Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro leading up to this

God has told Joshua to lead the people over the Jordan River.

He sent out two spies to view the land on the other side.

Now he's starting to prepare the people to cross over.

In verse one we see Joshua and all of the children of Israel left Shittim and camped out by the side of the Jordan River.

He was preparing the people to cross and he wanted to make sure that they were all there and ready.

Verse two tells us that they waited three days and then the officers of the host command of the people saying when you see the Ark of the covenant of the Lord your God and the priest in the Levites bearing it then you should get up and follow it.

He gives them a warning about how far back to be.

The Bible says 2000 cubits which is a basically about 1000 yards.

What is the Ark of the Covenant?

Our knowledge that the ark mimics a throne, or, more specifically, a footstool, has been bolstered since archaeologists have discovered thrones from ancient Near Eastern kingdoms with a look similar to that of the ark of the covenant.

Like the other articles in the temple, it was made from acacia wood (25:10), which was a highly durable wood that grew in the area.

The ark was covered with pure gold, gold that had been treated so as to remove any impurities (v.

11).

Obviously, anything less could not be a fitting piece of furniture for the King of kings.

Basically, the ark was a box fitted with poles so that it could be lifted onto the shoulders and carried without being touched directly.

These poles were never removed (vv.

12–16), probably so that the ark could be carried off at a moment’s notice.

The ark went everywhere that Israel went, even into battle (Josh.

6), and the ark’s constant availability to be picked up and carried off symbolized God’s willingness to go with His people wherever they might go.

More confirmation that the ark symbolized the Lord’s throne/footstool is seen in the fact that the “testimony” of Yahweh would be placed within it (Ex.

25:21).

This testimony was none other than the tablets on which God wrote His law (Deut.

10:2), and this is significant because ancient Near Eastern kings often kept a copy of the laws of their kingdoms at their feet.

The Lord, as the king of all, likewise would keep a copy of His laws at His feet in His footstool, the ark.

Once the Law was placed inside the ark, a lid called the mercy seat closed the box (Ex.

25:17–22).

God knew that Israel would break His law but that He would be merciful and cover their law-breaking to guard those who truly loved Him from His wrath.

Ultimately, this was achieved through the death of a substitute and the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat itself (Lev.

16).

Commentators have said that “blood from the sacrifices stood between God and the broken law of God.”

Verse 4 Joshua tells them to follow after The Ark of the Covenant 2000 cubits (approximately 1,000 yards)

Verse 5 – Joshua tells them to sanctify themselves because tomorrow God was going to do great things.

What is sanctification?

Set apart to be holy.

Free from sin, to purify.

To be consecrated.

Josh was telling the people to confess their sins to get right before God to be pure and to be holy, he's telling them this because this is the only way to see God work to move through their lives.

The same thing is true in our lives we must sanctify how we live And live a pure life before God.

Often Times we talk about revival and how to have revival and how to have an abundant Christian life.

We tend to forget about the sacrifice anything takes in order to be great, we think we can do whatever we want, whenever we want and that because we come to church we are a good Christian and God will bless us.

Just like we looked at that last week that God hates sin God also loves all of us and wants to Restore our relationship with him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Illustration with the two kids, one on the other side of the room and one about to die.

God wants to use you and your life, and he is trying to use you, but God won’t use a dirty vessel.

God wants to use each and every one of us and he wants to show us mighty works but we must first be obedient to Him and sanctified.

V. 7 God affirms to Joshua that He will be used and the people will know that God is with Joshua just as He was with Moses.

V. 7-8 God is talking to Joshua and He is telling Joshua what to do and say.

V. 9 – 13 Joshua gives instructions.

V. 14 – The people start to follow Joshua’s instructions.