Compelling Memories
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Illustration: Memories can be powerful things. They can be powerful by either causing us to feel motivated to greater devotion or, in some cases, they can remind us of terrible events. Facebook seems to understand this all too well. Occasionally, Facebook memories will pop up which are 9 or 10 years old. The recent memory that came up reminded me of a time when we took our children to a place where they could both get into one of those quarter machine cars. One of our children was in the back and the other was in the front. It was the kind of memory that endeared me to that moment, made me realize how quickly times flies, reminded me afresh of my responsibility to my children, and most deeply made me think of my love for them. This kind of memory makes me want to be a better father. It is compelling.
Kid’s Pause - Past Pictures
Such is the case that a passage like this serves. It is a passage that serves as a written attempt to remind God’s people of something that has taken place, but there is purpose to the reminder. Later, Joshua would be more explicit in Joshua 23:3, 6, 8, 11.
And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.
Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
But cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day.
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God.
Notice carefully that Joshua tells them to obey the Lord’s word, cleave to the Lord, and to love the Lord.
In other words, Joshua wants them to have an inner compulsion to obey the Lord. He wants them to lovingly cleave to the Lord.
Long before Joshua 23, the narrator begins in Joshua 12 to meticulously chronicle what the Lord has specifically done for them. He pulls out the video from the attic and replays it before them.
Theme:
The LORD commemorates the successful conquest of the kings and kingdoms of the Promised Land through his obedient, chosen people.
(1) The memories of successful conquest (Joshua 12:1-24)
(1) The memories of successful conquest (Joshua 12:1-24)
Under Moses:
The opening of the passage immediately tells us what is going to be commemorated in this chapter. Notice the phrase “kings of the land.” (Joshua 12:1) This phrase shows us that this advancement of God’s people has a “kingdom” emphasis.
Secondly, the two kings/kingdoms overtaken on the east side of the Jordan river are identified (Sihon/Og) in Joshua 12:2, 4. This memory is commemorating watershed moments for Israel. These moment were of such importance that later, they would be commemorated in song: See Psalm 135:11, 136:19-20
Sihon king of the Amorites,
And Og king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan:
Sihon king of the Amorites:
For his mercy endureth for ever:
And Og the king of Bashan:
For his mercy endureth for ever:
Of importance, the boundaries of these two kingdoms are given to remind Israel of two things: (1) those on the east side of the Jordan are part of the people on the west side of the Jordan River (2) these are locations in real time and space — not some make believe world.
Kid’s Pause: Map of Palestine (noting the East city locations).
Statement: God’s children of Israel were to live as one nation in this earth.
Application: God’s redeemed people should strive to live as one, unified people.
Thirdly, this commemoration reminded Israel that the Lord completed this conquest through his chosen servant Moses Joshua 12:6. Moses was the prophet of the Lord, through whom God gave the Law - the word of the Lord to be obeyed by God’s people.
Under Joshua:
A similar pattern is noted under the leadership of Joshua. Joshua 12:7-8 is an opening summary to the conquest on the West side of the Jordan River, and it too has the kingdom/king emphasis. Notice, “and these are the kings of the country”.
Once again the boundaries are given. Note again:
Kid’s Pause (map noting the west side of the Jordan River)
Kid’s Statement: God’s children of Israel was to be a nation which lived under the authority of the LORD in this earth.
Secondly, Joshua 12:9-24 is intentionally repetitive to once again remind the readers that this was a conquest of kings/kingdoms. While under Moses there are 2 kingdoms conquered, under Joshua a total of 31 kingdoms are conquered.
Thus, the LORD commemorates the successful conquest of the kings and kingdoms of the Promised Land through his obedient, chosen people....but why?
(2) The memory of successful conquest is necessary.
(2) The memory of successful conquest is necessary.
Kid’s Pause (picture of the Judges)
Kid’s Statement: We are forgetful people.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves.
The commemoration is necessary because within one generation, God’s people had forgotten important truths. In Judges, we have the first generation that would have been reading this Joshua 12 account.
The emphasis on the king/kingdom was a reminder that they were in covenant within which they were to be obedient to the LORD. It is not merely a reminder to other kingdoms, but it is a reminder to them.
Secondly, as part of God’s kingdom, they are to be in unified conquest with their God-appointed leader, especially Moses who was viewed as the voice of the Law.
The commemoration of this kingdom conquest is necessary because of mankind’s tendency to enthrone himself (Judges). Rather than obey the Lord, Israel would turn and do that which was right in their own eyes.
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Application:
We not only have a forgetful nature, but we tend to forget the most important truths. As children of God, we are not saved to liberty without authority. We are saved to a new authority. We are under the authority of King Jesus.
Illustration: My wife called me one day and asked me to stop on the way home to get her one thing. I said, “Ok.” When I got home, she asked if I got the one thing. It was then that I realized that I even forgot to stop. What makes the story worse is that from the time I got the call to the time I arrived home, it was only about 7 minute drive.
