up," closed up. "Because of the children of Israel, none went out none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, see, I have given Jericho into your hand," done deal, past tense, victory. You have it. It's assured. I've done it. "And the mighty men of valor, you shall march around the city. You and all the men of war shall go around the city once. This you shall do six days."
now Jericho was securely shut up," closed up. "Because of the children of Israel, none went out none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, see, I have given Jericho into your hand," done deal, past tense, victory. You have it. It's assured. I've done it. "And the mighty men of valor, you shall march around the city. You and all the men of war shall go around the city once. This you shall do six days."
Now Josh was leaning in hearing the strategy. OK. You want us to march around? Oh, yeah. They're going to get a good look at our army. They're going to see how many people we are, good. We won't do anything, we'll just show them who we are.
Now Josh was leaning in hearing the strategy. OK. You want us to march around? Oh, yeah. They're going to get a good look at our army. They're going to see how many people we are, good. We won't do anything, we'll just show them who we are.
But then he said, yeah, you're going to do that. You're going to go all over the city. It's an easy walk. It's a nine acre complex, the ancient city of Jericho. So you're going to march all the way around the city, but you're going to do it every day. Huh? Yeah, six days. OK.
But then he said, yeah, you're going to do that. You're going to go all over the city. It's an easy walk. It's a nine acre complex, the ancient city of Jericho. So you're going to march all the way around the city, but you're going to do it every day. Huh? Yeah, six days. OK.
Then what?
Then what? "And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark, but the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times." So you're going to do a lot of walking around that town, 13 times. "And the priest shall blow the trumpets. Now Joshua is thinking, and then we attack?
4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
"And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark, but the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times." So you're going to do a lot of walking around that town, 13 times. "And the priest shall blow the trumpets. Now Joshua is thinking, and then we attack?
So you're going to do a lot of walking around that town, 13 times. Now Joshua is thinking, and then we attack?
"Then it shall come to pass when they make a long blast with the ram's horn. And when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout." And Joshua was thinking, and then we attack?
5 It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout 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.”
Joshua is going, huh? What? You want me to tell that to my army men?
But the Lord said, "and then the wall of this city will fall down flat." Joshua is going, huh? What? You want me to tell that to my army men? "And the people shall go up every man straight before him. So Joshua the son of Nun--" better to get that name right. We pronounce it nun, but in Hebrew Nun-- Nun.
6 Then Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.” 7 And he said to the people, “Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord.”
6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven trumpets in front of the ark of the Lord.”
Get the picture, there's a small infantry of armed men, first of all, to protect the ark. Then the priest bear the Ark of the covenant. We talked all about that in previous studies. Then in the rear guard, more armed men. That is how it is led. And the army will follow behind.
: "Called the priests and said to them, take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of the rams horns before the ark of the Lord. And he said to the people, proceed and march around the city. And let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord."
And it's probably better to do that because you might think it says son of a nun. And it would a whole explanation to get out of that. So just Nun, that's who he is. "Called the priests and said to them, take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of the rams horns before the ark of the Lord. And he said to the people, proceed and march around the city. And let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord."
"Called the priests and said to them, take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of the rams horns before the ark of the Lord. And he said to the people, proceed and march around the city. And let him who is armed advance before the ark of the Lord."
Get the picture, there's a small infantry of armed men, first of all, to protect the ark. Then the priest bear the Ark of the covenant. We talked all about that in previous studies. Then in the rear guard, more armed men. That is how it is led. And the army will follow behind.
Now we have some insight here into the ways of God. And I bet you know what scripture I am going to come up with.
Now we have some insight here into the ways of God. And I bet you know what scripture I am going to come up with. The ways of God can appear foolish. God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
The ways of God can appear foolish. God has chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;
This is not a smart military campaign. It's brilliant spiritually. It's going to boost the morale of the children of Israel and trusting God. It's going to really debilitate the morale of the Canaanites. But this is God's foolish campaign-- militarily campaign.
This is not a smart military campaign. It's brilliant spiritually. It's going to boost the morale of the children of Israel and trusting God. It's going to really debilitate the morale of the Canaanites. But this is God's foolish campaign-- militarily campaign.
