The Destruction of Jericho - Joshua 6

Well, good morning, beloved, and welcome. We're continuing again this morning in the book of Joshua.

This morning we find ourselves in Joshua chapter 6. This book has been kind of leading up to this climactic event of the entering into the land by conquest to take it according to the promise of the

Lord. So the table is set for Israel now for the first offensive, the first real conflict that this generation had ever experienced.

As we saw and reviewed last week, God has called out Joshua to be the new leader of the nation of Israel.

God has put the fear of the Israelites in the hearts of the inhabitants of the land. God has made himself known to Rahab and has made this promise to her for salvation.

God has miraculously brought the nation of Israel through the Jordan River on dry land, showing his power and might and providence to this new second generation.

God has instructed them to remember his covenant with them to circumcise the second generation and to observe the

Passover. And then, as we saw last week, the Lord himself appeared to Joshua, not merely by a voice, but face to face.

Our Lord spoke to him and revealed himself to Joshua as the commander of the

Lord's army. Joshua's expectations are inverted as the

Lord tells him that he will not be fighting for Joshua, but rather he is the commander and Joshua is to follow the

Lord. Joshua submits to him and worships him.

And so this week, as our text begins, we find ourselves right in the middle of this discourse.

The Lord himself is going to give to Joshua here the specifics of what he is to lead the nation in doing in the coming week.

So let's read now. I'm going to read Joshua chapter six in its entirety. It is a longer chapter, but I thought it'd be fruitful.

For us to cover it in one week. So let us hear the word of the

Lord. Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel. None went out and none came in.

And the Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho into your hand, its king and the mighty men of valor.

You shall march around the city, you and all your men of war.

You shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.

And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark.

But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times. And the priests shall blow the trumpets.

It shall come to pass when they make a long blast with the ram's horn.

And when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout.

Then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up, every man straight before him.

Then Joshua, the son of Nun, called the priests and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the

Lord. And he said to the people, Proceed and march around the city and let him who is armed advance before the ark of the

Lord. So it was when Joshua had spoken to the people that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of ram's horns before the

Lord advanced and blew the trumpets and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.

The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets and the rear guard came after the ark while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.

Now Joshua had commanded the people saying, You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice, nor shall a word proceed out of your mouth until the day

I say to you, shout. Then you shall shout.

So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city going around it once.

Then they came into the camp and lodged in the camp. And Joshua rose early in the morning and the priests took up the ark of the

Lord. The seven priests bearing seven trumpets of ram's horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets and the armed men went before them.

But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.

And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.

But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early about the dawning of the day and marched around the city seven times in the same manner.

On that day only they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened when the priests blew the trumpets that Joshua said to the people,

Shout for the Lord has given you the city. Now the city shall be doomed by the

Lord for destruction. It and all who are in it, only Rahab the harlot shall live.

She and all who are with her in the house because she hid the messengers that we sent. And you by all means abstain from the accursed things lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things and make the camp of Israel a curse and trouble it.

But all the silver and gold and vessels of bronze and iron are consecrated to the

Lord. They shall come into the treasury of the Lord. So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets and it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet and the people shouted with a great shout that the wall fell down flat.

Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him. And they took the city and they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox and sheep and donkey with the edge of the sword.

But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country, go into the harlot's house and from there bring out the woman and all that she has as you swore to her.

And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers and all that she had.

So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel.

But they burned the city and all that was in it with fire. Only the silver and gold and the vessels of bronze and iron they put into the treasury of the house of the

Lord. And Joshua spared Rahab the harlot, her father's household and all that she had.

So she dwells in Israel to this day because she hid the messengers whom

Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Then Joshua charged them at the same time saying, cursed be the man before the

Lord who rises up and builds this city, Jericho. He shall lay its foundation with his firstborn.

And with his youngest, he shall set up its gates. So the Lord was with Joshua and his fame spread throughout all the country.

Let us pray. Our sovereign

God and ruler of heaven and earth, we thank you for your word that we see here this morning, your power and your presence with your people to bring about a full and complete salvation for those who are united to Christ.

This morning, would your spirit help us to examine our hearts, to examine our hearts that we might consecrate ourselves by faith in you, by the help of your spirit for your service, that you might receive all the glory and honor and praise that you are worthy of this morning.

Help us now, help me now to faithfully proclaim Christ our savior.

From the pages of your holy scripture, and help us to hear and receive it and be changed by it.

In his name we pray. Amen. So first we need to work through this text.

I've divided it. I think the logical division here that we can see for us is the first five verses describe for us the

Lord's description of the siege and the instructions that he gives to Joshua.

And then secondly, this middle section describe Joshua's expectant obedience.

That's verses 6 through 16. And then thirdly and finally, we'll see the the destruction and salvation that God brings in verses 17 through 27.

