Joshua: Kingdom Conquest (7)
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Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.
I have read this recall of events numerous times. I have watched veggie tale movies about it and still remains my go to verse for warfare.
Syrian Preacher and Martyer John Chrysostom stated:
You are but a poor soldier of Christ if you think you can overcome without fighting, and suppose you have the crown without the conflict.
Christians these days are far too passive with the outside world. The church has been notorious for fighting amoungst itself, but standing in conflict with that which conflicts with the bible far too many Christians have laid down their weapons.
The Church has become weak. Jericho was terrified of Israel and Israel had the confidence to stand in thier fear and I believe this is why:
Most Christians pray for victory and fight as though they lost. When Israel stood in Victory they realized they weren’t looking for a victory. They were already fighting from a place of Victory.
In these two verses you have the way of victory in your life
Fear of the Lord
It is ok for those who are unsaved to be be afraid of us if it comes from a place where God is centered and not the church. Jericho had front seats to the dried up river. They saw what God could do. The issue is that the church stands more in the echo of goliath than the miracle working power of God.
2. The promise of the Lord
Be Strong Chapter Six: The Conquest Begins! (Joshua 6)
Victorious Christians are people who know the promises of God, because they spend time meditating on God’s Word (1:8); they believe the promises of God, because the Word of God generates faith in their hearts (Rom. 10:17); and they reckon on these promises and obey what God tells them to do. To “reckon” means to count as true in your life what God says about you in His Word
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Be of Good cheer. You have the victory.
Then we get into
You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days.
Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
We had the fear of the Lord, The Promises of the Lord
3. Instructions of the Lord.
God laid out the stratagy and all they had to do is follow it.
To much lately we think we have to understand the stratagy or understand what God is asking us to do. But we don’t need to understand it. In most cases we just have to follow it.
I want you to get this picture. For 7 days the people of God saw the fortified city. They knew there wasn’t a way inside. For 7 days Israel would have been taunted from those on the wall, but for 7 days Israel prepared for battle, got up, got dressed and marched.
I could imagine the first two or three days were stressful for Jericho. They watched and wondered. But by the 5th or 6th day of Israel marching I wonder if Jericho’s army even got ready for battle or did they get comfortable behind their wall.
On the other hand I wonder how Joshua kept moral up in the camp. For 6 days they marched and not one brick jostled out of place.
The number 7 is placed all thoughout this part of scripture.
7 priests, 7 trumpets, 7 days, 7 circuts of the city on the seventh day.
The word seven means to be full or satisfied.
God rested on the 7th day, there were 7 promises of Abraham.7 branches on a candle stick in the tabernacle, The sabbath celebrated the 7th day, 7 weeks from passover to pentecost7th year is the sabbatical, 49th (7x7) is the year of Jubalee. Seventh month feasts: The feast of trumpets, the day of Atonement, and the Feast of tabernacles.
Now there were two types of trumpets used:
a silver one that noted when someone important had something important to say and
2. the rams horn-Which started every celebration or feast.
Israel went not to battle, but to victory.
Israel didn’t use the silver trumpet because there wasn’t a war to be waged—they were anouncing the year of Jubaliee for Israel in the new land.
So 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.”
And he said to the people, “Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord.”
And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them.
The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually.
But Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout.”
So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.
Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.
And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually.
And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.
On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times.
And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city.
The men were armed. Notice here: as before we stated everyday they were ready for battle even though there wasn’t a battle for everyday.
If the weeks schedule was to test their patience the the silence was to test their self control. If we cannot control ourselves outside of battle how can we ever be disciplined enough for warfare?
more and more self control is becoming scarce in a place where we are filled with self indulgence.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Be Strong Chapter Six: The Conquest Begins! (Joshua 6)
When we accept God’s plan, we invite God’s presence; and that guarantees victory
The fall of Jericho and the way it happned is an ecouragement to God’s people who trust the Lord’s promises and obey his instructions no matter how impossible it seems.