I’m not sure how many times I’ve read the story of Joshua and the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6). It’s a perennial preschool ministry favorite, a Veggie Tales classic, every underdog's battle cry, and a narrative that really doesn’t make much sense.
Let’s set the scene. The nation of Israel is at the end of their Exodus wanderings. The generation that fled Egypt has perished in the wilderness. Now their children and grandchildren are ready to take the land and inherit the promise that was given to their fathers. God himself threw open the door to the promised land, holding back the floodwaters of the Jordan River and leading the people across on dry land. Now one thing stands in their way – Jericho.
And here’s the battle plan: God tells Joshua to have the people and march around the walls of Jericho once each day for seven days. On the seventh day, they are to march around the city seven times. Then the priests will blow the trumpets, the people will shout, and the walls will fall.
What? That’s not real warfare. That’s worship. It’s how the people won the battle. And it’s not the only time in Scripture that we see it. King Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20) led the people of Judah into battle with singing. David led into battle with the singers in the front (Psalm 68:26). Paul and Silas (Acts 16) sat with their feet in stocks and sang songs of praise. God sent an earthquake, the prison doors were flung open, and the jailer got saved.
When we face our Jericho’s – our places of battle – it is good to be reminded that our fight is not against “flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, we must use the weapon God gives us: worship.
We can’t win our battles the world’s way. We win through following God’s battle plan. We win by living out radical worship. So go ahead, just sing!
Ryan
Here’s a good start: Defender
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