In working through this, the first thing that we have to recognize here is the state that Jericho is in. An interesting linguistic side note here for us.

Many scholars point out that the name Jericho was likely derived from the name of a

Canaanite deity that was worshipped in this land. Yarek or Jarek.

Worshipped as the the moon god. There's some archaeological evidence that supports this. That Jericho, you can see the semblance there in the name.

Jericho could have meant the city of Yarek. Possibly implying that this city is a center of this astral worship.

This worship of this moon god in Joshua's time. And while this is somewhat speculative, we know that the

Canaanites were known widely for their detestable worship.

Their paganism and their vile practices. This is known in the

New Testament as well. In Hebrews 11, the author of Hebrews records for us, by faith

Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.

He went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

For he waited for the city which has foundations whose builder and maker is

God. And this is calling back to what we see in Genesis 15 when

God called Abram and made this covenant promise to him. In Genesis 15, we read this.

Then he said to Abram, know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs and will serve them and they will afflict them 400 years.

This is speaking of Egypt, their captivity in Egypt. And also the nation whom they serve,

I will judge. Afterward, they shall come out with great possessions. Now, as for you, you shall go up to your fathers in peace.

You shall be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation, they,

Abram's descendants, shall return here for the iniquity of the

Amorites is not yet complete. So the Amorites were one of these tribes that populated this land of Canaan.

These four generations before in the time of Abraham, far before Joshua here in the passage that we're reading.

And we know that in the time of Abraham, these Canaanites had dwelt in this land for some time, at least centuries, and had worshiped their pagan gods.

And so my point here in all of this is that God has tolerated the wickedness of these people, allowing them to continue in their iniquity until the time that he deems their iniquity complete.

And for the city of Jericho, that time has come. They are, as it says here, securely shut up because of the children of Israel.

I think we can see here a hardening. They have shut themselves in thinking that their walls and fortifications will keep them secure.

They are trusting in their own devices to deliver them from the wrath of God.

And yet the Lord speaks to Joshua as if the victory is already theirs.

He says here in verse two, see, I have given Jericho into your hand.

They think they're secure, but God has already declared victory over them.

This is, this statement here, see, I have given Jericho into your hand, this is in the perfect tense.

It's not, I plan to do this. It's not, I will do this. It is, I have done this.

I have given this city and its kings and its mighty men of valor over to you.

Nevermind the fact that the city is fortified and walled in. Do not fear that there is a king dwelling there and that he has these mighty men of valor.

He says, I have given Jericho into your hand. That is a declaration of victory by the commander of the

Lord's armies, by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This is something that man cannot declare before a conquest, but God can because he is the king of kings.

He is the sovereign over heaven and earth. It is his. He is the commander of the

Lord's armies. And so what we see here then in the following verses is the instructions given to Joshua in how he is to lead the people in this move into Jericho.

Joshua's given the steps he is to take and it's striking. They're not preparing for a battle.

We don't see siege rams and battlements laid against these fortified walls.

We don't see any of that. Instead, the instructions here are to march around the city and then return to the camp.

Now in these instructions, there's a few points here that are noteworthy that we need to see as we're working through the text.

First, it's not gonna happen in one day. This is gonna drag out for a full seven days.

The city has already continued in their sin and rebellion, at least since the time of Abraham, likely for hundreds of years prior.

And now judgment is upon them. And yet God gives them seven more days.

Presumably this is an opportunity for the people of Jericho to repent, but they will not for they are hardened in their sin and they think themselves secure.

Second, first we see the duration of time here. Second, we see the use of horns and shouting.

The horns are typically associated with a pronouncement. We see this all throughout the

Old Testament. It's a pronouncement. Most commonly, as we see here, a pronouncement of victory.

They are to blow the horns of victory every day for seven days and on the seventh, to accompany the horns of victory with a shout, a shout of faith.

I would say a shout of faith, believing that God has given them this victory that they have been pronouncing these seven times, the full and perfection of this pronouncement of victory.

Thirdly, and finally, we have to recognize perhaps the most significant part here of the

Lord's instruction to Joshua is the central focus on the Ark of the

Covenant. We've talked about this before, but the Ark was the visual representation of God's presence with his people.

The very presence, the dwelling place, the glory of the name of the Lord dwelt here. This was the reminder of all that God had promised and what his dealings with his people represent.

Remember, Hebrews tells us that the Ark contained the tablets of the law that were given to Moses on Sinai.

They contained the rod of Aaron that budded, verifying and confirming his calling as the high priest over Israel.

And they contained a jar of the manna with which God had provided the daily needs of the nation of Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness.

And then on top of it was the mercy seat itself where the glory of the name of the Lord dwelt. This was incredibly significant.

And this is the primary central focus of these instructions here is that the Ark itself is to go around the city.