What could be more foolish than just marching around a city with a box? And let's protect the box. Let's not do anything. Let's not say anything. Let's just walk around that city with a box. I'm sure the first day, fear struck the hearts of the Jerichoites as they looked out and go, oh, there they are. It's beginning. They're on the march.
What could be more foolish than just marching around a city with a box? And let's protect the box. Let's not do anything. Let's not say anything. Let's just walk around that city with a box.
I'm sure the first day, fear struck the hearts of the Jerichoites as they looked out and go, oh, there they are. It's beginning. They're on the march.
And they just kind of move with their head and their eyes all the way around. And they're going that way. Now they're going around that way. And going around, going around, going around-- now they're back. And they go home.
And they just kind of move with their head and their eyes all the way around. And they're going that way. Now they're going around that way. And going around, going around, going around-- now they're back. And they go home.
And then early in the morning they do it again. They wake everybody up in the city because they're early on the march. And first the first day they were fearful. By the third day, I'm sure the Jerichoites are mocking the children of Israel. All they can do is walk. They don't have an army. They don't have implements of war. They don't have battering rams, and catapults, and moving towers.
And then early in the morning they do it again. They wake everybody up in the city because they're early on the march. And first the first day they were fearful. By the third day, I'm sure the Jerichoites are mocking the children of Israel. All they can do is walk. They don't have an army. They don't have implements of war. They don't have battering rams, and catapults, and moving towers.
There's a principle there. You are mocked by the world because you follow the beat of a different drum. You're following the orders of an invisible God. They can't see him.
1. There's a principle there.
1. There's a principle there.
You are mocked by the world because you follow the beat of a different drum.
You are mocked by the world because you follow the beat of a different drum.
You're following the orders of an invisible God. They can't see him.
They mock you, but it's only the first day. Or it's only the third day, battles not over yet. Wait till the end. Just wait till the end.
They mock you, but it's only the first day. Or it's only the third day, battles not over yet. Wait till the end. Just wait till the end. Don't get discouraged on day one, two, three, four, five, six. Keep marching. Keep going. And so they did.
Don't get discouraged on day one, two, three, four, five, six. Keep marching. Keep going. And so they did.
And there's some things here that are out of place. They're out of place, biblically. Number one, what's out of place, priests were exempt from fighting. Here they're leading the march.
Don't get discouraged on day one, two, three, four, five, six. Keep marching. Keep going. And so they did.
And there's some things here that are out of place. They're out of place, biblically. Number one, what's out of place, priests were exempt from fighting. Here they're leading the march.
Number two, the ark of the covenant was never to be taken out during battle. They will try that in 1 Samuel chapter 4 and 5. And not only will they get defeated, the ark will get captured. That's out of place. Number three, the trumpets were ram's horns. God said during a war, you bring out the silver trumpets. And that is going to be the marching order, everybody in the camp can hear it.
8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9 The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I say to you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout.”
And the fourth thing that's out of place is that if they march for seven days they broke the Sabbath. One of the seven days has to be the Sabbath day. And on the Sabbath you don't do work and you don't walk very long. Only a Sabbath day's journey. They broke the Sabbath.
So what it was when Joshua had spoken to the people, "seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of the rams horns went before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them."
Joshua 6:
And if I'm reading this correctly, it was the seventh day that they marched more than they did the other days. So all of that is out of place. I'm going to let you find out why. Instead of me just giving that away. That's just a fascinating study.
to march toward an enemy and be absolutely quiet, not say a word, not be able to-- you get so excited in the battle to let that out. Usually that's just part of the game, part of what you do. This is very difficult.
So what it was when Joshua had spoken to the people, "seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of the rams horns went before the Lord advanced and blew the trumpets. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them."
11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once. Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. 12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. 15 But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times. 16 And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, that Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city! 17 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 hid the messengers that we sent. 18 And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
"Then the armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets. And the rear guard came after the ark, while the priest continued blowing the trumpets. Now Joshua had commanded the people saying, you shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, nor shall any word proceed out of your mouth until the day I say to you, shout. Then you shall shout."
