Spiritual Victory: Five Kings and A Cave
Notes
Transcript
Thanks:
Invite to Joshua 10.
Several years ago at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary a poll was taken among the students to discover the most popular hymns. Coming in at first, at that time, was “Victory in Jesus”
Christians, from the time of the book of Acts, have had a desire and longing for assurance of victory. Victory over the evil forces that confront, combat, and plague us.
That assurance of victory is found promised in God’s Word, found exemplified in the lives of those early Christians, and is found in a relationship with Christ.
(Hobbs, H. H. (1990). My favorite illustrations. Broadman Press.)
But a principle of victory is that they are won. They are won in spiritual battles.
Sometimes hard-fought, sacrificial, smoke and blood filled if you will, all out war.
Christian Quotations Character
God does not pass out packages of spiritual victory sent special delivery to the person who requests them. Your sin cost him the death of his Son; he is not about to hand out spiritual bandages. He uses your struggles to give you a thorough housecleaning, reorganize your priorities, and make you dependent on his grace. There are no cheap, easy miracles. You must want spiritual freedom, not merely for your own sake, but for God’s sake as well.
Erwin W. Lutzer
Christian Quotations Spiritual Warfare
The Christian life is not a playground; it is a battleground.
Warren W. Wiersbe
One old song said, “It’s a battle field brother, not a recreation room”
This morning I want us to notice one of these Old Testament narratives that recounts how victory was both fought hard for, and yet through Divine intervention.
And declared and lived out.
Let’s read about it - John 10:22-26.
22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
This passage found in the latter portion of Joshua 10 is part of a larger picture of several important historical events in the movements of Israel from the Wilderness to the Promised Land.
Joshua 10 is situated in the broader context of Israel’s conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua.
One needs to remember that...
God had brought a mighty victory at Jericho - just by marching and shouting at the appointed times the walls of Jericho had fallen and a great and mighty victory was won that day.
They didn’t have social media, and blogs in that day - they didn’t have news papers and news anchors - but the news of their victory spread throughout the land of Canaan.
There was the slower and less dramatic victory at Ai - none-the-less it was a victory - and no doubt the news had spread
Joshua 10 begins by again mentioning the fear that has come over the Canaanites - not only because of what God has done for Joshua - but because Gibeon had made a treaty with Israel - You remember they came to Joshua with moldy bread and tattered clothes, and said they had come from many many miles away and wanted a treaty with Israel - and Israel fell for it - they were really Gibeonites -
This didn’t set well with the others -
And we see the recurring fear motif
10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
“The cumulative effect of these references is great” NICOT
This fear drives a five king coalition to come against Joshua and Israel
Adoni-zedek who is king of Jerusalem (btw - this is the first time the name Jerusalem is mentioned directly in the Old Testament)
Gibeon’s treaty with Israel brought about fear to Adoni-zedek-
You remember Gibeon’s deceitful treaty?
Gibeon, who, terrorized by the power of God in the Israelite’s victories, came with moldy bread and dried out wine skins, tattered clothes, and dusty camels saying they had traveled a long distance to make a treaty with Israel.
They had been commanded not to make treaties, and Joshua didn’t consult with the Lord first and a treaty was signed.
After their deceit was exposed, God made them hewers of wood, and carriers of water - they did the grunt work -
but they were also a thorn in the side of Isreal for years to come -
Gibeon was much larger than Ai, and their treaty with Israel no doubt brought them some security issues
The answer to this dilemma was a treaty of their own - so Adoni-zedek made a coalition with:
The king of Hebron
The king of Jarmuth
the king of Lachish
the king of Eglon
Together they come against Gibeon with all of their hosts
Gibeon sends out the distress signal and Joshua and the elders honor the treaty, sparing Gibeon from destruction (Joshua 10:6-15).
God gives Joshua a great promise Joshua 10:8 “8 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
Joshua responds by marching through the night and surprising the enemy at Beth-horon.
But not only that God intervenes with a hailstorm, causing significant casualties among the Amorites more than what died by the sword (Joshua 10:16-21).
At times victory is through divine intervention
Retired U.S. Marine Corps General Charles Krulak recounted a critical event in the Gulf War of 1991:
The prevailing winds in the Gulf area blow from northeast to southwest.
