Untitled Sermon (2)

Book of Joshua

1:1 – 12:24 Conquest of Promised Land

Joshua 1:1-9 Intro & God’s conversation to Joshua telling him of His abiding presence and to be strong and of good courage.

Joshua 1:10-18 Joshua begins to prepare the people by instruction – particularly those tribes who have settled east of the Jordan River.

Joshua 2:1-24 The two spies interact with Rahab, who protects them, the two spies return to Joshua and give a favorable report.

Joshua 3:1-17 This is about preparation and passage over Jordan – by the Lord’s power & for Joshua’s affirmation before the people.

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Joshua 4:1-24 Cont… Memorial est. pointing to the Lord their God and Joshua is magnified in the eyes of the people. This is done “that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord.”

Joshua 5:1-8 The reproach of Egypt is removed from the new generation àcovenant sign accomplished. All the men were circumcised.

5:10-12 Passover is observed and they eat of the fruit of the Lord. The manna ceases.

5:13-15 Joshua meets the commander of the army of the Lord – Holy ground. Presence of God.

Joshua 6:1-21 The children of Israel obey the strange strategy for the destruction of Jericho, and the Lord gave them the city.

6:22-25 Rahab & her family are spared, according to the promise.

6:26 A curse is pronounced by Joshua upon the man who’d rebuild the city.

6:27 Summary: The Lord was with Joshua & he became famous in all the land.

Joshua 7:1-26 Israel transgressed the covenant of the Lord by the sin of Achan but the anger of the Lord is turned away at a high cost.

Joshua 8:1-35 The covenant is back in right standing. Reset button back to commission of Chapter 1. Consequent worship given at end of victory.

Joshua 9:1-27 Not seeing the Lord’s counsel, Israel est. covenant with people of the land. Covenant breached again.

Joshua 10:1-28 The Lord redeems the covenant with Gibeon by miraculously giving 5 kingdoms into the hand of Joshua & Israel.

Joshua 10:29-43 The Lord fights for Israel & gives to them the whole southern land.

Joshua 11:1-23 Joshua takes the whole land, in particular the northern territories, according to the command of the Lord.

Joshua 12:1-24 This chapter is a summary of Moses’ and Joshua’s conquests of King’s.

13:1 – 22:34 Promised Land Divided

Joshua 13:1-32 The land allotments east of Jordan are recounted. Levi is conspicuously mentioned twice as having the Lord & His offerings as their inheritance.

Joshua 14:1-5 Seems to continue prior ch. truth about Levites not receiving portion.

Joshua 14:6-13 Caleb (was he of tribe of Judah?) claims God’s promise to Him. Multiple mentions of “wholly following the Lord.”

Joshua 15:1-63 Primarily details out the abundant inheritance of the tribe of Judah. Interesting closing vs. about the Jebusites.

Joshua 16 & 17:18 The portions to Ephraim & Manasseh here they did not drive out Canaanites but made them do “forced labor.”

(17:3-6) – story/inheritance of the daughters of Zelophehad is in this.

17:14-18 Interesting conclusion where Joseph’s descendants are seeking more.

Joshua 18:1-8 7 divisions left; instructions given by Joshua to 3 men from each tribe

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19:51

18:11-28 Tribe of Benjamin allotment

19:1-9 Tribe of Simeon

19:10-16 Tribe of Zebulun

19:17-23 Tribe of Issachar

19:24-31 Tribe of Asher

19:32-39 Tribe of Naphtali

19:40-48 Tribe of Dan (interesting details given here about losing & regaining the land)

19:49-51 Inheritance for Joshua

Joshua 20:1-9 The cities of refuge outlined. Pretty amazing.

21:1-45 Levites receive places of living & cities of refuge enumerated again.

Kohathites

Gershonites

Merarites

*Key vs. 45 à Not one word of Lord’s promises failed

Joshua 22:1-9 East of Jordan tribes return

22:10-32 Interesting story à Altar built. Rest of tribes are ready to make war because they perceive this to be a breach of faith.

23:1 – 24:33 Covenant Expectations in the Promised Land

Joshua 23:1-16 Joshua exhorting

Key: v. 14 – not one word of Lord’s promise failed

Joshua 24:1-33 v. 12-13 are key. The Lord had been abundantly gracious to them.

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v. 14-15 Therefore “serve” (worship) Him

The Kingdom Revealed in Israel’s History

· Prior to the entry Moses relates the covenant to this anticipated possession of the land and then hands over his leadership to Joshua. This ‘second law’, as the name of the book of Deuteronomy signifies, once more emphasizes the gracious provision of God for his people as he fulfils the promises made to Abraham, This grace contrasts sharply with the rebelliousness of Israel in the wilderness.

· God is always saving the faithful remnant.

· Deuteronomy is an important book as it emphasizes the relationship of law and grace.

· Nowhere are law and gospel more clearly related than they are in Deuteronomy 6:20-25. The child asks, ‘What does the law mean, what is it all about?’, and the answer is given in terms of ‘gospel’, that is, in terms of what God did in history to save his people. Does God act like this because Israel deserves it? Deuteronomy answers with a resounding ‘No’. God ‘loves because he loves’ is the logic of Deuteronomy 7:7-8.

· …book of Joshua…salvation is not complete until the people are brought into the inheritance.

· Thus the book of Joshua describes the process of dispossession of the various groups of Canaanites from their land by Israel.

· The assessment of the author…‘The Lord gave Israel all the land which he had sworn to give to their forefathers; and having taken possession of it, they settled there. …as he had sworn to their forefathers; not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass’ (Joshua 21:43-45)

· The book ends with a moving account of a covenant renewal ceremony which again stresses the gospel of what God has done for his people (Joshua 24:2-13), and which describes the demand upon the people to respond with faithful obedience (verses 14-27).