The fall of Jericho

Joshua 5:13-6:27

Key Verse 6:20

When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

Jericho represents the bastion of idol worship. The passage then teaches us the wisdom to fight the Lord's battle against idol worship, and win. 

Notice that conventional elements of military strategy and armaments are utterly irrelevant in such a confrontation between the forces of holiness and forces of desecration. 

Notice that when Jericho loses its metaphysical foundation its wall falls by itself. So uproot the inner elements of defilement. When this process is completed, Jericho wall will collapse by itself. 

1. Read 5:13-14a. Put yourself in the position of Joshua as he was approaching Jericho. How might he have felt as the "leader" of the Lord's army? Yet, what does the following indicate about the kind of battle Joshua was facing: 1) "a drawn sword" [in the hand of the 'man']; 2) [The man's reply saying,] "Neither"; and 3) "as the commander of the Lord's army I have now come"?

** He might have felt goose bumps breaking out all over his body.

He also might have been wondering how to practically capture Jericho. Thus, a lot of ideas or thoughts (or plans) might have gone through his mind.

** Sword refers to the word of God. "A drawn" sword refers to the word of the Lord that was about to be spoken to Joshua. 

Psalms 149:6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands,

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Revelation 1:16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

** "Neither" indicates that the battle is the Lord's, not that of human beings like Israelites or Canaanites. 

At the same time, the enemies might include not only the enemies "outside" but also "inside". You also could very well be the Lord's enemies, even without yourself knowing it. 

** A "man" (Jos 5:13) refers to the Lord's angel who appeared in human form. 

"The Lord's army" refers to [not just the Israelites, I mean those who put trust in the Lord and his promises] but also to the heavenly hosts working in the heavenly realms to carry out the Lord's will. Cf. Mat 26:53; 2Ki 6:17.

"Commander" indicates that there is an orderly system among the Lord's angels fighting the Lord's battles. 

This passage then reveals to us the heavenly "roots" (or origins if you will) of whatever goes on in this physical realm. As the root in the heavenly (or spiritual) realms goes so also the realities in the physical world will follow. This is just like clouds as they build up in the sky- so also it will follow that rain will come down from there. 

2. Read v. 14b-15. What wisdom do the following statements teach us in waging the Lord's battle: 1) Joshua fell facedown in reverence; 2) Take off your sandals; and 3) for the place where you are standing is holy? 

** Humility is the key to getting  specific help from the Lord in bearing spiritual fruit that lasts forever.

In order to gain wisdom/instructions to wage the Lord's battle, we must be completely humble before the Lord. By the same token a proud-minded person renders himself vulnerable to getting influenced by the devil even without his knowing it.

** Purity [or daily piety] is the key to getting the kind of help accustomed to meet the challenges one is facing each and every day. We achieve this quality by repenting of our sins daily and turning to the Lord for his new empowerment. Taking off sandals is symbolic of repenting of daily sins we pick up. 

Read John 13:10  Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."

** Holiness is the key to winning a smashing victory. 

We achieve this quality by entering into  holy ground. It has been said, “The world is not a playground but a battleground.” But before getting into the battlefield, we must first be on holy ground.

What does holiness mean? How does an unholy sinner acquire holiness? The answer is simple: by securing the Lord's presence inside, for the word ‘holy’ should be used only in describing the nature of the Lord God. Humans, regardless of their discipline, are unable to reach God's holiness on their own.

3. Read 6:1 and compare this passage with Genesis 7:16. What do they have in common? Yet how are they different? In what respect were the people inside the "wall" different from Rahab (Heb 11:31)? What wisdom is there for us to learn in securing the blessing the Lord God has in mind for all (2Co 6:11-18)?

** No crossing over [between the Lord's side and the world's side, between salvation and judgment.]

** In  the case of Jericho, it was the unbelieving people who shut themselves in. In  the case of Noah, it was the Lord who shut Noah in. 

** They did not "welcome" the Lord's servants (i.e., messengers, namely two spies). 

** We should not harden our hearts towards God's servants. They may look stupid, flawed in character, or ill-mannered, but we should not forget that Jesus sends them! 

4. Read v. 2. What assurance does this passage remind us of in fighting the Lord's battle (cf. John 16:33; 1Jn 5:4)?

** The only perfect way to win a perfect victory over  enemies (be it the world, your selfish ego or Satan) is to go by absolute faith in the Lord God, even as Jesus demonstrated his faith in His heavenly Father.

5. Read vs. 3-7. What wisdom do the following orders teach us in fighting the Lord's battle against Jericho: 

1) "March around the city...'with all the armed men'"; 

2) "Do this for 'six' days"; 

3) "On the 'seventh' day, march around the city 'seven' times"; 

4) "With the priests blowing 'trumpets'"; 

5) "When you hear them sound a long blast...have 'all' the people give a loud 'shout'"; 

6) "Take up 'the ark of the covenant'...with armed 'guard' [going ahead and rear] of the ark; and 

7) "Do not give a war cry or raise 'your' voices; do not say a word until I tell you to shout?

** Marching around the city implies the need for us to identify all the worldly influences inside of us, so we whould toss them out of our lives, and thereby be completely set free of worldly influences such as greed, sexual immorality, etc. 

"With all the armed men" indicates the need for us to do this on a collective basis through joint efforts. 

** Repetition of the same thing repeating even 6 times indicates that until we uproot all of them (defilements of evils of this wicked and adulterous generation), we need to be persistent in identifying and disassociating ourselves from them. 

6 is a human number, indicating that week by week during the six days a week we need to struggle to overcome what is of this world and gain what is of God. 

** Seven is a perfect number assigned to the Lord God, indicating that after weekly struggles to overcome ourselves and the world built inside of us, we come to the Lord once a week, to receive what is perfect, namely full forgiveness of our sins and full restoration of our relationship with the Lord.

** This trumpet is made of "ram" not of "silver". This trumpet sound has two meanings: 1) inspiration to repent" and 2) inspiration to trust in the Lord.

The first meaning is alluded to first in Exodus 19:19 where the Lord God showed the standards against which to repent, which standards were given in trumpet blasts; and second in the Israel's festival called the feast of the trumpets [with trumpet made of rams sounding ten days until the Day of Atonement. Lev 23:24-32. 

The second meaning is alluded to in Genesis 24 whereupon Abraham's demonstration of faith and obedience the Lord God gave a ram as a burnt offering in replacement of Isaac. 

** Shout refers to prayer offered to God for His help.

** The Ark of the Covenant refers to Jesus, the gospel who is the fulfillment of law, perfecter and author of faith, and the way for us to come to the Father in prayer. 

** This command to keep quiet indicates that human words (ideas or thoughts) are utterly useless in winning the Lord's battle.

6. Read 8-21. In what respect was it not easy for the Israelites to obey Joshua's instructions? Yet how did they obey? How did the Lord bless their obedience? 

** They might have been tempted to engage in talking relationships, saying worldly things. In meeting together even among fellow soldiers either in a family setting or for other purposes such as a church budget meeting, etc., one must be careful about uttering human words. 

7. Read vs. 22-27. Who alone were saved? What happened to the rest of the people? What warning is there for us to heed against? 

** Rahab and all who were in her house [under the sign of the scarlet cord].

** All destroyed - their persons, families, works, ventures, accomplishments, monies in their bank accounts, and everything else. 

** Ignoring the way of salvation shuts man out, only to face one destiny: God's wrath--utter destruction. 

The end.