If you attack from the southwest, your enemy can release biological weapons into the air, and the chemicals will blow right into your face. It was a tremendous concern for the military in the southwestern desert and a grave prayer concern for many, both overseas and back home.
On February 21, 1991, American forces began an attack from the southwest at four in the morning. Only three hours before, the prevailing winds had shifted from southwest to northeast, exactly 180 degrees from the direction the prevailing winds normally blow.
The winds blew in that direction for four days, the four days of the duration of the war. Within thirty minutes of the surrender, the winds shifted back. That is the unbelievable power of prayer.
Source:
Marine General Charles Krulak, in a message given at the Wheaton, Illinois, Leadership
Joshua's Prayer and God's Intervention (Joshua 10:12-14, 22-27)During the battle, Joshua prays for the sun and moon to stand still, extending the daylight for Israel's victory. God honors Joshua's faith and grants this miraculous sign, allowing Israel to defeat the Amorites (Joshua 10:12-14, 22-27).
These five brave kings who thought their coalition would surely be more than what Israel and Gibeon together could conquer had not counted on the power of God.
They ran and hid in a cave at Makkedah and Joshua said, “Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them”
Do you know what that must have done to the pride and dignity of these men?
Here they were kings and they were going to be sealed in a cave and tended to later - they weren’t even going to put a guard at the door - they were to go out and fight the ground troops until “they had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter”
After these great victories - there comes the time to deal with the issues of the Five Kings
You know I suppose many applications could be made from this story - but I see here the truth of spiritual battle and victory.
It is one thing to have trouble from within - but it is another to have spiritual battle initiated from without
Spiritual warfare can take place on either front
We may have to go out and slay some things spiritually that attempt to take over our lives and bring us under the wrong leadership
We may have to put somethings in the cave and come back to deal with them
But there are also those times when it is simply victory in Jesus and he sends hailstones and confusion on the enemy
It is my understanding of the scriptures that Christians through the power of the Holy Spirit have the privilege to live in victory.
There are some important points to note about how spiritual victory is won from this passage and chapter.
1. The Battle Belongs to the Lord
1. The Battle Belongs to the Lord
One military tactician said that, “battles are won before they are fought”
in other words, victory depends on prior preparation.
One general call it, “Making a good ready.”
Joshua was assured of victory before any sword was drawn, hailstones fell, or any kings locked in a cave.
God had already promised Joshua, Joshua 10:8 “... Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.”
Oh if we could only actualize the reality - that when we are in Christ we do not fight for victory - we fight from victory!
Just as the waters of the Red Sea were parted, the walls of Jericho crumbled and tumbled, and the enemy was pummeled by hailstones - God still acts today as victor.
When the battle belongs to the Lord - they are won - you can declare it
Jesus cried from the cross, “It Is Finished”
We don’t have to fear or fret - our spiritual battle has already been declared won at Calvary.
The Gaither’s wrote:
Yet in my heart the battle was raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home
These were battlefields of my own making
See I didn't know that the war had been won
Oh then I heard that the king of the ages
He had fought all life's battles for me
Oh and the victory, the victory is mine for the claiming
And now praise His name, I'm free
When we encounter ghosts of our past, or regrets, or current failures, mistakes, and blunders - we can’t succumb to the demonic chants of the enemy that we are failures, or too messed up, or not in victory -
It’s then we must recognize - that “before they are fought” principle - that “IT IS FINISHED - Jesus has already won the war”
I love the story about General Jonathan Wainwright
General Jonathan Wainwright was captured by the Japanese, he was held prisoner in a concentration camp. Cruelly treated, he became "a broken, crushed, hopeless, and starving man." Finally, the Japanese surrendered and the war ended. A United States army colonel was sent to the camp to announce personally to the general that Japan had been defeated and that he was free and in command.
After Wainwright heard the news, he returned to his quarters and was confronted by some guards who began to mistreat him as they had done in the past. Wainwright, however, with the news of the allied victory still fresh in his mind, declared with authority, "No, I am in command here! These are my orders." From that moment on, General Wainwright was in control.