11 So the ark of the Lord was carried around the city, circling it once. They returned to the camp and spent the night there. 12 Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the ark of the Lord, 13 and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of the Lord. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed men went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of the Lord. 14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. 15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. 16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the troops, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city. 17 But the city and everything in it are set apart to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and everyone with her in the house will live, because she hid the messengers we sent.
Accurse means devoted. And here's the explanation in the next verse.
Now I've talked this over with soldiers before. And I said, how is it in a battle to be on the march, to march toward an enemy and be absolutely quiet, not say a word, not be able to-- you get so excited in the battle to let that out. Usually that's just part of the game, part of what you do. This is very difficult.
They couldn't say a word, not a peep. So "he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once, then they came to the camp, lodged in the camp. Joshua rose early in the morning and the priest took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests, bearing the seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the Lord, went and continually blew with the trumpets."
They couldn't say a word, not a peep. So "he had the ark of the Lord circle the city, going around it once, then they came to the camp, lodged in the camp. Joshua rose early in the morning and the priest took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests, bearing the seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the Lord, went and continually blew with the trumpets."
19 But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.”
"And the armed men went before them, but the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priest continued blowing the trumpets. And the second day they marched all around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did for six days. But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day. And they marched around the city seven times in the same manner."
"All the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze, and iron are consecrated to the Lord. They shall come into the treasury of the Lord." So all the spoil from this city-- you can't keep any. You can keep the next city, but you can't keep this city.
"On that day only, they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it was so when the priest blew the trumpet, 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 those who are in it."
Quick principle:
"Only Rahab, the harlot, shall live. She and all who are with her in her house because she hid the messengers that were sent. And you, by all means, keep yourselves from the occursed things, lest you become occurse." Please remember this for a future study. "When you take of the occursed things and make the camp of Israel occurse, and trouble it."
So all the spoil from this city-- you can't keep any. You can keep the next city, but you can't keep this city.
Occurse means devoted. And here's the explanation in the next verse. "All the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze, and iron are consecrated to the Lord. They shall come into the treasury of the Lord." So all the spoil from this city-- you can't keep any. You can keep the next city, but you can't keep this city.
The first fruits belong to God. The first city spoils belong to God. All that metal will be part of the collection we take for the Tabernacle and for doing the work of God. That's the idea of a devoted or an accursed thing.
The first fruits belong to God. The first city spoils belong to God. All that metal will be part of the collection we take for the Tabernacle and for doing the work of God. That's the idea of a devoted or an occursed thing.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and 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.
So here it is, verse 20. "So the people shouted when the priest blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet. And 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."
I can only imagine what a great shout that was. Not being able to shout-- not being able to speak for seven days. All that pent up energy. Now it's, raahhhh! They're just mighty shout. OK. This is their part.
I can only imagine what a great shout that was. Not being able to shout-- not being able to speak for seven days. All that pent up energy. Now it's, raahhhh! They're just mighty shout. OK. This is their part.
These soldiers on the move get to yell. They don't really fight. It's really not a battle of Jericho. It's a misnomer. There's not really fighting going on. It's a wipeout, not a battle.
It's like the battle of Armageddon. It's misnamed. It's not going to be a battle. Jesus is coming back and will wipe the enemies of God out, done. The walls fell down flat. It was a wipeout.
So they were the fans in the audience watching God work shouting, yeah, God, go get them. "And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man, woman, young, and old, ox, sheep, donkey, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the country, go into the harlot's house."
So they were the fans in the audience watching God work shouting, yeah, God, go get them.
21 And they utterly 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.
22 But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, “Go into the harlot’s house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her.” 23 And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, 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.
"And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man, woman, young, and old, ox, sheep, donkey, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the country, go into the harlot's house."
:24-"And they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver, the gold vessels, the bronze, iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua spared Rahab, the harlot, and her father's household and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day." That was when it was written, of course. "Because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho."
"And from there bring out the woman and all that she has as you swore to her. And the young men who had been spies went in, brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all that she had. And left them outside the camp of Israel."
