Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Sometimes the confluence of rivers makes for a spectacular photo.

For instance, confluence of Rhone and Arve rivers in Geneva, Switzerland.

Rhone, as it leaves Lake Lehman, has a deep blue color

Arve, which receives water from many glaciers before flowing northwest into the Rhone on the west side of Geneva, carries a much higher level of silt, and looks muddy brown

The place where the two meet is marked by a clear but jagged line that looks like the edge of a dark cloud in an approaching storm

In Passau, Germany, you have the confluence of the Ilz, the Inn and the Danube rivers

Ilz is a relatively small mountain stream with a bluish color

The Inn is a fairly large river flowing in from Salzburg, Austria.

The Inn river has more water flow than the Danube, yet flowing away from the city, the combined rivers are called the Danube.

In our study of the Scriptures, I believe we have arrived at a confluence of several rivers:

In the book of Hebrews, we have looked at the eternal redemption that Christ obtained for us when He entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, and on the basis of His own blood, not that of goats and calves.

This gave us opportunity to look at that long river of Redemption that began way back in Genesis and flowed right through all the books of Scripture and spanning millennia.

In our Scripture reading this morning from , we read about singing a new song to the LORD, blessing His name, and proclaiming good things of His salvation (deliverance) from day to day.

Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.

This God of mighty deliverance is greatly to be praised and is to be feared.

The writer of Hebrews draws our attention to the fact that the death of Christ that effected redemption, has enabled the people of God to receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Tomorrow, Americans across the country will remember the men and women who died while serving the country in order to give us our liberty.

We have a day set aside called Memorial Day to remember their sacrifice.

The Scripture places great importance on remembering - and in fact has many forms of memorials:

One such memorial was the erection of stones...

A long time ago, the children of Israel stood at the banks of the Jordan with a similar promise of receiving their promise of inheritance - the Promised Land.

They erected 12 stones as a memorial at the command of the LORD

Therefore, I would like to preach to you from Joshua chapter 4 on the topic: Memorial Stones

Would you please turn to Joshua chapter 4 - we will read the 1st 9 verses

The children of Israel were on the verge of some of their best days and some of their most challenging days of their lives

On the one hand, Moses had just died - the great and revered leader was no longer with them, and a whole generation of people who saw the wondrous miracles in Egypt had also died in the wilderness

On the other hand, the children of Israel were at the edge of the Promised Land, with God’s assurance that many blessings awaited them.

Humanly speaking - it was one of the hardest times to enter the promised land - but where God had good things in store - it was a land flowing with milk and honey

humanly speaking - one of the hardest times to enter the promised land - but where he has good things in store - milk and honey

As we work our way through this account, we must remember that, good circumstances and bad are of no consequence to God:

He is Sovereign: He is in the charge of the flood waters

He is Steadfast: He is faithful to His promises - what He has said He will do

He is our Security: We are safe when we obey His commands regardless of the circumstances.

He is Strong: His power alone is sufficient, and we must remember His mighty deliverances.

The crossing of the Jordan was not just historic, it was an very important event in the life of the children of Israel in its immediate context.

As we work our way through this account, we must remember that

good circumstances and bad are of no consequence to God - He is in the charge of the flood waters

The Promised Land lay before them, but the nations that surrounded them had giants, and were very strong.

In addition, the swelling Jordan which overflowed its banks at this time of the year stood between them and God’s promises.

The crossing of the Jordan was not just a miraculous event, it played a significant role in the redemptive history of Israel

That is why God commanded them to establish a memorial

There are several important examples of Biblical memorials...

Biblical memorials:

they hurried to the battle

12 men - ch 3:12 - chosen men - strong backs - carry the stones out of the water - Gilgal about 8 miles away

Iwo Jima, Lincoln, Jefferson, Washington monument, Vietnam, Holocaust, 911 memorial, pink for breast cancer etc.

Reformation, The Lord’s Day, Communion

dedication of the temple

- test and refine the faith of the Israelites

Man’s responsibility?

Motive of the conquest

wait, watch, wash, walk, witness

- memorial for our deliverance

what sinful habit has the Lord delivered you from?

smoking, drinking, gambling, lying, swearing, drugs, bitterness, jealousy, complaining

Do you remember when God delivered you?

Men would choose gold/sliver, but God chose just commonly available stones - set them apart for a most holy purpose

Biblical memorials:

Day:

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Day

Memorial Day - gone to war that we might have liberty

Writing

Personal Diary

Name

Offering

When we give to the LORD, though it is consumed quickly, it remains a memorial before the everlasting God

Name engraved on a stone

God’s people are inscribed on the palms of His hands...

But here in Joshua, we are concerned with the Stones of Memorial...

Look at v.7

The account of crossing the Jordan actually begins in chapter 3

When you read through this account, what you discover is that the emphasis is something that you might not have expected...

The focus is on the “ark of the covenant”

Chapter 3: v.3, v.6 (2x), v.8, v.11, v.13, v.14, v.15 (2x), v.17

Chapter 4: v.5, v.7, v.9, v.10, v.11, v.16, v.18

Ark of the covenant represented the presence of God

It went before them into the waters

It was brought up last after all Israel had safely crossed over

When God is about to bring about a mighty deliverance, He prepares not only the circumstances, but also the people

The people had to wait

Josh 3:

v.1 “lodged there” - why? why not take them straight through?

v.2 “end of three days”

Wait and contemplate the impossibility

The people had to watch

Josh 4:3

“when you see the ark of the covenant”

*

Their eyes were to be on the LORD - as we saw the emphasis was on what God was about to do - the ark was the representation of His presence

The people had to consecrate

“Consecrate yourselves” - cleansing, setting apart, consecration

The commander had to command

Josh 3:

Throughout this narrative, you will find that there is complete obedience

LORD commands Joshua to command the priests, and he obeys

The priests obey Joshua’s command

The 12 men obey the command

All Israel obeys