Declaring War on God
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,
that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,
“Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.”
Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
A. The Gibeonites
A. The Gibeonites
The Gibeonites are now aligned with God.
They have just as much right to the safety of God as the Israelites.
In the previous chapter, even though it was a mistake by Joshua, God still honors His promises. Israel made a covenant with Gibeon, and they are going to honor that promise regardless of Gibeon’s former alliances.
Jesus tells a parable about this in Matthew 20 where there are some workers that take a job early in the day and work all day, but then the boss hires more men at the end of the day…the result was all the same, they were all paid the same wage.
When people trust in the Lord, it doesn’t matter if it’s at the beginning or at the end, God’s grace is extended to them all the same. And thank God it is! We aren’t Jewish, and God has saved us, why should He not save the Gibeonites as well?
When others align with God, former ways of life are turned into enemies
The Bible says that at one time we were enemies of God, but when we become Christians loyal to God’s cause, we were then enemies of the world.
Just like the powers and the friends of the world turned on Gibeon when they aligned with God, we cannot be surprised when people come against us as people of God.
Satan persecutes God’s people to discourage others.
The people of Gibeon have made a truce with Israel. The reason they did this is because they’ve all seen the power of God.
And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Already, God’s power and presence was known inside of the land of Canaan. Rahab turned to God in repentance because of His power. That is to say that all of these kings that have come against Israel in this chapter know how powerful Israel is, and why they are so powerful. They know that God is their God and that He is supreme.
That’s why Satan uses his minister to get together the forces of the world to kill Gibeon, so that others don’t get the idea that God is the answer to their problems.
Have you ever wondered why you go through difficulty?
Satan is trying to persecute you, to get you to be defeated, so that people will laugh at God. New Christians are so on fire for Jesus, they’re so excited! 1) They want to be in church, 2) they listen well to the pastor and teachers, 3) they try to start giving, 4) and they tell all their friends. Then the old devil starts creeping around. 1) the Church’s problems get easy to see or someone hurts their feelings, 2) The pastor preaches the word or a teacher comes to correct them and the devil convinces them the pastor and teacher was out of line, 3) the bills get tight and the new Christian won’t give anymore, 4) or you go through depression, a death, a hard time at work, marriage problems, all because satan wants you to stumble and discourage others from following God. Not that you would tell them not to follow God, but they’re watching, Satan turns their eyes towards you…and in your defeat they begin to mock God in their heart.
Satan will persecute people who follow God so that they will be defeated…and by that defeat he discourages people from following God.
B. The Five Kings
B. The Five Kings
Hoham, king of Hebron
We never hear of Hoham again after this passage. Hebron is what’s important. Hebron is in southern Israel. This is where Abram was established and we see the promised land given to Abram
And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you.”
Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the Lord.
So there’s one major enemy standing in the way of God’s promise. It’s the king name Hoham.
Piram, king of Jarmuth.
Piram is a funny name. Translated “wild-ass” (donkey).
Jarmuth represents restoration and provision for God’s people. It is where all the pasture-land of Israel was, provided for the priests, represents the priesthood of believers/God’s provision. It was five miles southwest of Bethlehem.
Japhia, king of Lachish
The name Japhia means shining, splendor, or brightness. In this narrative, he pictures the best the world has to offer. He is literally the representative of the brightest and the best that will come against God.
Lachish is a city much like Jericho. It was city defended by a large wall. Yet, throughout history it was shown time and time again that wordly engineering and defenses can’t compete with God’s power.
Debir, King of Eglon
The name Debir means “oracle”. No doubt he was a false oracle. Pictures the false wisdom of satan and the world.
Eglon is a city and the name means “young bull.” A young bull in the Bible was used to cover the sins of the priests. In my mind it’s that the false prophets of the world will give false promises of forgiveness and hope. That’s something that only God can give, and something they’re going to figure out.
I don’t want us to miss the fact that Joshua destroying these cities and these kings is more than a military conquest. This is an act of judgement against people who refused to repent and turn. It may seem harsh to us, but God has made this clear, that He will rid the world of evil.
Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem.
This is the man that coordinated the alliance against God’s people.
His name means “lord (Adoni) of (Zedek) righteousness”. Obviously he is a pretender. Look at where he is king.
This is the first time we see Jerusalem called Jerusalem in the Bible. The first time it’s mentioned it’s called by the name Salem where Abraham gives Melchizedek a tithe.
There is a major distinction between Melchizedek and Adoni-Zedek. Melchizedek was a picture of Jesus Christ and His reign of righteousness, Adoni-Zedek is a picture of the anti-christ and his war he will declare against God’s people from the throne of Jerusalem.
Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
Here is the man of sin, claiming to be the Lord of righteousness, sitting on Christ’s throne in the city of David and waging war against the people of God.
Not only that, but he has summoned the powers of the world to go against God’s people.
First, he has summoned Hoham, the nobodies of the world.
Then, he summoned Piram, the wild men who live for themsevles.
Next, he summoned Japhia, all those who have the knowledge of the world.
