Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-18

Soldiers of Christ, lay hold
On faiths victorious shield;
Armed with that adament and gold,
Ee sure to win the field
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
Time-B. c., 1851. Soor after the Jor-
dar had been crossed. The first thing
done after entering the promised land was
to renew the covenant of circumcision
and to observe the feast Of the passover.
Israelites began the new life religiously.
Place-The first camping place of the
Israelites in Canaan was at Gilgal, about
three miles from the river bank. Three
miles further on was the great walled city
of Jericho. it was at the foot of the hill
country of Judea. It was situated about
fifteen miles northeast Of the site of Je-
rusaem. It was called the ''city Of
palms." on account of a great palm forest
which stretched eastward about eight
miles in length, and three in breadth
Great fountains springing from limestone
cliffs supplied it plenteously with water.
Trucking through glades OF tangled for
est shrub, these streams even yet nour1sh
luxuriant heritage, and nothing is need
ed but the hand of cultivation to make
the spot one of the richest and most beau
tiful on earth'' The city was the gate
this time an extensive trade. It was a
principality of its own, ard evidently had
considerable military strength. 1t was
conspicuous for it's walls and gates, and
it's rich temple flied with gold, silver,
iron brass, and even Mesopotamian dra-
perry.
FFACTS OF THE LESSON.
Central theme: How Jericho was taken.
Golden Text: Ely faith the walls of
Jericho fell down" Heb. xi:3o.
And Joshua rose early in the morning,
and the priests took up the ark OF Je-
hovah And the seven priests bearing the
seven trumpets Of rams horns before the
ark Of Jehovah went on continually, and
blew the trumpets: and the armed men
went before them: and the rear guard
came after the ark of Jehovah, the priests
blowing the trumpets as they went. And
the second day they comprised the city
once and returned into The camp; so they
did six days. And it came to pass on the
seventh day, that they rose early at the
dawning Of the day, and comprised the
city after the same manner seven times;
only on that day they comprised the city
seven times. And it came to pass at the
seventh time, when the priests blew the
trumpets, Joshua said unto the people:
Shout, for Jehovah hath given you the
city, '.And the city shall be devoted,
even 1t and all that is therein, to Je-
hovah: only Ranab the harlot shall live,
she and all that are with her in the
house, because she hid the messengers
that we sent. But as for you, only keep
yourselves from the devoted thing, lest
vixen We shall have devoted it. ye take Of
the devoted thing; so would We make the
camp Of Israel accused and trouble It,
But all the silver, and gold, and vessels
Of brass and iron, are holy unto Jehovah;
they shall come into the treasury of Je-
hcvah.'' So the people shouted and the
people blew the trumpets; and it came to
pass when the people heard the sound OF
the trumpets that the people shouted with
q great shout, and the wall fell down
fat so that the people went up into the
city, every man straight before him, and
they took the city
THE GOD OF BATTLES.
The capture and destruction OF Jericho
was battle planned and effected by
Gods own mind and power. me metnoo
Of this battle is symboi, OF nov 1,ntd men
over strongholds Of sin and lntrenched
evils by following out Gods plans and
trusting in the exercise of His power
and leadership. God, is the God of bat
ties. But he does not always give the
victory to those that think that He is on
their side alone. Mems views are very
limited in their outlook Gods vision is
infinite in it's outlook. Mems objects
and hopes are very PERSONAL. and too
often. Sinful. Gods purposes and will
are impartial as between man and man.
and His will is always exercised toward
the accomplishm ent Of that which win
bring in ultimate universal righteous
ness, good and peace. God gave the
sIsraelites the victory over the people OF
Jericho, because the inha bitants of
Jericho had been weighed in the ball
ances and found wanting, and because
the Israelites consecrated themselves to
His service In the world. God put him
self at the head Of the Israelites and
led them himself against the strong city
of Jericho. God gave them the victory
over his own enemies and theirs, be-
cause they trusted in his leadership and
#obeyed his directions Men have no
right to expect victory In their battles,
except as they fight Gods enemies In
God s own way. Our enemies are not al
ways Gods enemies. Our battles are
not always Gods ba tiles. Our ways OF
fighting even Gods enemies are not
Gods WAYS Only he who tights as God
fights and In the way that he approves
can hope for victory. Such man is this
ally fsGod. Joshua and the Israelites,
by their faith and obedience, were the
= 3hos I,