Josh. 6:1-21 HOW TO TAKE YOUR JERICHOS
I. ISRAEL'S PROBLEM v.1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in. A. The Size Of The Problem Jericho is known as the oldest city in the world, in Joshua's day, it was surrounded by a system of two massive stone walls. The outer wall was 6 ft. thick and about 20 ft. high. The inner wall was about 12 ft. thick and was 30 ft. high. Between the walls was a guarded walkway about 15 ft. wide. Israel's problem was that they had a city to conquer, but there were some extremely huge walls in the way. B. The Significance Of The Problem As we go through life, we have obstacles that we face as well. (a) A Fear Problem - Perhaps it is a lost loved one we would like to see the Lord touch and save, a lost community over which we are burdened, a ministry from the Lord that we feel inadequate about, (b) A Family Problem - family trouble that tears at our hearts and leaves us wondering what to do, (c) A Financial Problem - financial trouble that stresses us to the limits of our patience and faith, (d) A Failure Problem - a besetting sin that constantly crops us in our life, C. The Scope Of The Problem an opportunity for the Lord to work 2 Cor. 12:7-10 - And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
II. ISRAEL'S PROMISE v.2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour. The Promise Of :- A. The Word Of God.- On The Winning Side "See, I have given into thine hand" B. The Will Of God - The Devil Is A Defeated Foe "Jericho, and the king thereof" Rev. 20 v.10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. C. The Work Of God - All Of Grace "See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour."
2 Samuel 5:23 And when David enquired of the LORD, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the LORD go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
III. ISRAEL'S PLAN v. 3 - 5 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, God’s Plan Involves a) Confidence - v. 1 & 2 (a) In Spite of Great Walls - 6:1 (b) In Spite of Great Warriors - 6:2
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son. b) Co - Operation v. 3 - 5 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, 1.The Fighting Men . all ye men of war, 2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Life's Fight Well Won, Life's Course Well Run, Life's Work Well Done 2. The Foolish Means . If Joshua set down with his generals what plan would they come up with? · Some might say let’s get ladders and scale the walls. · Another might say no let’s barge in through the gates. Yet another might say no let's dig underneath and we can tunnel through. ·Yet another might say let’s hold on and starve them out, like the siege of Derry
They would march around for six days leaving themselves open to attack, On the seventh day they would march around seven times and on the seventh time they would all shout and that was it. Joshua relays these instructions to the priests, We discover that the armed men where to go first, then would follow seven priests with rams horns behind this was the Ark of the Covenant the symbol of Gods presence after this came the rest of the people. Joshua 6:9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 2 Cor. 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) [5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; The rams horns remind us of the simple Gospel message we proclaim. What a Gospel we have! Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 1 Cor. 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 3. The Fruitless Marching Let us read some of the passage. · Day one -no result Joshua 6:11 So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. · Day two- no result. Joshua 6:14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. Day by day nothing happened these means are not working. Joshua 6:15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. Thirteen times they had followed God’s instructions and still the wall looked the same, not as much as one stone had fallen. This is the cry of many today - · It's not working. · It's time to change the message. · It's time to change the method. · It's time to change the means. 4. The Flawless Miracle. Hebrews 11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. Their's Was A : - Daring faith. These men had faith to face the enemy they really knew their God. Doing faith. They obeyed the word of God Disciplined faith. They kept silence in the ranks when they where told. Determined faith. They waited on the Lord's timing Dependent faith. They shouted before the walls had moved an inch [v16 ] Denying faith Joshua 6:18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. Nothing for themselves this faith doesn’t seek to exalt self-but exalts the Lord. Decisive faith. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. c) Consistency They didn't Give Up Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
IV. ISRAEL'S PRIZE 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
(1) God Keeps His Promises
(2) God Controls By His Power (3) God Cares For His People
