MAY 8, 2016
FIRST THINGS FIRST – REINSTATING SACRED ORDINANCES
INTRODUCTION:
1. The children of Israel passed over Jordan into the land of promise with about forty thousand troops prepared for war leading the way. They passed over before the Lord unto battle. (Ch. 4:13) Surely, the plan would be to move swiftly, and set the battle in array. Conventional wisdom would certainly suggest that the time was right.
a) Israel’s troops were pumped and ready; their confidence and courage were now at an all-time high, and that, for obvious reasons.
b) Their enemies, on the other hand, were, for the same obvious reasons totally frightened and dispirited, making them easy prey. (Verse 1)
2. Human wisdom would say, “Strike while the iron is hot,” but divine wisdom had other priorities. God’s ways might appear foolish in the eyes of men, but they are higher, and always wiser, even though to natural men they are past finding out. (Isa. 55:8) We are always wise to make God’s priorities our own. Before Israel’s troops could engage in battle they must be battle ready. Even though God had assured them that He would give them victory, they were not yet ready, that is, they were not spiritually ready.
a) Other important matters had to be put on hold, first of all, until a memorial be erected to perpetuate God’s honor and glory. (Ch. 4:19-24)
b) Then secondly, important religious observances had been discontinued during their forty years in the wilderness. These must now be reinstated before they could expect God’s blessing in going forward to possess the land.
I. THE RITE OF CIRCUMCISION MUST NOW BE RESTORED. (VERSES 2-9) Circumcision was the seal of the covenant made with Abraham by which his natural seed were distinguished from all other nations and peoples of the earth. (Gen. 17:11) It was the sign of the promissory part of the covenant which secured to Abraham’s seed the Promised Land. (Gen. 17:8) This explains why it must now be reinstated before the conquest officially begins.
A. THE ORDINANCE HAD NOT BEEN KEPT SINCE GOD REVOKED THE COVENANT AT KADESH-BARNEA. (NUM. 14:32-34)
1. When Israel, after repeated provocations, did at length consummate their rebellion by despising the Promised Land in their refusal to advance beyond Kadesh-Barnea, God swore that they should not enter in, and condemned that generation of Israelites to perish in the wilderness.
2. God said to them, “Ye shall know my breach of promise,” that is, “Ye shall know my REVOKING,” by which He meant the revoking of the covenant promise made to Abraham.
3. This means that for those many years in the wilderness, when Israel was in a state of apostasy, their children were denied the sign of the covenant.
4. This is not to say that every token of God’s mercy was withdrawn from them. They had Moses; they had daily provision of manna; they had the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire; they had the tabernacle; they had that Rock which followed them, even Christ. (I Cor. 10:4) These were all just so many intimations that God would yet restore covenant favor to their children.
5. The passage of Jordon, which God gave by a mighty miracle, was clear proof that God’s favor was once more restored, and that Jehovah had resumed His covenant relationship with the new generation.
6. Clearly, the reason that the rite of circumcision was to be restored at this time is because the promise of which it was instituted as a seal was performed.
a) As they emerged from the river of death, judgment was now behind them, the sentence pronounced on their fathers had been completed.
b) They were now fit subjects to receive the sign of the covenant in their flesh.
c) Circumcision was also a prerequisite to observance of the Passover feast, which must also now be reinstated. (Ex. 12:48, 49)
B. THIS REINSTATEMENT OF THIS RITE AT THIS TIME NOT ACCORDING TO MAN’S WISDOM, BUT GOD’S.“At that time, the Lord said…”
1. Had Joshua consulted flesh and blood about this matter he would most assuredly have been advised not to do this at this time.
a) To render all of the fighting men unable to fight at the very time when they are needed is, to the natural mind, foolishness.
b) To essentially forfeit all of the aforementioned advantages that they had been given over their enemies, only to make themselves virtually “sitting ducks” before them, makes no sense according to human reason.
2. Joshua, however, did not consult with flesh and blood, but acted according to God’s instructions, which to the spiritually minded, is true wisdom.
a) In God’s economy, obedience is always preferred before expedience. The reason that circumcision was suspended was now past, therefore it must be made a first priority.
b) They must learn that with God, spiritual readiness is first and foremost, since with His cause it is not by power nor by might, but by His Spirit that victories are won.
c) We must learn that with the church neither safety nor success are dependent upon our strategy, timing, strength, intellect, or anything else which men put their trust in. Only God can give us these things. (Eccl. 9:11)
d) God would teach them and us that neither the camp of Israel nor the church is governed according to human wisdom.
C. IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT THIS IS CALLED THE SECOND CIRCUMCISION. (VERSE 2b)
1. The reason why it is called the second circumcision is explained. (Verses 4-7)
a) None were circumcised a second time.
b) Their fathers had been circumcised, but they had not, thus this is the second time.
2. What is the significance of this?
a) It is typical of the spiritual circumcision by which the true Israel of God are circumcised when we enter into the Gospel rest. (Col. 2:10, 11; Rom. 2:29; Phil. 3:3)
b) This heart circumcision is what God ever required of His people. (Jer. 4:4, 14) Heart circumcision speaks of regeneration, by which the old heart and its love of sin is removed, and a new heart is given in its place. (Ezek. 36:26, 27)
D. BY THIS SECOND CIRCUMCISION, THE REPROACH OF EGYPT WAS ROLLED AWAY. (VERSE 9)
1. They were hereby declared God’s free people, having the seal of the covenant in their flesh.
2. Their arrival into the Land of Promise rolled away the reproach of the Egyptians. When God brings all of His redeemed people into the heavenly Canaan every taunting, mocking tongue will be stopped forever.
3. This was done prior to their keeping of the Passover. This too is significant.
a) None were eligible to take part in the feast who had not first been circumcised.
b) None have any part in Christ’s atonement except those who come to regeneration, putting off the old man, which is corrupt, and putting on the new man. (Eph. 4:22-24)
c) None are eligible to take the Lord’s Supper who are not regenerate, i.e. who have not received heart circumcision.
II. THE PASSOVER MUST NOW BE KEPT. (VERSES 10-15)
A. THE SOLEMN FEAST WAS KEPT AS APPOINTED, AND AT THE TIME APPOINTED. (VERSES 10; EX. 12:1-6)
1. Providence had brought them into the land at the exact time appointed.
2. God’s goodness had removed all hindrances and prohibitions. The sentence of judgment was completed; the covenant promise had been renewed; the rite of circumcision had been reinstated.
3. The Passover was kept as a remembrance and a commemoration. (Ex. 12:14, 26, 27, 42)
4. The Passover was also kept in anticipation. (I Cor. 5:7; Col. 1:12-14)
B. THEY KEPT THE PASSOVER IN THE PLAINS OF JERICHO.
1. In defiance of the Canaanites round about them, yet they enjoyed God’s special protection. (Ex. 34:24)
2. The Lord prepared a table before them in the presence of their enemies. (Psa. 23:5)
3. God grants special protection for His children as they walk in obedience to Him.
C. PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD. (VERSES 11, 12)
1. After the Passover they were to keep the feast of unleavened bread seven days (Ex. 12:18-20) which they could not do when they had nothing but manna.
2. The feast of unleavened bread presented the immediate need for the old corn, but the provision would accommodate them for a whole year.
3. These gracious provisions God had promised to them long beforehand. (Deut. 6:10, 11)
a) Nothing needful would they lack, for God saw to it. So it is with us, nothing is left to chance. (Phil. 4:19)
b) Proverbs 13:22 says, “The wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.” The grain was probably in granaries that the people abandoned as they took refuge in the walled cities.
III. THE CAPTAIN OF THE LORD’S HOSTS NOW APPEARS TO JOSHUA. (VERSES 13-15)
A. HERE GOD MANIFESTS HIMSELF TO JOSHUA.
1. As the Lord manifested Himself and spoke to Moses in the burning bush, He here manifests Himself to Joshua, and speaks to Him as a man of war.
2. Neither Moses nor Joshua knew who or what they were seeing until the Lord revealed Himself.
3. In both cases they were commanded to remove the shoes from off their feet for they were in the presence of deity.
4. It was none other than Jesus Christ Who spoke from the bush to Moses, and so it is the preincarnate Christ Who here stands before Joshua.
B. HOW OVERWHELMED AND ALSO OVERJOYED JOSHUA MUST HAVE BEEN WITH THE LORD’S ANSWER TO HIS ENQUIRY. (VERSES 13, 14)
1. Joshua was struck with awe when this Mighty One spoke. He fell down before Him in worship.
2. Joshua was not at all envious or jealous to have his title assumed by this magnificent and divine Person. He offered no protest or argument, only complete submission and gratitude.
3. Perhaps Joshua was just then surveying the situation, asking how are we to go about taking Jericho, when there appeared One Who had all of the answers.
4. Let us gladly worship and bow down before our great Captain, and be ever grateful that He is not against us, He is not our adversary, but He is for us; He is our conquering Captain, Who leads us on to victory.
Speak Your Mind