Sunday School Lessons

JULY 31, 2016

 

THE RESCUE OF GIBEON

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  Israel’s current progress in the conquest of Canaan hardly seems commensurate with such an impressive beginning. After so spectacular an entrance and the totally amazing victory over Jericho, Ai was at long last taken, and Gibeon was gained by surrender.

2.  The people themselves may have begun to wonder why there had been so little progress in taking what was theirs by right of divine promise. Of course we know the answer to this question, as did they, and it was not totally because of the whole ordeal regarding Ai. There had been other matters which took priority, important things which had to do with their spiritual readiness, and with God’s honor. (Example: Ch 8:30-35)

3.  The effect of Israel’s presence upon the rulers of Canaan was the same with them all “They all feared greatly.” (Verse 2a) However, they did not all respond the same. Some were inclined to seek peace, even though surrender, while others prepared for war. This is quite typical of the different responses men have to the progress of Christ’s Kingdom.

a)  Some see it as being of God and are inclined to seek peace through surrender to Jesus Christ.

b)  Others will align themselves against it, even knowing that it is of God.

c)  The rulers of the earth see Christ’s Kingdom as a threat, thus they not only oppose Christ and His Church, but busy themselves stirring up others to join them in their opposition. (Verse 3; Ch. 9:1, 2; Psa. 2:2)

4.  This last group is pictured in our present passage. These rulers would join forces not only to wage war with Joshua, but they intended also to severely punish those who had surrendered to Joshua, considering them to be defectors and   traitors. However, those defectors and traitors had entered into covenant with Joshua. This not only guaranteed them life, but also protection. Joshua, who was their savior, was also their protector.

I.  THE SOUTHERN KINGS OF CANAAN JOINED THEMSELVES AGAINST GIBEON. (VERSES 1-5) The kings of the northern regions had already formed a similar confederacy. (Ch. 9:1) They had not taken any action as yet; perhaps they were waiting for Israel to advance further to the north.

A.  ADONIZEDEK, THE KING OF JERUSALEM WAS THE MAIN ORGANIZER OF TH E SOUTHERN FEDERATION. (VERSES 1-3)

1.  Being king of Jerusalem, he was probably the most influential. Adonizedek (lord of righteousness) was a descendant of Melchizedek (king of righteousness).

a)  He had a good heritage and a good name. His great ancestor was Abraham’s faithful friend, and priest of the most high God and a beautiful type of Christ. (Gen. 14:18-20; Psa. 111:4; Heb. 5:6; 7_1-4)

b)  He was for all of that, an exceedingly bad and wicked man. Unlike Melchizedek, Adonizedek made himself the implacable enemy of Abraham’s seed.

c)  Righteousness does not come by natural generation, and nominal righteousness is exceeding wickedness.

d)  See here and example of the awful betrayal that it is when rulers abandon the righteous principles of their father.

2.  The situation of Jerusalem, was one of its attractions which would later make it David’s choice for Israel’s seat of government and place of worship. (Psa. 48:2) It would become The City of David and also The City of God.

a)  Even at this time, while still in the hands of the heathen, it afforded Adonizedek a great advantage. It probably offered greater security than other cities. From a practical perspective, this king and his city had greater security than all the rest.

b)  It was apparently Adonizedek’s outrage over Gibeon’s defection that brought him out of his place of safety. He became the ring leader in forming a coalition with other kings of the south. He seems to thrust himself forth as one to whom the other kings were beholden for one reason or another.

B.  THE GIBEONITES WERE THE PARTICULAR OBJECTS OF HIS HATRED AND VENGEANCE.  (VERSES 1, 4)

1.  The Gibeonites had wisely entered into a treaty of peace with Joshua, having surrendered themselves to him rather than face the certain destruction that was coming near. As before noted, they, in surrendering, had obtained a binding agreement (entered into covenant) with the children of Israel, which not only saved their lives, but secured their protection. This pictures the covenant into which every believer in Christ has entered, which affords him life and security.

