The Battle of Jericho

By:  Matt Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

95036

07/07/96 - Cyclone, KY

 

I.  Introduction.

A.  Today’s lesson focuses upon the Israel’s battle for Jericho.  The text is found in Joshua 6:1-27.  As we go through the lesson today, we are going to be drawing lessons from the text that apply to our lives.

1.  By the end of the lesson, we will see that:

a.  God’s power is awesome - and he will help us through the battles we engage in against the devil.

b.  What is the source of strength we rely on as Christians?

c.  The Lord will do exactly as He promises as long as we do exactly what He says. (obedience)

B.  As we go through this lesson, try to examine your life and see where you stand. 

C.  Let’s read Joshua 6:1-27.

D.  For a few moments, consider what the Israelites were up against:  When one tries to get a feel for the city of Jericho itself, one quickly becomes impressed with the city.  For the time, it was one of the most advanced cities in the known world.

1.  Strongest & most fortified city in all of Canaan.

2.  Geographically located 7 miles west of the Jordan River in the south end of the Jordan River Valley.

a.  Was a key defensive stronghold for this part of the land of Canaan.

b.  Had Israel not been sucessful here, it would have effected the rest of their campaign to overtake the promised land.

3.  Jericho was an ancient city.  Archaeologists date the 1st settlers to around 300 yrs before Moses or approx. 1800 B.C.

a.  archaeologists determined that the city had been destroyed around 1400 B.C., which would have coincided with the time of Joshua.

E.  No doubt, the city was a tremendous obstacle in the way of conquering the land of Canaan - which had to be removed!!

II.  As Christians What Are We Up Against?

A.  The biggest obstacle we are up against is the devil & sin.  At times, the enemy can look just as big, just as strong, just as unforgiving & frightful as what Jericho must have looked to those Israelites.

B.  We are talking about a spiritual battle here - Eph. 6:12

1.  In v. 11& 13 Paul gives instructions to take up the whole armor of the Lord.

2.  We are to be prepared on every front.  This is why Paul stresses taking up the whole armor of the Lord.

C.  Christian’s spiritual battle’s can be fought on a number of fronts.

1.  a battle confronting our own weaknesses. 

a.  Paul had to fight this everyday in his life - 1 Cor. 9:27 - we should do the same.

2.  a battle confronting attacks by Satan upon the church - 1 Jhn. 2:18-23; 1:6, etc.

3.  Fighting to keep ourselves & others in Christ.

4.  Even bringing someone to Christ can seem like a battle sometimes.

5.  Our battles can resemble a project or task which we have set before us, e.g.,  mowing yard, projects around the house, ladies:  mopping & cleaning up the kitchen:  Once one gets going, it isn’t as nearly as hard as it looked before we started.

6.  A Scripture to keep in Mind: 1 Peter 5:6-9

a.  Be sober, vigilant = be prepared.

b.  No room for those who are lackadasical.  Must give it our all. 

7.  The Lord will reward us for our hardwork & sacrifice:  5:10-11

 

III.  What is Our Source of Strength?

A.  Jericho relied on these great walls as their source of strength.

1.  The city itself was located on about 5-7 acres of land.  Early archaeological digs proved that there were 2 walls divided by a 15 ft. space.

a.  The outer wall was about 6 ft. thick, and the inner wall was about 12 ft. thick.  They were both about 30 feet tall.

b.  It can be said without a doubt that the people of Jericho felt secure within their walls & believed in their strength to keep them from the harm of the Israelites.

2.  Josh. 6:1.  They trusted in these walls as a source of strength - but the walls fell.

3.  Israel in later times came to rely in the strength of their own city - Amos. 9:1=6 - it fell.

B.  Some people today rely on things for a source of strength and stability:

1.  money & fame.

2.  other people of this world.

3.  various temporal & material things which will pass away.

C.  The children of Israel in our text relied upon the strength of God in order to defeat the people of Jericho.  (6:2;20-21)

1.  Had they relied upon their own strength - they would have surely been defeated because according to Deut. 7:7 they were the least of all peoples.

2.  In our text we find:

a.  Israel following in obedience to His will.

b.  Israel being sucessful in defeating the Israelites.

