Capture the Castle Jericho! (Joshua 6:8-21)

                    Capture the Castle Jericho! (Joshua 6:8-21)

8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.

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.

10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

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.

12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.

13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

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.

16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.

17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

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.

19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.

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.

Introduction)
Today's text shows us that Israel people set freed to where is the land of flowing with milk and honey from the slavery life in Egypt.  Finally, they finished 430 years of slavery life .

 Moses was a great leader who rescued them from Egyptians harassments. Israel people crossed the Red Sea and facing Canaan.

Israel people thought that they will be free from the Egyptians, If they cross Red sea.  They thought they are Now Completely Free! Complete independence! Live happily enjoying the complete liberation! But it was not. Exodus is not the end of everything it was the beginning of the new life.  Even though God promised the land of Canaan but they were in the first half for entering Canaan.

From now on, they must be awaken from their day dream and encourage themselves.

The second half was waiting for them.

 People of Israel had to passing through the wilderness for 40 years. While passing through the wilderness, sometimes they had to deal with hunger and cold, and also lots of crisis. They had hard time to passing.
As a result they thought it is too hard to follow Moses and they thought it could've been easier to just stay under Egyptians control. Blame God and Moses led. But they had no other options they just keep move toward Canaan.

Eventually after a lot of troubles, at the end they mat entrance of Canaan. The people had sigh of relief. But they encounter with another big problem. God took the great leader Moses, on the Nuevo mountain God took him away with Him to Heaven. The people must be disappointed and discouraged.

But God gave them a new leader to help out frustrating people of Israel, Joshua, he is the new hero of Israel.

Joshua lead the Israel people to gate of promised land which flowing with milk and honey, the land of Canaan. However, at the entrance to the land of Canaan only hinder the magnificent walls of Jericho were there. Jericho was the biggest obstacle to get into the promised land of Canaan.

Then, let's take time to think about that the people of Israel how to collapsed Jericho and how we could  broke down the walls of Jericho in our lives.

The body)

A) What kind of city which Jericho was?

In the New Testament, 'Jericho' was the city who lived of 'the blind Bartimaeus' and 'tax collector Zacchaeus'.

Jericho was a small city at that time. Located in the Great Plains(West of the Jordan River) as a city, a strategic point of military facilities and, therefore, is a transportation hub. If you go on mission trips to go to Galilee from Jerusalem, Jericho will be the city for grab a lunch.

But you can go in to the lounge because the kimchi is the very important side dish for Korean but smell is so strong ! you must have lunch on the grass at the outside of garden.

The name Jericho means place with fragrance. lush palm trees and cedar trees make people call this place as city of palm trees, fragrant city.

But how strong is that Jericho, which was attacked as an impregnable fortress would be difficult to topple.

Castle Jericho is on the top of steep sloped mountain, in case of enemy attack the walls which height of 3~4 meters(9~12 feet) will protect the castle with a cliff beneath. so Jericho was absolutely impossible to attack Forts (Fortress) on that time.

Biblical archaeologist 'Bryant Wood', Ph.D., archaeological research, especially on the Jericho area, one of the foremost experts in minutes. when you look into his study at that time of Jericho, you can see how impossible to capture the Jericho.

Jericho has a double walls at the time. First, the outer wall of the foundation walls of a height of 5m (15feet)above the thickness of 2m(6feet), mud-brick walls are the height of 7m(21feet). 5m(15feet) inside the lining between the left and again is built. That the thickness of the inner wall of 4m, the height is 10-14m(30~42feet).

But Jericho has had people afraid of the people of Israel.
Look at verse 1.
"Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in."
To attack the gates closed to tough break, but the enemy does not hide it even more difficult was the defeat.

However, After one week Joshua surround the Jericho with his army, Walls of Jericho collapse from the bottom. Joshua occupation the castle without spilling a single drop of blood.

B) how the walls of Jericho came down?

⑴ By faith Jericho was collapsed.

Joshua believed the promises of God's Word will accomplished.
verse 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."

No matter how solid and firm walls of Jericho to Israel, God promised to give that Castle to Israel. It was not even a big problem to God. Joshua believed God's greatness than Walls of Jericho.

'And the Lord hath given unto this city'

When the walls of Jericho collapsed, the people didn't even fight the battle. Walls of Jericho collapsed when the trumpets blew, No one fought but only they circled the Castle as God commanded him circled the castle. The army of the Lord was fought and strike Walls with God's army Jericho had no chance against God.

Johosua 5:13, " And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries" ' God's secretary of the army was drawn sword in his hand with a look that is already prepared for a fight. The Battle of Jericho, just completed as victory surely and evidence of win.

Those people who entered the land of Canaan, Jericho. All men were men of faith. People who have no faith, they couldn't enter the promised land.

* Two things we have to believe to pleasing God.

 Hebrews 11:6 says, " 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

First, the God of faith is to believe that this revelation. Another is that those who seek God Award (Senior) must believe that God gives.

And God still today, be good to those who seek God does reside.