2.  Their defection was seen as a great loss militarily to the southern region. (Verse 2)

a)  They obviously saw their great and mighty army as nothing compared to Israel and what they, blessed of God, could do. The strongest of men are wise to lay down their arms and surrender to Him. “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?”

b)  Adonizedek was angered by their defection, and was intent on making them pay. A chief reason why people of the world persecute Christians is this very thing. They are angered when one leaves their ranks to join himself to Christ. This is especially so when they lose one of their great ones to the Christian faith, like, for example, Saul of Tarsus.

c)  Gibeon had witnessed Ai’s fall, but Gibeon was no Ai, “it was greater than Ai.”

d)  Satan sees each and every conversion as a loss to his cause. Whatever abilities each one possesses he sees as lost into the service of his enemy. Let us not expect that he will take such losses lying down. Let us therefore pray for one another, and especially for new converts.

3.  This action against Gibeon was intended as a punishment for their traitorous betrayal of their own country. Satan will always try and rally his troops to make war against those who leave his camp to make peace with God through Jesus Christ. (Verse 5)

4.  Let us be encouraged by the example of the Gibeonites, who, though threatened with death, did not recant their decision.

II.  THE GIBEONITES IN THE TIME OF THEIR GREAT DISTRESS SENT TO JOSHUA FOR HELP. (VERSES 6, 7)

A.  IT WAS A DESPERATE CRY THAT CAME TO JOSHUA’S EAR. (VERSE 6)

1.  The forces that were gathered against them were overwhelming. Even though they had a mighty army (Verse 2c), they stood no chance against so many.

2.  The urgency is clearly expressed. “Slack not thy hand…come up quickly…save us…help us.” There was no time to lose.

B.  IT WAS A WELL FOUNDED PLEA THAT WAS MADE.  “Slack not thy hand from thy servants.”

1.  Their call included a reminder of the covenant recently made. Their servitude was part of the covenant agreement.

2.  Did they have doubts? After all, they were strangers; they had obtained their league by deceit; they were calling upon Joshua to enter upon a very hazardous mission; nothing was for him to gain except the preservation of honor. Adonizedek and his confederacy may have wondered if Joshua would honor this new treaty and come to Gibeon’s defense. Heathen kings certainly know nothing about honor and integrity. God fearing leaders, however, do honor their word, and their nation’s treaties, because they are bound by God’s Law.

C.  JOSHUA, IN HEARING GIBEON’S CRY, RESPONDED PROMPTLY AND DECISIVELY. (VERSE 7)

1.  He could not and would not refuse to come to the rescue of his newly enlisted servants in their time of trouble. (Psa. 46:1)

2.  Not only was Joshua a man of integrity, but God’s honor was in play here. God would never allow His covenant to be breached.

3.  Let this be our chief motive for doing right.

4.  Let this be basic of our assurance that God will hear our cry and come to our aid when the enemy threatens to undo us. He cannot deny Himself. (II Tim. 2:13)

III.  THE GIBEONITES SENT TO JOSHUA, AND THE LORD HIMSELF TOOK UP THEIR CAUSE. (VERSES 8-11)

A.  BEFORE JOSHUA ASCENDED FROM GILGAL TO GIBEON, THE LORD SPOKE TO JOSHUA. (VERSE 8)

1.  If Joshua had any doubt that he was doing the right thing, the Lord speedily erased it. “Fear them not, for I have delivered them (the 5 confederate kings) into thine hand.”

2.  We see here that God’s purpose was being fulfilled in all of the things that had taken place. Joshua’s patience was rewarded, for the Lord was laying the groundwork for the conquering of five southern kings all at the same time.

B.  WITH THE LORD’S WORDS OF ASSURANCE GIVEN, THE RESCUE WAS IMMEDIATELY SET IN MOTION. (VERSE 9)

1.  They did not wait until morning, but went up by night, marching through the night.

2.  Joshua and the men of Israel were not slack, but most aggressive in coming to the aid of their new additions.

C.  GOD DEFINITELY HONORED THE COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE OF HIS PEOPLE IN THIS NOBLE WORK. (VERSES 10, 11)

1.  He aided them in their effort. The Lord was surely fighting with them and for them.

2.  He discomfited the great and numerous forces of the Canaanitish kings. By the suddenness and forcefulness of the attack, the Lord greatly agitated and made an uproar (so the word means) in the enemy camps. There was then a great slaughter, and those who were not slain fled and were chased. (Verse 10)

3.  As they were fleeing from Israel, the Lord cast down great stones from heaven, Himself slaying more than Joshua’s army had slain with the sword. (Verse 11)

4.  Thus, what seemed to be slow progress in the conquest of Canaan suddenly escalated, as Israel gained victory over five kings in one campaign.