D.  In order for God to fight for us, we need to keep His will, just as He instructed.

1.  When doing so, we are guaranteed victory - Acts 5:29,39-42.

a.  We too, can be confident, just as the apostles were in their day.

2.  Jesus needs to be someone we rely on for a source of strength.  Luke 6:48-49

a.  Rock = source of stability.  River allusion.

b.  sand = source of instablity and temporalness.  River allusion.

 

IV.  Are We Following in Obedience?

A.  Another point we have passed over but now want to focus more clearly on, is the obedience of Israel to the instructions of the Lord.

1.  There was a set of instructions laid out for the Israelites to follow.  (6:3-5)

a.  Joshua further instructs them to kill every living thing - man, woman, child & beast and to leave the silver & gold for the Lord.

2.  They followed & were sucessful.

B.  We have a set of instructions laid down & spelled out clearly for us to follow in our lives today.

1.  The Scriptures will throughly equip us unto every good work = 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

2.  In them, we find a pattern for righteous living & ways to treat others.  We also find a pattern of worship, ways to spend the Lord’s money, & can understand what the work of the church is.

C.  What would have happened to the children of Israel had they not heeded the commandments of the Lord here in our text in Joshua?

1.  Would that city have been delivered?  Answer comes from reading the account of what is written in Chapter 7 of Joshua.

D.  What is the penalty for us today if we go outside the Scriptures?  Refer to Achan’s case:  (he suffered physical death - we will suffer spiritual death.)

1.  Punishment doesn’t have to be immediate:    Israel was allowed to take Jericho - Punishment didn’t come until after Israel had been defeated by Ai.  Then he received his punishment. 

2.  Many are deceived today because of this - but will find out the hard way on the day of judgement:  Mt. 7:21.

3.  Many are not obedient to the Lord because of a lack of respect for the authority of what God has laid down for us.

a.  We reveal that RESPECT through our obedience to His will, and following Him exactly as we are told.

b.  Some call this legalism.  I would rather be realistic than be in jeporady of losing my soul!!!

E.  The Israelites in this passage respected God we see because of their obedience to His specific instructions. 

1.  This command of God may have seemed so useless - so trivial - so insignificant - so stupid - so boring

2.  Can’t you imagine that those soldiers must have felt a twinge of siaappointment or discouragement after the first few days when nothing happened?

a.  we’re wasting our time...this is so stupid...those people must think we are dumb for doing this...

b.  How many of us would have quit before the 7th day?

F.  When they obeyed God, even in the minor details, they enjoyed splendid success.  When we obey God, even in the minor details, we WILL enjoy splendid success.

 

V.  Conclusion.

A.  As we begin to close this lesson today - think about what we have talked about.  [we have only touched on a few of the many lessons from this text]

1.  Are you fighting for the Lord?  If you are not on His side, you are going to lose.  (Acts 5:39; Mt. 12:30)

2.  Do NOT spend anymore time fighing against the Lord!!  Do we realize the penalty for not being a child of God?

a.  They will be cast into a place of outer darkness, a place where there will be much sorrow & gnashing of teeth.  A place of torment reserved for those who did not follow the commandments of the Lord.

3.  Do we realize the torment that one will be in when they are in Hell??

a.  We have somewhat of an example of this in Luke 16:23-24.  The rich man had died and was in Hades awaiting the judgement.  He was in torment - probably just a foreshadowing of the things to come!

B.  What are you relying upon as your source of strength? 

1.  temporal things or spiritual things?

2.  The rich man in Luke 16:19 relied upon material and physical needs as a source of strength.

a.  We have already talked of his destiny earlier in the chapter.

3.  Luke 6:48-49 - Jesus needs to be your source of strength.

a.  Are you relying on Him to help you?  If He is on your side, then you CANNOT lose!  If you aren’t on His side, then you CANNOT ever win!

C.  Have you followed in Obedience to the Lord?

1.  Matthew 7:21-24 is a verse that we all need to consider in our lives.  Are you doing the will of the Father? 

a.  You can do that by coming to Christ today, repenting of your sins, confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, and be baptized for the remission of your sins.

2.  Then you need to make the committment to follow Him for the rest of your life.

D.  Feel like you have extra time??  Mt. 24:36-44...

1.  you have the opportunity now!!!  why nottake advantage of it while we stand & sing!!