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Joshua 6:19-20  All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the LORD and must go into his treasury.”  When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.
God’s instruction to his Covenant People as they took the very first action in the conquest of the Promised Land, the destruction of the fortified walled city of Jericho – that everything in the city was to be devoted to the LORD – was given in a context that would have given them no excuse for disobedience.  The total collapse of the strong, long-standing construction, in direct response to the sounding of the LORD’s trumpets, and the shouting of his Name, would have made it obvious to them that the victory was the LORD’s alone.
Do we see, and truly acknowledge, the Lord’s Sovereign work in every aspect of the outworking of our lives as we press on in our pilgrimage to our Promised Land of Heaven?  Do we, as a result, devote every facetof our lives to him?
I am reminded of Henriette Auber’s most inspiring and challenging hymn: “Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed his tender last farewell, a Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed with us to dwell.  He came in tongues of living flame to teach, convince, subdue; unseen as rushing wind he came, as viewless too.  He comes sweet influence to impart, a gracious, willing guest, while he can find one humble heart wherein to rest.  And every virtue we possess, and every victory won, and every thought of holiness, are his alone.  Spirit of purity and grace, our failing strength renew; and make our hearts a worthier place to welcome you.”
These verses in Joshua 6 also remind me of the final victory Christ has won for us, as expressed by James Black’s great hymn: “When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound and time shall be no more, and the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; when the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, and the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there” – by his grace alone.
Please forgive me, but singing these hymns to myself leads me on to others from my youth: “When we all get to heaven, what a Day of rejoicing that will be; when we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory” (Eliza Edmunds Hewitt).  I promise I’ll stop now!
– Bruce Christian