Jericho's Sabbath

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Permalink Reply by Doug Lee on June 18, 2009 at 1:34pm

Several things to consider in your meditation:

The generation that entered the Promised Land is the generation that grew up in the wilderness. They were born in Egypt, but then grew up seeing the LORD deliver them through miracles, and sustain them through the wilderness, and even seen the LORD give them victory on the other side of Jordan. When they passed through the Jordan, it was no big thing to them, for as children, they had passed through the Red Sea. They were open to receive miracles.

In addition to that, they had seen that their obedience had opened the door to the miracles.

Also, they were operating as a military force and not as civilians. I haven't researched into whether the Law of Moses has special rules for warfare, but it might contain exceptions. I do remember looking over the regulations for the Passover observance, and it did allow for the feast to be observed at a later time for those not able to keep the feast at the normal time. They may have thought that if the LORD commanded them to march and/or attack on the Sabbath, He had a good reason for doing so, and He had the authority to counter His own order.

For the civilians who might be reading this, the military is a 24/7 operation. Many soldiers might have duty hours that resemble civilian work schedules, but the military's job goes on all the time, especially in war. When I arrived at the reception station (for in-processing for basic training) at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, they told me I was a soldier until I was discharged. Even when I wasn't on duty or in uniform, I was still a soldier, and I should conduct myself as a soldier at all times. This analogy applies because our enemy doesn't take a day off.

Now, the military does not keep every soldier engaged in combat without a break, unless necessary. They will move around units, and even individual soldiers, moving them into and out of combat as needed. Soldiers, like everyone else, need rest. Tired soldiers often become dead soldiers, or they allow others to die because of their exhaustion.

Guess I better shut up or I'll have to work up another blog post of my own. Probably ought to do that anyway.

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Permalink Reply by Charles Atkinson on June 19, 2009 at 12:52pm

Here are the things I’ve found in study:

The Passover was on the 14th day of the first month (Num.28:16) which Israel celebrated while camped outside Jericho (Jos.5:10). The next day (15th) they ate the corn of the land of Canaan, and on the 16th the manna ceased.

The next event that took place was Joshua speaking to the angel of the Lord of Hosts. I suspect this conversation took place on a Sabbath (possibly the 17th) because throughout history there were many times that the Lord spoke to his servants on the Sabbath (compare Rev.1:10).

Also historically the Sabbath has been referred to as “the seventh day” (Ex.20:10; Deu.5:14). So my assumption is that it was on a Sabbath that Israel marched around Jericho 7 times. (First time around the city was on the first day of the week. Last time around the city was on the 7th day – the Sabbath.)

Jericho was considered a “first fruits” unto the Lord of the Promised Land. The Lord had told Joshua that this city – Jericho, was to be offered to the Lord. Nothing of it was to remain alive (so after the walls fell, the warriors entered and put to death everything that still remained alive), and all the treasure of the city was to be placed within the treasury of the Lord (Jos.6:24). All else was to be burned.

The Sabbath was also a day that the priests were to offer sacrifices to the Lord which obviously required physical effort i.e. labor. But Jesus said that although “the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath,” they were blameless (Mt.12:5). We are named Priests of the Lord (Is.61:6), and told by Paul to let no man judge us in regard to the Sabbath (Col.2:16).

So just as Israel was laboring to enter into their rest, we too are told to labor therefore to enter into our rest (Heb.4:10). Christ is our Passover lamb; he is also our Sabbath rest. The work we do in the spirit does not add to the Sabbath rest he has given us, but as the priests did the work of the Lord on the Sabbath, we must do the works of him who sent us.

Now here is what intrigues me still (‘cause I don't feel complete in my understanding):
How is this process (the taking of Jericho and its connection to the Sabbath)…how is this event/process a type and shadow for us today?

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Permalink Reply by Doug Lee on June 20, 2009 at 3:35pm

I might have found something that will help.

I did a word search on "sabbath," and looked at all the verses. A common theme is that the Sabbath is holy. Anything holy is set aside for a special purpose. So, the OT Sabbath was a day set aside for God's purposes, and not man's. The following verses illustrate it best:

"If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
Isa 58:13-14 NASB

Of course, we should recognize that these verses come at the end of The Fasting Chapter, Isaiah 58. Fasting is an act of holiness.

The governing principle of the Sabbath then is not enforced rest, but time set aside to attend to fulfill God's purposes. This must be done in faith, and not self-effort. If we act, we must obey what the LORD has directed us to do, and to trust Him to accomplish the miracle he wants to bring forth.

Jericho was to be considered a holy sacrifice to the LORD. By marching and shouting in the manner specified in the LORD's instruction, the people were committing an act of holiness.

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Permalink Reply by Charles Atkinson on June 22, 2009 at 4:04pm

I don’t know why it didn’t dawn on me before! I realize now what the march around Jericho represents! Because my original question was: How is this process (the taking of Jericho and its connection to the Sabbath)...how is this event/process a type and shadow for us today? Here’s the short of it. (I’ll follow the synopsis with the details of the answer for those interested.)


Jericho represents the beginning of the jubilee rest for the people of God. For us who are contending for revival: The Promised Land represents revival. Revival is our inheritance. Revival is the jubilee rest. “Let us labor to enter into his rest. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works…” “I have come to do the work of him who sent me.”

“Be strong, and go in and possess the land…which the Lord sware…to give…a land which the Lord thy God cares for: the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments…to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul…that I will give you…that thou may eat and be full. Then will the Lord drive out all these nations (principalities & powers) from before you, and ye shall possess greater nations (rulers of darkness) and mightier than yourselves. There shall no (spiritual wickedness in heavenly places) man be able to stand before you.”

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me…to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God…”



Now the question I am asking myself is, how does knowing this help bring me closer to walking in revival myself? So what?! If knowing that the destruction of Jericho is a type and shadow of the proclamation of jubilee, how does this help me fulfill the divine call to “proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” for those suffering from the consequences of sin?

If I were to guess at the answer, it would be that the shout of praise to accomplish victory is the key (see the details). But that’s just a guess at this time.

Attachments:

• Jericho's Sabbath details.doc, 29 KB

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