The story of the Israelites conquering Jericho, on their path to securing the promised land is fascinating. 

The people of God rallied around Joshua and submitted to him as their God-appointed leader. They followed his command and obeyed his voice. The next stop was Jericho. Jericho was a difficult task. Fortified with the protection of city walls, just getting access to fight seemed impossible. Even for the most hopeful Israelite, the thought of eliminating this barrier to living in God’s promised land would appear unlikely. 

Have you ever stared at something in your life that is occupying the space that needs to be conquered for God’s promise to be fully experienced for you? A habit you cannot seem to kick? A false belief that keeps repeating itself? An emotional trigger that has yet to heal? A person you can’t forgive? 

There is a reason the Hebrew writer spoke of, “sin which clings so closely…” It seems to be a universal experience.

So, what is the strategy for victory? The same strategy the Israelites used to defeat Jericho works for us. Their famous strategy of victory is worth repeating.

First, Joshua received the strategy in light of the victory. Before God told Joshua what to do, he told Joshua what was going to happen. Wild, huh? 

“See, I have given Jericho into your hand…” (Joshua 6:2)

No tactic, no technique, no crafty plan. Just a proclamation that demanded faith. If Joshua didn’t believe this declaration, there is no way he would follow the orders. Now I know why God told him to be strong, courageous, and obedient. (Joshua 1:6-9).

Second, Joshua received the strategy and followed with simple obedience. The orders were strange. Walk around the city with your best warriors once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day and finish it off with a shout. From the moment Joshua got the instructions he went to work organizing the team. He got them ready, gave them instructions, clarified some questions, and executed the plan.

Finally, Joshua and the people shouted. That’s it. Once the walking was finished the last thing they had to do was shout. And the walls came tumbling down. Shouting is an interesting concept. Have you ever thought about what a shout really is? It is an uncontrolled expression of deepest emotion. Depending on the situation, it can be an expression of joy or pain. It is our natural response to something that overwhelms us. A touchdown in the last minute by our favorite team or witnessing a terrifying accident. A moment when a worship song says everything your heart has been feeling or the bubbling over of anger at a problem you can’t fix. Something about those moments cause us to shout.

So, why did God have the Israelites shout? The good news is that he tells us plainly,

 “...Shout, for the Lord has given you the city…” (Joshua 6:17).

They were to shout because the city was already theirs. God told them to respond with worship because of the victory, before the victory, as the path to their victory. Did you catch that?

Worship was their path to victory. And I think it might be ours too.

Standing in the confidence that ultimate victory is already ours because we are in Christ, walking in simple, childlike obedience, when we surround our enemy - we worship with the joy and confidence of someone who has already won.

This might sound counterintuitive, but that is how God always works. You see, our worship isn’t what causes the victory (the power of God is), but it is the commandment from God that tests our faith in Him. Are we certain of his power, his ability, his goodness, and his love? 

How certain? Certain enough to worship with joy and confidence that the victory we need is already done? That kind of conviction demands our surrender, trust, and reliance on Him. Which is not a means to the end, rather it is the end.

Surrender, trust, reliance on Him. Or more simply said - a deep, abiding relationship with him. That’s the end AND the means. 

Your life is not one problem away from being better, it is one person away. 

Living in light of his presence and power in your life, not as a function for your outcomes, but as a familiar friend who walks with you. That is freedom.

What is so interesting about the shout also is what the enemy would have heard. Remember, a shout can mean different things depending on the situation. The people of Jericho would have heard that shout and assumed it meant the beginning of the fight. An alarm that the battle has begun. Yet for us, it is an expression of gratitude and joy because of a certain victory. Remember how Paul taught us to fight our battles? When teaching us about the armor of God and being strong in God’s strength he said,

“...that you may be able to stand….”,

“...that you may be able to withstand…”

“...to stand firm..”,

, and “Stand therefore….”

Stand. Hold your ground. That means that where we are standing is the place of victory and our job is to hold onto it with his strength. We are not battling our way uphill, striving with all our might to hopefully be free. We are standing in His victory, defending the hill Jesus conquered for us. Our fight is not for victory, but from victory. Not in hopes of a win so we can praise, but with praise because we’re certain of the victory. 

So, take your cues from God’s people who have battled well. They circled their enemy, fully aware of who they are and what they are capable of. They walked in simple obedience to God’s revealed Word. They worshiped with certainty that the victory was already won.