Jericho: The taking down of the Outer Man

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Episkopos

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The Old Testament gives us analogies and pictures of the spiritual process which is salvation in Christ Jesus. So then the New Testament is in the OT concealed....and the OT is in the NT revealed.

That brings us to Jericho...the first city to be conquered by God's people upon entering into the promised land. Now the land represents the spiritual realm of the kingdom of God. We are called to displace the squatters (principalities and powers) in heavenly places. But we must first be renewed in our way of thinking....after we have been crucified in the outer man. Our walls need to come down and everything we once held as our own...our own ideas, words, opinions...need to be destroyed by the edge of the sword. So Jericho represents the outer man.

Conquered by whom? Well...us, with a lot of help from God. So it is a joint venture, so to speak. God brought down the walls and the people put the city to the sword. God does the impossible part, and we are to do the doable (for us) part. :)

Now I would like to contrast Jericho with ourselves as the basic human being....with outer defenses and a whole life going on that is oblivious to God...at least at first.

So then the fear of the Lord came on the city. But one person, Rahab, received the spies as of the Lord and their words as of the Lord, and helped them together with a promise from them to be delivered by God.

So then Rahab represents the inner man. The man within the man. The fear of the Lord caused nothing but dread to the outer man...but that same fear brought about a surrender and a shifting of allegiances to the inner man (Rahab). Her allegiance was now with God and His people.

Now Rahab protected the spies..and hid them..the way we hide the words of God in our hearts. By faith we hold to the promises of God...as we wait on the Lord. As Rahab did.
 

Episkopos

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The word Jericho comes from two possible Hebrew words...one means "fragrance" and the other "the moon."

Etymology
From the noun ריח (reah), scent or fragrance.
From the noun ירח (yareah), moon, in turn from the verb ארח ('arah), to wander or travel.

We are travellers in this world...pilgrims. We but pass through this world...like the moon in it's course through the sky. But we are a dead place (of ourselves) with no light of our own.

The bible relates Jericho as "the city of palms" (Deut.34:3). In this way we humans are like a fragrant flower that blooms and soon fades. We seek to make a goodly place for ourselves and provide ourselves with the best possible circumstances during our brief stay here. Of course life tends to intrude on our plans. Thank the Lord for that! :)

The moon rules the night...the darkness. And it rules until...

Mal. 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

The light of Jesus Christ brings the day to our hearts so that the moon becomes obscured...invisible really. He must increase and I must decrease.

So then as long as we (the outer man) live in darkness, there is no need to fear the Lord as we feel safe. God is but a concept to him. Who fears a concept? We rule the night from the outer man. We are like the moon in that way. But when the light of the Lord comes...the outer man fears and defends himself. Even religiously using the bible as a defense. The inner man fears also...but acts differently. The inner man is held as a captive within the walls of the outer man. So then the fear of the Lord in the inner man brings a change of allegiance from the fear of man...and the need for his walls of protection...to the fear of the Lord and the transparency of love. No weapon or wall formed against the Lord will prosper. Even the gates of hell cannot stand against Him or His people.

The inner man realizes this. This is liberation for the captives. And God has chosen to take the inner man under His wing. Not so the outer man. The outer man must be put to the sword. All of him.
 

Episkopos

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Once God destroyed the walls of Jericho there was a curse put on whoever would rebuild it's walls. We see this in...

Gal. 2:18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

Joshua 6:26
26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

Attested to here...

1 Kings 16:34
34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.



So then by building up the outer man again we lose our first love...our firstborn love in the faith. And that does not take into consideration all who have never entered into the promised land to begin with. Many have their "Jericho's" fully intact...living fully from the outer man with human opinions and strength...and yet trying to take on the outer appearance of they who would possess the land. A superficial conversion and self-helps...but without the power of God and His visitation and dealings with the cross.

So these have not yet known the fear of the Lord. These remain unconquered therefore and still remain at a place in the wilderness...outside of the land. Outside of the Spirit. But these need to cross-over.