5.  The Lord chastened His people when they did wrong, but He here blessed their right actions with tremendous success.

 

JULY 24, 2016

 

ISRAEL HONORS THE COVENANT WITH THE GIBEONITES

 

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  The Gibeonites, sensing their impending doom, devised a clever scheme hoping thereby to secure a treaty of peace with Israel, their soon-to-be destroyer. Because of their very convincing performance, aided by Israel’s willingness to take them at face value, the escapade proved to be successful. (Verses 3-15) To engage in unethical behavior was a very small matter to these heathen people who were trying to avoid being destroyed.

2.  The Gibeonites volunteered to become perpetual servants to Israel as part of the deal, but considering the alternative, a life of servitude could hardly be considered a sacrifice. Their reasoning was probably somewhat the same as that of the leprous men who sat outside the gate of Samaria. (See II Kings 7:3, 4)

3.  Joshua would later sternly reprove these deceivers for beguiling him, but who could fault them, considering their dire circumstances? The fault in this case lay more with Joshua and his officers for allowing themselves to be duped. (See Ex. 34:12) It is easier to try and lay the blame for out troubles elsewhere, rather than to admit that we brought them   upon ourselves because we “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” (Verse 14)

4.  The Gibeonites not only gained their objective, but Joshua and the elders bound themselves by an oath. (Verse 19)

a)  These Gibeonites, being confident that a true Israelite was no covenant breaker, could have wanted no greater security. (See Josh. 2:12, 17; Jud. 11:35)

b)  The Israelites might well have been expected to live by a higher standard than other men. Had they not, after all, published the holy Law of their God upon Mt. Ebal? (Ch. 8:30-32)

c)  May we also, as Christians, who have that law written in our hearts, strive to live up to its high standard, not only because the world expects it of us, but our God demands it.

 

I.  THE DECEPTION OF THE GIBEONITES WAS SOON TO BE DISCOVERED. (VERSES 16, 17)

A.  IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THESE STRANGERS OF UNSPECIFIED NATIONALITY WERE, IN FACT, HIVITES.

1.  The Hivites were a people with whom Israel was specifically forbidden to form a treaty. (Deut. 7:1, 2)

2.  The Hivites were a people who were marked out for destruction by name. (Deut. 20_16, 17)

B.  IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PRETENDED AMBASSADORS FROM A VERY FAR COUNTRY WERE FROM THE NEARBY HIVITE CITY OF GIBEON. (VERSES 4, 6, 9; SEE ALSO 10:6-9)

1.  While the king of the Hivites was busy consulting with the other Canaanite kings, forming a coalition to go against Israel, the Hivite city of Gibeon was going with a plan of their own, one that did not involve taking up arms against the people of God in a war they were sure to lose.

2.  It was essential that the Gibeonites make it appear that they were not from anyplace that had been marked for execution. Had they revealed their true identity, Israel’s responsibility to destroy them was quite clear.

3.  How wise it was on their part to seek peace, the deception notwithstanding. They were the only Hivites to survive. Sinners ought to be so wise to seek terms of peace with Him Who has power to destroy the soul.

4.  The men of Israel came ever so close to detecting the fraud, but stopped just short of actually suspecting their petitioners. (Verse 7)

C.  THE GIBEONITES WERE QUITE SKILLED IN THE ART OF DECEPTION.

1.  In this they lived up to their name. Hivite signifies serpent, therefore beguiling ought to have come quite naturally for them.

2.  Like the master deceiver, they too seem to have had a knowledge of the Scriptures.

D.  IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE GIBEONITES HAD SOME KNOWLEDGE OF ISRAEL’S LAW.

1.  It is remarkable how well informed the people of the world sometimes seem to be with respect to what we profess to believe.

