We continue to-day our meditations on the towns and villages of Palestine. “But.” will some of my little readers say, “what kind of a picture are you giving us today?”
Jericho was a beautiful and rich city; called the “city of palm trees” in God’s word. Deut. 34:33And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. (Deuteronomy 34:3); 2 Chron. 28:1515And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. (2 Chronicles 28:15). And what indeed has become of all that glory? As you see, that beautiful city has been turned into a heap of ruin, and those most fertile fields were changed into a desert under the chastening hand of God.. The present Jericho being about one and one-half miles distant from the ancient one, consists of about forty to fifty mud-houses in which live several hundred of the poorest of people.
Moses had in his day spoken to the children of Israel that if they would not hearken to the voice of the Lord to do His will and to keep His commandments, He would send them hail instead of rain, sickness instead of health, poverty instead of prosperity; that He would break down their cities and lay them waste; instead of many, He would make them few; instead of being strong they should be weak and to flee when no one pursued them. This curse has Utterly been fulfilled.
So will it be with all those who in this present day of grace do not turn to the Lord when He may be found;—and that unanswered question is now before you who read these lines, dear friends: “HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION?” Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3). Don’t you think, you who have heard so much about that Saviour and His cross, that this especially means you? I believe it does; you, who have heard in the Sunday-school; who have heard the gospel of God with its invitations; you who have heard God beseeching you to be reconciled to Himself, —He means you—you answer that question to your own heart, How shall you escape His righteous judgment? He in His mercy and grace says to you: “Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart!”
Jericho has experienced the goodness as well as severity of God. Those fruitful fields and the riches of the city were a proof of God’s goodness, which should have led them “to repentance.” And when the host of Israel with Joshua as their leader, laid low their glory, and made it level with the ground because they opposed Israel, then they learned also in a very. practical way the severity of God. Their high walls were no
While the city thought itself in its greatest security, sudden destruction came upon it, as it will in a not very distant day come upon this world, when it says, “Peace and safety.” The inhabitants of Jericho perished by the sword, and Joshua by the word of the Lord cursed the man who should undertake to rebuild the city.
But neither the goodness nor the severity of God made any impression on the people around. How true is the word that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart is only evil continually, and that the heart itself is corrupt beyond all recovery. It is incurably wicked. God’s grace alone can save ruined man. This grace Rahab and her relatives proved when God entered into judgment with Jericho. And why was this woman saved? \Vas she good and honorable? Just the contrary of all this, she has led a sinful life up to that time. But God’s dealings with Egypt and all the way God had led Israel through the wilderness had reached her ear, it produced terrible fear in her heart, then led her to repentance and to faith in God. She heard the report, and “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” She received the spies and messengers of God, she herself fled to God for refuge, trusting in Him for grace and mercy for herself and house in the day of Jericho’s downfall.
O, dear reader, the judgment of this world has been a settled thing with God for a long time, and in His word He has told us of it, even that the day is set. All who believe this flee to God to be saved; to-day He is a Saviour, soon He may be a Judge. He invites all to come to Him and be saved. God has sent His beloved Son to us as our Saviour, and that Son said in John 5:24,24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) that those who hear His word and believe on Him who sent Him has everlasting life, shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life.
Elisha later on removed the curse. “The men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant. . . . but the water is naught, and the ground barren.” “And Elisha cast salt in there and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.” Thus Jericho is a picture of this world which is under God’s curse, for He had said “Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth;” sickness and death reign, until Jesus comes to remove the curse. We read in His word: “There shall be no more curse.” And further in another place: “The creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption.” ,
How wonderful will this be! All who are now saved will then rejoice in this deliverance, yea they are walking now in the path of life, while all the rest are like the man who went from Jerusalem, the place of blessing, to Jericho the place of curse and those who were left have died by the wayside. Dear sinner, the true Samaritan still lives, the Saviour of sinners. He is right at hand for every needy one. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear,” but mark God’s complaint, “Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear. Your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity, your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perverseness.” Isaiah 59:1-31Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: 2But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. (Isaiah 59:1‑3).
We also read in the New Testament quite a little about Jericho. There were the two blind men, who desired to be saved as the Lord Jesus passed nearby. Zacchaeus too the rich publican lived in Jericho and took advantage of the nearness of the Saviour. Bartimaeus was told to hold his peace, but he cried all the more: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” He had his desire. Zacchaeus, heedless of the sneers of the people went up into the tree to see Jesus, and was permitted to hear those words: “This day is salvation come to this house.”
If the world like Jericho is going to be judged, then dear friend take advantage of this present day of grace, and allow the Lord Jesus to save you! He loves you; He is able and willing to save, to bless, to guide and to keep.
Messages of God’s Love 4/5/1908