Misc. Sermons - Drew Boswell

Things Are Not As They Appear 1 Samuel 17:41-58

Things Are Not As They Appear

1 Samuel 17:41-58

Introduction

Review of Last week.

Prayer

When Things Appear Simple – They Usually Aren’t (vv. 41-44)

And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”

(v. 41) It wasn’t until Goliath drew close to David that he truly got a good picture of his opponent, “And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David.” Goliath despised David because the defeat of a boy, would not sound very good on a veteran champion’s résumé. What an insult to Goliath to send a young lad with no armor and a stick! Is this how seriously they take him? Do they think so little of his ability that they would send him someone like this? Goliath is mad about how this is obvious easy victory is going to make him look.[1]

Out of this anger, Goliath then begins to insult David. He makes fun of his shepherd’s staff saying it was only fit for hitting dogs. Then he cursed David by his philistine gods. Then he says that he would feed the animals with his body.

David on the other had is mad that this “uncircumcised Philistine” would dare to curse God or his people. Leviticus 24:16 – “Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.”[2] Whoever curses or blasphemes the name of God was to be stoned. This may be why David chose to attack the giant with the weapon that he did. David choose the sling and a stone for two reasons. One, that was the weapon that he was used to using. Secondly, he just may have remembered this passage of Scripture.

When Things Appear Insurmountable – A Solution Will Appear (vv. 45-51a)

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

(v. 45) “Then David said to the Philistine” – David’s words are not just for the Philistine, but for all the army to hear – they are missional words. It is a renewed call to depend upon the name of the living God. It is a proclamation that there is a God in Israel. It is a reminder that God has been faithful in the past, and He will be faithful today – for He does not change.[3]

Acts 3:6-7 “But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.”

David knows if he fights armor against armor, brute strength against brute strength, he will fail – so David allows a champion to go before him, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts.” There will never be a time when the world can unveil anything stronger than “the name of the LORD Almighty.” The world may have the spears, the javelins, and the shield-bearers but these are nothing compared to God who is over all things.

David says, “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.” All he is carrying is five stones, a shepherd’s staff, and a sling. What is he going to cut his head off with? David doesn’t have so much as a pocket knife – God would provide what he needed.

David’s goal is not to defeat Goliath, but to defeat Goliath and the entire Philistine army! “Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth.” David’s vision for his life goes beyond the giant that he is running towards, and sees the thousands standing behind the giant. God has the giant before, but our battles don’t stop.

(v. 47) “the LORD saves not with sword and spear” – There is still a God who saves, but He does it His way. The church cannot compete with the world, but the world cannot compete with the church. (Church and Disney Illustration).

David knew that while he would stand with only some stones and sling, he needed two others. “for the battle is the LORD’s.” David knew that in order to defeat Goliath and the entire Philistine army, he desperately needed the Lord to win the battle for him, David also needed the army standing behind him. “and he will give all of you into our hands.” (not my hands, but our hands)

We, like David, need these same two groups. We need God to guide us, to empower us, to strengthen us, to give us courage! And we need our church to fight alongside of us in order to beat the army.

It is in our grow groups that we are able to fight battles through reaching out to our neighbors, praying for each other and to share our life’s concerns. We need God’s people to surround us and help us to win the battle. You can find a list of our small groups at the welcome table and on the web site – get in one. We were not designed to stand alone.

David’s reason for defeating the whole Philistine army was so that “the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.” David’s victory over Goliath is known the world over, they have heard of God’s working through the weak to defeat the powerful.

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine rand took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it.

As the battle begins what we thought were advantages for Goliath actually are not advantages at all.[4] Something prevented Goliath from clearly seeing David until he drew close to him (impaired vision). He simply stood (which meant he was resting or sitting); while David moved quickly around, Goliath moved slowly because of his heavy armor (over 100 pounds). Goliath even says, “Come to me.”

David’s sling (a leather strap with a pocket in the center) and a tennis ball sized stones gave him the ability to attack at great distances (up to over 100 yards) at a rotation of 6-7 spins per second; All of Goliath’s weapons are for close range combat. Our interpretation of the situation is all wrong.

In ancient times armies typically had three main sections. Cavalry, heavy infantry, and projectiles or slingers. It was like the game of rock paper scissors. The archers or slingers could defeat heavy infantry, but calvary moved too quickly for them to aim, up close heavy infantry beat archers or slingers, with long pike infantry can stand up cavalry, etc. we see an example of this in Judges 20:16 “Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.”

Goliath was prepared to fight a battle as he had always fought battles. He expected to fight one-on-one close quarters, as heavy-infantry, where he assumed he had the advantage. Goliath had won many battles fighting man-to-man in armor in close quarters, . . .

“he could no longer conceive of any alternate armament; and he believes that this armament was invincible. He feels assured that any Israelite who has the hardihood to accept his challenge will likewise be a spearman armed cap-a-pie, and that any such competitor in his own panoply is bound to be his inferior.”[5]

But what happens if we change how we fight the battle? “Giants are not what we think they are. The same qualities that appear to give them strength are often the sources of great weakness.”[6]

The story of David and Goliath is typically described as a small person fighting a big person, against all odds, overcoming the impossible. But it could also be a story of a zealous person, changing the rules, using his advantage (what he knows), and seeing the massive weaknesses of his enemy.

The enemy of this world is a defeated foe. He knows his days are numbered, and Satan eventually will be cast into a lake of fire – so he wants to pull as many people as possible with him. He has since the beginning tried to corrupt the creation of God. When this world seems overwhelming, and life is at its darkest – remember it may not always be as it seems. The hard road you are on now, may be your greatest strength tomorrow.