It's at the very center of what's happening in this chapter. For nothing will or can be accomplished apart from the presence of the

Lord and the people's faith in him. It's God's covenant promises, his merciful provision and his presence with his people that will realize this victory that they are proclaiming.

In the next section of the chapter, we see Joshua leading the people in accordance with the Lord's command. He is very careful to instruct the people, to instruct them in what they are to do and to see to their careful obedience.

He is in this way, a good leader. He's showing himself to be this example, this model master of the people.

I wanna point out here again, the emphasis that is put upon the Ark itself. Multiple times in the chapter, like we see in verse 11 here, the whole action of what's going on is summarized in this statement that the

Ark is moving around the city. All that's going on, the blowing of the trumpets and the procession before and behind and the priests and all of this activity is summarized in this statement that the

Ark is moving around the city. All of this then comes to a climax on the seventh day.

They are to walk around the city, not once, but seven times. Seven times on the seventh day.

Why the seventh day? Well, this parallels God's work of creation, which culminated in a

Sabbath rest on the seventh day. Creation's goal is the rest that God gives.

And we see this again, not just in creation, we see this same theme in redemption throughout the scriptures.

Most clearly here in the Old Testament context, is their deliverance from Egypt. God is redeeming his people from their plight in Egypt.

Remember they had just, these people here in this chapter had just observed the Passover.

So this is fresh in their minds. The work of redemption from Egypt in the Old Testament reaches its climax and goal when

God's people are securing their entrance into the promised land that he promised to give to them.

This ownership, this possession, this will be established here when

Jericho falls and they have a, they stake their claim here in this land.

This of course is a prefigurement of the victory that we have in Christ.

That all who have faith in him, to call upon him, have this victory, this claim in God's promise.

This is the rest. That God gives his people. And so Sabbath rest is related both in creation and in redemption.

And it is the ultimate goal of God's people. So here on the seventh day, the horns are blown, pronouncing victory.

And the people cry out with this shout, this shout of faith in God's provision and the victory that he has given them.

And the wall comes down. Matthew Henry is, see he's so helpful in this whole chapter really.

I wanna read a short sentence from him here. At last the people were to shout.

They did so and the walls fell. This was a shout of faith. They believed the walls of Jericho would fall.

It was a shout of prayer. They cry to heaven for help and help came.

There is no natural explanation for this. And yet we see here the wondrous work of God.

The faith that God puts in the heart of his people beholds the object of their hope as they see this wall come down as God's people see their victory wrought before their eyes.

Now there's an irony here that I think we're supposed to see. Most commentators agree that what happens here is the portion of the wall immediately before the people of Israel is what comes down, giving the armed men of Israel direct entrance into the city that is still securely shut in on the other sides.

The walls that the people of Jericho had placed their hope of security in become the means of their entrapment as the men of Israel are able to walk straight in and the city is utterly devoted to destruction save for the house of Rahab the prophet.

The Hebrew here sometimes translated devoted to destruction is significant.

It's significant because God is glorified not merely in showing mercy but also by the righteous destruction of the wicked.

This glorifies him also. Again, Matthew Henry says

Jericho was to be a solemn and awful sacrifice to the justice of God.

Upon those who had filled up the measure of their sins. The warning that we see in verse 18 here to abstain from the accursed things.

This warning is noteworthy both because it emphasizes this point that God rightly demands all that he has claimed for destruction for his glory.

It would be a great injustice for the people of Israel to spare any of that which

God in his holy justice demands. For that which he has condemned he will have.

It is accursed. This will be significant in the following chapter which I'll leave for a future week.

So the unrepentant wicked are utterly destroyed but God is faithful to spare

Rahab the harlot despite her own sins. Despite the fact that she's not an

Israelite. She is of these people these wicked people that have brought offense upon God.

She is of them yet by faith she is of the people of God.

This is beautiful the way that this is stated. She is joined with the people of God and in verse 25 it says that she dwells in Israel.

God has saved her on the basis of her faith. And then we see here at the end of the chapter two notes almost like side notes at the end.

First the lasting curse this further emphasizes that God's judgment is final.

The city is never to be raised again and he who would seek to do so will bear the same fate of destruction.

This comes up in 1 Kings 16 but the point here for us in this chapter is that even the wrath of God when it is poured out it stands as a testament to us of his holiness.

It stands as a reminder to us of his justice. Beloved the reminder of God's wrath is meant to be a mercy to us because we see and learn that he is holy and he will deal with sin.

This reminder is a reminder of the curse and the damnation that our sin rightly deserves.

And then lastly here in the chapter in the very last verse we see the Lord's abiding presence with Joshua. The chapter ends in verse 27 stating that the

Lord was with Joshua. I take this to be an intentional book ending of this whole episode that we started last week for the

Lord himself appeared to Joshua and showed that he was with Joshua and now here at the end of the chapter we see again that the

Lord was with Joshua. The Lord is still with him.

