NOVEMBER 20 / NOVEMBER 27, 2016
THE MISUNDERSTOOD ALTAR
INTRODUCTION:
1. Joshua had discharged the two and a half tribes from service, and they were then free to return to their inheritances on the east side of the Jordan. They had fulfilled their obligation to their brethren with honor, and thus Joshua’s words of high praise were spoken on behalf of all the people, who then blessed them and bid them a loving farewell. Though the Jordan River would flow between them, the brotherly love and communion they enjoyed could not be severed or washed away by its waters.
2. But then, all of a sudden, there arose an issue that seriously threatened that precious unified relationship to which both sides seemed committed. It appeared that the two and a half tribes had committed a trespass so great that the very people who had so recently spoken words of praise and blessing were now ready to take up arms against them.
3. As is too often the case when disputes arise among the people of God, there was on the one side a matter of careless neglect which coursed suspicions of impropriety, and on the other side a rush to judgment before discovering all of the facts. The two and a half tribes were not careful as they should have been to avoid the appearance of evil. The other nine and a half tribes leveled very serious charges based solely on what appeared to be.
4. Knowing how Satan delights to exploit these types of indiscretions in order to disrupt the spirit of unity in the church, let us be careful in both of these areas.
I. THE MISUNDERSTOOD ALTAR. (VERSES 10-20)
A. THE NOW SEPARATED TRIBES BUILT BY THE JORDAN RIVER A GREAT ALTAR TO SEE TO. (VS. 10)
1. This altar was built only for the purpose of being looked upon, i.e. an altar to see to, or to behold. It was intended to be an altar of witness.
2. It was built with the best on intentions on the part to the two and a half tribes.
a) Perhaps moved by Joshua’s earnest words of admonition (Verse 5), they wanted this altar to be a reminder to themselves, lest they or their children should forget.
b) They did not wish to allow their physical separation to be the cause of spiritual separation, thus they built an altar of witness between them.
3. This altar they hoped would serve as a constant reminder, to remind them of Shiloh and the true altar of the Lord; to encourage the faithful teaching of their children; to prevent their being disenfranchised in the future.
4. Thus their motives were good and even commendable, yet they were negligent and careless in what they did.
a) They ought to have been careful to avoid the appearance of evil (II Thess. 5:22), and to prevent their good being evil spoken of. (Rom. 14:16)
b) They should have seen the potential for creating problems, and therefore have taken proper steps to avoid such problems.
B. WHEN THE OTHER TRIBES HEARD ABOUT THE ALTAR, THEY IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT THE WORST, AND WERE READY TO TAKE THE SEVEREST ACTION AGAINST THEIR BRETHREN. (VERSES 11, 12)
1. They saw this as apostasy, thinking that the two and a half tribes had turned away from following the Lord, having rebelled against Him. (Verse 16) Instead of seeing an altar of witness to an unbroken communion, they saw a rival altar of separation and defection. (Verse 11)
2. The nine and a half tribes were ready to take extreme actions, if necessary, in order to put away the great sin of which they suspected the two and a half tribes were guilty. (Verse 12) This they would do out of holy jealousy for God’s honor, and also to turn away His judgment from the whole nation.
a) They remembered the iniquity of Baal Peor. (Verse 17; Num. 23:28)
b) They remembered the sin of Achan, and the curse that came upon the whole nation because of it. (Verse 20; Ch. 7:1, 5)
c) They were to be commended for their willingness to take such actions in order to preserve God’s honor and the nation’s purity. (See Deut. 13:13-15; I Cor. 5:7)
(1) They were ready to cut them off.
(2) They were ready to go to war, if need be.
(3) They were ready to rid the body of its infection, even if by amputation.
C. THE NINE AND A HALF TRIBES ACTED PRUDENTLY AND BIBLICALLY IN THIS MATTER, THUS AVOIDING A HORRIBLE SITUATION. (VERSES 13-20)
1. They did not act upon their suspicions, but rather sought to know for certain what this was all about.
a) Even if their brethren were guilty of their worst suspicions, it was their duty to try and bring about their repentance, and be reconciled with them.
b) To destroy them in battle was the last thing they wanted to do. Excommunication from the church is always a last resort.
2. An embassage led by Phinehas the priest was sent to speak with their brethren. (Verse 13, 14) Though the embassage included princes form the tribes, the fact that it was led by the priest shows that they saw this as spiritual apostasy.