Go back to Saul sitting in his tent; he feels hopeless. He is the king of the Israelite army, “the army of the living God.” Yet he can’t see past his own armor. He is dependent upon something other that God’s protection. Ultimately, this is what it means to be a follower of God – either you depend upon yourself, or you depend upon God. When the problems come, do you reach for the armor to strap on, or do you cry out to God for your protection.

David already knew how the battle would, go “I will strike you down and cut off your head.” Vision can be defined as being able to see what should be done, developing a strategy, and having the courage to do it. Change to way things are done. Overthrow the tables. Do the unexpected. Turn the world upside down.

It was typical to prove the enemy was dead, the victor would strip the enemy of his weapons, and decapitate the opponent. David was giving undeniable proof that Goliath was dead.[7]

When Things Appear Unbelievable – Stop “Going through the motions” (vv. 51b-58)

When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. 52 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. 55 As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” 56 And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.” 57 And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

1 Samuel 17:20 “And David rose early in the morning and left the sheep with a keeper and took the provisions and went, as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the encampment as the host was going out to the battle line, shouting the war cry.” Do you think that the shouts were the same? No way, the first shout was a shout of going through the motions, the first shout was when they were standing still.

The second shout was one given on the run, chasing the enemy. The second shout was one filled with the excitement of a victory! A shout of God moving forward with them. They chased the Philistines for over 10 miles, shouting!

This morning when you worshipped the Lord in song, was your shout to the Lord one of going through the motions? Are you spiritually standing still or are you running forward. The two cries to the Lord are not the same.

When you have your quiet times, is your time just going through the motions – or when you lift your song to the Lord is it is a victorious cry, is your shout one filled with victory in the Lord’s name?

It was one little shepherd boy’s faith that drew an army forward and caused another army to run in fear. That whole battle was changed by one person. Don’t wait for someone to come to you to see what you could be doing in the church, you step out from the line and say “hand me a stone.” You step in front of the line and say “I will fight the enemy.” “In the Lord’s name I will defend his army!”

“and he put the Philistine’s weapons in his own tent.” If David looked silly with Saul’s sword around his waste, how much more with Goliath’s sword. But would you have said anything to him?

“The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.” ⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head . . .” Do you remember Saul’s words to David? “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy.” The king had told him that he could not do it, but here David stands with Goliath’s head in his hand. David never said anything – he just held the head.

Later David will have to run from Saul because he desired to kill him, 1 Samuel 22:10 “Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him [David]; he also gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” David would carry Goliath’s sword for most of his life. The sword was bigger than life, and it would always be a reminder to David of God’s deliverance. Everywhere we went people would have seen the sword and known that this was the Giant slayer.

Saul asks “Whose son are you, young man?” in other words he is asking, “Whose are you?” This morning if someone were to ask “whose child are you?” What would you say? God created you, and He has a plan for your life. He desires to make you his child. But there is something that separates us from Him. It is our choice to rebel and turn form His ways – the Bible calls this sin.

It is like the Grand Canyon with man on one side and God on the other, no matter how hard to jump, you will never be able, in your own strength to get across. God in his love has provided a bridge across the divide. Jesus died on the cross, and God took sins penalty off of us and placed it upon His Son.

He did this as a free gift. This morning if you would like to receive this gift, to be forgiven of all of your sin, and to become His child you can say a prayer something like this:

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name

If someone were to ask you – “whose child is this,” what would you say?

_____________________

[1] Robert D. Bergen, The New American Commentary, 1 & 2 Samuel (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman and Holman Publishing, 1996) 195.

[2] Bergen, 195.

[3] Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation, First and Second Samuel (Louisville, Kentucky; John Knox Press, 1990) 132.

[4] Reagan and Mondale presidential debate, where sitting president Reagan’s age was brought up, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoPu1UIBkBc

[5] George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 2 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1982) 979.

[6] Malcom Gladwell, David and Goliath (New York, New York; Little, Brown and Company, 2013) 6.

[7] Bergen, 197.

“A Stoney Heart and a Zealous Heart Have a Conversation” 1 Samuel 17:31-40

A Stoney Heart and a Zealous Heart Have a Conversation

1 Samuel 17:31-40

Introduction

Review 1 Samuel 17:1-30

Vision happens when you see something wrong and want to make it right again.

Prayer

Saul’s Response to David – When you look outward (vv. 31-33)

When the words that David spoke were heard, they repeated them before Saul, and he sent for him. 32 And David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.”

(v. 31) “When the words that David spoke were heard” – earlier in the chapter David happened to show up when the soldiers are congregating on the front line, and he heard Goliath make his threats, and David asked, (v. 26) “And David said to the men who stood by him, including his own brothers, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

Word gets back to Saul that there may be one guy willing to fight Goliath, so Saul wants to meet him. But once Saul sees David, Saul tells David, what seemed to be obvious to him – “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him”

But what Saul does not understand is that Goliath never stood a chance. The battle had already been won, before David even stepped out on the battlefield. On the outward appearance of things, David looked vulnerable, weak, and outgunned. Goliath looked strong, impenetrable, and well equipped.

But, David was the Lord’s anointed – 1 Samuel 16:1 “The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Was David king yet? David is looking at the world through the eyes of faith in what God has told him about himself and what he would become.

We don’t defeat the enemy of this world if we don’t understand who we are.

What has God said about you?

Romans 8:15-16 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

So when David hears “you are only a boy” or “he has been a fighting man from his youth” these comments have no effect on him because David trusts God’s Word. God’s plan for David was that he would eventually be king. God has a plan and calling for your life, this plan involves you changing to become more like His Son Jesus Christ.

