Joshua (The City of Refuge)
Notes
Transcript
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
OVERVIEW OF JOSHUA
First of the twelve historical books (Joshua-Esther)
The Law — Genesis // Exodus // Leviticus // Numbers // Deuteronomy
History — Joshua // Judges // Ruth // 1 & 2 Samuel // 1 & 2 Kings // 1 & 2 Chronicles // Ezra // Nehemiah // Esther
Poetic — Job // Psalms // Proverbs // Ecclesiastes // Song of Solomon
Prophets —
Major: Isaiah // Jeremiah // Lamentations // Ezekiel // Daniel
Minor: Hosea // Joel // Amos // Obadiah // Jonah // Micah // Nahum // Habakkuk // Zephaniah // Haggai // Zechariah // Malachi
TITLE: Joshua, named after it’s central figure
Joshua is the successor to Moses, leading the people into the Promised Land and ruling them
AUTHOR: Joshua
DATE: 1405-1390BC
Joshua 1-5 = 1 month
Joshua 6-13:7 = 7 years
Joshua 13:8-24:33 = 8 years
AUDIENCE: A historical record for the people of Israel
MAIN PEOPLE:
Joshua
Caleb
The nation of Israel
MAIN EVENTS:
Joshua succeeding Moses
Spying out the Promised Land (12 spies)
Rahab protects the spies during this time, earning her a place in the Hall of Faith
Crossing the Jordan River on dry land
The Fall of Jericho
Disobedience with the devoted things of Jericho resulting in defeat at the Battle of Ai
Conquering the land of Canaan, the Promised Land
Dividing the land among the tribes
Joshua’s farewell address and death
LOCATION:
The Jordan River (Joshua 1-5)
Canaan (Joshua 6-13:7)
The twelve tribes situated on Both sides of the Jordan (Joshua 13:8-24:33)
MAIN THEME:
Victory comes through faith in God, not through military might or numerical superiority
The ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to His people, as they enter Canaan and settle the Promise Land
The promise was made ~500 years prior, and is finally coming true.
OUTLINE OF BOOK:
Conquest — Joshua 1:1-13:7 — records the preparation of Joshua and the people to conquer Canaan
Settlement — Joshua 13:8-24:33 — records the division of the land among the 12 tribes of Israel
TYPOLOGIES:
Joshua
Joshua’s original name is Hoshea (Numbers 13:8, Salvation), but Moses changes it to Yehoshua (Numbers 13:16, Yahweh is Salvation).
Yeshua is a shortened version of Yehoshua.
Yehoshua is the Hebrew equivalent to the Greek word Iesous (Jesus)
Joshua also leads the people into the Promised Land, as Jesus does the same for us
The Commander of the Lord’s Army = Christophany (an Old Testament appearance of Jesus) Joshua 5:15
The cities of Refuge — Joshua 20
1 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, ‘Appoint the cities of refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses, 3 that the manslayer who strikes any person without intent or unknowingly may flee there. They shall be for you a refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the entrance of the gate of the city and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they shall take him into the city and give him a place, and he shall remain with them. 5 And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they shall not give up the manslayer into his hand, because he struck his neighbor unknowingly, and did not hate him in the past. 6 And he shall remain in that city until he has stood before the congregation for judgment, until the death of him who is high priest at the time. Then the manslayer may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.’ ”
18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
JESUS AND THE CITIES OF REFUGE
Both are within easy reach of the needy person
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Both are open to everyone
9 These were the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone who killed a person without intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation.
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Both became a place where the one in need would live
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
Both are the only alternative for the one in need
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Both provide protection within their boundaries
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Both have full freedom come with the death of the High Priest
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
A CRUCIAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN JESUS AND THE CITIES OF REFUGE
The cities of refuge only helped the innocent, but the guilty can come to Jesus and find refuge.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.