An Obedient Trust

“You who fear the Lord trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield.” (Psalm 115:11) “March around the city…” (Joshua 6:3)

To fear the Lord means to revere Him, to stand before Him with a sense of overwhelming awe and admiration, to worship Him as the sovereign Lord, the Creator of the universe.

Someone who thus fears the Lord also by necessity believes in Him. Why would anyone fear Him if they do not believe in Him? If we fear and believe in Him, we are then to trust Him to be our help and our shield. To trust God is to obey His commands, His truths.

That is the reality Joshua was faced with. He led the people up to Jericho from their camp in Gilgal. The city was shut up tight. Nobody in or out. No way to take the city. Seemingly.

God instructed Joshua to have seven priests blow seven of the “shofar” (ram’s horn) trumpets, walking in front of the ark, led by soldiers in front and behind, with no one saying a word, once a day for six days. On the seventh day they were to march seven times around the city and then shout. God said the walls would then fall down, and they were to then take the city.

If you were in Joshua’s sandals, would you do it? Joshua had to trust the Lord, and he demonstrated his trust through obedience. He did exactly as the Lord instructed, and the rest is history. God fulfilled His word, but only after full obedience.

Trust always requires obedience.

Lord, Help us today to demonstrate our trust in You and Your word. Amen.