David’s Response to Saul – When you look upward (vv. 34-37)

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”

David responds to Saul’s doubt by sharing his ability to have victory in two other mortal combats. One with a lion and one with a bear. “When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it” – As a shepherd he could have run. He is unlike all the other soldiers on the battle line, including his brothers, in that when things get difficult he holds his ground. He grabs the situation by the mane and takes care of business. He doesn’t run from his problems, he runs toward them!

David’s boldness comes from believing that God is with him. God was with him the past when he fought loins, and bears, and God will be with him now as he faces this giant soldier. Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us? . . . (v. 37) No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

John 10:11-13 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” David like Jesus is willing to lay his life down for the sake of the sheep. Jesus died for people like me, and people like you – people who need to change.

Is there a difference in Goliath’s prideful remarks (1 Samuel 17:10) “This day I defy the ranks of Israel!” or Saul’s pride of choosing to obey some of God’s instructions and not others, even building monuments in his own honor (1 Samuel 15:12-14), and David’s remark “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him?”

David’s confidence is not pride in his own ability, but it was the “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” It is not pride to say that we can do the things that bring honor to the Lord – if we depend completely upon him to bring us victory. David recognizes that it was God who delivered him.

David was chosen by God, anointed by Samuel, and empowered by the Holy Spirit – who can stand against him? The predators of this earth can’t stand against him, and the predators of the enemy army can’t stand against him. It was God within his life that made David different.

David is wise not to bring this up to Saul, but in 1 Samuel 16, Samuel the prophet had anointed his head, symbolizing the presence of the Lord in his life, and setting him apart as the next king. God was done with Saul, and David knew it.

(v. 37) “Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you.” The Lord was not with Saul (16:14), but here he prays that the LORD would be with David. Perhaps the reason that he allows David to represent the Israelite army in one-on-one combat was that Saul could sense in David what had once been in his own life – the Spirit of God.

But this was an incredible gamble on Saul’s part to place the future of the Israelite army, and God’s people into the hands of one shepherd boy. But what other choice does he have?

He knew that if he were to fight in his current situation, then he would fail. Without the Lord’s presence in his life, he knew he stood no chance against this giant. But he saw God’s Spirit working in this small shepherd boy.

But instead of getting right with God, turning from his selfish way of life – he would rather hold on to the pride and the sin and send out a shepherd boy to fight the battle. Are you content to send others to fight, while you hold on to your sin?

We don’t defeat the enemy of this world if our hearts are far from the Lord.

David Fights Like a Shepherd Not a Soldier – when you look at how God designed you to be (vv. 38-40)

38 Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, 39 and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” So David put them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.

Saul is putting the future of the Israelite army, and God’s own people into the hands of one person, and so he would have given him the best he had to offer. Saul’s best advice is empty, worldly, and godless; “your victory is better armor.”

Saul as king would have had the best the Israelite army had to offer – the king’s own armor. Saul has all the equipment he needs to defeat the giant – but there is one thing that he lacks. The Spirit of the Lord had departed from him. He was tall and powerful in the outside but hollow and empty on the inside.

Being empty on the inside causes us to focus on the wrong things. David is Saul’s armor-bearer (16:21). The armor-bearer is supposed to hand the king his armor to fight the battles. Here the king is handing his armor bearer the armor. The roles and responsibilities seem to be all turned around.

Saul’s thinking, even after all he had been through, is still focused on the outside. Saul is trying to make David into something that he is not – a soldier like all the other nations. Saul hands David armor, because he thought this is how he would be protected. He looked at Goliath, a giant of a man and then looks a David a small boy.

He looks at Goliath’s track record – he was a veteran soldier. David was a young shepherd boy and had never fought in a single battle. Saul’s see this as an impossible situation, so if David is going to win, then Saul believed they would have to fight the same way – armor against armor.

We don’t defeat the enemy of this world by fighting according to his tactics.

David’s thinking, his perspective, on life was quite different. David thought that all he needed for protection was the Lord. God is my protection and my weapon is a sling. David fights with what he knows, a shepherd’s sling. He had tested the sling, he was good at the sling, he had killed before with the sling, but the armor, (v. 39) “for he had not tested them.”

David approached the giant not as a soldier clad in armor, but as a shepherd with a staff and sling. When we understand that we are to fight the enemy of God according to how we are designed, and not how someone else is designed, we will be comfortable, confident, and victorious. Zechariah 4:6 “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.”

The stick and stone and David’s heart were shaped by God. David would not use a sword or armor hammered out by man’s hands. Goliath is covered from head to toe in man-made armor – David holds in his hands that which was formed and shaped by God.[1] You have been shaped by God’s hands for His purposes.

Ironically, Saul was putting the royal king’s armor on David, but it did not fit – it was too soon for him to wear the king’s armor. David would be king, but it had to be in God’s timing. If David had rushed the front line to Goliath, wearing this armor that was too big, he would have been defeated.

So, God not only works by shaping us a special and unique way, this shaping continues throughout our whole life. David would one day wear the king’s armor and he would sit on the king’s throne – but not yet. He would have to grow into it. God still had some years mapped out before David to prepare him to hold this position.

Saul wore armor, “like all the other nations,” (8:5, 20) He looked the part, he looked like any other king going into battle.[2] But David wore no armor at all. This anointed future king looked very different than even the other soldiers on the battle line. This is a theme that runs throughout the entire Old Testament – believers and followers of God are to be different than the world around them.