2.  The great error of the heathen is that he does not seem to understand that God’s Holy Law is also binding upon him.

II.  THE MEN OF ISRAEL MAINTAINED HONOR EVEN WHILE KNOWING THAT THEY HAD BECOME VICTIMS OF DECEPTION. (VERSES 18-21)

A.  THE OATH TAKEN BY THE PRINCES OF ISRAEL WAS LAWFUL, AND THEREFORE IT WAS BINDING.

1.  One lesson that we can learn from this is that, as God’s people, we cannot respond to the evil actions of the world in kind. If we are treated wrongly, we must not return evil for evil. (I Thess. 5:15)

2.  We also see how serious it is to swear an oath in God’s name. Such a covenant broken would cause the name of God to be blasphemed among the heathen. Incidentally, considering what Jesus said on this matter in the Sermon on the Mount, any breaking of our word, with or without an oath, brings reproach upon the name of our Lord. (Matt. 5:33-37)

3.  In spite of the somewhat justifiable complaint of the people against their leaders (Verse 18), to the credit of the princes, they agreed unanimously that the covenant should be honored. (Verse 19)

4.  They also understood the just displeasure of God should they go back on their word, and the righteous judgment that it would entail. (Verse 20)

B.  IT WAS SETTLED THAT THE GIBEONITES SHOULD LIVE, YET THEY WOULD BE BONDMEN TO THE ISRAELITES ALL THEIR DAYS. (VERSE 21)

1.  This would serve as punishment for their deceiving actions, and also to pacify the murmuring congregation.

2.  Scripture bears out that honoring this covenant was absolutely the right thing to do. (See II Sam. 21:1-9)

III.  A LIFE OF SERVICE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE GIBEONITES. (VERSES 22, 23)

A.  THE REPROOF WHICH THEY RECEIVED FROM JOSHUA WAS DIRECT, BUT SOMEWHAT GENTLE. (VERSE 22)

1.  His question was asked as if he thought all men to be as careful regarding honesty and integrity as himself; as if he expected even heathen people to respect God’s Law. Sadly, even in America where the Gospel has had such influence in the past, we have now come to the place where we almost expect dishonesty.

2.  Actually, Joshua was by this question laying the grounds for the sentence that he was about to impose upon the Gibeonites.

B.  THE PARTICULAR SERVICE ASSIGNED TO THEM WAS THAT THEY WOULD SUPPLY WOOD AND WATER FOR THE TABERNACLE. (VERSE 23)

1.  This would involve continuous and toilsome labor. Just think what enormous supplies of wood and water that the daily washings and sacrifices that were performed would require.

2.  Yet, theirs was a blessed work, because it kept these former heathen idolaters very near the ministry and worship of the tabernacle. Surely, many became true worshippers of Jehovah through the years. Let us not complain about our lot in life, for we might be complaining against what God intends for our eternal good.

3.  The Gibeonites apparently performed their service well and without complaint. If they murmured about their life and labor Scripture is silent about it.

IV.  THE GIBEONITES RESPONDED TO THEIR SENTENCE WITH FULL SUBMISSION TO JOSHUA’S WILL. (VERSES 24, 25)

A.  FIRST, THEY GAVE THEIR RESPONSE TO JOSHUA’S QUESTION TO THEM. (VERSE 24)

1.  Joshua asked, “Wherefore have ye beguiled us…?” (Verse 22) Their spokesman gave a most reasonable answer. (Verse 24)

2.  Their spokesman’s answer almost makes the question sound silly. A people for whom death seems to be a certainty, will be willing to do whatever it takes to save their lives. God says to the sinner, “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die?”

B.  THEIR ACTIONS THUS EXPLAINED; THEY THEN GAVE THEMSELVES WITHOUT RESERVATION TO JOSHUA. (VERSE 25)

1.  Their lives were in his hands.

2.  They were his servants to use as he saw fit.

3.  May we, who owe our very lives to covenant mercy, find it to be our reasonable service to submit ourselves fully to the will of our great Joshua, the Lord Jesus Christ.