They who yet remain on the other side of the Jordan, spiritually speaking, cannot discern the difference between the inner man and outer man...it seems like foolishness to these....as with all spiritual things.




 

Episkopos

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Now what of the scarlet cord that the spies were let down the walls from...and also serving as a sign of salvation for all who were in that house? This is akin to the Passover lamb...whereby the judgment of God passed over they who were covered by the blood. So then the scarlet (crimson) cord was a sign.

Crimson or scarlet represent the blood of Christ.

And the spies warned that whoever was outside of the covering of that house...that their blood would be on their own heads (Josh. 2:19)

The rope also represent faith...our attachment to God...our trust in Him.
 

shnarkle

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So then the fear of the Lord came on the city. But one person, Rahab, received the spies as of the Lord and their words as of the Lord, and helped them together with a promise from them to be delivered by God.

So then Rahab represents the inner man. The man within the man. The fear of the Lord caused nothing but dread to the outer man...but that same fear brought about a surrender and a shifting of allegiances to the inner man (Rahab). Her allegiance was now with God and His people.

Now Rahab protected the spies..and hid them..the way we hide the words of God in our hearts. By faith we hold to the promises of God...as we wait on the Lord. As Rahab did.

Rachab means "broad, wide, proud,at liberty, large, especially in reference to a wall." It is no coincidence that she is literally in the wall itself. It's a wordplay. It is pride's defense as well as the means of liberation when it is torn down.
 

Episkopos

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The name Rahab I: Summary
Meaning
Wide, Spacious
Etymology
From the verb רחב (rahab), to be wide or spacious.

God wants to increase the inner man...to make us prosperous from within. He takes us to a place of growth...a wide place. A place where there are no limits on what we can become in Him.


But as everything regarding mankind there is a very real danger that we will develop the wrong way.


The name Rahab II: Summary

Meaning
Pride, Arrogance
Etymology
From the verb רהב (rahab), to be proud or arrogant.

Of course favour is deceitful. We can take something meant for one part of us...the person who is humble and contrite...and make that favour and grace to serve something it shouldn't. So we add sin to sin.

How many believers are such...proud and arrogant? What is the reputation of Christians in the world today? Broken and humble people?

So we have another warning from God written into the text of the bible.
 
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Stranger

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Now what of the scarlet cord that the spies were let down the walls from...and also serving as a sign of salvation for all who were in that house? This is akin to the Passover lamb...whereby the judgment of God passed over they who were covered by the blood. So then the scarlet (crimson) cord was a sign.

Crimson or scarlet represent the blood of Christ.

And the spies warned that whoever was outside of the covering of that house...that their blood would be on their own heads (Josh. 2:19)

The rope also represent faith...our attachment to God...our trust in Him.

And, since Rahab's house was literally on the wall, (Josh. 2:15), then all of the walls must not have come tumbling down. Hers must have been spared.

Stranger
 

VictoryinJesus

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Sounds good. Seems to align expect all members are of one body, one temple building built up in Christ and that one body is His body broken for the life of the world? Not the body God said fear not what man can do with it.
how does it fit with the outward wall has come down ...who is our wall of protection? “I will be a wall of fire around her, and will be the glory in the midst of her”? Zechariah 2:1-5 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. [2] Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. [3] And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, [4] And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: [5] For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

He said He is in the midst of His people. Now. A wall of fire, and they walk in the light of the lamb and within HE is the glory.

Ephesians 3:16-21
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. [20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

How does cast the children of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness fit? Matthew 8:11-12 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. [12] But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Outside the body of Christ in outer darkness, in spiritual blindness? Why then make this outer darkness without the body where Paul said to give them over to satan for the destruction so that they might live?...become yet future and not happening or happened then with Christ.

Matthew 22:13-14
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [14] For many are called, but few are chosen.

Not saying the above is right...putting it forward and asking for correction. Asking how does it fit with His temple built, made without hands for a habitation of God?
 

