GAINING THE VICTORY
Scripture: Joshua 6:1 - 8:29
Time: 1400 B.C.
I. RECEIVING GOD'S PLAN (Joshua 6:1-5)
A. The Promises of God (vv. 1,2)
The promises of God, though often delayed beyond the time that our impatient spirits would fix for their accomplishment, are always fulfilled in their season.
B. The Strategy of God (vv. 3,4)
His strategy involved marching around the city armed men and priests dressed in white tunics, blowing rams' horns, followed by the Ark of the Covenant and the rear guard.
It would take two or three hours to encircle the city seven times on the last day.
One of the things Israel would learn from this experience was that God's work must be done in God's way by God's people.
C. The Responsibility of Man (vv. 5)
The promises of God are not designed to promote inactivity on our part. They are given to encourage and to assure us that if our labors conform to the divine standard, they will not be in vain.
Joshua was taught at Jericho that he was not free to follow his own devices, but was to adhere strictly to the plan God had given him, following those instructions to the letter if Jericho were to fall before Israel.
II. ACTING IN OBEDIENCE
A. The People Are Instructed (vv.6-9)
What a strange spectacle it must have been for the inhabitants of Jericho to see the Israelites encircle the great fortifications of the city daily in absolute silence! The only sound that reached the walls was the sound of the trumpets blown by the priests.
Hold your peace and let the Lord fight.
To the Israelites, Jericho still remained the same when they came back to their tents night after night.
* The greatest difficulty in the Christian life is to get to the place where one is prepared to admit that the whole thing is too big for him, and that the power of the enemy is too great for him, and if his Jericho is to fall, then, somehow, God must bring it about. So long as we think we can do it alone, the omnipotent resources of God in Jesus Christ our risen Lord cannot help us. When we reach the place that we surrender all to Him, He brings spiritual power and victory and blessing into our lives. He turns what appears to us an utter failure into a total triumph.
The Israelites were nomadic people who had been reared in the desert. They did not have the munitions of war needed for assaulting a fortified city, nor the skill and experience to use them if they had had them. Nothing but a direct interference of the Almighty could in a week's time give a city like Jericho, thoroughly on its guard and prepared, to besiegers situated as were Joshua and the Israelites.
The trumpets were borne by priests, and were seven in number. The processions around Jericho were to be made in seven days, and seven times on the seventh day. Thus stress was lain on the sacred number seven, which was an emblem more especially of the work of God. The Ark of the Covenant, also, the seat of His special presence, was carried around the city. All these particulars were calculated to set forth symbolically, and in a manner sure to arrest the attention of the people, the fact that their triumph was wholly due to the might of the Lord, and to that covenant which made their cause His.
B. The City is Compassed (vv. 10 -14)
The people of God were to march around the city of Jericho in silence. That silence spoke volumes, for it testified to the Israelites' faith in God.
There is nothing so impressive as silence. Nature has great silence. The mountains, the seas, and the forests, the night skies are often silent as they testify of God's greatness just by their presence. He is, therefore, we are.
The silence of the Israelites was a silence of expectation. Having crossed the Jordan River by a miracle, they silently expected another miracle from God. Perhaps that faith is greatest that waits in silence upon God, believing that He will work.
What happened after the people of God compassed the city with the Ark of the Lord? Did the walls come tumbling down? No! The Israelites returned to the camp and lodged there. Had their marching been in vain? The walls were still standing; nothing had happened. Wrong! Much had happened. Something of supreme importance had been accomplished. God had been honored and glorified. By the implicit obedience of Joshua, of the priests, and of the people, God had been honored. Nothing honors God so much as our obedience. The most lavish offering is unacceptable to God unless it is made by one whose will is subject to His.
Marching around the city was not only an act of obedience, but also an act of faith. By repeating the marching operation so many times, the people were impressed with their need to trust in God's Word and to obey His directions. Israel's faith was the key to their victory. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days."
Faith plays a vital role in the life of the believer. It is essential to acceptable service before God.
The conquests of the believer's life are won through faith.
Jericho was a great city enclosed by walls so considerable that houses were built upon them. But they could not shut God out. There were no gates and bars that could stand against Him.
How vainly they reckon who leave God out of their calculations! When He is with us, no opposing host can harm us; but when He is against us, no earthly walls can protect us.
God's victories are openly won before the eyes of men, but no eye sees the process. The people of Jericho saw the people marching, but they did not see what God was doing as the people marched.
No human force was used; nothing but the sound of the gospel trumpet prevailed for the subversion of Satan's kingdom.
It is probable they walked out of the reach of the enemies' arrows and out of the hearing of their scoffs. We may suppose the oddness of the thing did at first amuse the besieged, but by the seventh day they had grown secure, feeling no harm from which perhaps that they looked upon as an enchantment. Wicked men think God in jest when he is preparing for their judgment; but they will be convinced of their mistake when it is too late. M.H.
The people marched six days with no apparent result. Six days could not do the work. this is the number of man and man's ability was insufficient.
On the seventh day the children of Israel arose early. The Bible records many instances of God working at an early hour of the day. Jacob found victory at an early hour.
Tradition says that the seventh day was the Sabbath day. Everything was to be God's on God's day.
III. GAINING THE VICTORY
A. The Walls Fall (vv. 16 -21)
Now the time had come for them to give one loud concerted shout. Why so? To indicate that the victory was sure. This order for them to give a grand and general shout was a test of their faith and obedience. It was to be made while the fortress still stood intact before them. It is easy enough to shout after the victory, but this shout was to be given in assured anticipation of the victory.
Although God had purposed to enrich His people with spoil and plunder and to have them settle in cities they had not built, there was a peculiarity in the case of the first city. It was right that it should be consecrated as a kind of firstfruits. Accordingly, God claimed the buildings, as well as all the movable property, as His own, and prohibited any part of it for private use.
At Jericho the Lord demanded everything. This was not usual; it was done to impress Israel's men with the vastness of God's rights, and to remind them of the grace of His ordinary dealings. It must be remembered that Jericho was all God asked for, although He led the conquest of all of Cannaan. He does but ask of us a "reasonable service."
The wall in which they trusted no doubt crushed a great number of the inhabitants of Jericho. The God of heaven easily can, and certainly will, break down all the opposing power of his and his church's enemies. M. H.
God had them destroy all of the city and burn it with fire. Perhaps the Israelites could have used this city, but God would have them continue on in tents lest they should settle in at the edge of the blessings that God had prepared for them.
B. Rahab is Brought Out
Rahab is known as "Rahab the Harlot."
It is evident that the town walls were not demolished universally, at least not at once, for Rahab's house was allowed to stand until her relatives were rescued according to promise.
C. Joshua Becomes Famous
Faith is the principle that enabled Joshua and the children of Israel to win this great victory. This same principle will carry us through all difficulties, and enable us to triumph over all our adversaries. Under the influence of faith, our first care in every situation will be to serve and honor God. In the path of duty, we shall feel no fear about our ultimate success. The means God has appointed we shall use, and none other. Let us cultivate this principle, and go forth to our warfare.
Nothing can more raise a man's reputation, nor make him appear more truly great, than to have the evidences of God's presence with him. M. H.
Outline taken from Evangelical Commentary: Sunday School Lesson 1979 -80 pages 196-204