V.  THE GIBEONITES DID SUCCEED IN GAINING THEIR OBJECTIVE. (VERSES 26, 27)

A.  THEIR DISHONEST BEHAVIOR NOTWITHSTANDING, THE GIBEONITES WOULD NOT DIE, BUT LIVE. (VERSE 26)

1.  Regardless of what people might say about them, they would live and not die.

2.  If only sinners who are under the sentence of death would be so determined to have lift.

3.  Jesus Himself commended an unjust steward for his wisdom and shrewdness in securing a future for himself, even though the scheme used was, in fact, shady. He in no way endorsed the dishonesty of the unjust steward, but he did use the fact of his industry to exhort his disciples to make unrighteous mammon their friend. (Luke 16:1-9)

B.  THE GIBEONITES WOULD, IN EFFECT, LOSE THEIR LIVES, IN ORDER TO SAVE THEM. (VS. 27; MATT. 16:25)

1.  They were now to serve the Israelites in the place and manner of Joshua’s choosing.

2.  The tabernacle was moved from place to place, and they were to serve it with wood and water, in whatever place it was pitched.

C.  THEIR WOULD-BE EXECUTIONERS WOULD NOW BE THEIR PROTECTORS.

D.  THEIR SECURITY WAS BASED IN THE SURENESS OF COVENANT MERCY.

1.  Here we see pictured that divine covenant mercy in which our security is fixed.

2.  Covenant mercy is sure mercy. Recipients of this mercy do save their lives by losing them. (Matt. 16:25; Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; I Cor. 6:19, 20)

3.  As always, the ante-type is far superior to the type.

a)  It is God Who takes the initiative, not the sinner.

b)  It is the sinner that must be made willing, not the Savior, and it certainly requires no trickery. (Matt. 11:28, 29)

c)  Full knowledge of the accursed sinner, his condition, his sentence is not deterrent at all.

 

JULY 17, 2016

 

A CONFEDERACY IS FORMED AGAINST ISRAEL

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  Up to this point in the conquest, the Israelites had been the sole aggressors. Their enemies had been pretty much on the defensive until now.

2.  It would appear however, that Israel’s struggles in the taking of Ai had affected some changes, not only with them, but also with their enemies. Before Ai, it was almost as if the Canaanites were simply biding time, waiting their turn to be destroyed. They had heard about Jericho, but even before that we were told that the king of the Amorites west of Jordan and the kings of the Canaanites which were by the sea were without spirit and frightened to the point of complete inaction. (Ch. 5:1) They saw the children of Israel as invincible, because of the spectacular ways in which they had entered the land, “…when all the kings…heard that the Lord had dried up the water of Jordan before the   children of Israel.”

3.  As we come to chapter 9, clearly we no longer see the passivity which the enemy kings had shown before, at least not with some of them. We can only assume that the whole ordeal concerning Ai had encouraged them to take a more proactive approach, and to try and unite their forces against Israel.

4.  However, in this chapter we have two kinds of confederacies that are quite different in nature; one is formed for purposes of war (Verses 1, 2), and the other for purposes of peace. (Verses 3-15)

 

I.  A CONFEDERACY OF HEATHEN KINGS AGREED TO JOIN FORCES TO MAKE WAR WITH ISRAEL. (VERSES 1, 2)

A.  HAVING WITNESSED ISRAEL’S MIGHTY POWER TERRIBLY DISPLAYED, THE KINGS OF CANAAN SAW THE WISDOM OF FORMING A COALITION.

1.  Jesus acknowledged that the people of this world can be very wise in their generation, that is, they often show great wisdom in worldly affairs. (Luke 16:8) The invading army appeared to be so powerful that individually they could not hope to succeed, thus the wise thing for them to do was to join forces.

a)  Though we may see the wisdom in this strategy, and fully understand the reasoning behind it, still man’s  shrewdest schemes can never give the advantage when God is fighting for His people.

b)  When Israel went to war without God’s help, they fell before a very insignificant enemy. But, when they have God’s blessing, one man shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.

2.  No doubt, these kings had engaged in many conflicts with each other in the past. But now, because they share a common enemy, for sake of survival they are able to put their differences aside in order to have the kind of strength that allied forces can provide.

3.  It is a shame when Christians allow themselves to be divided over non-essential matters. In doing so we sacrifice the advantage of a united front against our common enemy, allowing him to carry away the prize for which we are contending.

B.  IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE WHY THE KINGS OF THE LAND SUDDENLY DECIDED TO JOIN FORCES.

1.  Because of the troubles which Israel met with at Ai, the enemy no longer saw them as invincible. Of course, they were never unconquerable in their own strength. It was God Who made them so. Therefore, this was a serious miscalculation on the part of the enemy kings, because once the accursed thing was put away, and God’s favor restored, Israel was as invincible as ever they had been.

