Removing The Wall-3

REMOVING The WALL-III—Joshua 6:1-16+:20

Removing Barriers

Barriers To Progress:

Attention:

Frustrated Pastor:

The new pastor decided to visit the children's Sunday school. The teacher introduced him & said, "Pastor, this morning we're studying Joshua."

"That's wonderful," said the new pastor, "let's see what you're learning. Who tore down the walls of Jericho?"

Little Billy shyly raised hand & offered, "Pastor, I didn't do it."

Taken aback, the pastor asked, "Come on, now, who tore down the walls of Jericho?"

The teacher, interrupting, said, "Pastor, Billy's a good boy. If he says he didn't do it, I believe he didn't do it."

Flustered, the pastor went to the Sunday School Director & related the story to him.

The director, looking worried, explained, "Well, sir, we've had some problems with Billy before. Let me talk to him & see what we can do."

Really bothered now by the answers of the teacher & the director, the new pastor approached the deacons & related the whole story, including the responses of the teacher & the director.

A white-haired gentleman thoughtfully stroked his chin & said, "Well, Pastor, I move we just take the money from the general fund to pay for the walls & leave it at that.”

We do well when our path is unhindered/clear/certain.

God enabled the children of Israel to conquer the walled city of Jericho.

God removes the barriers to ministry/serving Him.

God seeks to ensure the success of ministry.

How can barriers to ministry/serving God be removed?

We have already found that Ministry barriers vanish when...

1. GOD’s POWER DOMINATES(The ENEMY & The FAMILY)(:1-2)

2. GOD ALONE INTIMATES(:3-5)

3—Ministry barriers vanish when...

GOD ALONE INTIMIDATES(:6-9)

Explanation:(:6-9)

: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 & blew the trumpets, & the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.”

Upon Joshua’s command, the 7 “priests” as designated(:4, 6) went forth blowing the “trumpets”(:13-14) with the “ark” following.

The priests led the way for the “ark” which “followed.”

“Trumpets”2X(See :4, 5, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20)—rpwv show-far' OR--rpv sho-far’—Noun Masc.—

“Advanced/Went Forward”(See :7; :10—auy)—rbe aw-bar’—Qal—1) To pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress. Strong—a primitive root; To cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically--To cover (in copulation).

“Blew”(See :4, 9)—eqt taw-kah’—Qal Imperfect—1) To blow, clap, strike, sound, thrust, give a blow, blast—1a) (Qal)--1a1) To thrust, drive(of weapon), 1a2) To give a blast, give a blow, 1a3) To strike or clap hands. Strong—a primitive root; To clatter, i.e. Slap(the hands together), clang(an instrument); by analogy--To drive(a nail or tent-pin, a dart, etc.); by implication--To become bondsman(by handclasping).

“Followed”(See :9, 13—“Went” & “Came”)—Klh haw-lak’—Qal Participle Active—1) To go, walk, -1a) (Qal)—1a1) To go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away, 1a2) To die, live, manner of life (fig.) Strong—a primitive root; To walk(in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively).

:9—“The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, & the rear guard came after the ark, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.”

The armed men went before the 7 priests, & the rear guard fell in behind the ark. The 7 priest continued to blow the horns.

The “ark” & priestly representation were intentionally sandwiched between the throng of “armed men.”

“Ark”—Given prominence—Which God commissioned

“Priests”—God’s mediators—Which God commissioned

“Armed men”—God’s army—Which God commissioned

“Rear Guard”(also armed men)—Which God Commissioned

?What picture did this present to the people of Jericho?

It was a Military Parade with power source displayed prominently.

The parade’s order was ordained by God & is thus critical to His witness.

“Armed”(See :7, 13)—Ulx khaw-lats’—Qal Participle Passive—1) To remove, draw out, draw off, take off, withdraw, equip(for war), arm for war, rescue, be rescued—1a) (Qal)--Equipped(participle); 2) To draw off or out, withdraw—2a) (Qal)--2a1) To draw, draw off, 2a2) To withdraw. Strong—a primitive root; To pull off; hence intensively--To strip, reflexively--To depart; by implication--To deliver, equip(for fight); present, strengthen.

“Went/Marched”(See below—“Came” & “Continued ; :9—“Followed”)—Klh haw-lak’—Qal Participle Active—1) To go, walk, -1a) (Qal)—1a1) To go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away, 1a2) To die, live, manner of life (fig.) Strong—a primitive root; To walk(in a great variety of applications, literally & figuratively).

“Before/Ahead”(See :4, 7, 13; :1—“Because of”)—Mynp paw-neeym' plural(but always as sing.) of an unused noun hnp paw-neh'—Noun Masc.—1) Face—1a) Face, faces, 1b) Presence, person, 1c) Face(of seraphim or cherubim), 1d) Face(of animals), 1e) Face, surface(of ground), 1f) as adverb of locative/temporal—1f1) Before & behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before, 1g) with prep—1g1) In front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of. Strong—The face(as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications(literally & figuratively); also(with prepositional prefix) as a preposition--Before, etc..