Can you imagine the scene? Every time I have sung a version of “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” (and there are lots of those) I revisit this dramatic scene of the trumpets blowing, the people shouting and the walls “come a-tumblin’ down!”
I crave tumbling walls. I hate doors that are closed to us, literally and metaphorically – gates that block our entrance, exclusive rules that prevent us from participating, questions which go unanswered/ignored – all of those situations are like signs which read “KEEP OUT” (or better interpreted as, “you’re not wanted here.”)
I crave the open door, the gift of welcome and inclusion. Each time we make an invitation such as “I’m so glad you’re here!”, “We want you to be part of this”, “Join us!” – there are walls which come tumbling down, for both recipient and initiator.
If we don’t praise our God with joyful welcome, those very tumbling stones will be the ones that cry out praise, as spoken by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke:
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:37-40)
Raise your voices in praise. Raise your arms in welcome. Raze the stones that block anyone’s path to God.