I begin once again reminding you of the symbolical significance of the Ark of the Covenant. That beautiful chest and the Tabernacle wherein it usually rested were the most important items in Israel. They were Israel’s Smithsonian Institute; its Congressional Library and Washington Monument. They also contained the Constitution of the United Tribes of Jacob. That golden coffer with the Law, the Manna and the rod of Aaron pictured Christ. So many things about the Tabernacle were a type – a typological picture of the Son of God. It was in the Tabernacle and at the Ark that the Father met with His prodigal sons. And everywhere Israel went, when she was in the will of God, the Ark of the Covenant was with her. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
Last week I said that my favorite application of the crossing of the Jordan is progress in the Christian life. I know that many say that it is a picture of death, but it doesn’t fit enough of the facts to suit me. Why not let the river picture baptism followed by growth into Christian maturity? Only now the people were ready to accept new challenges and to enjoy their spiritual Christianity.
When it comes to the city of Jericho, there are again different ways to apply the facts. Some can only see the sin of Achan, and there are lessons there, but not in respect to the Ark. What if we apply Jericho to sinful society? Those people inside Jericho’s walls were Israel’s neighbors. They, were for the most part, idolaters, rebels to the Truth, sinners like all other men. They were not good or great neighbors, but neighbors they were. If we start with that premise, there are easily applied lessons about Christian service. So tonight we look at the Ark of the Covenant and the Christian ministry.
Think first of Jericho’s opinion of the Ark.
That city was little different from any other city in the world – then or now. Sure, their outward customs were different from that of Post Falls, but at their heart they were the same. Jericho was made up of a proud and self-satisfied bunch of people. That was a fortified and well-protected community. The Hebrew of verse 1 says, “They did shut up and it was hut up.” They said to themselves, “No Israelite army is going to breach these walls.” As the ten spies had said thirty-eight years earlier, “their walls were shut up to Heaven.” Then being border people, they probably had a cosmopolitan, ecumenical society and religion. They worshiped Ball and Ashtoreth; the usual gods of the Canaanites. But then they, at least, tolerated the gods of the traders and their neighbors on the east. Moleck, Malchom, Chemosh and maybe even Dagon were welcome within these liberal walls. BUT the God of these invading Israelites would not be welcome here. “Who does Jehovah think that we are? Atheistic Hottentots?” “We to go mass, have our beads, we go the prayer and support our churches.” “What need we of the Ark of the Covenant – or of Christ?” In the world of religion, people would rather worship UFOs, demons and debutantes before they do Jehovah. They would rather kiss rings and even boots before they kiss the Son. They do some of the most ridiculous things in the name of religion in order to keep their minds way from the one true and living God who is enveloping their city.
“What need we of Christ?” The question points out people’s ignorance. If only they knew what was represented by that golden Ark carried about down below. “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is non other name under Heaven given among men, whereby they must be saved.” “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” All the Molechs and Baals of the world are vanity; empty holograms in robes and mitres. One heart-breaking thing about the work of God is the wilful ignorance of those who don’t know Him. Paul’s commission and ours is “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith.”
A further heart-rending thing is that the unsaved often don’t stop at mere ignorance. They go on to actual antagonism toward the Lord and people who serve Him. Do you think that Jericho ignored the people of Israel marching around and around their walls? Sure the Jerichoans had only their military on the walls those first few days. And as the Ark was carried there on the shoulders of the priests, they enemy soldiers did everything they could to hurl their arrows and other missiles at them. But as the days wore on, the more timid civilians staring joining the soldiers. Not only were arrows and stones hurled toward the Ark, but so were the epithets. They cursed, they swore, they challenged, they dared Israel and the God of Israel. They spat towards the Ark, they threw their garbage and probably material much worse. Oh, how the world hates the Lord and the Ark of the Covenant. This doesn’t surprise us, because for many of us – we’ve been residents of Jericho ourselves.
Now, consider Israel and the Ark before the lost city.
We note that every part of this business with Jericho was commissioned by the Lord Himself. In chapter 5, Joshua met with the Lord and was given specific instructions. There was a precise battle plan laid out against the city. Just as there is against Post Falls, Spokane and Coeur d’Alene, the United States and the world. If Israel had taken a vote, I image that they might have just rather ignored Jericho. They might have starting building their own cities; their own places of religious worship. They might have started preaching the Word, reading and rereading the tables of the law. They might have decided that it was more important parse the Hebrew verbs than confront the city. They might have started buying pianos and organs and stained glass. Perhaps, just perhaps, they thought about hiring a missionary to stand outside the walls of Jericho now and then to pronounce judgment against her. But that was not what the Lord intended. That may be what modern Christianity has become, but the Lord intended a non-military confrontational Christianity.
Israel was first of all, very simply to display the Ark before the unbeliever. They didn’t have to do anything or even say anything; just display the Lord before the city. Ordinarily, the priests were excused from secular warfare, but this was no ordinary situation. This was not a battle between the soldiers of Israel and the soldiers of Canaan. This was a battle between Jehovah and the gods of the heathen. The ark is the weapon in this particular battle. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” And therefore, “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” like Jericho. There is a sense in which we don’t need soldiers to battle for Christ. It’s priests that we need before our neighbors. It’s Ark-carriers that we need before the world.