2.  The kings of Canaan reasoned that if Ai, being so small, could by itself give Israel such trouble, surely all together they might be able to defeat them completely. Israel had once suffered defeat because of sin, but even after sin was put away, they learned that, as a lingering consequence, it exposed them to even more intense assaults from the enemy. The same is still true with us today.

3.  It cannot be overlooked that Joshua had just recently published God’s Law in Mount Ebal, which would henceforth become the Law of the land. (Ch. 8:32)

a)  Satan’s house may be divided on many fronts, but regarding God’s Law and the world’s hatred for it, there is complete solidarity.

b)  The publication of the Law of God was announcing to these heathen monarchs that there was one Lord and one King over all the land. Their unanimous response was like to that of Pharaoh. (Exod. 5:2)

c)  The world will tolerate many things with respect to religion, but it will not tolerate the publication and proclamation of God’s holy Law.

4.  So, the kings of Canaan responded to Israel’s recent conquest by forming a coalition for war, but there was a second kind of reaction seen in the following passage.

II.  THE GIBEONITES DEVISED A SCHEME BY WHICH THEY HOPED TO MAKE PEACE WITH ISRAEL. (VERSES 3-15)

A.  THIS PLAN WAS DECIDED UPON WHEN THE GIBEONITES HEARD WHAT THE LORD DID AT JERICHO AND AT AI. (VERSE 3)

1.  They determined that they could in no way stand against Israel, so if they were to avoid death they must somehow join them.

2.  There are sometimes those in the world who respond positively to what it hears about God and His Word, while others only have a negative reaction. Neither of these can be embraced by the church.

a)  Some will find reasons to vent their hatred for God and His Word.

b)  Others may want to somehow become part of the church and may be willing to present themselves under false pretenses. The church must be careful.

B.  THE SCHEME DEVISED BY THE GIBEONITES WAS CLEVER AND ELABORATE AND DESIGNED TO DECEIVE. (VERSES 4-6)

1.  Knowing that their destruction was imminent, they hastened to escape death by trickery.

2.  They were very thorough in their efforts to deceive, and were well rehearsed in their speech.

C.  THEIR STORY WAS CHALLENGED BY THE MEN OF ISRAEL AND ALSO THEIR HUMBLE OFFER TO SERVE WAS QUESTIONED. (VERSES 7, 8)

1.  So far, so good, as we say. Joshua and the men of Israel seem determined to be very cautious, knowing that things aren’t always as they seem.

2.  Their recent troubles no doubt made them wary, yet their one omission is quite glaring. “and the men…asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” (Verse 14)

D.  THE ANSWER GIVEN BY THE GIBEONITES WAS INGENIOUS AND CONVINCING. (VERSES 9-14)

1.  How like the words of Rahab. (Ch. 2:9-12)

2.  This sounded very good. False professors can often put into words a very sound confession.

3.  They appeared to have already suffered greatly for their faith, and had made great sacrifices in order to be among the Lord’s own.

4.  We cannot fault Joshua for being deceived by the Gibeonites. Only God knows the hearts of men. The fault lies in his failure to consult the Lord.

5.  Joshua and the men of Israel were convinced of their sincerity by the physical evidence they observed. “…and the men took their victuals,” that is, “they received them by reason of their victuals.” (Verse 14a)

6.  We must blame Joshua for neglecting to ask counsel of the Lord. There was no excuse for such an oversight. (Verse 14b)

a)  Had he not just recently been made to suffer greatly for this same failure? (Ch. 7:2-5)

b)  He had learned at Ai that things are not always what they seem to be.

c)  Eleazar was at hand, whose job it was to inquire of the Lord for him by his breastplate.

d)  He had just come from Mount Ebal and that solemn assembly where the Law was read in all their hearing.

e)  He had returned to Gilgal (Verse 6), where the reproach was rolled away and the sign of their covenant relationship with God had been renewed. (Ch. 5:7-9)

E.  WITHOUT CONSULTING THE NAME OF THE LORD, JOSHUA AGREED TO GRANT THE REQUEST OF THE GIBEONITES, AND HE AND THE PRINCES MADE THE AGREEMENT                     BINDING WITH AN OATH. (VERSE 15)

1.  We can understand why Joshua was negligent and was therefore duped.

a)  It seemed so obvious what was right.

b)  It seemed a rather trivial matter.

c)  It was one of those sudden incidents.

d)  He had recently been so careful in holy duty and worship.

