The victory side of life # 8
The Shout of victory by Gerald Van Horn
Joshua 6:1-20
Text. Joshua 6:20
1. Faith tested. v.1-15
God made a promise to Joshua. “I have given you the city.” The priest were to blow the rams horn. The people were to shout after they compassed the city. All the armed men were to pass before the Ark.
Interesting facts:
* There were 7 priests.
* There were 7 rams’ horns.
* They were to compass the walls 7 days.
* They were to compass the walls 7 times on the 7th day.
The test was they were to march in silence. I am sure the inhabitants of Jericho jeered and mocked them. Israel had to go around the walls 13 times. God sometimes does His best work when we are silent.
* Ecclesiastes 3:7 “A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silent, and a time of peace.”
* Habakkuk 2:20 “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silent before him.”
* Zechariah 2:13 “Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord.”
* Isaiah 41:1 “Keep silent before me O Islands, and let the people renews their strength.”
The people were to be silent and march. It was a day by day walk. How difficult it must have been to keep silent. Everyday their hopes and dreams must have dwindled. It seems that just when we give up our own aspirations and exhaust our strength is when God begins to move. We see that the job is too big for us. If we could do it in our own strength we wouldn’t need God.
2. Faith’s obedience.
Finally Joshua commanded them to blow the rams horns and shout. The walls fell without any effort on Israel’s part. When the walls look too big for us to handle is when obedience is all that’s needed.
Ephesians 1:19 “What is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us.”
Ephesians 2:10 “for we are his workmanship; created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before ordained that we should walk in them.”
When Jesus Christ died a wall fell down. Ephesians 2:14 “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”
Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ.
Our walk is to be one of lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. We are to walk circumspectfully. Ephesians 5:15 “See, then, ye walk circumspectfully, not as fools but as wise.”
3. Faith’s triumph.
An undeserving but believing women was saved. She believed the report. Her household as well was saved from destruction. There is a Jericho of indifference that has gripped the church. Many do not care if people go to hell. They flavor the Gospel with trite platitudes and water it down. Then wonder why no one is saved. They ignore the scarlet thread. Just so it’s church as usual. We don’t want to heart anyone’s feeling. In the church today there is a Jericho of indifference. Souls are not important anymore. Many today are using so called new methods, contests, and even trying to preach down the walls. God says “no way!” The church is full but people’s hearts are empty. Israel walked in faith and her enemies walked in fear.
A special note: There is victory ahead and every Jericho will fall. Jericho of old fell with a shout. Paul says, “ For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”
That glorious day is nearer than we think! Listen to what John the Revelator; “and I John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, and come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” I do not about you but when I enter that city it will be with a shout of victory.
