Sermon Tone Analysis

Oct 12, 2008

“Preparing for Battle”          Josh 5:1-9

 

Israel *arrived safely* on the *other side*                                      of the *Jordan River**  .. * into the *Promised Land*                            (  /& their *crossing* was  *..  *a *great miracle*/*  *)                                   

 

*But more  .. * their *crossing* of the *Jordan*                                      *sent* a *fearful message *to the *people                           * who were in that *land  *  *( 5:1 )*

now it came about                                                                         when all the kings of the Amorites                                                                         who were beyond the Jordan to the west                                      & all the kings of the Canaanites                                                     who were by the sea                                                                           heard how the Lord had                                                                  dried up the waters of the Jordan                                                  before the sons of Israel until they had crossed that their hearts melted & there was no spirit                           in them any longer because of the sons of Israel

 

 

& as we *already heard *from *Rahab   *in   *Ch 2*                               *Canaanites* were already* afraid* of *Israel’s* *God*                              ( /& *their* *fears  ..  totally demoralized* them/ )

( 2:9–11 )

 

9)  /Rahab/ said to the men .. I know that the Lord has given you the land & that the terror of you         has fallen on us & that all the inhabitants                                  of the land have melted away before you

 

10)  for we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt & what you did to the 2 kings                                of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan                              to Sihon & Og .. whom you utterly destroyed

 

11)  when we heard it .. our hearts melted                                         & no courage remained in any man any longer                               because of you .. for the Lord your God                                            He is God in heaven above & on earth beneath

 

*But* as we’ll *read here*   in   *Ch 5*                                                  *God* has *something* *more* to *do* with *Israel**                   * *before* they to *go* into *battle*

 

Read               Josh 5:1-9              Pray

 

The *circumcision described *  in   *Josh 5*                                        *took* at *least 10 days* to *complete  */~//  *heal*  

*but before* the *battles began .. God *had to*  * *                                                        renew* His *covenant *with His *people *[1]

 

*v2-7*   *why* did *God command* this *ritual*                                 / /of *circumcision *to take *place  …*

 

*because  …  Israel* is a *covenant nation  …*                                                           & *they* have a *privilege  .. * that *God* has *given                                                              *to *no other nation* on *earth  ..  but them*

 

In   Rom 9:3-5   Paul says this of Israel

 

3)  for I could wish that I myself were accursed separated from Christ                                                                      for the sake of my brethren .. my kinsmen according to the flesh  /~/  the Jews/

 

4)  who are Israelites .. to whom belongs                     the adoption as sons & the glory & the covenants                       & the giving of the Law & the temple service                       & the promises

5)  who are the fathers & from whom                           is the Christ .. according to the flesh                                            who is over all .. God blessed forever .. Amen

 

*God gave* His *covenant* to *Abraham* /                       /( */when/*/ he *formed* the *nation* *..* Israel /)                                         *when* He *called him out* of *Ur* of the *Chaldees*

Genesis 12:1-3

 

1)  now the Lord said to Abram                                                  go forth from your country & from your relatives

& from your father’s house

to the land which I will show you

 

2)  & I will make you a great nation

& I will bless you & make your name great

& so you shall be a blessing

 

3)  & I will bless those who bless you

& the one who curses you I will curse

& in you, all the families of the earth                                          will be blessed

 

*Later*  *.. * *God sealed* His *covenant */~/ promise/*                                                *thru a *sacrifice*   *Gen 15*   *…*                                                                     with a *heifer* /~// *goat* /~// *ram* /~// *turtle*-*dove* /~// *pigeon *                           as *God passed thru* the *sacrifice                               * *sealing* His *covenant* with *Abraham*

 

*Then  ..  *( */even later /*/on/ )*  ..  God *gave* * *                   the sign *of* circumcision *to *seal* His *covenant                          * with *Abraham *& his *descendants  ** Gen 17:9–14  *

9)  God said further to Abraham                                                   now as for you .. you shall keep My covenant                           you & your descendants after you                                                      thruout their generations

 

10)  this is My covenant .. which you shall keep between Me & you & your descendants after you every male among you shall be circumcised

 