Now by victory I don’t mean everything is fine and dandy - unicorns and rainbows all the time -
I am talking about being able to as Eph 6:11 says “we can stand against the wiles of the devil”
But we are also fitted for spiritual battle - to wrestle not with flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places
Christians are empowered and prepared to “be able to withstand in the evil day...”
We have victory because the Battle is the Lords
But you know sometimes we have victory on the battlefield - but we must remember
2. The Cave: Where Strongholds Hide
2. The Cave: Where Strongholds Hide
Remember: Joshua 10:17–18 “17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah [Ma-key-duh]. 18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:”
There comes a time when those strongholds in the cave have to come out -
Joshua 10:22 “22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.”
There comes a time when we have to clean the cave out.
One could make an argument for the symbolism of entire sanctification in this passage - but I would counter that by saying- they are already in the Promised Land - a symbol of the second blessing
I would submit to you that you could make these five kings as representatives of spiritual resistors or hindrances from within or of ourselves.
We could name them:
King Fear of Man - Proverbs 29:25 “25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: ....”
As Christians we must obey God even if we are not in the popular majority
Christianity is counter cultural -
The Fear of man halts or delays obedience because of public opinion or thoughts of what others might say or think.
King Complacency - Amos saw this probelm in his day and with his agricultural charm and with thundered prophetically, “Woe to them that are at ease in Zion” (Amos 6:1)
Complacency is related to apathy - a don’t care or don’t want to care attitude
A numbed spirit in the time of war
Not recognizing the danger we are in or others are in - and what their poor choices are doing to them.
Kings Worldly Entanglement - Paul preached 2 Timothy 2:4 “4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life;...”
Jesus warned about the attempt to be both and A Christian and of the world and said it was impossible
Divided affections will choke out spiritual growth every time.
King Fearful Anxiety - we are admonished to “be careful for nothing” (Philippians 4:6)
I had my 5th and 6th grade class recite these scriptures for their spring program:
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
We should never let worry overcome or overrule our worship
King of Past Hurts - This King doesn’t hide out in some foreign territory, out there in the land of the Philistines or running like a refugee out in Babylon somewhere -
No this king The King of Hurts to hides out in the caves of our hearts and lives and pop up at the most unexpected times
He is as one put it, “the Overseer of Old Wounds, The Taskmaster of Trauma, the Warden of the Wounded, the Captain of Crushing Pain, The Prince of Pain, The Master of Misery, the monarch of memory, he whispers his poisonous decrees long after the battle is over”
This King of Hurts loves the dark places, the unseen places,
He rules with broken trust - the betrayal from someone you loved...he likes to serve that up on a tray for lunch, at bedtime and it will gnaw on your joy
He loves to dish out those old wounds - words spoken to us in childhood, lies that malformed and misshaped your identity - sometimes trauma buried deep - under layers of trying to forget, and block, and redirect, and cope
WE don’t like to deal with this king - we want to leave him sealed up in the cave - but it’s time to clean out the cave
These kings steal your joy
Steal your strength
These kings may not be in charge - but they can control from the cave
They are hidden yes, but not yet fully defeated.
God is calling them OUT!!!
WE must remember the Battle is the Lord’s,
We must remember the Cave of Makkedah - where the Strongholds are
which leads us to the action
3. Drag Those Kings Into the Light
3. Drag Those Kings Into the Light
We must do as Joshua
Joshua 10:22 “22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.”
But we aren’t just making a parade of these kings - no we are overcoming them!!!
We are cleaning out the cave!!!
We can be strong and courageous in the power of HIS MIGHT and come near and put our feet upon the necks of these kings.
It is here I want us to notice what happens to our spiritual enemies - if we are in contact with the Father through a relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit -
We have a greater power than anything that comes against us
I love 1 John 4:4
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Let the kings of this world make their coalitions and treaties
as H. Robb French put is
The devil may boast
And martial his host,
And march in the battle array;
With Christ in the lead
We are sure to succeed;
We’re certain to win the day.