Finally, he summoned Debir, the false prophet, the anti-Spirit and satan’s minister of misinformation.
And behind it all is the dragon himself, satan, who wants to stop God’s people from entering into the land.
With that information in mind, I want us to see how God is going to come when the powers of the world declare war on Him.
God is going to be victorious no matter who is summoned, He is going to conquer the world.
I. In the Twinkling of an Eye
I. In the Twinkling of an Eye
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.”
So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you.”
Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal.
Don’t forget this, that Joshua is a type of Christ. His name is the same as the name of our Lord. He is Yeshua, and He is going to save all those who trust in God and are oppressed by sin.
Joshua has come to the aid of his allies. Look there in v. 9. “He came upon the suddenly.”
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
These Gibeonites, these dead men, these that are going to be destroyed by these evil kings of Canaan, at the sound of a trumpet, are suddenly saved by the man named Yeshua working in the power of God.
In that moment, certain death was swallowed up in victory.
“Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly” and he is going to defeat them.
A. Jesus Comes at just the right moment
A. Jesus Comes at just the right moment
There are kings and powers against you right now. God’s timing is right.
When the enemy prepares to attack, Yeshua comes suddenly to our defense, and He conquers the enemy.
II. In Overwhelming Force
II. In Overwhelming Force
So the Lord routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.
Now, we might show up to the battle in obedience to God, but He earns the victory.
Once I was playing in a men’s basketball league and we were set to play another undefeated team to determine the number one seed in the tournament. But there was a difference in our team and their team.
On our team, we had a bunch of former high school basketball players. But on their team, they had a player from the NBA who was off during the summer. This player was from Mobile, and at that time he played on the Sacramento Kings.
Needless to say, we didn’t play basketball that day, we just watched him play and they got the number one seed.
That’s how the other kings felt against God. For when God gets ready to enact judgement on the world and over sin, He’s going to come in overwhelming force and you’re not going to stop Him. You’ll just watch Him play!
A. God’s Plan For Us is to Show Up
A. God’s Plan For Us is to Show Up
Here is where we make a great mistake in our life. We think that God ought to tell us how He’s going to deal with our problem and situation. We also sit around and wait for God to rain hail down on our problems…but if we never stand up and go where God tells us to go or do what God tells us to do, we will never get to the place where we can witness God destroy our issues with overwhelming force.
What do I mean exactly?
How many of you who have trouble sleeping at night just simply lay down and say, “Lord, will you help me go to sleep tonight? I’ve gotten to bed on time, and now I’m trusting you and asking you to help me just like your word said to”?
How many of you have had a conviction about giving to someone or something whether that be time or money and have done it?
God already has the hailstones loaded, He’s just waiting for His army to march!
These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”
Danny Akin writes this, “In the realm of human responsibility…it’s God’s part to call and to choose, and it’s our part to be faithful.”
And when we’re faithful, God shows up in the twinkling of an eye an in Overwhelming force.
III. In Miraculous Power
III. In Miraculous Power
Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.
And there has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for the Lord fought for Israel.
Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Do you know why God has heeded no other? Because no other has so closely pictured His Son, Jesus.
This act of war by these five kings was an appointed judgement from God. He was ready to defeat the sin in the land and give to His people.
In the same way, there is going to come a day when all the world goes against Jesus Christ, and this will be an appointed time, and they will lose.
And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Imagine the sight of Jesus riding on the White Horse, when all the world is covered in darkness and now all of a sudden it’s as if the light just wont’ go out.
On the day that Jesus comes, and on the day that we reign with Him, the light will be in the sky and it won’t go out.
A. Always Amazing, Never Surprising
A. Always Amazing, Never Surprising
As I have experienced God’s miracles and I have seen the hand of God, I’ve discovered that God’s intervention is always amazing but it’s never surprising!
We know that God is good, but it shocks us every time.
We know that God is powerful, but it amazes us every time!
We know that Jesus is coming, robed in white, but it will still be so amazing to us.
The more I learn about the character of God, the less I’m surprised and the more I am amazed.
IV. In Righteous Judgement
IV. In Righteous Judgement
But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
And it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”
So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them.
And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand.”
Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities.
And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace. No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.”
And they did so, and brought out those five kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks.
Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.”
And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening.
So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them—all the people who were in it. He let none remain. He also did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
In God’s righteous judgement of sin He killed these nations and these kings.
Word of God and His power spread all through Canaan. Those who were left standing chose to make war against God by rejecting Him as Lord.
And it will be same at the end of days. The Bible says that the whole world will hear the word of God, and once the world hears the word of God, the end will come.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
There will be no one that stands before the throne of God innocent.
Conclusion
Conclusion
When sin makes war against you…when worry makes war against you…when death makes war against you…you can be assured that God will come:
In the Twinkling of an eye; He will come just at the right time.
In Overwhelming force; and all we have to do is show up
In Miraculous Power; Where it will be amazing but not surprising
In Righteous Judgement; His judgement is good and He will not mess it up.