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In both cases of lion and a bear he “went after it,” and “struck it.” Here David “approached the Philistine.” This is the first time in forty days that instead of men running as Goliath approached, one took the fight to the giant. God to deliver us from Giants has two parts. One part is relying on God, trusting Him to deliver us, and believing that He will be faithful.

The other part of the equation is going after the lion, striking the bear, approaching the giant with sling shot and staff in hand. We run to the fight, and God gives us the victory. We cannot sit in the tent on the hill away from the battle and expect the enemy just to give up on waiting for us to come out of our tents.

We don’t defeat the enemy of this world by sitting in our tents.

Why not just clear the Promised Land with disease or natural catastrophe? Why make Joshua and his army fight in pitched battle to clear the promised land? Why do we have the Great Commission in Matthew “Go and make disciples . . .?” Why does God want Christians to share their faith with others?

Because God desires to use us to fight the battles. His plan has two parts 1) a complete dependence upon Him and 2) taking the battle to the enemy.

Conclusion

I want to fight the enemies of God like David – but I know that I must change who I am if I am to be successful. This morning God desires to move you from shepherd to becoming a champion. God still desires to shape you into His image.

This shaping begins with a recognition that we are not pleasing to God. When we do things that go against God’s Word, the Bible calls this sin, and it separates us from Him. But even though we have turned from God and rebelled – God sent His Son to die for us, so that we can change. He did this as a free gift.

If you would like for your life to be forever changed, and you would like to receive the free gift of God’s forgiveness, then you can say a prayer to God something like this;

___________________

[1] Robert D. Bergen, The New American Commentary, 1,2 Samuel (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman Publishing, 1996) 194.

[2] Is it possible that Saul thought if David was able to win the battle, then later Saul could claim the victory over the giant as his own? Saul’s armor as the king’s armor would have been very distinct, and it would have covered most of David’s body, covering especially his face (Youngblood).

“Choose Your Own Path” 2 Samuel 19:1-8

Choose Your Own Path

2 Samuel 19:1-8

Introduction

Do you remember the “Choose Your Own Adventure Books” from when you were a kid? At each turn in the story you could choose how the story would move forward, or even how the story would end. Each day we are faced with the need to make decisions, but we never know what will happen until after we turn the page.

We have to make tough calls just about every day, what if life could be like the introduction of one of the books, “There are dangers, choices, adventures and consequences. The wrong decision could end in disaster – even death. But, don’t despair. At anytime, you can go back and make another choice, alter the path of your story, and change its result.”[1]

Life is not that easy, once you make a choice there are no flipping back the pages. Over the next three weeks we are going to discover how to make the hard calls and how to live with the consequences.

Pray

You Choose; Victory or Defeat? (vv. 1-4)

It was told Joab, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” 2 So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, “The king is grieving for his son.” 3 And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle. 4 The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, “O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Joab has been on the front lines and is leading his men, as one of three generals who are returning, from the victory of defeating Absalom, David’s rebellious son. What should have been victory was turned into mourning.

The soldiers were looking to David to see how they should respond. The soldiers would not have cared if some stranger was upset that Absalom was defeated. They would have celebrated, cheered, and danced because of the joy of defeating the enemy. But they heard that David, the king, was grieving for his son. Any one of these men could have decided not to be apart of David’s army, he was on the run from a vastly superior force – these men chose to fight for a man that they loved – David.

There will be times when people will look to you to see how they should respond. If you allow your emotions to control you, then the result can be tragic.

The custom was that the king would sit in an apartment above the city gate and welcome the troops as they returned – but as the troops are returning, the king is weeping and wailing crying, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!”

At some point the soldiers first soldiers in formation would have made it to the city gate, and their cheers were hushed by David’s crying. The word was quickly passed back through the troops, “Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom” Then later as they passed the city gate they would have seen David, through his apartment window with his face covered with a burial cloth[2] and they would have heard him crying.

David has sucked the joy out of the victory by his reaction and actions that he displayed before everyone. His actions actually made the men ashamed of the actions that they had taken. “And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.” And, “surely others grieved that day, not for Absalom but for unnamed sons loved even more than the king loved Absalom.”[3]

The men begin to sneak back into the city, as if they were cowards and deserters – but they were the victors and were returning heroes. It is amazing how our attitudes and how we carry ourselves can change so many things. A mother receives her son’s report card and there is a B, “why didn’t you get an A. There’s a dad whose son got a base hit, his dad says, “well, if that’s the best you can do…”

The soldiers went off and fought as a united army, proud of what they were fighting for, but they return one-by-one feeling like traitors. A bad attitude causes division and splinters what was once united. “Probably many others were afraid that David might be planning to punish those who were suspected of violating his order to spare Absalom. Thus, the longer David delayed making a public appearance, the more uncertain became the future of his cause.”[4]

David is playing two roles here. One of a God anointed king, and one of a grieving father. In this situation David could either play one role or the other, but he could not do both. David has to make a choice, either continue to mourn for his son, or play the part of a king.

David is crying out (he does not want to hear what others are saying to him), and his head is covered with a burial cloth (he does not want to see other people, or have them see him) – David wants to be all alone.[5] His role as king demands that he make a public appearance and be joyful, but his heart is mourning the death of his son.

Does David have the right to mourn for his son? How could a father not mourn for his son? There will be times in life when the greater number need you to hold yourself together even hide/conceal your emotions in order for there to be joy in the victory.

David’s warriors were looking to him to know how to act – what did they see? They saw a man broken and completely swallowed up by his own world and the grief in his heart. How do we get out of a hole like that?