If so, today, where this belief would lead? Faith is the Word of God, will soon cometh by hearing the word of the Bible. Section Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, tastes, and hearing by the word of God is heard that" has Is not easy?

⑵  Jericho was collapsed because Israel people were obedience to God.

God has commanded circle Jericho around. When people think of a logically absurd is funny's going on. verse 3says, "And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days."

You look around the castle and all the men around the city every day for six days, seven children of Israel seven priests carry trumpets in their hands the best to go ahead, then follow behind the Ark of the Covenant, the people behind it Following, the city of Jericho for six days each per day, the wheels are turned. And the seventh day seven times are turned. In Jericho would have said so when people see it. "Are they crazy? what are they doing?"

The people of Israel circled one time for six days, and on the seventh day they circled seven times, this shows state of absolute obedience. Was turned 13 times in total.

They did not even ask, did not complain. Do not even say anything, they just did what God told them to do.

But they obeyed. 'Understanding, rather than by becoming obedient to obey the commands of God because that is'. Two are equally believe in Jesus. Andoedo well understood but if you believe in, and blessed is to be understood. Miracles appear to obey those who believe in hope of a line. Hallelujah!

⑶ 'the covenant' with collapsed by.
In verse four "seven priests with seven trumpets before the ark of the covenant holding shall act '

Ark (Holy Ark) itself was the presence of God to the people of Israel. Every time they saw the Ark they were thinking capable of the ark of God. Looking at the ark of God trail ahead they were thought God lead us, and when the ark is behind of them they thought God is watching us and he got my back.

The Holy Ark contains the Ten Commandments carved in stone which is  the word of God, and Aaron's stick. The word of God and God's supply, even the scenes of history, were in there.

Christian's success is based on experience the authentic word of promise is.
You will see the key point of live your life successfully through look back your past relation and history with God and notice how God lead you.

⑷ Gather All peoples' mind and strength make Jericho collapsed.

Trump , what does it mean ? When the God's presence for the first time after came out from Egypt, on the Top of Mount Sinai, Moses met God with a loud trumpet call, and your scene is followed by the coming of God. Therefore, the coming of God and, as a sign lends presence to resonate the sound of the trumpet was alternated.
The first seven days the priests blew the trumpets. Also on second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day, the sixth and the seventh day we got up early in the morning seven days circling wheels sounded.
And when the seventh trumpet and fire according to verbal command of Joshua, and all the people cried in unison. The sound of a trumpet, and shouts of the people, As blend together, the walls of Jericho came crashing down the moment.

C) What is the city of Jericho in our lives?
Of course Jericho had impregnable walls, but it was not anything in the sight of God. No matter how difficult, so large, no matter how impenetrable even have faith that with God, you know how to wait patiently, hope! And the length of your show Jericho will fall. / Amen /

Jericho ⑴ in us is the ' distrust '.
many people have doubt about the existence of God or underestimate the ability of God. Do you know why king Ahab failed? He perished because of his faith was in idols. Why would Adam collapsed? God said do not eat the forbidden, but he ate the fruit.
He is alive today. He's with us now in this position. Take away doubts, firm in faith, hope Searcy.

(2) Jericho in us are lust and greed
Psychologists Freud has said 'All human beings are governed by lust'. The apostle Paul is the power of the Lord in our lives before joining us as a present was ruled by lust.
Galatians 5:17says, " For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

Colossians 3:5 says too, " Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

James 1:15 said that "15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."

'Samson' was fall because of the lust, and he ends up lost his eyes and became prisoner who had to push stone mill all day long.

Greed is a big crime as like idolatry. Please, think about the story of 'Ananias and Sapphira' in Acts.
We the  people of faith have to abandon greedy. If you not satisfy the grace that God gives us in our daily life, you just committed sin which make Holy Spirit to be worry about us.

(3) Jericho in us is our pride.

People think they don't need God in their life, that is huge mistake. It is so shame to think "I don't care about God I just live my life he doesn't cares about me and me neither." Do not easily take word of God. Saul, once the Holy Spirit with him, with a zeal for God, was the owner of good faith to endure. But since become the King but was proud to obey God's command, nor his politics became as easy as I thought. At times of war have to destroy all the enemy's family, and I've to live cattle. And offer sacrifices on the Secretary-elle oh, dear, and to sacrifice his own prophesy was. He made shaman to call the soul of Samuel. Eventually, he and his son's tragic death is the last party. Will not be far from proud.

Where Are you obedient to? Please ask yourself.

Conclusion),When we do things based on God's word, and make Him to control, you will never fail in your life. See what Israel did, they fully believed in God and did what God wants to do, then Walls of Jericho collapsed

Dear, brothers and sisters, Like Israel's met Jericho, there are many Jericho (obstacles) in our life. Whenever you encounter with problems remember only the word of God and believe in the power of the Holy Spirit will save you from those problems.
God will handle the walls for you.
As you read a verse of Proverbs we will finish today's sermon.

(Proverbs 16:03)
"Commit thy works unto the LORD, and your plans will succeed!"

05/04/2012 Edit / ikseon

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