2.  All of the above form a partial list of reasons why we too sometimes become victims of Satan’s devices.

F.  THE OATH THAT WAS SWORN, EVEN UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, WAS NONETHELESS BINDING. This we shall see in our next lesson. God will not have His Name taken in vain.

 

JULY 10, 2016

 

AI’S DESTRUCTION, AN OCCASION FOR WORSHIP

INTRODUCTION:

 

1.  We have just seen demonstrated once again the fact that with God the sanctification of His people takes priority over the swift judgement of the wicked.

2.  Ai had been marked out for destruction long before, and the cup of their iniquity was now full, yet there was granted a temporary stay of execution, not because they deserved it, but because the Lord would use them for the chastening and correcting of His people. The wicked are deserving of immediate judgment, but they are allowed to remain until their purpose is served. The Christian may be hard pressed to know if his progress is sanctification is owing more to his friends or his enemies. We can be sure that God has ordained both to work his good. (Rom. 8:28)

3.  Ai’s former success against Israel, when Israel was without the Lord’s blessing due to their sin, emboldened them to stay the same course, and to erroneously expect the same results. (Ch. 7:5; 8:6, 16) They had no idea that it was actually Israel’s God Who had enabled them. Thus, thinking themselves masters of their own destiny, they became masters of their own destruction. This is the case with all who in their evil pursuits make war against God and His church.

4.  The stratagem which the Lord gave to Joshua was predicated on His perfect knowledge of what the enemy would do. In our last lesson we considered the taking of Ai, now we shall see their total destruction.

 

I.  JOSHUA SIGNALED THE CHARGE FROM WHICH THERE WOULD BE NO RETREAT SOUNDED UNTIL ALL AI WOULD LAY IN RUINS. (VERSES 24-28)

A.  JOSHUA’S OUT-STRETCHED SPEAR GAVE THE SIGNAL, AND BECAME THE ENSIGN UNDER WHICH ISRAEL FOUGHT. (VERSE 18f)

1.  Joshua gave the command with direction and encouragement, though it appears that in this case, he did not lead the ambush, but remained with the troops that became the decoy.

2.  It was not until the pursuing army of Ai saw that they had been duped, that Joshua and his men engaged in the attack. At the same time, the others issued out of the city trapping Ai’s army in between.

B.  THE BATTLE WENT THIS TIME AS IT MIGHT HAVE GONE BEFORE, EXCEPT FOR ISRAEL’S SIN. (VERSES 24, 25)

1.  The death total was 12,000. This included the men of Bethel, whose king had joined forces with Ai. (Verses 17, 25)

2.  Ai’s fighting men were so few compared to Israel’s many thousands, yet Israel, because of her sin, had been chased by this insignificant few.

3.  Clearly, Israel’s victory was not because of their greater numbers, but because the Lord was with them again. (Deut. 32:30; Josh. 23:10)

C.  ONCE THE KILLING WAS DONE, THE CITY WAS PLUNDERED FOR THE SPOIL. (VERSES 26, 26)

1.  Joshua drew not back his spear, i.e. did not call off the attack, until all of the inhabitants of Ai were dead. (Verse 26)

2.  Before the city was laid waste, it was emptied of its spoil, which in this case, they were entitled to keep for themselves. (Verses 2, 27)

D.  THE CITY OF AI WAS LAID WASTE AND REMAINED IN A STATE OF RUIN EVER AFTER. (VS. 28)

1.  In this case there was no divine command forbidding the rebuilding, like there was with respect to Jericho.  Jericho was to remain in ruins as a perpetual reminder of the curse that was upon it, and that it was sacrificed to God as an accursed thing. (Ch. 6:26)

2.  Perhaps Ai was voluntarily forfeited, preferring to leave it as a reminder of their sin, and also as a blessed reminder of God’s restored favor when sin was put away.

