“On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.”
The Oldtimers know a thing or two. When they tell us “young folks” to do this or that and we often look at them with doubtful eyes wondering just why in the Sam thunder are they telling us that? For example, my wife has old recipe cards from her mother. They are all written out with instructions on how to make this chocolate pie. If you don’t follow the directions exactly, the pie will not turn out good. I have been the person who reads the ingredients and just throws it all in and mixes it up. “That is not how you do it!” my wife would say. It is clear that there is a degree of understanding I don’t have when it comes to old cooking methods. I love to eat it when it is done but making it is another story.
In Joshua chapter 6 we read about the fall of Jericho. This Bible story has been told many times, it has even made it’s debut in Veggie Tales (that was a good one) a popular animated kids Bible series. When you read the story, a military general would not approve of method the Israelites were given by God to destroy the city. Jericho had not been shut up for very long so they had plenty of food inside the city. The whole countryside was in fear due to how the Lord dried up the Jordan, so the Israelites could cross the river on dry ground. You could say they were somewhat paralyzed with fear. Still, Jericho was a large city with large walls and was well fortified.
God tells Joshua to march around the city once every day for six days and on the seventh day march around it seven times and then shout and the walls will come down. By now Joshua was not going argue with God because he had seen the Lord at work in the desert. He simply obeyed. We all need to get to the place of just obeying God.
He also tells Joshua to have seven priests carry and blow trumpets in front of the Ark of God while you are marching around the city. Interesting order of things.
First: armed guards in front, Second: priests blowing trumpets, Third: the Ark of God, and Forth: more armed guards.
Psalm 100:4 tells us, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” God told Joshua to praise and worship the Lord before Ark. Praising the Lord is wonderful thing. In church, we start off with praise and worship and that ushers in the presence of the Lord. For Joshua and the Israelites it was the order that was important.
The Bible says that we should praise the Lord at all times and whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. (Psalm 34:1) Funny enough, I have praise music on all the time at work and at home because I find it edifies my spirit. Try it some time. Make it your 30 day challenge to listen to praise music for 30 days only and choose to forego all of the other music you normally listen to. For Joshua it was commandment to have the priest praise the Lord before the Ark.
You might be facing something in your life and looking at it or dealing with it is almost too much to bear. Walls too large to climb and the problems too thick and messy to see a way out. Philippians 4:7 says “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If you understood all things, then you would not need God’s peace. All understanding means that you have already thrown up your hands in frustration and might have even screamed “why !!!!”. Welcome to not understanding. Pray today that God’s peace, not your own, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus and don’t be surprised when he tells you to do something that you don’t understand completely like marching around a city wall for seven days blowing horns. He is looking for your obedience not your understanding.
Prayer: Father, often we fail to obey and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit. I pray today for boldness and faith. Boldness to do what you have asked us to do and faith so that we might believe and see with spiritual eyes and ears what you are doing. I also pray that we not look to our own understanding of what we are in the middle of right now. But instead I pray the we seek your face and your righteousness. Your Word also tells us that all the things we used to fret about will be added and dealt with in your timing Lord. May we walk according to your will praising the Lord at all times. In Jesus name, amen.
Let It Go 
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