joshua 5
The Lord Separates Himself and His people
Joshua 5
A look into the hearts of the kings (1) Their hearts melted-‐ the heart, their control system of the body, had gone haywire, it had completely dissolved, they were in a state of panic “No spirit left within them”-‐ lit: their courage left them, their resolve was gone Exodus 15:14–16 (NASB95) — 14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble; Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 “Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
A look into the hearts of the kings (1) The Lord separated Himself by showing that His power surpassed that of the false gods of Canaan • He alone controlled creation • He alone could do the miraculous • He alone was the One the nations should fear • How did YHWH compare to the idols of Canaan?
Unique to YHWH (2-‐8) “Americans are always anxious to rush ahead with some program, and the larger the effort and the faster it is executed, the better. We need to learn that this is not always God’s way. What we do is important. But what we are is more important still. It is more important that God have our hearts and minds than our swords. (Boice)”
Do this spiritual preparation characterize your life?
Unique to YHWH (2-‐8) The Lord separated and prepared HIS people through 2 signs of His covenant 1) Circumcision Jeremiah 4:4 (NASB95) — 4 “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” 2) The Passover Exodus 15:14–16 (NASB95) — 14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble; Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 “Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
A taste of blessings (9-‐12) The Lord separates Himself from the false gods of the nations by fulfilling His promises
Isaiah 1:16–18 (NASB95) —18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) The Lord Separates Himself from the idols of the nations by being present with His people Who is this man? • ”Christophany”: pre-‐incarnate appearing of Jesus Christ pre-‐incarnate appearings of Jesus appear multiple times in the OT: • Genesis 3:8-‐ Adam and Eve “heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” • Genesis 18-‐ He along with 2 angels appear to Abraham promising a son and pronouncing doom on Sodom and Gomorrah • Genesis 32:24-‐ Jacob wrestles with the Lord till daybreak
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) Notice … When he appears to Joshua: “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked “
The posture of His appearing: “his sword drawn in his hand”
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) Notice … How He responds to Joshua’s question: “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” The point of the exchange seems to be that it was not for Joshua to claim the allegiance of God for his cause, however right it was, but rather for God to claim Joshua. The two would fight together, but Joshua would be following the commander of the armies of the Lord in his cause and battles rather than it being the other way around (Boice)
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) Notice … Joshua’s response: And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” What He calls Joshua to do: 15 The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” How Joshua responds: And Joshua did so.
Conclusion … • Faithful obedience brings great blessing and spiritual reward John 15:5 (NASB95) — 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. • We should not be amazed when and how God answers our prayers. • The Lord is always with us!
Joshua 5
A look into the hearts of the kings (1) Their hearts melted-‐ the heart, their control system of the body, had gone haywire, it had completely dissolved, they were in a state of panic “No spirit left within them”-‐ lit: their courage left them, their resolve was gone Exodus 15:14–16 (NASB95) — 14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble; Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 “Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
A look into the hearts of the kings (1) The Lord separated Himself by showing that His power surpassed that of the false gods of Canaan • He alone controlled creation • He alone could do the miraculous • He alone was the One the nations should fear • How did YHWH compare to the idols of Canaan?
Unique to YHWH (2-‐8) “Americans are always anxious to rush ahead with some program, and the larger the effort and the faster it is executed, the better. We need to learn that this is not always God’s way. What we do is important. But what we are is more important still. It is more important that God have our hearts and minds than our swords. (Boice)”
Do this spiritual preparation characterize your life?
Unique to YHWH (2-‐8) The Lord separated and prepared HIS people through 2 signs of His covenant 1) Circumcision Jeremiah 4:4 (NASB95) — 4 “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” 2) The Passover Exodus 15:14–16 (NASB95) — 14 “The peoples have heard, they tremble; Anguish has gripped the inhabitants of Philistia. 15 “Then the chiefs of Edom were dismayed; The leaders of Moab, trembling grips them; All the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. 16 “Terror and dread fall upon them; By the greatness of Your arm they are motionless as stone; Until Your people pass over, O LORD, Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.
A taste of blessings (9-‐12) The Lord separates Himself from the false gods of the nations by fulfilling His promises
Isaiah 1:16–18 (NASB95) —18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “ Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 “If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land;
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) The Lord Separates Himself from the idols of the nations by being present with His people Who is this man? • ”Christophany”: pre-‐incarnate appearing of Jesus Christ pre-‐incarnate appearings of Jesus appear multiple times in the OT: • Genesis 3:8-‐ Adam and Eve “heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day” • Genesis 18-‐ He along with 2 angels appear to Abraham promising a son and pronouncing doom on Sodom and Gomorrah • Genesis 32:24-‐ Jacob wrestles with the Lord till daybreak
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) Notice … When he appears to Joshua: “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho that he lifted up his eyes and looked “
The posture of His appearing: “his sword drawn in his hand”
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) Notice … How He responds to Joshua’s question: “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” 14 He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” The point of the exchange seems to be that it was not for Joshua to claim the allegiance of God for his cause, however right it was, but rather for God to claim Joshua. The two would fight together, but Joshua would be following the commander of the armies of the Lord in his cause and battles rather than it being the other way around (Boice)
The Captain of the Lord of Hosts (13-‐15) Notice … Joshua’s response: And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” What He calls Joshua to do: 15 The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” How Joshua responds: And Joshua did so.
Conclusion … • Faithful obedience brings great blessing and spiritual reward John 15:5 (NASB95) — 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. • We should not be amazed when and how God answers our prayers. • The Lord is always with us!
