Flattery of the Gibeonites
Notes
Transcript
Intro; Give me your definition of “flattery”.
Flattery- Insincere and undeserved praise or words of encouragement, used with the intention of gaining favour with others. Flattery in the scriptures is always associated with deception.
16 These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
There’s an old saying that “flattery will get you nowhere”, but often its according to which side of flattery you are on, the giving or receiving, that determines what you get.
Tonight I want to look at Israel after a great victory at Ai, and see what flattery got them.
Text; Joshua 9:1-21
1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it,
2 that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended,
5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.
6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”
7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?”
8 But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?”
9 So they said to him: “From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,
10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” ’
12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.
13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.”
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.
15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.
17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim.
18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.”
21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.”
1. Flattery of the Gibeonites; 3-13
1. Flattery of the Gibeonites; 3-13
[v.4] Worked craftily and pretended [insincere].
[v. 6] Come from a far country [deception/ 3 days journey]
[v. 8] We are your servants [trying to gain favor]
[vv. 9-11] The name of the Lord your God, fame from Egypt to what He did to the Amorites, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, make a covenant [words of praise and encouragement to gain favor]
[vv. 12-13] Used old bread, wineskins and clothing to deceive Israel that they had made a long journey and that the news of their God had spread way beyond the borders of Canaan.
Why didn’t they mention the great victory at Jericho and Ai? It would give them away being they were only a 3 day journey from Israel at that time. They gave the time frame of taking several months of travel to flatter Joshua and Israel.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
2. From Flattery to Foolish Failure Again; 14-15
2. From Flattery to Foolish Failure Again; 14-15
You might ask the question, “how many times will Israel fail by not seeking God first?”
The answer would be the same amount of times we fail by not seeking God first.
They took time to examine their provisions but didn’t take time to consult God.
Sometimes what looks like the right thing to do [be friendly, meet their needs] turns out to be a problem in disguise! God had already told them to destroy the inhabitants of the land and not make any covenants with them.
12 Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst.
[v.15] Joshua makes peace in haste. If Joshua had thought things through, he would have realized the deception of the Gibeonites.
A genuine delegation would bring more supplies. [Queen of Sheba, Magi]
They would have brought a bigger group for security purposes.
The servants would have baked fresh bread
Proper clothing would have been brought for the best impression they could make.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
3. Flattery causes Feuding; 16-18
3. Flattery causes Feuding; 16-18
When one person makes a decision for the whole because of flattery, it can cause ill will and feuding in the camp.
After only 3 days journey they reach Gibeon and realized they have been taken advantage of. The biggest problem in this is not that the Gibeonites were spared their life, it was that they realize they have been duped and broken the covenant with God again!
They would lose all the spoils of these four cities and they run the risk of the pagan influence of these people that would lead Israel away from the Lord.
2 and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
3 Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son.
4 For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly.
4. Admit Your Failure and Be Faithful; 19-21
4. Admit Your Failure and Be Faithful; 19-21
“Two wrongs don’t make a right”
Israel would be no better than the Gibeonites if they would have broken their word and destroyed them.
They needed to admit their failure and be faithful to their word.
This is why we don’t need to get too wrapped up with the things of the world. You might have to defend your enemy if you get to cozy with them.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?
15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
18 “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
The difference between flattery and a compliment is the benefactor. Flattery has a selfish motives. The flatterer hopes to gain approval or advantage over the one being flattered.
Compliments, however, are sincere acknowledgments of admiration spoken to praise someone else.
A compliment is intended to benefit the recipient, whereas flattery benefits the flatterer.