Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-11-04
improved Uniform International
Sll19ldayScloel
' Lesson '
tBy REV p B. FITzwATER. DID,. Dean
OF Day and Evening Schools. Moody Bible
Institute OF Chicago.1
20. 1925 wersern Newspaper Unionj
Lesson for November 2
THE FALL OF JERICHO

LESSON TExT-Josh. s:l-20.
GOLDEN TExT-This is the victory
that overcometh the world even our
faith.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Joshua Leads His
People to Victory.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The victory of
Jericho.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOP
IC--How God Helped Joshua.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
IC-Ovsrcoming by Faith
Jericho was the key to the land Of
Caanan. A signal victory here would
put the Israelites In ccntrol of the
land. Failure here would mean ir-
retrievable ruin.
!. Jericho Shut Up wv. 1-5).
The Caananites felt secure because
Jericho was strongly fortified from
the south. Approach to the city from
the east was not thought of as the
Jordan river was a barrier. The
miraculous crossing of the Jordan by
the Israelites apd their surrounding
the city of jericho greatly alarmed
the people-"T Therefore none went
out and none came in"
l. Gods promise to Joshua ". p.
Il have given into thine hand
Jericho, and the king thereof, and the
mighty men Of valour" Because of
this promise from the Lord their faith
had firm basis.
2. Gods instructions {yv. 3-5).
They were to encompass the city
with seven priests bearing trumpets
OF rams horns. The ark, symbol of
the Divine Presence, went before the
people. They encompassed the city
once day for six days and on the
seventh day they encompassed it seven
times. When the last circuit was
made the priests were to give long
blast of the trumpets and the people
were to shout with s. great shout and
the walls of Jericho were to fall down.
II. The Obedience of the People
wv. 6-16).
They advanced according to the d.
rections Of their leader, for they were
going forth according to the command
of the Lord. To the natural eye the
means employed were very made
quate, even foolish. If they had
looked at the inadequacy of the means
In themselves, they no doubt would
have faltered, but they believed that
He who had given the orders would
fight for them. Joshua and his people
set out at once to obey the divine d.
rections. The people marched around
the city every day for six days. This,
no doubt, was very trying to their
faith. There was absolutely no con-
nection between the means and the
end. Perhaps as the days wore
YEARLY away the whole affair became
monotonous. Even at the end of the
sixth day there was no change. Doubt
less the people on the walls of the
city used this unseemly behavior as
an occasion Of great merriment and
ridicule. Even at the end of the sixth
round on the seventh day there was
no change. Yea, the seventh round
brought no change until the very last
moment. At the mighty shout, accom-
panied with the blowing Of trumpets,
the walls came tumbling down. This
is the way of all works accomplished
by faith At the time when every
thing seems against us. faith holds on
and wins the victory.
III. The Fall of Jericho (vv 17-20).
AT the end of the seventh day the
seventh round having been made of
the city, the long silence was broken
with shout. AS the walls crumbled
down, the Israelites clambered over
them, Staying men, women and chill
dren. They were not to spare any
thing save the gold. silver brass and
iron which were to be saved for the
treasury of the Lord. However, Ra-
hab and her household were saved
according to the promise of the Spies
This wonderful deliverance was calcu-
lated to inspire the people with cour-
age and enthusiasm They could now
see how God could fight for them and
deliver them from their enemies. Also,
1t would strike terror in the hearts of
the Caananites. The blowing of the
trumpets and shouting of that day
with its great victory is typical of
the greater day when larger victories
shall be won by the Almighty for His
people, and even greater consterna-
ton will te struck into the hearts of
the enemies of Gods people Il Thess.
4:16, ID.
Let US learn of this whole lesson
that spiritual victories are won upon
principles and by means which are
not sufficient in themselves. Accord
ing to human wisdom it is utter fool
ishness Il Cor. 1:17-29).