Joshua 6:1-17 (NASB) The Conquest of Jericho

^{1 Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in.}

² The Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.

³ You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

⁴ Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

⁵ It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead.”

⁶ So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord.”

⁷ Then he said to the people, “Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the Lord.”

⁸ And it was so, that when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Lord went forward and blew the trumpets; and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.

⁹ The armed men went before the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard came after the ark, while they continued to blow the trumpets.

¹⁰ But Joshua commanded the people, saying, “You shall not shout nor let your voice be heard nor let a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I tell you, ‘Shout!’ Then you shall shout!”

¹¹ So he had the ark of the Lord taken around the city, circling it once; then they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp.

¹² Now Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

¹³ The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew the trumpets; and the armed men went before them and the rear guard came after the ark of the Lord, while they continued to blow the trumpets.

¹⁴ Thus the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp; they did so for six days.

¹⁵ Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.

¹⁶ At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city.

Theme: Six lessons to learn from the victory over Jericho so you will acknowledge the LORD’s greatness in it.

Setting: v.1

1. The LORD’s promise of victory – v. 2
2. The LORD’s prescription for victory – vv. 3-5
3. The LORD’s presence in victory – vv. 6-14
4. The LORD’s prohibition for victory – vv. 15-21
5. The LORD’s preservation in victory – vv. 22-25
6. The LORD’s prediction after victory – vv. 26

Conclusion v. 27

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Introduction:

Joshua 5:10-15 (NASB)

¹⁰ While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho.

¹¹ On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.

¹² The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

¹³ Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “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.” 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?”

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.” And Joshua did so.

Review:

Theme: Three proper responses to the LORD’s faithfulness so you will please Him in all you do.

1. Observe the LORD’s command v. 10
2. Enjoy the LORD’s provision vv. 11-12
3. Receive the LORD’s instruction vv. 13-15

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Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Three applications to Christians drawn from the Jewish rite of circumcision, so you will better understand who you are in Christ.

Background: Response of the kings v. 1

Circumcising the Next Generation

The Priority of Circumcision vv. 2-3

The People of Circumcision vv. 4-7

Revisiting Abraham Genesis 17:11-14

1. Circumcision was a matter for the descendants of Abraham 17:9-11

2. Circumcision was a matter of obedience to God’s explicit command 17:12

3. Circumcision was a matter of identity with God’s covenant people 17:13

4. Circumcision was a matter of survival for every individual 17:14

A tale of two Israelite generations

1. The generation that came out of Egypt vv. 4-5a, 6

2. The generation that came out of the wilderness vv. 5b, 7

Recovery from circumcision v. 8

Removal of reproach  v.9

Three applications to Christians:

1. The priority of obedience to Christ – Matthew 28:19-20

2. The privilege of identity with Christ – Galatians 2:20

3. The placement in the body of Christ – 1 Corinthians 12:13

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Introduction:

Review:

Theme: Four immediate results of Israel crossing the Jordan river so you will be more in awe of the LORD and worship Him.

I. Result #1 – A memorial is established for future generations of Israelites vv. 1-9

1. The instructions to establish a memorial to the crossing vv. 1-5
2. The purpose of the memorial established vv. 6-7
3. The two memorials established vv. 8-9

1. The memorial of verse 8 anticipates verse 20
2. The memorial of verse 9 stands alone

II. Result #2 – Joshua is exalted in the sight of Israel vv. 10-23

1. The crossing is completed vv. 10-13
2. Joshua is exalted v. 14
3. The Jordan returns to its place vv. 15-18
4. The camp is set up at Gilgal vv. 19-23

1. Camp set up at Gilgal v. 19
2. Result #1 restated vv. 20-23

III. Result #3 – All peoples of the earth might know that the LORD is mighty v. 24a

IV. Result #4 – The Israelites will fear the LORD forever v. 24b

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Introduction:

Historical Setting:

1. The Period of the Judges
2. Hannah’s Sorrow vv 1:1-10

Theme: Five indications a mother is fulfilling her role in line with God’s purpose so she may gain greater confidence in her task.

1. Her devotion to the LORD v.11
2. Her dependence on the LORD vv.12-16
3. Her desire granted by the LORD vv.17-20
4. Her duty performed unto the LORD vv.21-28
5. Her praise is directed to the LORD 2:1-10

Conclusion vv.18-21

1. Raising her child to serve the LORD vv.18-19
2. Conceiving more children from the LORD vv.20-21

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Introduction:

Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”
So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the
priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Review:

Theme: Two crucial factors in Israel crossing the Jordan river so you will gain a greater appreciation for the presence of God with His people.