Israel was first of all simply to display the Ark so that Jericho could see it. I wish someone could tell me whether or not it was covered. Ordinarily, when it was out of the Holy of Holies it was covered from the eyes of man. But when it crossed Jordan could Israel see it, or did they just see its shape under its blankets? And in these daily excursions around the city was it open to the eyes anyone who cared to look? Whatever was the case then, it is the Christian duty today to display Christ for all to see. Not just in picture form by way of a lapel pin or a necklace. But politely and convincingly lived and spoken of before the unsaved. Some people have the idea that my ministry, as your pastor, is to entertain you every Sunday. I am supposed to give you a lesson you’ve never heard before so you have reason to come back. No, my task is to bring out the gold-covered shittim polls with which to carry the Ark. I’m here to point out the rings in the corners of the Ark and help slip those rods into place. Then I’m to point you to the walls of Jericho – “Now go display the Ark.”
Israel’s job was to glorify the Lord before the heathen city. The trumpets of ramps horns immediately preceded the Ark in its daily encircling. They weren’t the beautiful silver trumpets of the Jubilee, but the more humble rams horns. Not one of these priests was a Winton Marcelus with exquisite playing tone and technique. They were just common Levites, like us. Jehovah is far more interested in fifteen singing saints than a hundred Mormon Tabernacle Choirs. Those trumpets were almost monotone and unmusical, but they were precious to the ears of the Lord. It’s like my poor preaching and your feeble witness. The Lord is saying, “You don’t have to play in the New York Philharmonic to glorify Me.” Pick up the instruments I’ve put into you hands and take your cue from Me. Praise the Lord that Jehovah can use people like you and me. In front of the priests with the monotone trumpets were the armed soldiers. And following the Ark and the rest of the priests was the bulk of the nation of Israel. Everyone could have been and should have been working in the display and glorification of the Ark. No single man stood out in these procession like little Popes or big-name Baptist preachers. Where is there any word of honour to Joshua, or to Eleazar the High Priests? Why is it that Baptists are almost as sacerdotal as the Catholics? Why do we have to have our clergy do all our worshiping and working for us? Satan is destroying churches by silencing the common man.
Our Christian task, our commission is to compass our Jericho with the Ark of the Covenant in our hands. We are to go around and around, again and again. We have no commission to entertain the Canaanites with our singers and comedians. Our job is not to organize the false priests within the city’s walls. As much as I wish we had more youth and children’s programs, our commission is not to Awana the lost. Israel wasn’t asked to organize sewing bees for the neighborhood, food drives, English classes, judo classes, and tax services. She was ordered to march around the city with the Ark of God in their midst. And it was the responsibility of every single Israelite – not just an elite few. There will be no excuses accepted at the Judgment Seat of Christ. What are your orders? In the North during the Civil War, when a man didn’t want to serve, he could hire someone to fight in his name. Most people today think that the idea is reprehensible. But Christians do it all the time by dropping some money into the mission offering. Look at Israel’s relationship to the Ark in its battle with Jericho.
What was the relationship of the Ark to the actual victory?
Who was more interested in the fall of Jericho, Israel of Jehovah? Who was going to be more enriched by the fall of that wall? Israel? With what little part Israel played in the battle, who would be more glorified? Jehovah is the one who cares whether there are any Rahabs in the city. Other than the spies whose lives she protected, no one in Israel cared whether she lived or died. But the Lord cared and still does. He has made a covenant about her salvation; He will not go back on that promise. And if the Lord cares then so should we. But most Christians care more about THEIR salvation than the salvation of someone else.
God is the primary soldier in the defeat of Jericho, but Israel did have a roll to play. There is was a cooperation between the deity and His denizen. God has often worked miracles or other simpler feats entirely on His own. But the work of evangelism has been placed in our hands. No angels have been given the commission that we have received. No, there will be no graves opened with the souls of the tormented freed to warn their brethren. Yes, the stones and rocks of the earth could be ordered to the praise of the Lord, but it isn’t likely to happen today or tomorrow. No one is going to carry the Ark around Jericho, if you and I don’t do it. “Oh, some old priest will do it.” Perhaps. But don’t forget that if there aren’t four old priests or young priests, it wouldn’t be done.
Victory came to the Lord and his people on the seventh day of the campaign. No doubt, some of the people grew tired of the whole things. Some feet might have grown sore, but likely they more grew cold before they got sore. It required faith to keep the marches going day after day after day. It appeared so fruitless – that constant preaching of the gospel to the lost. It has been so long since the Lord has knocked any walls down for us. But the command remains – keep the Ark out there. “But Lord, nothing has happened; are You sure this is Your way? Lord, if we could jet get a petting zoo started or give away hamburgers… Lord, why can’t we have the Bill Gather Trio come and entertain for us? Maybe we should show some creation videos.” “Son, just keep marching about the walls with the Ark for all to see.” “Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” “Let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” “He that goeth forth and weapeth, bearing (the precious Ark) shall doubtless come again rejoicing.”
I guarantee that the walls which God intends to bring down will come down when we are faithful. There are going to be some Rahabs redeemed until the very day of Christ’s return. But we have to keep the Lord out there for people to see. Our job is to obey the Lord. We’ll leave the results to his care.