11)  & you shall be circumcised                                              in the flesh of your foreskin                                                             & it shall be the sign of the covenant                           between Me & you

 

12)  & every male among you who is 8 days old shall be circumcised thruout your generations                                    a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner                                     who is not of your descendants

 

13)  a servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised .. thus shall My covenant be                             in your flesh for an everlasting covenant

 

14)  but an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin                                     that person shall be cut off from his people                                   he has broken My covenant

 

*Thus  .. * this *covenant reminded *the *Jews                                 *that* *they* belonged *to the *God* of *Israel*                                                      & that *they *were*                                                                under obligation *to *obey Him                                                                      *so as* not* to *break off*                                                    their *covenant* with *Him*

 

The *covenant reminded* them *additionally*                               that *their bodies belonged* to the *Lord*                                              & were *not* to be *used* for *sinful purposes*

Exodus 19:5-6

 

5)  now then .. if you will indeed obey My voice                             & keep My covenant                                                                    then you shall be My own possession                                               among all the peoples                                              for all the earth is Mine

 

6)  & you shall be to Me .. a kingdom of priests                              & a holy nation .. these are the words                                             that you shall speak to the sons of Israel

 

 

*You see  ..  Israel* would be *surrounded*                                         by *nations* that *worshiped idols*                                               & other *degrading  */~/ / *false gods*

 

So *God gave Israel* a *covenant */~/ /*circumcision *                       ( /this *mark upon* their *body*/* *)                                          

 

To  *remind* them  /~/ / /Jews/*  .. * that *they were*                                                  a *special* /~// *separated* /~// *holy nation *of* people*                               & that *they* *were* to *maintain *their *purity  …*                                        *within* their *marriages  */~//  *families  */~/ / *society*                                                   & *especially  .. * their *worship* of *Him  */~/  God/                          (  */this/*/ was *..* *the call .. upon* their *lives*/  )*  *[2]

 

*/You see/*/  *..*  this is *also* *..* *our call *as well*                          upon *our *faith  *~/ * lives *too* * /

(  /read & explain/   *1 Pet 2:1-10*  )

 

The *Jews* had *not practiced circumcision* *during* their *years *of *wandering  */~/  wilderness/                                        *because* at *Kadesh Barnea                                                                       they* had *refused *to* believe* *God*                                           & *enter* the *land  ..  *& they *were *then  *                      walking* in *disobedience *to their God*  *

 

So *God disciplined* the *people*                                                       by *making them wander* in the *wilderness*                                        *until* the *entire older generation* had *died off*                       ( */except/*/ for  *..*  Caleb & Joshua/ )  [3]

 

So *before* they were to *do                                             *as *God* had *called them* to *do  …  *                                               ( /take *possession *of the *Promised Land*/* *)                                                         it is *1st  essential*  *..  *that this *new generation*                             *renew* their *covenant relationship*                                   with the *Lord  ..  *thru *circumcision*

 

*Because  ..  during* their *wilderness journey* *they* were *tempted* to *sin  */~//  see:   *Num 25: 1-8                                   *

(/  *while* in *Peor  ..  Israel joined themselves                         * to *harlots* & to the *idol* of *Baal  */)

 

 

*They *were  *.. * so *out* of *control*                                                 & *they*  *..  *so* angered God*                                                         that *God said* to *Moses   **Num 25:4*

take all the leaders of the people                                                             & execute them in broad daylight before the Lord                                                    so that the fierce anger of the Lord                                              may turn away from Israel

* *

*Can* we *not see how serious*                                           God is *concerning* our *sin against* Him  *…*

&* so  ..  *the *sign* of *circumcision                              became *a *constant reminder *on their *bodies*                                              of to* Whom *they* belong* [4]

 

*Listen* to this *now  …*  this is *so important*                                        *but like most  ..  “religious practices”  …                time* *moved* them *away* from their *commitment*

 

In *time*  *..*  the *Jews came* to *trust*                                      in the *external mark* of the *covenant  ..  */watch/                                    *more than*  *…  *the *God* of the *covenant*                        *who wanted* to *make them  ..*  a *holy people*

 