3. The embassage sent represented the concerns of the whole congregation. (Verses 15, 16)
a) One prince from each tribe went, presenting a unanimous front. (Verses 15, 16a)
b) The whole congregation was concerned and offended by what appeared to be a turning away from and rebellion against the Lord. (Verse 16)
4. Phinehas reminded them of the severe judgment that Israel had suffered for their sins in the past. (Verse 17; see Num. 25:1-9) Baal Peor was quite a vivid memory for Phinehas, for obvious reasons. (Num. 25:7-11)
5. The necessity of their turning form this sin in order to avoid God’s wrath was insisted upon, and backed up by a recent memory. (Verses 18, 20)
a) He warned that for sake of their rebellion, God would be wroth with the whole congregation, and if they did not repent, His anger would soon be revealed. (Verse 18; I Cor. 5:6)
b) He reminded them of how Achan’s sin had brought God’s wrath upon them all. (Verse 20)
6. The sincerity of Phinehas and these princes is seen in the generous offer that was extended with this appeal.
(Verse 19)
a) He pled with the two and a half tribes saying, “if the land of thy possession be unclean,” (if your strange altar has polluted it) “then pass over…and take possession with us.”
b) He appealed to them to come over and dwell where the Lord’s appointed altar was set up, “wherein the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth.”
c) They were willing to have a smaller portion, if necessary, to make room for their brethren. See how anxious they were to restore their brethren, rather than see them cut off. (I Cor. 5:5 with II Cor. 2:5-8)
d) This was good advice. If being separate was tempting them to sin against the Lord, then let them come back and be with their brethren.
II. A STRONG PLEA OF INNOCENCE WITH AN EXPLANATION. (VERSES 21-29)
A. THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES STRONGLY PLED THEIR INNOCENCE CONCERNING THE CHARGE OF IDOLATRY OF WHICH THEY HAD BEEN SUSPECTED. (VERSES 21-23)
1. They swore with God as their witness that they were not guilty of turning away from or rebelling against the Lord in erecting this altar by Jordan.
a) They said (literally) “The God of Gods Jehovah, He knoweth.”
b) Had they not been absolutely certain of their innocence they would never have made so dangerous an appeal.
c) They, in effect, called upon the Lord to slay them if this altar was not built for His honor. “Save us not this day.” “Let the Lord Himself require it.”
2. They assured their brethren that Israel would also know the truth about the matter. “And Israel he shall know.” Israel would know that this altar was not built in rebellion. (Verses 22, 23)
a) If the Lord spared them, then Israel would know.
b) If the Lord did not “require it,” that is, if He did not take vengeance, Israel would know that He was not angry with them.
B. THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES EXPLAINED THE REASON AND PURPOSE OF THIS ALTAR. (VERSES 24-29)
1. It was not built in competition with Shiloh, but rather for a witness.
2. It was not intended for offering sacrifices, but rather for a memorial and for a testimony for their children.
a) They feared that their children might in time come to be thought by their brethren to have no part in the Lord God of Israel. (Verse 24)
b) They were concerned that future generations might cease from fearing the Lord. (Verse 25)
c) Therefore they said, “let us…build us an altar…that it may be a witness between us.” (Verses 26, 27)
3. It was a good and honorable motive that prompted the building of this altar.
a) It was to safeguard against any future spiritual separation, or any exclusion from the worship of God with their brethren at Shiloh. (Verse 27)
b) They would be able in future generations to point to this pattern of the altar of the Lord, not as an altar upon which to offer sacrifices, but as a witness between them and their brethren on the other side. (Verse 28)
4. God forbid that it should be an altar of rebellion! God forbid that it should be an altar of apostasy! (Verse 29)
III. THE EXPLANATION HAPPILY ACCEPTED. (VERSES 30-34)
A. WE ADMIRE THE SPIRIT OF GRACE AND WISDOM IN WHICH THE EMBASSAGE CAME TO THEIR BRETHREN.
1. Zeal for God’s honor, if not tempered with meekness and love, can do damage to the church.
2. Many potential fires of strife have not been ignited due to a gracious spirit.
B. WE ADMIRE, AS WELL, THE HUMBLE SUBMISSIVE SPIRIT EXHIBITED BY THE TWO AND A HALF TRIBES.
1. They saw that an explanation was in order.
2. A defensive attitude on their part could have caused this to end quite differently.
C. THE EXPLANATION AND THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS GIVEN BROUGHT WONDERFUL RELIEF TO THESE AMBASSADORS AND TO THE WHOLE CONGREGATION.
D. THE ALTAR WAS ALLOWED TO REMAIN, BUT ONLY AS A WITNESS.
1. It was given a name, “Ed,” which means a witness.
2. It was given this name so that there would be no more misunderstandings about it in the future.
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