We not only have a forgetful nature, but we tend to forget the most important truths.
Thus, this kind of chapter, Joshua 12, served as a reminder that this kingdom campaign meant that they were under authority as they were establishing the authority of the Lord in this part of the world.
Lastly, a passage like this serves to reveal mankind’s need for perfect fulfillment. Mankind needs an ideal.
Illustration: Some of our wonderful senior saints have said to me, “Oh, I wish that I had a memory like yours.”
Well, what we need in this story is not only Israel to remember the Lord’s conquest, but they need to be compelled to ongoing obedience to the Lord.
Even with all of the commemoration and the law, Israel still fell into idolatry. This failure is similar to the transition we see in Joshua 12. The transition from Moses to Joshua reminds us of something. Moses was the one through whom the law had come, but Moses could not enter into the Promised Land due to his disobedience.
Often times, in the New Testament, the Law is called “Moses”. This was the way Jewish people would refer to it because Moses is the one through whom the Law was given. Joshua 12 reminds us that Moses died on the east side of the Jordan River and could not enter in, even though he was God’s chosen servant through whom the Law was given.
Understand that remembering the Law, Covenant, Kingdom…etc was good; but simply remembering something is NOT enough. The kind of commemoration that is required here is a commemoration that would compel people to obedience. Memory must lead to compliance.
Application:
What you and I need is not merely a memory, but we need a memory that compels us to obedience. We need a law that not only reminds us, but a law that empowers us for obedience.
Though Israel had a Tabernacle, rituals, and the Law, they were still missing something. They could obey the law outwardly, but their heart was far from the Lord.
Wherefore the Lord said,
Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth,
And with their lips do honour me,
But have removed their heart far from me,
And their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
The Law was never to be the means through which victory was accomplished. The Law was powerless to save, but the Law points is to the need for someone to perfectly fulfill the Law. Just as we see a transition from Moses to Joshua in this chapter, what all men need is the greater Joshua — His name is Jesus.
(3) The memory of Christ's successful conquest is compelling
(3) The memory of Christ's successful conquest is compelling
Romans 8:2-3
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
the Law, the Kingdom, and the perfect obedient Servant all converge in one person.
Kid’s Pause Captain of the host.
Kid’s Statement: Israel needed someone who would not only remember what God had done but who would be perfectly obedient to God. Jesus is the Captain who came as a baby to live in perfect obedience to the Father.
Joshua 12 was designed to remind Israel of the authority of God, the authority of Moses/Joshua; but later it would serve to remind them how disobedient they really were. The apostle John understood this all to well when he wrote what Jesus said:
John 5:45-46, 7:19
Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.
Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?
Application:
Kingdom authority under the Law was required, but Israel could not keep it, and neither could we. It is important that we realize how impossible it is to meet this kind of perfect standard of God. That’s why we need a new law. We need the law of Christ.
Thus, when someone is saved, this means that they have humbly repented of their sin and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
They enter a new authority under King Jesus, and they receive the power to live the Kingdom life. Romans 12:3-6
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
It is through this Person that kingdom submission is made possible. As Christians, we are not looking back to a Joshua 12 conquest, but we are looking back to the conquest of Jesus Christ which he accomplished through the Cross, and we must regularly and faithfully commemorate the conquest of Jesus Christ, but why? So that we are compelled to obedience.
Illustration: Cross
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
II Corinthians 5:14-15
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
The beauty of this is that we are both compelled by and empowered by the Lord. II Corinthians 5:5.
The memory of Jesus Christ becomes a compelling motive for conquest for which we are fully equipped to do.
Application:
Some of you are still wondering why you can remember the story of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection but you have no will to obedience to his word.
It may be because you have never been born again of God’s Spirit. You will have no will to obey on your own, and you are in a dangerous position against God’s kingdom. II Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Empty Nester - As you remember that Jesus Christ conquered sin and death, how does this specifically compel your obedience?
Are you engaged in kingdom work? How?
Singles - As you remember that Jesus Christ kept the law and yet died for your sin, how does this memory prompt your present obedience?
Are you offering your body for kingdom service?
Young Parents - As you consider that Jesus Christ came as a baby, lived out the righteousness your child needed, and yet died and rose again, are you compelled to live a life under His authority?
Are you engaging more deeply with brothers and sisters in the body for the sake of real unity or distancing yourselves?
Church, if we are the outpost of God’s kingdom, when do we commemorate the conquest of Jesus Christ, and how does this compel us?
We generally commemorate his victory when we gather each Sunday — when we open the word — when we provoke one another unto love and good works through singing together, preaching, serving one another.
How should this regular memorial change your behavior?
We specifically commemorate the conquest of Jesus Christ through the ordinances: baptism and the Lord’s Table.
Have you believed on Christ? You should be baptized.
Have you joined in fellowship with us? You should participate in our next Lord’s Table.
Conclusion:
Goal:
Be compelled, as God's people, to loving obedience to His word through remembrance of kingdom conquest.