Background vv. 1-4

Breaking camp at Shittim

Bringing out the ark of the Covenant of the Lord

1. The holy actions related to Israel crossing the Jordan vv.5-7
   1. The need for the people to consecrate themselves to the LORD v.5
   2. The need for the priests to fulfill their duties with the ark v.6
   3. The need for Joshua to be exalted as the leader in the eyes of the people v.7
2. The holy presence of the LORD with Israel crossing the Jordan vv.8-17
   1. His presence declared among them vv. 8-13
   2. His presence demonstrated among them vv.14-16

Conclusion v.17

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[Due to an audio defect, the first 10 minutes of the sermon had to be edited out. Sorry for the inconvenience]

Hebrews 7:23-25 (NASB)

²³ The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, ²⁴ but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. ²⁵ Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Theme: Three reasons why the resurrection of Christ matters today so you will understand its relevance to your life.

1.  The resurrection guarantees that Jesus lives permanently vv.23-24
2. The resurrection guarantees that Jesus saves eternally v.25a
3. The resurrection guarantees that Jesus intercedes permanently v.25b

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Introduction:

Review:

Joshua 2 (NASB) Rahab Shelters Spies
1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
The Promise to Rahab
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. 19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”

Theme: Five manifestations of Rahab’s faith in the LORD so you will understand the relationship of faith and works.

1. Her concern for the spies vv.1-7
   1. Rahab receives the spies v.1b
   2. Rahab hides the spies vv. 2-4a, 6-7
   3. Rahab lies for the spies vv. 4b-5
2. Her confession to the spies vv.8-11
   1. Rahab reveals the purpose of the LORD vv.8-9
   2. Rahab recounts the works of the LORD v.10
   3. Rahab recognizes the truth of the LORD v.11
3. Her conspiracy with the spies vv.12-14
   1. Rahab arranges the deliverance of her family vv.12-13
   2. Condition #1 v.14
4. Her cooperation with the spies vv.15-16
   1. Rahab intervenes for the spies v.15
   2. Rahab instructs the spies v.16
5. Her counsel from the spies vv.17-21
   1. Condition #2 vv.17-19
   2. Condition #1 reiterated v.20
   3. Rahab accepts the conditions of deliverance v.21

Conclusion: vv.22-24

The safe return of the spies vv.22-23

The stimulating report of the spies v.24

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Joshua 1:10-18 (NASB) The Charge to the Officers

¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

¹¹ “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”

¹² And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

¹³ “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land,’

¹⁴ “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them,

¹⁵ until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your god is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward sunrise,”

¹⁶ And they answered Joshua saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

¹⁷ “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.

¹⁸ “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Review:

Three Principles for Christians from the LORD’s charge to Joshua

1. He is with you v. 5
2. You must be strong and courageous v. 6
3. You must obey God’s Word v. 7

Theme: Two aspects of Joshua’s command to the officers of Israel so you will recognize their application to the local church today

I. Joshua’s command must be communicated vv. 10-15

Two characteristics of the command

1. The command is clear

1. The plan recalled vv. 10-11a
2. The purpose restated v. 11b
3. The personnel are recognized v. 12

2. The command is consistent

1. The command of Moses is remembered V13
2. The concern of Moses reiterated vv. 14-15

– Concern for their households v. 14a
– Concern for their brothers vv. 14b-15

Principle: God’s people must fulfill God’s purpose – Romans 8:28

II. Joshua’s command must be obeyed vv. 16-18

Two right responses to the command

1. The commitment to carry out the plan v.16
2. The commitment to Joshua’s leadership vv.17-18

Principle: God’s people must follow God’s leader Hebrews 13:17

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Joshua 1:10-18 (NASB) The Charge to the Officers

¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,

¹¹ “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”

¹² And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,

¹³ “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land,’

¹⁴ “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them,

¹⁵ until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your god is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward sunrise,”

¹⁶ And they answered Joshua saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.

¹⁷ “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.

¹⁸ “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”

Review:

Three Principles for Christians from the LORD’s charge to Joshua

1. He is with you v. 5
2. You must be strong and courageous v. 6
3. You must obey God’s Word v. 7

Theme: Two aspects of Joshua’s command to the officers of Israel so you will recognize their application to the local church today

I. Joshua’s command must be communicated vv. 10-15

Two characteristics of the command

1. The command is clear

1. The plan recalled vv. 10-11a
2. The purpose restated v. 11b
3. The personnel are recognized v. 12

2. The command is consistent

1. The command of Moses is remembered V13
2. The concern of Moses reiterated vv. 14-15

– Concern for their households v. 14a
– Concern for their brothers vv. 14b-15

Principle: God’s people must fulfill God’s purpose – Romans 8:28

II. Joshua’s command must be obeyed vv. 16-18

To be continued next week

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