The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-18
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON.
October 10, 1002-Joshua vi, 12-2O-
The Fall of Jericho

Jericho was the Gibraltar of Canaan. Its
towering bastions and gates Of iron. with bars
of brass, bade defiance the invader Even II
its gauntlet could be rum no commander versed
in tactics would leave such citadel In his rear
Joshua would not intrust so important mat
ter to his most reliable lieutenant. He went IN
person to reconnoiter and plan the attack
While his eye was searching for some vantage
ground. suddenly aware of a strangers
presence. Before him was towering form OF
majestic mien, a naked sword cleaning In his
Every inch soldier. Joshua clapped his
hand upon his sword-hilt advanced and called
for the countersign. In instant he appre-
hended the truth-he had met officer who out
ranked him In a moment, with barred feet and
PROSTATE FORM he worshiped the commander-in-
chief of all Jehovah's hosts, celestial and ter
restrial.
plan of investment and assault utterly
novel and, humanity speaking, extremely foolish.
was revealed to Joshua in its minutest details.
The scheme was notifying to the last degree
to a military genius. naturally courageous
spirit. In this crucial test Joshua's faith shines
resplendent He lays his military science at
the feet of Jehovah's captain. Having made the
Lords plan his plan. he returns to camp TO
put ii into execution. in spite of friends pro-
test or foes ridicule. He determines to carry ii
out and exactly, as Moses made the tabernacle
according to the pattern shown him In the
mount.
Next day. under shadow OF Jericho's lofty
walls, the grandeSt military maneuver known
to history was made. Israeis palladium, that
lovely ark uncovered and glittering in the sun
light, carried, not by Levite hands, as custom
airy. but by priestly. as upon other occasions OF
special sanctity. In the van. Seven priests.
with rams -horn-shaped silver trumpets blew a
marched. not UPON. but around, the citadel
From the walls as from gallery OF a thea
ter the whole population of the beleaguered
city viewed this stranged spectacle daily for a
week. not with mirth, however. some have
supposed. terror Of Israel had already fallen
upon them. Their hearts. flint against COM
mon foe, were like melted wax at sight of host
whose battles Jehovah fought for them.
On the seventh day. the completion Of the
seventh circuit the seven priests blew extra
loud and prolonged blast upon the seven horns
and at this signal. from 100000 brawny threats
there went up shout as IL victory had already
been achieved.
That instant the faith. patience and obedience
of Israel had Its signal reward. Those walls of
adamant melted as the hearts Of their defenders
had already Thus. without the raising Of a
single mound or ladder. the discharge Of a single
catapult or employing any of the arts OF sappers
and miners. God put the key to Canaan In the
hand of faithful Joshua that cay
In the midst of universal ruin a fragment of
the wall stood intact. On its summit. like an
eyrie. was a hut. from whose little window. open
ing outward from the city crimson-dyed cord
swung back and forth. The spies. who had SO
lately found refuge there. were deputed to
fetch the woman who through faith had shell
tered them.
Then THAI city, the opulent commercial outpost
Of Canaan. the cup of her iniquity being full
fell prey to the sword of justice. welded
by Israel, Jehcyahs executionef.
Joshua's purpose that this fortress-city
should stand perpetuaIly in ruins as a signiaca MT
memorial of the retributive justice OF God and
the victory achieving power of faith.
THE TEACHER's LANTERN.
Israels invasion Of Canaan must have filed
the native princes and the peoples with extreme
dread. 1t no predatory ncursion II was
no aggression in quest OF tribute. Three million
people were moving In bodily. bag and baggage.
Death CIR Punishment was the dilemma which
the Canaanites faced
Tho justice of this displacement OF the Ca
NANTES by the Israelites is warmly and s. i'll
fully challenged One passage OF sacred record
however, is like the fash or a searchlight on
this naturally dark problem. One cause OF the
long postponersent OF Isiaers entrance to Ca
naan was affirmed TO be the fact that the In
iquity OF the native tribes was not yet full
teen XIV, 1850 For four centuries the sword
OF retributive justice was upfted, but the hand
was stayed leave space for repentance and
reformation.
Inqulty was full at length-Sodomic licen-
tiousness, wanton drunkenness, inhunan de-
vehement of children to the fire of Moloch. A
race. retaining still the human face and foI N,
were devils incarnate. whose determination was
a mercy themselves ana surrounding nations
as we'll as expression OF divine adherence.
We get. il were. a glimpse through the cur
tain of that Hand Infinite and irresistible wip-
ing out OF existence nation and planting an
other in its stead; not, however, capriciously.
but justify and mercifully. suspending it's last
move for four centuries. That same Hand still
moves among easth's nations. as the hand OF
tho thoughtful chess player above the board.
The righteous nation is still exalted. the wicked
abased. and the hand Of the Lord hath done IL.
The reflex and hsrmful influence upon Israel
of thus acting the Lords executoners OF
heather tribes Is deprecated. Would they not be
brutauzed thereby? Under ordinary circum-
stances yes But the conditions were all ex-
] traordnary This was no common conquest.