And so what do we learn from this chapter? All of these events that are detailed for us here.

I just want to take some time to recap and draw some applications. First we need to see that Jericho is like that city of destruction that Bunyan wrote of in Pilgrim's Progress.

This is the case for all the kingdoms of men. The day of judgment is coming.

It is certain and it comes from the hand of an absolutely sovereign

God. There's nothing that we can do. Nothing we can devise. No imagined security that will protect us on the day of the

Lord for his purpose will stand. Nothing can stop him.

Nothing can slow what is coming. It will come on the appointed day. Destruction will come swiftly.

Second, we must recognize the patience of God in enduring these people for so long.

He is patient. But do not mistake his patience for approval or tolerance or indifference towards sin.

His patience is meant to lead us to repentance. Consider your own life, beloved.

You know your sin. And yet God is patient with you. God gives you life and breath.

Every day is a mercy you do not deserve. He is patient. But he is not indifferent towards sin.

Third, we must remember that his wrath is absolutely justified. God is not capricious or malevolent.

Rather, he is holy and righteous and just. And he, in his goodness, must punish sin.

He would not be a good God if he would not punish sin. Fourth, I think we can see a parallel here in this chapter to God's work of sanctification that he does in the heart and life of a believer.

We see here a picture of the sanctification that he does, that he has promised to do in your heart if your faith is in Christ.

What stood between the people of Israel and their peaceful possession of and dwelling in the promised land, where they might enjoy the blessings and the favor of God?

In this chapter, it was the city of Jericho that stood between them and that dwelling. Beloved, please see that it is your own sin that is the greatest obstacle in your life between you enjoying the true blessing and fellowship with God that you were created to enjoy.

God made Adam and Eve in the garden to enjoy his presence. And sin brought this division, this curse upon all mankind.

We are born in iniquity and sin. We are born with this division between us and our creator that we long in our inward being, we long to have communion with him.

We long for these blessings that he offers us in Christ.

And what separates us from them is our sin. But God declared victory over our sin.

God declared victory over Jericho and said that this city is given over to you.

We have to see this parallel. Just as God tells us in Romans chapter six, for sin shall not have dominion over you.

This is the promise of the gospel, beloved, that sin will not have dominion.

When your sin looms large over you this week and you feel like it has the victory over you, remember the words of our

Lord here in this chapter. The city is given over to you. Sin shall not have dominion over you.

If you were in Christ, you have a promise of victory and it is a certainty. Your sin will not always separate you from fellowship and blessing with Christ.

If your faith is in him, just like the victory over Jericho was sure and certain, it was not because they were stronger than the armies or the fortifications of the wall of Jericho.

Their victory over Jericho was secured because of the presence of God with them.

That's why the ark was so focally centered in this chapter. Beloved, your victory over sin will only come through your union with Christ.

There is no other way to overcome sin. Just like the victory over Jericho was focused on the ark, the presence of God and his covenant promises to his people, your victory over sin will only be because of your union with Christ.

Beloved, hear the horn blast of the gospel. It is the proclamation of victory and then shout with the shout of faith and you will see in God's good timing victory over sin.

Its strongholds in your life will crumble and you will find through faith and repentance, fellowship with God.

Finally, and in conclusion, if you hear nothing else this morning, hear this.

The truth is we are all dwelling in the city of destruction. We are all inhabitants of Jericho.

David says, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me.

We all stand with this record of guilt from our father Adam. This guilt condemns us.

We are guilty because of Adam and because of our own transgressions. Our sin is ever before us and we have done evil in his sight.

So that means there are only two paths forward for us. As we dwell in Jericho, as we dwell in the land of destruction,

Matthew Henry says this, with Rahab or with the men of Jericho, our portion must be assigned as we possess or disregard the sign of salvation, faith in Christ which worketh by love.

Let us remember what depends upon our choice and let us choose accordingly. God shows the weight of a divine curse where it rests, there is no getting from under it for it brings ruin without remedy.

But by faith, she and they with her were plucked as brands from the burning.

Dear one, Christ offers salvation to all who call upon his name.

I'm gonna end with the words of the prophet Isaiah. Seek the Lord while he may be found.

Call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts.

Let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him. And to our

God, for he will abundantly pardon. Our father in heaven, we thank you that you are just and holy and that you are merciful and gracious.

We thank you for the provision of Christ our Lord who though he was sinless and blameless was obedient even unto the cross.

For he bore our iniquity, our shame, our guilt, our condemnation and thereby his suffering and death.

Your wrath was fully satisfied for those who call upon you, who seek you.

Would you help us this week to be obedient to your commands, to lay hold of this promise of victory that you have overcome all things, every enemy that stands opposed, even our own sin.

May we see victory in our life this week as we hear the pronouncement of the gospel's victory and we cry with the shout of faith, would you sanctify us for your purposes?