S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org

Non ember 19. 1913.
count of a victory more\ worthy of study
than either the battle of AA'aterloo or Gettysburg.
It is a victory in which is to be found
the "secret of victory in bringing the kingdom
of this world into subjection to Christ
and establishing- bis kingdomi from sea to sea
and from the rivers unto the ends of the
earth.
I. It ziHis under the direction of Jehoi'ah.
Whenj Israel was about ready to go up
against Jericho, under the leadership of
Joshua, the I^rd appeared unto Joshua in
the form of a man with a sword drawn in
his hand. And when Joshua said unto him:
"Art thou for us, or for our adversaries," he
replied. "Nay; but as captain of the host of
the Lord am I come." The great victories
of faith have all been won under the leadership
of God. The first step in undertaking
any great service in the kingdom of God is
the yielding of self and human expediency
to the will of God. It is not possible to walk
by faith until we have first learned to obey
the will of God.
II, It zi'Os zvithout the use of any carnal
weapons. The City of Jericho was one of
the strongest cities in Canaan. It was well
fortified with a strong wall. But Israel was
not permitted to set up any battering rams
or resort to the use of any of the instruments
of war which were used commonly in war.
The walls of the city were to be brought
down through faith. And the exercise of
faith was to be revealed in the use of those
means—means that would to the inhabitants
of Jericho doubtless seem insufiicient and
absurd. The walls were to be brought down
by the marching of Israel about the city and
the blowing upon the trumpets. Thus "God
hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the wise; and God hath chosen
the weak things of the world to confound
the things which are mighty." The church
has never won a great victory when she has
resorted to the use of carnal weapons. But
when she has used the means of divine appointment,
which call for dependence upon
God, she has been mighty through God to
the pulling down of stro(ngholds."
III. The conquest zvas carried on in the
full assurance of victory. The obedience and
patience of Israel in marching about the city
day after day showed that they had faith to
believe that victory awaited them. Faith sees
things which are yet to come to pass. It
lifts the believer up frolm things as they actually
exist about him and enables him to see
them as they shall be. It gives the believer
a vision of the accomplished work and leads
him on by a constant inspiration. "Abraham
saw my day, and he rejoiced to see it and
was glad," Through faith the believer is
permitted to sing the songs and give the
shout otf victory even before the walls have
fallen.
IV. In the conquest of the city there zvas
co-operation on the part of the princes and
ihe priests. In marching about the walls of
the city a band of armed men who represented
the civil power, preceded the priest, who
hore the ark. Here we may see the church
and state in mutual co-operation in advanciiR
the kingdom of God. The state must precede
the church when protection is needed.
Treaties must be formed and protection secured
by the state to prepare the vvay for the
representatives which the church sends out
*o a heathen land to proclaim tbe gospel,
When civil powers are inimical to the gospel
A t'AMlLY PAPER.
and fail to pave the way for the heralds of
the cross the cause of Christ suffers injury
and the progress of the kingdom is slow. It
may also be noted that it is not sufficient for
the representatives of church and state to
pass around the city alone. All of the congregation
of people must accoi-npany them.
There must be the exercise of faith in the
hearts of all believers if progress is to be
made. If the kingdom of Satan is to be destroyed
and the kingdom of grace advanced,
there must be that mutual co-operation between
church and state and among all believers
in the different spheres of their lives
that will enable them to go forth as a company
of horses in Pharaoh's chariot.
A''. It zvas a conquest in zvhich there zvas
no offer of compromise.
No opportunity was given to the men of
Jericho to escape. The command was "to
destroy them utterly," The war in which
believers are engaged is one that calls for
complete extermination. No form or feature
of the forces of evil is to be left.
VI, In the conquest of Jericho, Israel z^ns
to abide the Lord's time for z'ictory. It was
not until they had compassed the city about
seven days, vvhich may be taken to signify
the fulness of time, that they were to ex-
])ect the walls of the city to fall. It is not
for believers to know the time or reason o'f
the kingdorn but to* continue on until the
time comes which Jehovah in his sovereign
wisdom has appointed for the day of victory,
VIL It zvas a conquest that zvas carr'icd
on zvith a- viczu to the glory of God.
The purpolse of this victory was really to
prove the power and supremacy of the God
of Israel, so that the inhabitants of the land
of Canaan might be overcome with fear and
give glory to the God of Israel. In this work
Israel was simply the agent of God, acting
under the direction of God to meet out justice
upon the inhabitants of Canaan, whose
cup of iniquity was now full.
Eskridge, Kansas.