2 Corinthians 1:8 “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.”

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

How is it that Paul just does not walk away, or quit, or simply to allow these things that have happened to get him down? Paul did suffer pain and separation and a depth of emotions that many of us will never know. He knew what it felt like to be emotionally bankrupt, physically crippled – but instead of sinking into despair – he channeled it into the calling upon his life.

Paul also wrote, Romans 5:1-5 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, . . .

Paul’s suffering became hope. God does not waste suffering (even if you cause it ourselves); if he plows up the ground, he will plant a crop. View and use your pain in a redemptive way. God is going to use the pain that we endure in one area of our lives, for His purposes in another area of our lives. God used David’s loss of his son, to make him a better king.

As a king, David is going to make one more big mistake, but he also has one big accomplishment that makes him a great king. He takes all the pain and the knowledge of the mistakes he has made in his family and channels it into making sure that his son Solomon builds a temple like none the world had ever seen. He set his son up for success.

Whenever we feel life is pulling us in two directions, there is a higher calling upon your life. Channel all the emotion into that calling. For Paul it was being a church planter and apostle. For David it was being king and father to other children. For you it may be your marriage, your children, or your church.

You Choose; Confront or Run Away? (vv. 5-8)

Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, “You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, 6 because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you. For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased. 7 Now therefore arise, go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.” 8 Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king.

There is another person that needs to make a choice this day. Joab hears about David’s actions and becomes enraged, and overlooks all proper regal protocol, marches right up to David begins a litany of complaints.[6]

David’s emotions have caused him to pull away, and are damaging what he has poured his life into. Joab, on the other hand, is allowing his emotions to fuel his boldness to appear before the king. His anger is channeled into making a wrong situation right.

Joab is placed in a position of needing to try and direct David’s decision making.[7] This is the second time that Joab has come before David for the purpose of getting to change his behavior. In chapter 14:1 Joab hired an actress to come in and tell a story of her two sons who had fought and one killed the other.

But now there is no time for deception or conspiracy – David’s kingdom is hanging on by a thread.

Joab directly confronts David for his behavior. He doesn’t send a messenger, he doesn’t convene with the other generals – he sees the damage and the condition of the troops and he immediately takes action.

He says: “you have humiliated all your men” – or the way that you are treating people is not right. These men have fought for you and your family, and now you are treating them with great disrespect. “You love those who hate you and hate those who love you.”

It’s one thing to rail against someone because you are mad at their behavior. Remember that Joab is among the number of soldiers who had been insulted and humiliated that day. But it is another to point out the wrong and give a potential course of action – Joab says, “go out and speak kindly to your servants.”

He points out not only what he was doing wrong, and a course of action but also what will happen, if he continues to follow this wrong behavior. “I swear by the LORD, if you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and this will be worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.”

Joab points out that if David continues to live his life this way, then he will be all alone. Joab goes and tells David, 1) people who have saved his life, and his family’s life were being rewarded with dishonor. If Absalom had been successful,

“success would inevitably have been followed by the massacre, not only of David himself, but of his sons and daughters, and of the women who had accompanied him in his fight. Nor would it have stopped there, but the officers of his courts, the captains of his army, his mighties, and all who had long cared for and loved him would have been put to the sword.”[8]

2) David is showing hate toward the very people who love him, 3) commanders and soldiers are nothing to him, Joab included 4) if David could, he would bring Absalom back and sacrifice all of them – all of these comments are designed to get David to realize that he cannot bring Absalom back, yet he is surrounded by people who love him and want him to be king.[9]

In order to move into the future, you have to let go of the past.

There was a time later in history, when God’s people had been carried off into exile, then after many years God allowed them to return. Under Nehemiah the people rebuilt the city walls of Jerusalem, and then they set about rebuilding the temple. Ezra 3:11-13 “And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people’s weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.”

It was the people’s sin that led to the broken relationship with God, the destruction of the original temple, and their being carried off. After David’s affair with Bathseba, and the murder of her husband Uriah, Nathan the prophet came to David and as the consequence of his sin, 2 Samuel 12: 10-11 “. . . Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house.”

David knows he has played part in his son’s rebellion and eventual death.

In order to move into the future, you have to let go of the past,

even if you played a part in the chaos. Repent and move on.

(v. 8) “Then the king arose and took his seat in the gate. And the people were all told, “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” And all the people came before the king” – It doesn’t say he was smiling. It doesn’t say, he even said anything – he got up from mourning and weeping and took his seat as king.

“David’s return to the city gate indicated that he was again available to the people, interested in their needs and concerns. The gateway was where court sessions and public meetings took place. David’s presence there was evidence that he had returned to public life and perhaps that he had taken note of the complaints about lack of access that Absalom had been able to exploit.”[10]

The first step to begin channeling all the pain that is in our hearts is to take the steps necessary for change and allow the emotion to follow later. This morning if you are in pain, or you may be depressed, or suffering in some way – you being here, you getting out of bed and coming to church is a huge first step. We have to do the actions that will become habits, and the emotion follows.

When you feel emotionally bankrupt, get up, take your seat, and do the actions (Bible study, come to church, small group, involved in ministry – and let the emotion follow). It is having a relationship with Jesus Christ that makes life worth living and it is living out our calling that gives us purpose.

Gather, Grow, Give, & Go

BBC Vision Guide

“Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins, I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior.” In Jesus’ Name.

______________________________

[1] R.A. Montgomery. Choose You Own Adventure, Journey Under the Sea (Waitsfield, Vermont; Chooseco), p. 1

[2] Ronald F. Youngblood, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1992) 1029.