24 But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. 25 And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father’s household, and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
"And they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver, the gold vessels, the bronze, iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord. And Joshua spared Rahab, the harlot, and her father's household and all that she had. So she dwells in Israel to this day." That was when it was written, of course. "Because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho."
From the beginning she showed faith. When they came, the spies to her house, she brought them to the rooftop and hid them under the flack's. Remember, the piles of flax? So when the soldiers of Jericho came in they couldn't find them.
From the beginning she showed faith. When they came, the spies to her house, she brought them to the rooftop and hid them under the flack's. Remember, the piles of flax? So when the soldiers of Jericho came in they couldn't find them.
Then she got them out of the bundles and said, now head for the hills boys. Wait a few days. And when the pursuers are gone, then go back to the camp and tell them, because we know God is with you. And I believe your God is God.
Then she got them out of the bundles and said, now head for the hills boys. Wait a few days. And when the pursuers are gone, then go back to the camp and tell them, because we know God is with you. And I believe your God is God.
Now let's close out this chapter because we're over time and we want to stop.
Rahab, the harlot, reminds me of a true story-- another true story that happened in 1967. During Israel's Six Day War in the Golan Heights, an Israeli, named Eli Cohen, went across enemy lines, convinced the Syrians that he was part of them, and learned military secrets from the Syrians. Was given a tour of the Golan Heights, and all of the fortifications, the bunkers-- then he gave the information to the Israelis.
But what he did was ingenious. He told the Syrians-- because the general said, you know, we've got our bunkers and our men stationed on the Golan Heights. There's no trees here. And the sun is so hot in the summer. And our men are just boiling.
26 At that time Joshua imposed this curse: The man who undertakes the rebuilding of this city, Jericho, is cursed before the Lord. He will lay its foundation at the cost of his firstborn; he will finish its gates at the cost of his youngest.
26 At that time Joshua imposed this curse: The man who undertakes the rebuilding of this city, Jericho, is cursed before the Lord. He will lay its foundation at the cost of his firstborn; he will finish its gates at the cost of his youngest. 27 And the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
And so Eli Cohen said, I've got an idea. Eucalyptus trees grow really well here and they grow fast. If you plant eucalyptus trees, it'll blend in with the setting. It looks like natural landscape. Nobody would be able to see the bunkers. And you'll have shade. And so they did that.
:"Then Joshua charged them, at that time, saying, cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho. He shall lay its foundations with his youngest first born. And with his youngest, he shall set up its gates."
Then Eli Cohen said to the Israelis, after a couple of seasons went by and the war began to heat up, he said, just aim for the eucalyptus groves. It's all you need to know. Gave them the coordinates. Just aim for those trees.
How did Joshua know what would indeed happen in the future. This is a prophecy.
:2How did Joshua know what would indeed happen in the future. This is a prophecy.
And Eli Cohen-- it's in a book called, Our Man in Damascus, gave the secrets of the eucalyptus trees. The Israelis did that and, in fact, took the Golan Heights back from the Syrians. So she is sort of like an Old Testament version, female version, of Eli Cohen. A harlot who believed in God.
Now let's close out this chapter because we're over time and we want to stop. "Then Joshua charged them, at that time, saying, cursed be the man before the Lord who rises up and builds this city Jericho. He shall lay its foundations with his youngest first born. And with his youngest, he shall set up its gates."
1 Kings chapter 16, under the reign of King Ahab, a man by the name of Hiel-- Hiel decided, I'm going to rebuild the city of Jericho. In so doing, he lost the life of his eldest son. And when the city was completed, his last son.
How did Joshua know what would indeed happen in the future. This is a prophecy. 1 Kings chapter 16, under the reign of King Ahab, a man by the name of Hiel-- Hiel decided, I'm going to rebuild the city of Jericho. In so doing, he lost the life of his eldest son. And when the city was completed, his last son.
Joshua says that here. It was fulfilled prophecy later on.
Joshua says that here. It was fulfilled prophecy later on. So "the Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread throughout all of the country." Now why did those two spies go to Jericho? Besides spying out the land, why did they really go to Jericho? To save Rahab, the harlot.
27 And the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.
Now why did those two spies go to Jericho? Besides spying out the land, why did they really go to Jericho? To save Rahab, the harlot.
