Ⅶ
We need to know the vital factors that enabled the people of Israel to be victorious in their first warfare—Josh. 6:1-20:
A
The shutting up of Jericho, with no traffic coming in or going out, signifies that the powers of darkness, the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies, were bound—Matt. 12:29; Eph. 6:12.
B
God’s people did not need to do anything to destroy Jericho.
C
They only needed to believe and trust in God, to listen to the instruction from the Captain of the army of Israel, and to exalt Christ by bearing the Ark—Josh. 6:3-11.
D
The bearing of the Ark here by the priests shows that in the spiritual warfare the first thing we should do is exalt Christ, giving Him the first place, the preeminence, in all things—vv. 4, 7-11; Col. 1:18:
１
When the people of Israel attacked Jericho, they did this under the commanding of Christ typified by the Ark—Josh. 5:14; 6:3-11.
２
The Ark, a type of Christ, who was their Commander in chief, took the lead to attack the enemies—v. 4.
E
To remain silent until the command was given to shout means to carry out the matter in the Lord’s way without expressing any thought, opinion, or feeling—v. 10.
F
The victory over Jericho in Israel’s first battle after crossing the Jordan was won not by Israel’s fighting but by their blowing the trumpets and shouting, signifying the testifying and proclaiming of God with Christ (the Ark) through faith in God’s word of instruction—vv. 2-5.
Ⅷ
A unique principle is that spiritual victory does not depend on warfare—it depends on praise—2 Chron. 20:20-22:
A
We need to learn to overcome Satan by our praise.
B
A person who praises God transcends everything and overcomes continually by his praise; this is a principle, and this is a fact—Heb. 11:30, 33-34; 13:15.
Morning Nourishment
Josh. 6:5 And when they give off the blast of the ram’s horn and you hear the trumpet sound, all the people shall shout with a great shout. And the wall of the city will fall down flat…2 Chron. 20:21-22 …He appointed them to sing to Jehovah and give thanks in holy array as they went out before the army….When they began to shout in song and to praise, Jehovah set ambushes for [those] who were coming out against Judah…
The victory over Jericho in Israel’s first battle after crossing the Jordan was won not by Israel’s fighting but by their blowing of the trumpets and shouting, by their testifying and proclaiming of God with His Ark, through their faith in God’s word of instruction (Josh. 6:2-5). These were the vital factors that enabled them to win the victory. (Life-study of Joshua, p. 43)
Today’s Reading
We go to a battle, but we go with instruments of peace; we go with rams’ horns. Rams’ horns are a symbol of fighting a warfare with peaceful weapons….They cannot kill; they are utterly peaceful. But they are weapons for battle. They are trumpets to be blown, declaring and proclaiming the gospel of peace. This is the weapon we must use to fight the spiritual warfare. We fight by proclaiming Christ.Day by day the army of God, six hundred thousand strong, marched around the city, blowing the rams’ horns. First came one division, then the priests blowing the trumpets, then the Ark, and then the remainder of the army at the rear….There were probably some people in Jericho who laughed and scorned them. They had never seen such an unworldly performance. Once a day they compassed the city, day after day for six days repeating the same procedure. When the seventh day came, as they were instructed, they compassed the city seven times.
We must notice here that Joshua commanded the people [not to shout] …until they heard the long blast of the rams’ horns at the end of the final circuit…. Before that time they were to keep silence. What is the meaning of this? It means that if we are going to testify the victorious Christ, there are many times when we must be silent; we must let the priesthood blow the trumpet…. Do not say, “We are on the church ground. We are the local church. We are this, and we are that.” If we say these things lightly, there is no priesthood. We must let the priesthood blow the trumpet and give the sound. There must be no other voice. Then when the time comes, the time appointed by the Lord, we must shout. We must pray and praise the Lord with a loud voice, and the enemy will fall before us. This is the way for us to fight the battle.
Such a battle …is a war, …a fight, and yet it is an enjoyment, a rest, and a satisfaction. It is in this way that we possess the all-inclusiveness of Christ. [Yet] we can only apprehend the breadth, the length, the height, and the depth of the all-inclusive Christ with all the saints. To take possession of the good land, we must be formed and united together with the saints as the army of God. (CWWL, 1961-1962, vol. 4, “The All-inclusive Christ,” pp. 337-339)
We need to learn to overcome Satan …not only by prayer but also by praise. Many people are conscious of Satan’s ferocity and their own weaknesses, and they resolve to struggle and pray. However, we find a very unique principle here: Spiritual victory does not depend on warfare but on praise…. Much warfare can be won by praise. Many battles are lost because of the lack of praise. If you believe in God, you can tell the Lord in the midst of your problems, “I praise Your name. You are higher than everything. You are stronger than everything. Your lovingkindness endures forever!” A person who praises God transcends everything. He overcomes continually by his praise. This is a principle, and this is also a fact. (CWWN, vol. 48, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (1)” pp. 254-255)
Further Reading: Life-study of Joshua, msgs. 7, 10; CWWN, vol. 48, “Messages for Building Up New Believers (1),” ch. 16