3.  It was fitting that Ai, which means ruins, should remain desolate.

II.  THE KING OF AI WAS TREATED WITH PARTICULAR CONTEMPT. (VERSES 23, 29)

A.  HE WAS CAPTURED AND BROUGHT TO JOSHUA. (VERSE 23)

1.  It appears that his capture may have taken place early in the conflict. Perhaps it was standard policy to capture the enemy’s chief commander and bring him alive to their own leader.

2.  We do know that there was never any intention of taking him as a prisoner, or of keeping him alive. Israel’s first king, Saul, would later be guilty of that sin, but not Joshua. (I Sam. 15:1-23)

3.  What Joshua had in store for the king of Ai was apparently intended to send a message to all of Canaan.

B.  THE KING WAS HANGED UPON A TREE UNTIL EVENTIDE, WHICH INDICATES THAT HE WAS PARTICULARLY CURSED. (VERSE 29a)

1.  This severity would seem to indicate that he was seen as notoriously wicked, perhaps having somehow blasphemed the God of Israel after the first battle. If so, the men were likely given special orders to capture him and bring him to Joshua.

2.  We know that public hanging was intended to declare that the victim was cursed of God. (Deut. 21:22, 23) Joshua, in accordance with that Law, conducted this public hanging of the king of Ai, thus declaring that he was under that special curse. The Apostle Paul referenced that same passage in Deuteronomy regarding the death of Christ, showing that He was impaled on a tree in order that all may see that He was made a curse so that He might take away our curse. (Gal. 3:13)

3.  In like manner, Esther would later call for the public hanging of the sons of Haman the Agagite. God had centuries before placed a curse on the Amalekites, and Haman and his sons just happened to be descendants of Agag, the Amalekite king whose life Saul had spared in defiance of God’s orders to kill him. (Esther 9:13) The sons of Haman were already dead when they were hanged, and perhaps the same was the case here.

C.  THE KING’S BODY WAS TAKEN DOWN BEFORE SUNDOWN, AND BURIED IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE CITY. (VERSE 29b)

1.  The body of this wicked king was taken down before nightfall, according to the Law of God. (Deut. 21:33)

2.  He was buried in the entering of the gate, where his seat of judgment had been; the place from which many an unrighteous decree had gone forth. But now the judge over this wicked empire had been judged.

3.  The king’s royal tomb was a heap in the entrance of what was now the ruins of Ai, thus providing a perpetual reminder that his soul now lay in a state of eternal ruin.

4.  It seems that the kings of Canaan were treated with greater contempt because of their great wickedness. Let the high and mighty blasphemers of the earth take notice of how God saw them, and how their last end is portrayed.

III.  THE VICTORY OVER AI WAS PROPERLY CELEBRATED BY OFFERING SACRIFICES OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP TO GOD. (VERSES 30-35)

A.  THIS WAS DONE ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD GIVEN BY MOSES ON TWO OCCASIONS. (DEUT. 11:29, 20; 27:2-8)

1.  An alter was built upon Mount Ebal, the mount upon which the curse was put. (Deut. 11:29) This was to be a reminder that the curse can only be removed by blood sacrifice, particularly the blood sacrifices of Christ. (Heb. 9:12, 14; I Pet. 1:19) The sacrifices here offered were all pointing to Christ.

2.  The altar was to be built of rough unhewn stones upon which no chisels or tools had been applied. (Ex. 20:25) The principles of Godly worship are not subject to human alteration. Thus, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to be preached as it is to sinners as they are.

3.  The Law of God (probably the Decalogue) was to be written on these stones. The Law was written on Ebal, the mount of the curse, not as a means of lifting the curse but to signify the reason for the curse. There all men could see their own transgressions and read their own curse. It also signified how that it is by the sacrifice of Christ that the curse is removed. (Gal. 3:13)

B.  NONE WERE EXCUSED FROM HEARING THE PUBLIC READING OF THE LAW WITH ITS BLESSINGS AND CURSINGS AND SANCTIONS. (VERSES 33-35)

1.  They were divided into two groups, and they took their places, six tribes one side of the valley and six tribes on the other.

2.  None were exempt, from the highest ranking officials to the poorest strangers in attendance.

3.  The Law of God is for all men alike, and its holy precepts condemn all men alike. Thankfully, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for all men as well. (Mark 16:15)