Do you remember Jesus in Jerusalem? It says, he was going to go back to Galilee's, but he needed to go through Sumeria. Why did he need to go through Sumeria? What's in Sumeria? The Jews have no dealings with the Sumerians.
There was a woman. He needed to meet her. He needed to have a conversation with her because in so doing, she came to faith in Christ and the whole village did. In the same way, these two spies needed to go to Jericho because there was a woman named Rahab who believed in the God of Israel. And she was saved.
There was a woman. He needed to meet her. He needed to have a conversation with her because in so doing, she came to faith in Christ and the whole village did. In the same way, these two spies needed to go to Jericho because there was a woman named Rahab who believed in the God of Israel. And she was saved.
And you remember she put out a scarlet cord, scarlet, like in the Passover. In the Passover, the scarlet blood on the lintels, and doorpost, and the judgment passed over their house. But the commandment of God was stay in the house. Stay in the house and you'll be saved.
Rahab, you and your family stay, in the house. How could a house be saved if the walls crumble down, and the house is built on the walls of the city? Now you hear that question and you go, yeah, I have a whole problem with the whole thing about Jericho. I don't get-- what do you mean walls just fall down of cities.
Rahab, you and your family stay, in the house. How could a house be saved if the walls crumble down, and the house is built on the walls of the city? Now you hear that question and you go, yeah, I have a whole problem with the whole thing about Jericho. I don't get-- what do you mean walls just fall down of cities.
You have no problem with this if your god is big enough. You only have a problem with this if your god is small and incapable. If you have a small god, then you're going to have a problem with every page in the Bible. If your god is big enough to create the heavens and the earth, it's like, another one to God's scoreboard, bam.
You have no problem with this if your god is big enough. You only have a problem with this if your god is small and incapable. If you have a small god, then you're going to have a problem with every page in the Bible. If your god is big enough to create the heavens and the earth, it's like, another one to God's scoreboard, bam.
So I have no problem at all with this because my god made the heavens and the earth. And just like he wanted to save that one woman and her family by faith. He's still in the saving business, the salvaging business.
So I have no problem at all with this because my god made the heavens and the earth. And just like he wanted to save that one woman and her family by faith. He's still in the saving business, the salvaging business.
Father we do thank you for our time together. Thank you we could study the book of Joshua. Thank you, Lord, for the life that the children of Israel experienced going through the river. And I pray that some, tonight, would experience new life in Jesus, as they put their trust in him.
As we close our service, we're about to close with one quick song. If you're here tonight, you've not received Jesus as your Savior, you're willing to trust him tonight. Like this woman of a checkered background, a woman who had a reputation in that town. A woman of the night. She believed and she was saved. She was spared. And she made her way into the genealogy of Jesus Christ, himself.
If you want to be in God's book, the book of life, you turn to Christ tonight. You receive Jesus tonight. Or you come back to Jesus if you've wandered away from Him. If any of that describes you and you're willing to trust him right now as we close, I like to pray for you. I want to see your hand. Just raise your hand up. Raise your hand up.
You're saying, Skip, pray for me. I'm giving my life to Jesus right now. God bless you, ma'am. Right there on the left, yes. Anybody else? Raise that hand up. Say yes to Him. Place your trust in Him. God bless you toward the back-- in the very back. Anybody else? Raise it up. Say yes to Him. Right up in the front.
It's a simple, trust and belief. God bless you, and you, and you on the left, and you in the family room. There are several of you. Anyone else? On my right, on my right-- Lord, we do pray and we ask that you strengthen them as they make this commitment in Jesus' name. Amen.
I'm going to have you stand up. And as we sing this last song-- and we're going after this song. We're done, but if you raised your hand, as we sing this parting song, I want you to come up here right now and stand here. I'm going to lead you in a quick prayer. This will take a moment.
But if you raised your hand-- Jesus called people publicly. I'm asking you to come publicly. As we sing, just say excuse me, get up from where you're sitting, in the back, in the family room, come through these doors. And please stand right up here, right now. This will not take long. Come and stand right here. Make this commitment to Jesus. God bless you and you.