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Jericho - A City of Destiny Jennifer Lynn Joy © 2007Jericho–A City of ProtectionAs Moses finished his journey through the wilderness and released leadership to Joshua , Jericho was the chosen city of destiny. Deuteronomy 34:3 indicates that Jericho is across the Jordan River, due south in the valley. Jericho is a city that is surrounded by walls, well guarded and known as the city of palm trees. Located 22 miles east of current day Jerusalem, Jericho is one of the world's oldest city and may be the oldest. It is located 258 miles below sea level and has a fresh "healed by Elisha" water spring that bubbles up 4500 liters of water each minute...even today (II Kings 2:19-22). Staggering to consider that one simple act of obedience, throwing salt into water, would heal the spring for thousands of years. The word
palm is translated to “tamar” in Hebrew. There are three women in
the Bible with the name of Tamar. King David’s daughter was named
Tamar. Absolom’s named his daughter, Tamar after his sister. And
Judah’s daughter-in-law was also named Tamar whose name is recorded in
the lineage of JESUS in Matthew 1:3. Jericho–A City of SalvationBefore crossing over into the promised-land a team of twelve went to spy out the land and we are reminded of the familiar Bible story of ten men who saw giants and two men (Joshua and Caleb) who saw promise. It is about perspective. Do we see promise or failure? In Joshua 2:1, two men are sent into the city to spy secretly. They went to a harlot’s house and lodged there. Rahab’s family came to salvation through her willingness to serve GOD’s people. Matthew 1:5, places her in the lineage of JESUS, as the mother of Boaz. Jericho–A City of PromiseThe LORD decided where the promised land was and
what would have to be accomplished to take it. For the second time, GOD
parts the waters so the people could cross over. Joshua 3:16 reads, “That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon a heap
very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came
down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were
cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.” Jericho–A City of WarfareIt is
essential to cooperate with the plans of the LORD. Sometimes it requires
warfare as Joshua 4:13 says that about 40,000 men prepared for war
passed over before the LORD, unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. Jericho-A City of Significance Over the centuries, Jericho housed many kings and established two significant synagogues, one is called the Peace of Israel because of the Hebraic inscription on the mosaic floor and the other is recorded in Joshua 16:7 of which the tile and mosaic floor remains today. Jericho–A City of DeliveranceJoshua 24:11, “And
ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho
fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the
Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.” ELOHIM will deliver the
Victory in HIS Battles. ADONAI always wins. Jericho–A City of Foundations and Gates
After the
city was taken and the enemy was destroyed, I Kings 16:34, tells us that
the foundation was laid and the gates were established. JESUS CHRIST is the Cornerstone
of each foundation and the Keystone of each gate in every city the LORD
builds. Jericho–A City of True ProphetsElijah and
Elisha came to Jericho. II Kings 2:4, “And Elijah said unto him,
Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho.
And he said, As the LORD lives, and as thy soul lives, I will not leave
thee. So they came to Jericho.” One characteristic of a true prophet
is that he or she will not leave what the LORD has given them to do. Jericho-A City of MiraclesElijah was taken to heaven in the whirlwind of fire
near the city of Jericho. II Kings 2:5, “And
the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said
unto him, Do you know that the LORD will take away your master from you
today? And he answered, Yes, I know.” Jericho-A City of Double Portion ImpartationAs Elisha
had asked, he received the double portion mantle of Elijah. II Kings
2:15, “And when the sons
of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The
spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed
themselves to the ground before him.” Jericho-A City of BelieversMatthew
20:29 records that when Jesus
departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. Jericho-A City of Healing
There were
many healings in the city of Jericho and the apostle Mark records in
10:46 that Bartimaeus, the blind son of Timaeus was healed. Jericho-A City that welcomed and received the Ministry of JESUS
CHRIST
Luke 19:1-10 tells us that JESUS ministered in Jericho at the home of Zacchaeus, the wealthy tax collector. It is interesting to note that Joshua saved Rahab, a prostitute and a few hundred years later, in the same city, Jesus saved, Zacchaeus, a tax collector - neither considered to be upstanding citizens of their day. Jericho-A City of Praise and WorshipAs the walls
came down in the days of Joshua and the people shouted praises unto
the LORD. Hundreds of years later, people praised the miracles of JESUS.
Jericho was a few miles from Jerusalem. As JESUS departed from Jericho,
the next stop was Jerusalem and HIS triumphant entry before the HIS last
Passover meal, HIS Crucifixion and Resurrection. John says in 12:13 that they
took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried,
Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the
LORD! Jericho-A City of FaithHebrews 11:30, proclaims that by faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about
seven days. Jericho–A
City of Destiny
Romans 8:29-30, “For whom HE foreknew, HE also predestined to be conformed to the image of HIS Son, that HE might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom HE predestined, these HE also called, who HE called, these HE also justified, and whom HE justified these HE also glorified.” Ephesians 1:3-6, “Blessed be the GOD and the FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as HE chose us in HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before HIM in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters by JESUS CHRIST to HIMSELF according to the good pleasure of HIS will, to the praise of the glory of HIS grace by which HE made us accepted in the Beloved.” The word predestined is in the Bible four times and in the Greek language is defined as: to determine before, to ordain and to predestine. Webster’s defines Destiny as: 1) the seemingly inevitable or necessary succession of events 2) what will necessarily happen to any person or thing 3) that which determines events: said of either a supernatural agency or necessity. Most of us are familiar with the terminology the City of David. Perhaps one way to apply this teaching to our lives is to view ourselves as a miniature city and ask ourselves the following questions: 1. Am I like the City of Jericho? A person that values Praise and Worship? 2. Am I a person that welcomes the ministry of JESUS CHRIST? 3. Am I one that welcomes true prophets? 4. Am I a person of faith? 5. Am I a person of double portion impartation? 6. Am I a person that protects others? 7. Have I allowed GOD to chose my promised land? 8. Have I done what HE asked me to do to possess it? 9. Am I a person that imparts the healing, freedom, deliverance and the love of JESUS? 10. Am I willing to fight the battles HE asks me to fight? A second application is to the actual city where I live. Does the city I live in have the characteristics of historic Jericho? If not, what can I do to change that? If not you, then who? The final question to ask yourself is this: Where am I today? What kind of a "city" am I? Am I held prisoner by some foreigner or foreign god? Is my relationship to the KING of KINGS truly significant? Scripture
References:
Deuteronomy 34:3, Joshua 2:1, Joshua 3:16, Joshua 4:13, Joshua 6:17, Joshua 24:11, I
Kings 16:34, II Kings 2:4-5, II Kings 2:15-22, Matthew 1:3, Matthew 1:5,
Matthew 20:29, Mark 10:46, Luke 19:1-10, John 12:13 and Hebrews 11:30.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Permission is given to print the Teaching Notes for personal study or sharing with family, friends and/or prayer groups so long as the contents remain unaltered. Any other use of the articles or materials would require written permission. © 2007 - All Rights Reserved.
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