And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. Then seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually and blew with the trumpets. And the armed men went before them. But the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while the priests continued blowing the trumpets. And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days.
But it came to pass on the seventh day that they rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day only they marched around the city seven times.
Joshua 6:12-15
In this story, the Children of Israel under the leadership of Joshua were about to take their first City in the Promised Land, the City of Jericho. God had given Joshua the battle strategy; the men of war were to march around the city once each day for six days. But the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times, and the priests were to blow the trumpets.
On the first day Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord and they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
But on the seventh day all the people rose early, about the dawning of the day, and marched around the city seven times in the same manner. On that day they marched around the city seven times. And the seventh time it happened, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people: “Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!” (Joshua 6:16)
So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. The Children of Israel conquered their first city in the Promised Land early in the morning.
As believers in Jesus Christ, this story teaches some very important lessons about why we should rise early:
Why should we rise early?
- Jesus Christ prayed early in the morning
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ, The Son of The Living God, did most of His daily prayer very early in the morning, or that He prayed all night into the morning (Luke 6:12, Mark 1:35). Jesus also taught in the temple early in the morning when He walked the earth (Luke 21:38; John 8:1-2).
- The Lord visits us every morning
The Bible tells us that God visits humanity every morning, to fellowship with us. The mornings are God’s special time with every man or woman who will get up and meet Him at this time:
What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? And that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him? And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
Job 7:17-18
And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away my iniquity? For now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
Job 7:21
- It is not just Prayer Time; it is an Appointment with God
God has set aside a daily appointment with anyone who desires a special relationship with Him. If we desire a special relationship then we should seek Him in the morning, just like David the Psalmist did:
O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.
Psalm 63:1-2
- God’s Significant Works are done by Morning
God raised Jesus Christ from the dead early in the morning (Matthew 28:1-7). Jesus demonstrated His power and glory by walking on the sea early in the morning during the fourth watch (Matthew 14:25) which is between 3am and 6am.
When Moses asked to see His Glory, God gave Moses a requirement to meet with Him early in the morning:
And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto Mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.
Exodus 34:2
Jacob wrestled with the angel at the break of day, and he obtained power with God and men and was given the new name of ‘Israel’ “for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed” (Genesis 32:24-28).
- God’s Mercies are new every morning
God’s mercy is His pity and compassion towards men. When we get up early to meet with God, these mercies are showered on us:
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for revealing to me the importance of rising early. Please help me to remember that You always make an appointment with humanity every morning. I pray that Your Holy Spirit will help me to crucify the flesh that loves to sleep and to be awake in the fourth watch so that I can keep my appointment and meet with You in Jesus name, Amen.
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Face-to-Face Appearances from Jesus
For more revelation about the Morning Times, please read ‘Face-to-Face Appearances from Jesus’ by David E. Taylor.
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