Joshua 6:5-165And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. 6And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord. 7And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord. 8And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. 9And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 10And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout. 11So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp. 12And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13And 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 rereward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets. 14And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times. 16And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. (Joshua 6:5‑16)
The blowing of the trumpets was the signal for the children of Israel to go up and take the city of Jericho, which was to be their possession. And so when the Lord comes with a show, and with the sound of the trumpet, we will go up to be forever with Him in our heavenly home; but what terrible judgments will then begin to fall upon this world, just as they fell upon Jericho long ago.
After listening to all these instructions, Joshua and the people prepared to do as the Lord had told them. This is so beautiful to see. First we are to listen to what God tells us in His Word, and then we are to obey. To run before Him and try to serve the Lord before we know what He wants us to do, is a great mistake. And then it is also a great mistake to know what He wants us to do, and not to do it. May we all learn more of that quiet waiting before the Lord, and then of willing service. The ark was, as we have remarked, the center, the men of war going before, and the people forming the rereward. We are ever to guard the Person of Christ, like the men of war here, and then to be exercised to be where He is in the midst. “For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst” (Matthew 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)), is His precious promise. The priests who were bearing the ark were blowing the trumpets as they went, as though to proclaim the victory which was sure to follow. Now we, as priests, are to proclaim the victory which was won for us at Calvary. The people, however, were not to shout or talk. They were not even to say a word, but remain perfectly quiet until the moment the Lord told them to shout, and then they were to shout.
This speaks to us of how we do not seek our rights in this world. We are not to attempt to set it right, for we cannot do this—it is a judged scene—and we are to follow a rejected Christ. Then, when He comes in glory to set things right, we will come with Him, and what shouts of victory there will be!
This, therefore, is the time of being, like John, “companions in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 1:99I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 1:9). Now we are to go on quietly in our service to the Lord, like the children of Israel here, who compassed the city once, the priests blowing the trumpets, and then ruined to the camp. Again they rose up the second day and did the same thing, and so on, till the end of the sixth day. The trumpets were blown continually by the priests, all the time they were marching, but nothing happened to the city. Perhaps the people of Jericho laughed at this strange kind of warfare, just as when we stand up on the street corner to proclaim the wonderful work of Christ, we receive the taunts and jeers of the world. But let us keep on, unmoved by this scornful treatment, for our day of victory is soon coming.
At last the seventh day came, and they got up very early, at about daybreak, and started around the city. They went around once, twice, three times, and kept on until they had gone all around the city seven times. Then, when the priests gave the signal blast with the trumpets, Joshua told the people to shout—the moment of victory had come at last.
ML 03/01/1953