Walls Come Down
Scripture Reading: Joshua 6:8-20
8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven
trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of
the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 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. 10 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.” 11 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.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13
Then 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
rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.
14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they
did six days.
15 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. 16 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! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to 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. 18 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. 19 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.”
20 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.
This is a lot to do. The city of Jericho was likely much smaller than the cities we
have now but it still would have been quite large when you consider walking around
it. The ark of the LORD was carried before them symbolizing that they had put God
first, before anything else. They all had to march in formation and here would have
been the most difficult part for me; they couldn’t talk. Not one word were they to
speak. For this many people to do this, without complaint, they had to completely
and totally trust YHWH.
Numbers 14:2-4
2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole
congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in
this wilderness! 3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our
wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
Their parents had not trusted Him so. They were still looking back to Egypt. They
still did not realize the value of God’s presence. They wanted to have the security
of God protecting them but they wanted the stuff they had in Egypt. They missed
the point that walking with God with little was better than having everything but not
having God. Rich people kill themselves all the time. Every once in a while it ends
up on the news if the person is famous enough. There are many who seem, from
the outside, to have everything but they are empty inside and miserably
depressed.
Numbers 21:4-5
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of
Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people
spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in
the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless
bread.”
They had access to God. They saw, with their physical eyes, the pillar of cloud by
day and the pillar of fire by night. Yet, they were discouraged in their souls. How
many today hope for a sign that they can see to prove God is there. They think
that if they could only know for sure, then they would have faith. But these people
had seen with their own eyes and still had no faith to follow God’s lead. It’s a sharp
contrast between them and their children who we following God without saying a
word. Their parent had called the bread of God worthless. They could not see the
value. In our time we don’t have manna on the ground in the morning but we do
have the bread; the Word that has come down from God. Do you value it each
day? Or do you spend all your time seeking after movies and television shows and
video games that you think will be more enjoyable?
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
The Israelites who followed Joshua trusted in the things from God completely. The
didn’t try to figure out or feel the need to understand His commands so they could
feel wise in their own eyes. They acknowledged Him and follow the path He had
laid out before them even though it made no earthly sense.
Isaiah 1:19-20
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
They were willing and they were obedient to His words because He had spoken
them. And the walls fell down. The walls that were separating them from what God
had promised them; what God have given them.
Philippians 1:5-8
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did
not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the
form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of
the cross.
Yeshua was willing and obedient even to death, and a wall came down. The veil
separating us from the presence of God was torn in two, because of the obedience
of One.
Philippians 2:12-15
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is
God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without
complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of
God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world.
How many walls would come down around us when believers stop disputing and
complaining and just start obeying.
Deuteronomy 12:28 - Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may
go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in
the sight of the LORD your God.
Obedience has always been a key to things going well. We must learn to follow
God as did Joshua and those with him at Jericho.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace
that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not
conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called
you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am
holy.”
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date February 10, 2008
Scripture Reading: Joshua 6:8-20
8 So it was, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven
trumpets of rams’ horns before the LORD advanced and blew the trumpets, and the ark of
the covenant of the LORD followed them. 9 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. 10 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.” 11 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.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13
Then 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
rear guard came after the ark of the LORD, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets.
14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they
did six days.
15 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. 16 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! 17 Now the city shall be doomed by the LORD to 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. 18 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. 19 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.”
20 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.
This is a lot to do. The city of Jericho was likely much smaller than the cities we
have now but it still would have been quite large when you consider walking around
it. The ark of the LORD was carried before them symbolizing that they had put God
first, before anything else. They all had to march in formation and here would have
been the most difficult part for me; they couldn’t talk. Not one word were they to
speak. For this many people to do this, without complaint, they had to completely
and totally trust YHWH.
Numbers 14:2-4
2 And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole
congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in
this wilderness! 3 Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our
wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”
4 So they said to one another, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.”
Their parents had not trusted Him so. They were still looking back to Egypt. They
still did not realize the value of God’s presence. They wanted to have the security
of God protecting them but they wanted the stuff they had in Egypt. They missed
the point that walking with God with little was better than having everything but not
having God. Rich people kill themselves all the time. Every once in a while it ends
up on the news if the person is famous enough. There are many who seem, from
the outside, to have everything but they are empty inside and miserably
depressed.
Numbers 21:4-5
4 Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of
Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. 5 And the people
spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in
the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless
bread.”
They had access to God. They saw, with their physical eyes, the pillar of cloud by
day and the pillar of fire by night. Yet, they were discouraged in their souls. How
many today hope for a sign that they can see to prove God is there. They think
that if they could only know for sure, then they would have faith. But these people
had seen with their own eyes and still had no faith to follow God’s lead. It’s a sharp
contrast between them and their children who we following God without saying a
word. Their parent had called the bread of God worthless. They could not see the
value. In our time we don’t have manna on the ground in the morning but we do
have the bread; the Word that has come down from God. Do you value it each
day? Or do you spend all your time seeking after movies and television shows and
video games that you think will be more enjoyable?
Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
The Israelites who followed Joshua trusted in the things from God completely. The
didn’t try to figure out or feel the need to understand His commands so they could
feel wise in their own eyes. They acknowledged Him and follow the path He had
laid out before them even though it made no earthly sense.
Isaiah 1:19-20
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword”;
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
They were willing and they were obedient to His words because He had spoken
them. And the walls fell down. The walls that were separating them from what God
had promised them; what God have given them.
Philippians 1:5-8
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did
not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the
form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance
as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of
the cross.
Yeshua was willing and obedient even to death, and a wall came down. The veil
separating us from the presence of God was torn in two, because of the obedience
of One.
Philippians 2:12-15
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now
much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is
God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without
complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of
God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine
as lights in the world.
How many walls would come down around us when believers stop disputing and
complaining and just start obeying.
Deuteronomy 12:28 - Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may
go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in
the sight of the LORD your God.
Obedience has always been a key to things going well. We must learn to follow
God as did Joshua and those with him at Jericho.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace
that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not
conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called
you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am
holy.”
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date February 10, 2008
