‏ Joshua 6:2-4

The LORD Ensures the Victory

This verse stands in the so-called prophetic perfect tense. The promise is certain. God doesn’t say ‘I’ll do it’, but ‘I’ve done it, the city is all in your power, as sure as if it already is in your possession’. Rahab believed this (Jos 2:8-9). God’s certain promises always form the starting point for an act of obedience. Promises are a great encouragement to go in confidence on Him the way He proposes us, no matter how foolish that way may be in the eyes of the world. On that road, the Lord’s presence will be proclaimed loudly, as it is represented by the trumpets.

The people only have to believe and obey. First obedience, then strength, that is the order of God.

God’s Strategy

The land of peace is first a land of battle. The people are prepared for this battle in the previous chapter. Now they have to fight, but in God’s way. No swords are drawn in this chapter. Here we learn: “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2Cor 10:4).

Before the battle begins, God first wants to teach His people clearly that fortresses like Jericho can only be brought down by His power. His people can do nothing to let the walls fall down. That does not mean, however, that the people should just stay at home. The fact that they marched around the wall by order of the LORD did not contribute to the fall either. They were impressed by the strength of the wall. Humanly speaking, that is to be discouraged by it.

Why do they have to march around the city for seven days? The goal is that the people will learn both their own inability and the power of God. They should not look at the wall, but at the ark. That is where the strength lies. We must learn to trust this power, that is to believe. The wall has fallen by the power of God and the power of faith, for “by faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days” (Heb 11:30).

The walls do not fall immediately after they have marched around them for the first time. Perseverance is needed. And this perseverance must have a perfect work (Jam 1:4; cf. 1Kgs 18:43-44). This also applies to the problems in our lives that are insurmountable for us.

Then the people are told to shout before the walls have fallen down. This shows us that we will already thank you for the victory that is given, even before the victory has taken place. After they have shouted, the walls fall down.

The trumpets are “of rams’ horns”, i.e. trumpets of the horns of rams. The ram’s horn announces the year of jubilee. The year of jubilee is the fiftieth year in which slaves are released and territories regain their original ownership (Lev 25:8-13). By using this horn in the conquest of Jericho we see that this conquest is not so much a military matter, but more a religious one. This is also evident from the priests who play a more important role here than soldiers.

We need soldiers, but first it comes down to priests. This is also evident in the silver trumpets: “The priestly sons of Aaron, moreover, shall blow the trumpets; and this shall be for you a perpetual statute throughout your generations. When you go to war in your land against the adversary who attacks you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and be saved from your enemies” (Num 10:8-9; cf. 2Chr 13:12a). Priests are in the presence of God with their sacrifices. Coming from the presence of God, they represent a royal priesthood to the world around them. They give spiritual guidance to the people.

A clear sound must be given on the trumpet, otherwise the hearers will not know what to do. “For if the bugle [literally: trumpet] produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1Cor 14:8). Those who have a word for the church as prophets from God’s presence must be priests. They are able to lead the people of God in the struggle even in difficult circumstances. The Word of God makes clear what our ‘Jericho’ is and how we have to struggle and what gives us faith and makes us shout when there is nothing to shout for unbelief.

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