07. The Ark at Jericho; or, God's Presence amid Life's Conflicts

Chapter 7 - The Ark at Jericho; or, God’s Presence amid Life’s Conflicts FROM Jordan the Israelites proceeded to Gilgal, where, for a considerable time, they established their headquarters; but they soon found, that entrance into Canaan did not involve possession of it. The inhabitants of the land were prepared to resist aggression; and the wanderers of the desert found themselves enrolled as war­riors for the fight. The town of Jericho was the first which they besieged. Its blockade seemed likely to prove of long continuance, and doubtless would have been so, but for the Divine interposition. Having received ex­plicit directions from the Lord, Joshua commanded the priests to make ready the ark of the covenant for removal. To the people he issued orders, that all who were armed should pass in perfect silence round the city, followed by seven priests sounding a blast on seven rams’ horns or jubilee-trum­pets; behind these the ark was to be carried, while the rearward, composed (it would seem) of those untrained or disabled for warfare, closed the procession, which wound its way completely round the walls, at a sufficient dis­tance, probably, to avoid exposure to the arrows of the townsmen. The task ended, the ark was replaced in its former site, and the people again lodged in the camp at Gilgal. Great must have been the wonder excited by a requisition so unwonted and so unintelligible. The fact that no word was allowed to "proceed out of their mouth," had given them abundant oppor­tunity for quiet reflection; and at even-tide we cannot but believe that the subject afforded ample theme for the interchange of conjec­tures. They doubted not that an explanation would come.

Joshua had hinted that there would be a time when he should bid them shout; and in that hint lay an ample basis for encouragement and hope. Early on the second day, the same order was repeated, save that two circuits were enjoined instead of one. On the third day, the people had to compass the city three times; and so to increase the length of their march, day by day, for an entire week. No positive declaration had yet been publicly uttered concerning the result of their move­ments; and the interval must have appeared long ere that result was manifest. But on the seventh day, after having risen" with the dawn of light, and fulfilled their seven rounds, Joshua said, "Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city . . . . so the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the ,sound of the trum­pet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people " went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city."

Eight-and-twenty times, in all, had Jericho been compassed: and we are naturally led to ask, what could be the cause of so long a delay. A little reflection easily discovers obvious marks of wisdom in the arrangement. It served for a test of the people’s faith, and obedience, and patience, and perseverance; as well as for a token that the victory was won by Divine, and not by human agency. First, it put Israel to the proof. It was a trial as to whether their faith would be constant, their obedience im­plicit, their patience unwearied, and their perseverance steadfast. Their evil hearts, prompted by the tempter’s suggestions, might often have inclined them to swerve from the line of duty. Its apparent uselessness would each day strengthen the temptation to inquire, "Why prosecute so fruitless a task? why walk, when fighting would prove more effectual? Why compass the city, instead of taking it by assault? "Thus faith would have failed, and human wisdom been deemed more worthy of confidence than the Divine. The fear of ridi­cule, moreover, on the part of the Canaanites who watched them from the city walls, might have disposed them to say," We shall just get laughed at for our pains; let us desist from a procedure that will tend to lower us in the esteem of the inhabitants of the land."

Thus obedience would have been laid aside, and the heavenly mandate despised. Excessive eager­ness might have led them to say, "Let us go twice or thrice for every single journey that is enjoined on us; and if, at the last, our shout­ing is to be the harbinger of conquest, let us shout at once; so shall we hasten the looked-for end." Thus patience would have faltered, and the Lord’s time not have been deemed the best. Weariness might have led them to exclaim, "If the work is to depend on the ark, let that be carried round alone, and let us henceforth be spared the toil; or, if it is to depend on us, let us leave the ark undisturbed in the tabernacle, that our progress be no longer fruitlessly retarded by what is in that case a mere encumbrance." Thus would perseverance have been lacking, and the palm of victory forfeited. Secondly: there was doubtless an intention to demonstrate that the capture of the city was not by might or power of man, but through the sovereign will and work of God. The walls might have fallen as easily on the first day as on the seventh; but had it been thus decreed, the people might have imagined the foundations of it so weak, that their own martial tread had sufficed to effect its overthrow. But day by day they moved round it, and more and more each day, while yet the wall stood as unshaken as at the first. Not till the appointed time did it fall---­the time privately foretold to Joshua at the outset---the time which no human sagacity could have calculated---the time which was signaled by the mere raising of a human shout,---from multitudinous voices, it is true, yet insufficient to cause a vibration such as might rend the high-towering defenses of a city" walled up to heaven." The apostle tells us, that "by faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." In each foot-fall might have been heard the echo of that faith; but its noble outburst resounded in the cry of victory. "Shout," said Joshua, "for the Lord HATH given you the city." No sign attested the truthfulness of the assertion; no probability was discerni­ble of its speedy fulfillment: but, resting on the word of implied promise, accepting the boon as though already possessed, rejoicing in the triumph as though completely achieved, they raised the joyous shout of an assured success. Its actual attainment was immediate; and it was complete. The city, in just punish­ment of its iniquities, was devoted to destruc­tion; and its spoil, which had not been gained by the people’s efforts, was to be reserved for the treasury of the Lord. He it was who had been represented by the ark of the covenant: "the priests," says the inspired historian, "passed on before the Lord, and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them."