Episkopos

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Sounds good. Seems to align expect all members are of one body, one temple building built up in Christ and that one body is His body broken for the life of the world? Not the body God said fear not what man can do with it.
how does it fit with the outward wall has come down ...who is our wall of protection? “I will be a wall of fire around her, and will be the glory in the midst of her”? Zechariah 2:1-5 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. [2] Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. [3] And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, [4] And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: [5] For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.

He said He is in the midst of His people. Now. A wall of fire, and they walk in the light of the lamb and within HE is the glory.

Ephesians 3:16-21
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. [20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

How does cast the children of the kingdom will be cast into outer darkness fit? Matthew 8:11-12 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. [12] But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Outside the body of Christ in outer darkness, in spiritual blindness? Why then make this outer darkness without the body where Paul said to give them over to satan for the destruction so that they might live?...become yet future and not happening or happened then with Christ.

Matthew 22:13-14
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [14] For many are called, but few are chosen.

Not saying the above is right...putting it forward and asking for correction. Asking how does it fit with His temple built, made without hands for a habitation of God?


In a great house there are vessels of honour and vessels of dishonour. Not everyone that says Lord Lord...is fit for the kingdom.

But then again the saved are not cast into the lake of fire to be destroyed. So then banishment is the destiny of they who ofend God and the truth.

For more of a look into that..

Religious Facade Christianity
 
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Stranger

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A brief typology that could be used.

Egypt.....The world.
Pharaoh....satan
Israel....the believer
Passover.....salvation
Crossing of Red Sea.....water baptism
Wandering in the wilderness....death of the old man
Crossing of the Jordon....baptism of the Holy Spirit
The promised land of Caanan....walking in victory through the power of the Spirit against the enemies of God.

Stranger
 
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Episkopos

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A brief typology that could be used.

Egypt.....The world.
Pharaoh....satan
Israel....the believer
Passover.....salvation
Crossing of Red Sea.....water baptism
Wandering in the wilderness....death of the old man
Crossing of the Jordon....baptism of the Holy Spirit
The promised land of Caanan....walking in victory through the power of the Spirit against the enemies of God.

Stranger

As long as it is understood that the most bitter enemy we will ever face is ourselves. We wander in the wilderness until we are ready to be fully crucified. Jericho represents the breaking down of the outer man. The small remnant that survives is what God builds with. (Rahab is an ancestor of Jesus Christ.)

We are to be built up from within. God doesn't require our ideas, experiences or opinions. So then the circular walk is just same old thing...until we are ready to cross over.

The wilderness is a circular walk of testing until we realize we need to be rid of our own ways. Or...we perish in the wilderness.

Once we cross over Jordan in the baptism of the Spirit THEN we are ready for the full effects of the cross of Christ in our lives. It is God's work...when we surrender.
 
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Stranger

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Aye, one little piece of the wall spared.

It is interesting.

A true story. In 1979 I took a trip to Israel. I had undergone a sever trial and decided I was going. I wanted to see these places where Jesus walked.

Part of the trip took us to the ancient site of Jericho. And they were showing where they had uncovered a wall that they believed was a wall of Jericho. But it was still upright. I thought then, that could not be because the walls came down. I didn't say anything but doubted what they said.

Later I came upon this truth about Rahab and her house upon the wall. I thought, man, was I looking in 1979 at the very wall where Rahab lived? Still don't know. But it certainly got my attention then, and still does.

Stranger
 

amadeus

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When God told them to kill all of the enemies in a place, it was for their protection and safety.
A brief typology that could be used.

Egypt.....The world.
Pharaoh....satan
Israel....the believer
Passover.....salvation
Crossing of Red Sea.....water baptism
Wandering in the wilderness....death of the old man
Crossing of the Jordon....baptism of the Holy Spirit
The promised land of Caanan....walking in victory through the power of the Spirit against the enemies of God.

Stranger


As long as it is understood that the most bitter enemy we will ever face is ourselves. We wander in the wilderness until we are ready to be fully crucified. Jericho represents the breaking down of the outer man. The small remnant that survives is what God builds with. (Rahab is an ancestor of Jesus Christ.)