Oh those kings may be hiding in a cave somewhere - and you may be fighting battles with the repercussions and effects of those kings - but you wait - you hold on - for those who are in Christ - we are assured of victory
There will come a day when you will be able to put your feet on the neck of those kings -
Oh I love this:
The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (10:24 Enemies, Putting Feet on Necks)
Putting your feet on the necks of your enemy was a symbol of complete subjugation, and expressed total victory over them. This was also implied by the phrase to put someone “under your feet”
(see Romans 16:20 “20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
and 1 Corinthians 15:25 “25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” ).
I love that Joshua didn’t stand there with his foot on their neck and say - look here we have them - no he said I want all of you to come by and take your foot and put it on the neck of your enemy - if this would have happened today we would have stopped and taken a selfie - at the least we should testify about it - This wasn’t Joshua saying look how great and mighty and spiritual we are - it is Joshua saying - LOOK HOW GREAT OUR GOD IS!!!
SO we have recognized The Battle is the Lord’s
We have seen the Cave is where the strongholds hide.
We have been called to clean out the cave
And now after we have put our feet on the necks of our enemies - we are told...
4. Hang Them on a Tree: A Testimony of Triumph
4. Hang Them on a Tree: A Testimony of Triumph
Joshua 10:26 “26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.”
Now I don’t think God was wanting a sadistic or gory scene - but He does want us to testify
Testify of your victory
These kings are not meant to be tamed, tolerated, or caged - they must be destroyed
Their defeat is a public witness of what God can do in our lives
Last September I had one of the strangest experiences of resurfacing emotional trauma that I have ever had in my life. I told a little about it here before - but its time to open the cave and put my foot on the old kings neck.
Last time I couldn’t bring myself to talk about it - but God has brought healing and victory to my soul. I want to hang the old king up on the tree - testify to what God can do.
As I said it was a strange re-emergance of emotinal feelings - it was like I was right there again reliving the moment.
the negative experience I had in public school years ago.
I would have been a freshmen or sophmore and we were changing after P.E. class. This was always an intimidating and awkward time for me anyway.
My family had made the personal choice not to dress out for P.E. so we would wear those sweat suits.
I remember we didn’t have alot of money so we went to Dollar General and my Mom picked out a sweat shirt and sweat pant outfit. It was hot in winter and in summer. This was before the day of athletic and wicking material
I felt like a big blob going across the gym floor. It wasn’t just the being different, it felt like I stuck out like a sore thumb.
But on top of that the kids wondered why I wore those instead of typical shorts and T-shirt
Well most understood - but some did not and would make snide remarks - I was used to that and just let it go.
But one day one of the older high-school boys walked over to me and for whatever reason spit right on my face. I could feel it on my right check. Didn’t say anything, didn’t touch me - just did that - in my memory he laughed - but that was it.
It was like time had gone into slow motion
I felt the warm dripping saliva on my face
but the heat of humiliation, shame, and embarrassment far outweighed that at the moment.
I was too shocked to be mad, and I don’t remember ever struggling with unforgiveness or bitterness over it, but the message was loud and clear
I was not welcomed, wanted, I didn’t deserve to be there or belong there
I had some of the guys in my class who were ready to go to blows, with him, but I calmed them down.
I couldn’t even tell you who it was or why they did it.
I remember wiping off my face, and washing it - and going on my way.
I didn’t tell anyone - still to this day, my parents do not know it happened.
But I let it go - Didn’t think much about it - in fact you just learn to push through and next P.E. I was more alert -but nothing quite like that ever happened again.
I had forgotten that - hadn’t thought of that in years - had assumed it was water under the bridge - But the old king began to rattle in the cave and it flooded my mind and emotions
It came over me with such force and pressure - I thought I was going to have to get up and walk out. I had to fight back the tears - I don’t think I had ever been triggered quite so forcefully as that from something so long ago and from such a random memory.
Many have been through much worse and far more severe bullying and abuse - but we become whole as we take those hurts, broken hearts and wounded emotions to Jesus.
And I thank God that now my Makkedah has been opened and the old king has been dragged out, I have put my foot on his old neck and hung him on a tree - Not by my might or power
But Because the Battle is the Lords’
I don’t know who you’ve got hanging out in your Makkedah - but it’s time to bring him out, step on his old dirty neck as a sign of the victory Christ has already given you, and then display him - tell about it, testify to it, help others who may have a similar king hiding out in their Makkedah
