Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and he and all the sons of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, and they lodged there before they crossed. At the end of three days the officers went through the midst of the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”
Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.” And Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
Now the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you. You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” Then Joshua said to the sons of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the Lord your God.” Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will assuredly dispossess from before you the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Hivite, the Perizzite, the Girgashite, the Amorite, and the Jebusite. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over ahead of you into the Jordan. Now then, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. It shall come about when the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and the waters which are flowing down from above will stand in one heap.”
So when the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan with the
priests carrying the ark of the covenant before the people, and when those who carried the ark came into the Jordan, and the feet of the priests carrying the ark were dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of harvest), the waters which were flowing down from above stood and rose up in one heap, a great distance away at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan; and those which were flowing down toward the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
Review:
Theme: Two crucial factors in Israel crossing the Jordan river so you will gain a greater appreciation for the presence of God with His people.
Background vv. 1-4
Breaking camp at Shittim
Bringing out the ark of the Covenant of the Lord
The holy actions related to Israel crossing the Jordan vv.5-7
The need for the people to consecrate themselves to the LORD v.5
The need for the priests to fulfill their duties with the ark v.6
The need for Joshua to be exalted as the leader in the eyes of the people v.7
The holy presence of the LORD with Israel crossing the Jordan vv.8-17
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
[Due to an audio defect, the first 10 minutes of the sermon had to be edited out. Sorry for the inconvenience]
Hebrews 7:23-25 (NASB)
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Theme: Three reasons why the resurrection of Christ matters today so you will understand its relevance to your life.
The resurrection guarantees that Jesus lives permanentlyvv.23-24
The resurrection guarantees that Jesus saves eternallyv.25a
The resurrection guarantees that Jesus intercedes permanentlyv.25b
Joshua 2 (NASB) Rahab Shelters Spies
1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and 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, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” The Promise to Rahab
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. 19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them. 23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the Lord has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us.”
Theme: Five manifestations of Rahab’s faith in the LORD so you will understand the relationship of faith and works.
Her concern for the spies vv.1-7
Rahab receives the spies v.1b
Rahab hides the spies vv. 2-4a, 6-7
Rahab lies for the spies vv. 4b-5
Her confession to the spiesvv.8-11
Rahab reveals the purpose of the LORD vv.8-9
Rahab recounts the works of the LORD v.10
Rahab recognizes the truth of the LORD v.11
Her conspiracy with the spiesvv.12-14
Rahab arranges the deliverance of her family vv.12-13
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”
12 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land,’
14 “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them,
15 until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your god is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward sunrise,”
16 And they answered Joshua saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.
18 “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
Review:
Three Principles for Christians from the LORD’s charge to Joshua
He is with you v. 5
You must be strong and courageous v. 6
You must obey God’s Word v. 7
Theme: Two aspects of Joshua’s command to the officers of Israel so you will recognize their application to the local church today
I. Joshua’s command must be communicatedvv. 10-15
Two characteristics of the command
1. The command is clear
The plan recalledvv. 10-11a
The purpose restatedv. 11b
The personnel are recognizedv. 12
2. The command is consistent
The command of Moses is rememberedV13
The concern of Moses reiteratedvv. 14-15
– Concern for their householdsv. 14a
– Concern for their brothersvv. 14b-15
Principle: God’s people must fulfill God’s purpose – Romans 8:28
II. Joshua’s command must be obeyedvv. 16-18
Two right responses to the command
The commitment to carry out the planv.16
The commitment to Joshua’s leadershipvv.17-18
Principle: God’s people must follow God’s leader Hebrews 13:17
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 “Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you are to cross this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, to possess it.'”
12 And to the Reubenites and to the Gadites and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13 “Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, ‘The LORD your God gives you rest, and will give you this land,’
14 “Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle shall remain in the land which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan, but you shall cross before your brothers in battle array, all your valiant warriors, and shall help them,
15 until the LORD gives your brothers rest, as He gives you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your god is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land, and possess that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan toward sunrise,”
16 And they answered Joshua saying, “All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17 “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you; only may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses.
18 “Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.”
Review:
Three Principles for Christians from the LORD’s charge to Joshua
He is with you v. 5
You must be strong and courageous v. 6
You must obey God’s Word v. 7
Theme: Two aspects of Joshua’s command to the officers of Israel so you will recognize their application to the local church today
I. Joshua’s command must be communicated vv. 10-15
Two characteristics of the command
1. The command is clear
The plan recalled vv. 10-11a
The purpose restated v. 11b
The personnel are recognized v. 12
2. The command is consistent
The command of Moses is remembered V13
The concern of Moses reiterated vv. 14-15
– Concern for their households v. 14a
– Concern for their brothers vv. 14b-15
Principle: God’s people must fulfill God’s purpose – Romans 8:28
Joshua 1:1-9 (NASB) God’s Charge to Joshua 1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.
3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory.
5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and 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 and 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, and then you will have success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Theme: The two most relevant lessons to grasp from the LORD’s charge to Joshua so you will maximize the benefits for your Christian life.
The Setting:
I. The LORD Speaks to Joshua vv.2-9
Six Directives:
The command to Obey v. 2
The promise to Claim vv. 3-4
The assurance of Victory v. 5
The exhortation to be Strong and Courageous vv. 6-7a
The key to Success vv.7b-8
The Exhortation restated and reinforced v. 9
II. The LORD Speaks to _____ through His command to Joshua