We are to be built up from within. God doesn't require our ideas, experiences or opinions. So then the circular walk is just same old thing...until we are ready to cross over.

The wilderness is a circular walk of testing until we realize we need to be rid of our own ways. Or...we perish in the wilderness.

Once we cross over Jordan in the baptism of the Spirit THEN we are ready for the full effects of the cross of Christ in our lives. It is God's work...when we surrender.
The types and shadows we see in the OT were all the external enemies in Canaanland, the Promised Land, [Canaanites, Amalekites, Jebusites, Hivites, etc. ] to be killed may now be seen as their '-ites' or enemies. Our enemies or '-ites' lying within our personal Promised Land, where our "old man" has been dwelling is NOT planet Earth but that which my own flesh contains. The Israelites were to kill all of their opposing '-ites' and we are kill all of ours.

What are our '-ites'? "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." I John 2:16

Their Promised Land had to be purified and so does ours. That was their inheritance. What do we suppose ours is? "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Matt 5:5

And the "earth", our earth, to be inherited is where? Where is our cleanup, our purification occurring... if it is occurring? Where is this "kingdom of God"

"Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21
 

amadeus

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It is interesting.

A true story. In 1979 I took a trip to Israel. I had undergone a sever trial and decided I was going. I wanted to see these places where Jesus walked.

Part of the trip took us to the ancient site of Jericho. And they were showing where they had uncovered a wall that they believed was a wall of Jericho. But it was still upright. I thought then, that could not be because the walls came down. I didn't say anything but doubted what they said.

Later I came upon this truth about Rahab and her house upon the wall. I thought, man, was I looking in 1979 at the very wall where Rahab lived? Still don't know. But it certainly got my attention then, and still does.

Stranger
I am neither historian nor archeologist but within the scripture, Joshua laid a curse on anyone who might rebuild Jericho [Josh 6:26 about 1500 BC]. A bit more than 500 years later [I King 16:34] we see it fulfilled as the city was rebuilt. As is often the case the rebuilding would likely have reused any materials left from the 1st building. We saw this happen with Jerusalem when Ezra and Nehemiah returned with others from Babylon.

Would what you @Stranger have been from the Jericho where the walls came down in the time of Joshua? The city stands today, but again I am unfamiliar with its history outside of scriptures, but more study on it could be interesting. What could be intact after 3500 years?
 

Stranger

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I am neither historian nor archeologist but within the scripture, Joshua laid a curse on anyone who might rebuild Jericho [Josh 6:26 about 1500 BC]. A bit more than 500 years later [I King 16:34] we see it fulfilled as the city was rebuilt. As is often the case the rebuilding would likely have reused any materials left from the 1st building. We saw this happen with Jerusalem when Ezra and Nehemiah returned with others from Babylon.

Would what you @Stranger have been from the Jericho where the walls came down in the time of Joshua? The city stands today, but again I am unfamiliar with its history outside of scriptures, but more study on it could be interesting. What could be intact after 3500 years?

Yes, that is a good point. I will try and look into it.

It was not as though you were looking at a wall on the ground standing in front of you. It was an archaeological dig, and was fenced off. Below, quite a few feet down they had uncovered a wall, which only part was visible. It was still surrounded by dirt on several sides.

Stranger
 
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Stranger

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@amadeus

Look for "Walls of Jericho" at "Answers in Genesis". It is an article by Bryant Wood.

answersingenesis.org/archaeology/the-walls-of-jericho

Scroll down to section titled "The Fallen Walls" Go to 5th and 6th paragraph. Quite interesting.

Stranger
 

Episkopos

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We know that the promised land is our access to the kingdom of God in the spiritual realm. And Joshua represents "Christ in us"...the one within us working with the Father.

Josh. 10:5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

Our physical senses are at war against the Spirit. It is the flesh against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh. So the 5 kings represent the 5 carnal senses.

Joshua 10: 24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

So Joshua put those 5 senses to death...and crucified them...as we are to let the Lord do to our own senses.

Gal. 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.