[3] Walter Brueggemann, Interpretation, First and Second Samuel (Louisville, Kentucky; John Knox Press, 1990) 324.

[4] Ben F. Philbeck, Jr., The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 3 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1970)130.

[5] Joyce G. Baldwin, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, 1&2 Samuel (Dowers Grove, Illinois; Inter-Varsity Press, 1988) 273.

[6] Nathan had approached David in 2 Samuel 12:1-15 because of his actions.

[7] Remember that in 2 Sam. 11, it is Joab that receives orders from David to put Uriah in the hardest of the fighting and then withdraw – thereby murdering him.

[8] R. Payne Smith & C. Chapman, The Pulpit Commentary, 1 Samuel (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1984) 465.

[9] Baldwin, 274. Also see, 2 Sam. 12:22-23.

[10] Mary J. Evans, New International Biblical Commentary, 1 & 2 Samuel (Peabody, Massachusetts; Henderson Publishing, 2000) 217.

“Being Thankful Changes How You Think” Romans 1:18-32

Being Thankful Changes How You Think

Romans 1:18-24

Introduction

Prayer

The Revelation of God’s Wrath (vv. 18-20)

“For the wrath of God is (constantly) revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.”

Wrath is the personal manifestation of God’s holy, moral character in judgment against sin. It is neither an impersonal process nor irrational and fitful like anger. It is in no way a vindictive or malicious. It is holy indignation – God’s anger directed against sin.[1]

All people stand condemned because of their sin. (Romans 3:10-11 “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God.” Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” )

God reveals His wrath in two ways: 1) indirectly through the natural consequences of violating His universal moral law. 2) directly through His personal intervention[2]

God has been revealing His wrath for a long time. The first time was in response to Adam and Eve after they disobediently ate fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and caused themselves and mankind to fall under the curse of sin.

In the centuries that followed, humanity became so sinful that God released His wrath again through the Flood (Gen. 6:7). God also demonstrated His wrath in destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, sending plagues upon the Egyptians, and instituting the sacrificial system.

God hates sin and will not put with it forever. The suffering death of Jesus upon the cross was the ultimate demonstration of the God’s wrath. The Father’s hatred for sin is so intense that for the sake of sinners He poured out His righteous fury on His beloved, sinless Son, who took our place. So now mankind stands with a choice to either take the wrath of God upon himself or accept Jesus’ gift to take the wrath for us.

Some Old Testament words describe God’s holy response to human sin. Some of these meanings include (charah) “to become heated up, to burn with fury,” (charon) “burning, fierce wrath” (Za’am) “furious.”[3]

Why is God angry at sinful people? Because they have substituted the truth about him with a fantasy of their own imagination (1:25). They have stifled the truth God naturally reveals to all people in order to believe anything that supports their own self-centered life-styles.[4]

(v. 18) “Supress the truth” Although the evidence from conscience (1:19; 2:14), creation (1:20), and God’s Word is irrefutable, men choose to resist and oppose God’s truth by holding fast to their sin.[5]

Truth in the NT is not simply something to which one must give mental agreement (assent), it is something to be done. When people act sinfully, rebelling against God’s just rule, they fail to embrace the truth and so suppress it.[6]

When people suppress and distort the truth of God, they run the risk of a darkened heart. As part of the judgment of their sin, God confirms their rebellion by removing his light from their minds. Then their confused thinking becomes a permanent mind-set and they are unable to turn to God.[7] When people suppress God’s will they will believe any lie that comes along to support their personal beliefs.

What can we learn about God from this revelation from nature (v.20)? God is mighty and powerful, intelligence, intricate detail. He is a God of order and beauty.[8]

“without excuse”[9] If a person will respond to the revelation he has, even if it is solely natural revelation, God will provide some means for that person to hear the gospel (Acts 8:26-39; 10:1-48; 17:27).[10]

Rejection of the knowledge of God is repeated in every generation, by every individual. Every person is “without excuse” because every person has been given a knowledge of God and has favored idolatry over this knowledge.

All stand under the awful reality of the wrath of God, and all are in desperate need of the justifying power of the gospel of Christ.

Why then should we be involved in missions or even tell others about Christ?

Although people know that God exists, they suppress that truth by their wickedness and thus deny him. We are to point out their error.
Although people may believe there is a God, they refuse to commit themselves to him. We can help to persuade them.
We can try to convince people who reject God of the dangerous consequences of their actions.
Even if nature reveals there is a God, people need to be told how to have a relationship with Him.
The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20).

Mankind has continually and consistently sought to escape accountability to God’s standard (Gen. 3:8). Men and women would prefer that the biblical God not exist, even though there is an essential knowledge of Him placed within each person.

The Rejection of God’s Ways (vv. 21-24)

“21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. . . ,”

“knew God” Man is conscience of God’s existence, power, and divine nature through general revelation (vv. 19,20). The refusal of people to acknowledge and worship God (v. 21) explains why the revelation of God in nature leads to their being “without excuse.”

(1) “they did not honor him as God” We glorify God through recognizing Him for who He is. And following Him in obedience. Given the opportunity to commune, and fellowship in the glory of God they reject him and turn to a god of their own making.

Adam and Eve when they were in the garden (Gen. 3:8) God would come in the cool of the day and spend time with them. But they rejected his ways and believed the lie of Satan and were cast out of the garden.

(2) “or give thanks to him” Giving thanks to God has always been central to worshipping Him. “This sounds as though God’s wrath comes in response to bad manners: forgetting to say, “than you.” But Paul is saying that we are plagiarists. We take what God has made, and pass it off as our own.”[11]

We celebrate Communion as a way of thanking Him for giving His body (bread) as a sacrifice and the shedding of his blood (wine). Tithing is also a way of thanking and recognizing God for what He has provided.