Lesson G, December 7, -191-3,
LESSON FOR THE CHILDREN.
By Anna Pritchard George.
THB FALL OF JERICHO.
Joshua 5:10—6; 27.
What do soldiers need in battle, Joe? "Guns."
Long ago there were no guns. Men fought with
swords and knocked down city walls with big engines.
Suppose our army would try to capture
a city shut up inside a wall. Bud, could they do
much with only swords and horns? Well, the
only weapons the Jews have in today's lesson are
swords and horns. Yet they capture a walled
city. How do they do it, George? They must
have some other help. "God helps them." Yes,
just as He did in the Red Sea and all through
the Wilderness, and lately In crossing the Jordan.
So God helps against Jericho.
On the sand tables pile these stones forming
the walls of Jericho. Inside, these small boxes
are for the houses and these sticks the people
of Jericho. This house on the wall is the home
Of Rahab. At one time Joshua sent two spies
in to Jericho, and Rahab aided them so the other
people 'could not capture them. Her relatives
are in the house with her. Outside the walls, a
couple of miles away, these sticks and paper
tents are the Jews in camp. This box with long
sticks for poles fastened one on each side, is
for the Ark of the Covenant.
The people of Jericho are greatly frightened.
They have heard of all the wonderful things God
has done for the Jews, and are afraid Jericho
will be captured too. All stay inside the city
gates. No one goes out nor comes in.
Outside, the Jews are waiting for orders from
God. He has not yet told them what to do. They
have nothing with which to destroy the walls and
they cannot climb over. Some have swords, but
even if all were armed it would do no good, for the
enemy are all on the other side of the wall, and
the gates are shut. But Goi has helped them
all these forty years in the wilderness, and they
know nothing is too hard for Him.
Here is Joshua leaving the camp. He walks
over toward the city wondering how they will
take Jericho, He looks up. Right before him is
a soldier brandishing a sword, Joshua exclaims,
"Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?'' "Nay;
but as captain of the host of the Lord am 1 now
come," He is the Angel of the Covenant come
from. God to lead the Jews to victory. The angel
teils Joshua God's wonderful plan for capturing
Jericho, "that all the peoples of the earth may
know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty;
that they may fear the Lord your God for ever."
Early the next morning Joshua leads all the
men from camp. Pirst come the armed warriors,
then seven priests with trumpets made from
ranis' horns. Marjorie, you were neariy killed
with the horns of a ram one day. You know
how twisted and strong they are. The priests
blow a loud piercing tone on them, so the men
can keep better step. After these priests others
come bearing the Ark of the Covenant. Then
follow all the other men. Here they march clear
around the city. Not a sound is heard but the
voice of the trumpets. Just once around they
march in silence and prayer, then back to their
camp. The next day they march around once in
silence again. For six days they make this solemn
march. Does it terrify the people inside the
walls, Ellis? Yes, they wonder and fear more
and more. The Jews on the outside gain strength
and courage as they trust in God more and more.
They are ready to do exactly as He says.
Finally on the seventh day they rise just as
tne sun shows its firstlight over the hills. They
march around the 'city once, then the second
time. Here they go around the thirl time. Seven
times this seventh day they march around Jericho
in silence—only the sound of the trumpets can
be heard. At the end of the seventh time the
priests give a long blast with the trumpets, and
the people who have been told beforehand what
to do, give a great shout. What do you suppose
happens, Elmer? The walls of the city fall
flat, just as these stones fall. The people Inside
are cowering In fear. The Jews rush over the
fallen wall and kill all the wicked people—men,
women and children, and even all the cattle.
God has told them- to spare none but Rahab and
her family. Why is she saved, Ethel? "She
saved the spies." Yes, and Joshua sends the
same spies to lead Rahab and those in the house
with her, outside the camp of Israel, You see God
always rewards those who serve Him. Rahab
and her people are the only ones saved alive in
Jericho. Afterwari she marries a Jewish man,
and it is through her children that Jesus comes
to earth. Then God orders that only silver
and gold, and vessels of brass and iron be saved,
and -that these be used in the house of the Lord.
All else is to be destroyed. The Jews carry away
these metals, then .the city is burned to the
ground, God's 'children have at last gained an
entrance into the Promised Land,
Have we cities to capture, Ellsworth? "No."
But we have tasks as bard for us to accomplish.
How about the boy witb an ugly temper?
Is it easy to control? And the girl who wants
to steal, and the children who lie? All these
things are impossible for us to overcome alone.
But ask Jesus to help, and then it will be as
easy as it was for the Jews with God helping, to
capture Jericho,