& *so*  *..*  in *time*  *..*  *they began* to *think                                           * that as *long *as *they were*                                             God’s *covenant  */~//  *chosen people  …*                                        *they* could *live just* as they *pleased  …*                                         *but* they were *warned*   *( Jer 4:4 )  *[5]

circumcise yourselves to the Lord

& remove the foreskins of your                                                         /( your what )  /…  your heart                                                        men of Judah & inhabitants of Jerusalem

or else My wrath will go forth like fire

& burn with none to quench it

because of the evil of your deeds

/ /

/you see *..* God *prefers obedience*                                    over *sacrifice   *//1 Sam 15:22//   ( see next page )                        /

 

1 Samuel 15:22

Samuel said .. has the Lord as much delight                     in burnt offerings & sacrifices .. as in obeying                       the voice of the Lord .. behold to obey is better than sacrifice .. & to heed .. than the fat of rams

 

So *God said* to *them* /~/ us/   in   *( Deut 10:16 )*

so circumcise your heart                                                             & stiffen your neck no longer

 

*/You see  ..  no amount/*/ of *external surgery*                                          can *change  .. * the *inner person*/

 

It is* when* we *repent *&* turn* to *God* for *help*                             that *He* can *change *our* hearts* & *make* us                  *love *&* obey *Him* more*   *( Rom 2:28–29 )*  [6]

 

28)  for he is not a Jew who is one outwardly          nor is circumcision that which is outward                            in the flesh

 

29)  but he is a Jew who is one inwardly                             & circumcision is that which is of the heart                                      by the Spirit .. not by the letter                                                & his praise is not from men .. but from God

 

*When* *John* the *Baptist called                                     * the *Jewish* *religious leaders* to *repent   *                       they *said*   *“we have Abraham as our father”*

 

*They* were *not unlike* some *people today*                                    who *feel sure* they’re *saved*                                             & are *going* to *heaven  ..  because                                          * they’re *baptized* /~// *confirmed*                                            or *participate *in *communion */~//* church*

 

*Listen *please to *each* of *you .. I love so much*                       *no religious rites* can *become *a* substitute*                                        for our *faith* in J.C.   *( Eph 2:8-9 )*

8)  for by grace you have been saved thru faith                      & that not of yourselves .. it is the gift of God

 

9)  not as a result of works .. so no one may boast

 

* *

* *

*v8*   *Imagine* how *vulnerable* they *felt  …                    *( */lying /*/there* circumcised *&* helpless*/* *)                                *imagine* their *faith* in *God* to *do this*                              *with all* the *men* who are *able *to* fight*                                        *now disabled*  *..*  *due* to *circumcision*

& *camped* just a *few miles* from *Jericho**  …                                 *( */right/*/ *next *to* *their *enemies camp  *~/  *city*/* *)

 

In   /Gen 34:24-31/*   *2 of *Jacob’s sons*                                      /Simon & Levi/   *came* into the *enemy’s camp                                                             *& *killed all* who were *lying* there *helpless                  * *they too  ..  *had been *circumcised  …           *                      

 

*Well*  *..  *the *Jews* *knew* of this *story*                                           & *yet  .. * *they still obeyed God*

 

*Therefore  .. * it *took faith */~//* courage                                                * for *Joshua* & the *people *to *obey* the *Lord     but* their *obedience *to the *Lord    *                                    was the *secret* of their *success   **( Josh 1:7-9 )*                                           

 

Josh 1:7-9

 

7)  only be strong & very courageous                                              be careful to do according to all the law                                   which Moses My servant commanded you                                          do not turn from it to the right or to the left                              so that you may have success wherever you go

 

8)  this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day & night           so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it .. for then you will make your way prosperous .. & then you will have success

 

9)  have I not commanded you                                                be strong & courageous                                                                       do not tremble or be dismayed                               for the Lord your God is with you                                      wherever you go

 

*/Let’s allow our courage & strength                                         be our success as well/*

 

 

 

 

Verses: 

Josh 2:9-11

Rom 9:3-5

Gen 12:1-3

Gen 17:9-14

Ex 19:5-6

1 Pet 2:1-10

Num 25:1-8

Jer 4:4

1 Sam 15:22

Deut 10:16