(This identification of the ark with Jehovah himself is of frequent occurrence in Scripture, and strongly confirms the close connection of it with His immediate presence. Such instances are found inJoshua 4:13; comp. 2 Samuel 7:2;2 Samuel 7:5-6; andExodus 16:33-34.)

It was before Him, and by His power, that the walls fell down flat. Without His aid, the people might have walked round the city their lives long, and been not one whit nearer to the seizure of the town. The subject teaches us the presence of God in our conflicts. He is the God of armies, and can alone lead forth our hosts to successful warfare. He does not require from our regi­ments, any more than He ever again required from Israel’s armament, that they should com­pass a besieged city, telling its towers, and marking its bulwarks, and waiting for its mira­culous downfall. But He does require that so long as the evils of war subsist, Christian nations should recognize Him as the arbiter of destinies, and the commander of deliverances, "Help us, Oh Lord our God! for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go forth against this multitude," should be the initial prayer of every battle. "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God," should be the motto inscribed on every banner. "It may be that the Lord will work for us," should be the basis of every hope. "Hitherto the Lord hath helped us," should be the memorial of every conquest.

It is, however, more particularly on our spiritual conflicts that we would wish to en­large. If we are God’s people, we are called to fight our way to the heavenly Canaan. Let us stand beneath the walls of ancient Jericho, and learn a seasonable lesson. Are we placing ourselves in the way of temptation, and court­ing the attacks of the foe? This is to walk so near the enemy’s walls as to keep within con­stant range of his missiles. Are we looking for victory over temptation without any exertion on our own part? That were like tarrying in our tents, while we left the ark to be carried round as our proxy and substitute, converting the token which bespoke God’s presence into a subterfuge to excuse our own indolence. Are we professing to resist temptation, while secretly heedless whether we gain the mastery or not? that were to act the part of one, who might have figured in the foremost ranks, but ne­glected to equip himself in armor, and so betrayed his lukewarmness in the cause. Are we resisting temptation in our own strength? that were indeed to walk round the city reso­lutely and perseveringly, but to walk round it without the ark of the covenant, without the presence of the Lord of hosts, and therefore unsuccessfully. Are we wearied with the pro­tracted demand for patience, and disposed to repine because the end is yet deferred? That is to murmur, because seven days’ work is not done in one. We must bear in mind, that vic­tory over temptation, even with God’s help, is not the work of a day. We must keep at our post; we must watch and pray, watch unre­mittingly and pray without ceasing, hour by hour, day by day, year by year. But, lastly, are we putting forth our constant endeavors, and asking importunately for heavenly assist­ance, while yet conscious of inward misgivings as to whether our labor shall not have been fruitless, and our supplications vain? that is as if we sedulously went through the appointed march or marches of each consecutive day, but refused to raise a shout until permitted to enjoy a full and final triumph. Such disheart­enment is treason to our King. We must honor Him, or He will not honor us. To doubt the victory because of our own weakness, is either to view the matter as taken out of His hands, or else it is to distrust His power. His promise has been given, and "The feeblest saint Shall win the day, Though death and hell Obstruct the way."

Temptation is growing weaker, though at present we perceive it not; and ere long the signal shall be given, the enemy’s fortress shall be destroyed, and the palm-branch be placed in our hand. In the meanwhile, it behooves us to join our fellow-believers, our fellow­-soldiers, in raising the anticipative chorus of thanksgiving. The presence of sin makes us repeatedly sigh forth the complaint, "Oh, wretched man that I am!"---the remains of unbelief often incline us to ask in a despond­ing tone, "Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?"--- but the charter of our Chris­tian privileges gives us the right to meet this inquiry with the joyous answer, "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Thus, also, in reference to our final conflict:---"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death;" but even before he approaches, we may sing, "Thanks be unto God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ;" and thus we may even now give utterance to the Hallelujah of the redeemed.