“they became futile in their thinking” Man’s search for meaning and purpose will produce only vain, meaningless conclusions apart from a biblical understanding of God.

“their foolish hearts were darkened” When man rejects the truth, the darkness of spiritual falsehood replaces it.

John 3:19-20 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

When man rationalizes his sin, he proves his utter foolishness by devising and believing his own philosophies about God and himself (Ps. 14:1; 53:1).

“for images” How could intelligent people turn to idolatry? Idolatry begins when people reject what they know about God. Instead of looking to him as the Creator and sustainer of life, they see themselves as the center of the universe.

They soon invent “gods” that are convenient projections of their own selfish plans. Idolaters worship the things God made rather than God himself. Greeks invented gods that had humans sinful flaws. They each had their own weaknesses (jealously, anger, adultery, lust, etc..)

(v. 24) “God gave them up” It has been described as the sinner being in a boat and God lets the boat go to float down stream. But not only does he just let it go, he gives it a good kick and sends it on its way.

Like a judge who hands over a prisoner to the punishment his crime earned, God hands over the sinner to the terrible cycle of ever-increasing sin. This is not because God stops loving man.

It is His desire that the sinner would become aware of his or her situation. His hope is that they will see the waterfall of destruction and cry out for help and forgiveness before they go over the edge.

These people chose to reject God, and God allowed them to do it. God does not usually stop us from making choices against his will. He lets us declare our independence from him, even though he knows in time we will become slaves to our rebellious choices – we will lose our freedom not to sin.

People who have refused to acknowledge God end up with minds that are “disqualified” from being able to understand and acknowledge the will of God.[12]

There is simply no human remedy for the problem of sin. So, man continues to fall deeper and deeper into son. There is a progression that is given here: It all begins with the suppression of the Truth – No glorification of God, No thanks to God – Thinking became futile, hearts darkened – idolatry – sexual impurity – depraved mind – continuation of sin (knowing its wrong) – approving of others who sin.

The only hope for man to avoid the wrath of God is a Savior.

Conclusion

Cletus and Bosco

_____________________________

[1] Ronald Youngblood, General Editor, New Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, Tennessee; Nelson Publishing, 1995) 1322.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible (La Habra, California; Word Publishing, 2006) 1660.

[3] John MacArthur, Nothing But the Truth (Wheaton, llinois; Crossway Books, 1999) 58.

[4] Romans. Life Application Bible Studies. Illinois: Tyndale House Publishing. P. 7.

[5] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible,1693.

[6] Douglas Moo, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, The Epistle of Romans (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1996) 102.

[7] Romans. Life Application Bible Studies. Illinois: Tyndale House Publishing. P. 7.

[8] Romans. Life Application Bible Studies. Illinois: Tyndale House Publishing. P. 7.

[9] Ps. 19:1-8; 94:9; Acts 14:15-17; 17:23-28

[10] John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, 1693.

[11]Timothy Keller, Romans 1-7 For You (The Good Book Company, 2018) 27.

[12] Douglas Moo. The New International Commentary on the New Testament, The Epistle of Romans.

Michigan: Eedmans Publishing. P. 119.

“We Must Never Forget; Remembering What God Has Done For His People” Joshua 4

We Must Never Forget;

Remembering What God Has Done For His People

Joshua 4

Introduction

Picture of Jewish holocaust tattoo survivors.

Prayer

Memorial Stones (vv. 1-14)

When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. 8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.”

The whole nation was represented, as a man was selected from each tribe, “Every part of the nation must play its part.”[1] Every part of the nation would leave a memorial for the generations to come – each tribe would speak of what the Lord had done. All of the nation had crossed over the Jordan, therefore all of the nation should proclaim what He had done for them (not just the priests, or the leadership, everyone).

God does not want the past to be forgotten – On 12 different occasions in the OT we see the phrase, “I am the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob.” These are covenants that God made with His people, special events, special words exchanged, that do not need to be forgotten.

These covenants, people, and events should not be forgotten because they serve as a memorial of God’s power expressed in the past, but it is also a promise to future generations that this same God is for them, and not against them, “Thus this promise was still a present reality for the exiles,”[2]

(v. 6) “When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall tell them. . .” – “God’s acts of salvation on his people’s behalf must be perpetuated in the memory of the coming generations.”[3] There is a redemptive significance to the events (Crossing the Jordan, the Red Sea Crossing, The Plagues of Egypt and eventual Passover). God is keeping His covenant With His people.

Deuteronomy 6:20 says, “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.”

Exodus 12:26 is in reference to the Passover, “And when your children say to you, ‘What do you mean by this service?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover, for he passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt. . .”

(v. 7) “So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” For the Hebrew people, to be a memorial means more than simply remember, “It involves remembering with concern; it also implies loving reflection, and where called for, a corresponding degree of action.”[4]

Also, there would only be one time when God’s people crossed the Jordan – God would do this miracle and it would not be repeated, “there is an economy of miracles in Scripture. Remembering was a way for future generations to participate in the great acts God had done for Israel.”[5]

(v. 10) “10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua . . The people passed over in haste.” “As the priests stood in one spot whilst all the people were passing over, it was necessary that the people should hasten over, lest the strength of the priests should be exhausted.”[6]

God is doing His part, the priests are doing their part,

and the people are doing their part – all working together.

