[ Introduction to Joy ] [ Joy Chapter 1 ] [ Joy Chapter 2 ] [ Joy Chapter 3 ] [ Joy chapter 4 ] [ Joy Chapter 5 ] [ Joy Chapter 6 ] [ Joy Chapter 7 ] [ Joy Chapter 8 ] [ Joy Chapter 9 ] [ Joy Chapter 10 ] [ Joy Chapter 11 ] [ Joy Chapter 12 ] [ Joy Chapter 13 ]

BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!  (Psalm 133:1 AMP).

December 2009, our local high school football team won the district state championship—a major milestone in the lives of those young men.

However, their title began long before that momentous event. For months, the coach and each team member worked together, learning to rely on one another. Each player studied and practiced the duties of his position. They memorized plays and had to understand and respect the responsibilities of the other players. Perhaps the most important lesson of all was no single player could win the game or go on to become state champion alone. Had one player been out of sync, looking for fame and glory for himself, they would have lost long before they got to the finals.

All these lessons took time to master. As they practiced and as each game was won, their confidence grew, not only in themselves as individuals but in one another as a team and in their coach.

Experience teaches confidence in others as nothing else can. For forty years, God trained His chosen people to have confidence and faith in Him alone. He fed them manna from heaven. They only had to gather it each morning. In the evenings, he supplied them with quail. Their clothing and sandals never wore out. Their livestock found green pastures and a fresh water supply daily. They were taught the commandments given to Moses, reminded of their deliverance from the Egyptians, and conquered nations that outnumbered them. And at the designated time, God parted the Jordan River as He had the Red Sea.  

The strength of their God preceded them. The people of Jericho were so frightened they entered their city, bolted the gates, and no one went out or came in. They were shaking in their sandals with fear of the Almighty God.

The LORD pointed to the walls of Jericho and told Joshua that He had given the city to the Hebrews. All they had to do was march around the circumference once a day for six days and seven times the seventh day. Conclude the processional with a blast from their trumpets and a loud shout, and the walls would come tumbling down. A simple task, considering general warfare. Oh, there was one other stipulation—no talking for the week. Why no talking? It only takes one negative word to discourage an entire militia.

Let’s look at the “attack” through the eyes of a Hebrew soldier. The first three days it seemed like an all right assignment. How difficult was it to get up every morning prepare for battle and march around a city once? About the fourth or fifth day, I’m wagering that it got a tad monotonous and doubts of Joshua’s sanity were beginning to arise, if not doubts of God’s command. “What good is this? Why can’t we just fight and get it over with? Did God give us the city or not?” More than one soldier probably flirted with these types of thoughts. Nevertheless, they were not permitted to speak their minds and the processional continued through day six. And day seven came! Again after about four and a half rounds, the soldiers must have been getting tired as well as bored. I’m not sure of the distance around Jericho, but I’m sure it was a large city and would have been several miles in circumference. Not only were the soldiers tired, they were not seeing any results. Yet, they remained silent in their protest, walking in sync with those in front and behind. Finally, a loud blast of the trumpet, a mighty shout in unison from all the troops, and . . . the earth quaked, the walls cracked, and a great dust cloud rose as though a nuclear bomb had hit the city. Wow! A major milestone in the lives of those men.

Now, let’s look at the “attack” through the eyes of a Jericho citizen. The Israelite army was advancing toward the city and everyone—young, old, rich, poor, social status made no difference—everyone shook in terror. About the fourth or fifth day, the mockery began. “Is that the best you can do? Here comes the parade again! What made us fear these wimps who can do no more than march around our city? What fools!” I even imagine them becoming so relaxed and pompous that they began to party, drinking, laughing, and mocking all the while. And day seven came! The people in the city had no more fear or concern of their crazy invaders. As they drank and did whatever evil entered their minds, the only attention they gave to the processional outside their gates was a contest to see who could spit on the ones closest to the wall and to throw garbage at them. The townsmen standing on the wall were the first to feel the terror of Almighty God as the foundations of the city shook. Not only the blast of the trumpet and the shout of God’s army echoed through the streets, but blood-curdling screams resounded as the great dust cloud rose. The victory belongs to the LORD!

Yet, if one Hebrew would have voiced his doubts, causing a breach in the unity of God’s army, the results may have been very different. The soldiers marched as one body united in faith in the sovereignty of God. Victory was swift and sure.

Unity is an essential key to maintaining our fellowship with God and the joy we derive from it. Everything around us speaks of unity from our individual bodies, to the vastness of the universe. If one small part of our bodies aches, we find it difficult to function properly. Similarly, if one small portion of the universe were out of line, the entire cosmos would crumble.

Christ’s body, the church, is no different. Paul urges his readers and fellow Christians to: Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention (Philippians 2:2 AMP).

Our sole purpose is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world as long as He tarries. Like players on the football team, we cannot do it alone and accomplish God’s will for mankind. Again Paul writes: Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves] (Philippians 2:3 AMP).

Entering God’s joy, which is our strength, motivates us to unity for Jesus’ sake.

LORD God, unity is a high standard that causes me to put myself aside and to think of others’ needs as well as their duties ahead of my own. As a member of Christ’s body, I want to be liked-minded with Jesus and with His people. I can attain such a lofty goal only through Your help. In Jesus’ name, amen.

* Communicating the accessibility of the joy of the Lord, which is our strength*

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