(v. 14) “On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life” – There were two results that resulted from the wonder of crossing the Jordan. “That the Lord exalted (lit. made great) Joshua in the sight of all Israel and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses (4:14).”[7]

The Jordan Returns to Normal (vv. 15-18)

15 And the LORD said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

In this chapter the ark is referred to by several titles, In vv. 5, 11 the ark of the LORD, v. 7, 17 the ark of the covenant of the LORD, v. 9 the ark of the covenant, v. 10 the ark, and here in v. 16 it is, “the ark of the testimony.” – “The ark contained the testimony, the tablets of the covenant”[8] The ark was a symbolic reminder of the promises of God that He had given to His people.

The Hebrew says of v. 18, “and the soles of their feet tore themselves loose upon the dry ground”[9] emphasizing that it was the ark of the covenant that was holding back the water of the Jordan and the water returned to their place “as before.”

God doesn’t work miracles in the Israelite camp every day – eventually the Red Sea will return to normal, and the Jordan will return to normal, the pillar of smoke and fire will disappear, and even in our lives God may do something spectacular, but life will return to normal.

(v. 15) “And the LORD said to Joshua,” . . . (v.17) “So Joshua commanded the priests,” . . . . (v. 19) “The people came up out of the Jordan.” the writer emphasizes that obedience is the prerequisite for God’s blessing.

Gilgal Encampment (vv. 19-24)

19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”

(v. 19) “on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho” – on the same day, forty years before, Israel had begun to prepare for going out of Egypt by setting aside the paschal lamb. In Ex. 12 we see God’s instructions for the people to prepare to leave Egypt (preparing a lamb, blood on the doorposts, how they should eat dressed in a certain way, etc. Ex. 12:14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations.”

“Subsequent generations are to be told the story as if the event had happened to them personally so that they could participate in all that God had done for Israel.”[10] This is what God did for His people, those that place their faith in Him are His people.

While they would still memorialize the Passover (meal) in the years to come – the crossing of the Jordan ended 40 years of wandering. There is a God who was the God of a group of freed slaves – their power was not in their might, but in the God who goes before them.

God does not want them to forget – God brought them out of slavery, God split open the Jordan and held back it’s waters. It was the mighty hand of God that was with them. But there will come a day, when they will forget and think that all their success was because of their own strength, wisdom, and ability.

We must never forget that we were once slaves.

The Passover meal where a lamb was slain and it’s blood shed over the doorposts of their homes, was forever linked to their entrance into the promised land. They were slaves, but now they are free. They had no home, but now they dwell in the presence of God. They had no power, but now the power of God goes before them, and he is their God.

“When the crossing has been completed and the people had established their camp, their first act was to erect the alter of the twelve stones which had been carried by the representatives of the twelve tribes.”[11] They must recognize the God who did this, and worship Him. He is worthy to be praised.

(v. 21) “And he said to the people of Israel” – The memorial has to be explained.[12] There was a design and plan to the miracle that the people experienced. God instructs Joshua to teach the people – when people ask, “what do these stones mean” there should be an explanation. God has done a powerful work in their midst – so He explains to them, when you tell the world what happened, tell them this. God expects His people to respond to the questions of the world.

God does His part, the leadership does their part, and the people do their part.

(v. 24) “so that all the peoples of the earth may know” – God’s blessing for this nation, was intended to be shared with all the nations. God’s mighty hand, His works, were to be shared with the nations. God’s memorial stones point the world to Him, they tell what He has done. “. . . the account is written not only for the benefit of Joshua’s contemporaries, but also, has in mind those who at a much later time, and often under much different circumstances, would need this reminder of God’s might acts.”[13]

The ultimate reason for the memorial stones was so, “that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” You here is indicating God’s people, but the context also means the entire world. God did a work among one group of people, but it was for all the people of the earth. Also, the peoples of the earth are to fear the Lord forever. The fear of the Lord was to shared, explained, and transferred from one generation to the next, to the next, forever.

Later at the beginning of chapter five, the enemies of Israel just gave up before they even struck a single blow, “their hearts melted.” “It was useless to try to stop the onward march of a nation who is led by God.”

When Jesus was crucified and laid in the tomb, you can put a massive stone over the entrance, you can double the guard, and you can seal it with the emperor’s signature, but you are not going to stop what God is doing. Matthew 27:65-66 “Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” Jesus rose from the dead anyway.

In the upcoming chapters in Joshua the reader is introduced to Rahab when spies are sent in. She explains to the spies that “as soon as we heard it, hour hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). It was her fear of the Lord and hear the mighty deeds that the Lord had done, that caused her to place her faith in that God.

Everyone who the Lord has saved is a memorial stone, and we are commanded to tell of His mighty works that He has done in our lives. When we do, the people’s hearts of the world will melt before us. God does His part, leadership does their part, and the people do their part – tell of the wonders of God.

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[1] George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 2 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1982) 568.

[2] J. Alberto Soggin, The Old Testament Library, Joshua A Commentary (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Westminster Press, 1972) 65.

[3] Martin H. Woudstra, The Book of Joshua (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981) 91.

[4] Woudstra, 92.

[5] Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 3 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1992) 269.

[6] C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, Volume 2 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William b. Eerdsmans Publishing Co., reprinted 1984) 50.

[7] J. Gordan Harris, New International Biblical Commentary, Joshua, Judges, Ruth (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendrickson Publishers, 2003) 37.

[8] Martin H. Woudstra, 94.

[9] C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, 51.

[10] Frank E. Gaebelein, 272.

[11] Buttrick, 571.

[12] C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, 52.

[13] Martin H. Woudstra, 95.

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