WEBVTT

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 19, if you're using a church Bible, it's a red...

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 It's on page 219.

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 So let's read together.

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 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and he saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand.

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 Joshua went up to him and asked,

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 Are you for us or for our enemies?

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 Neither, he replied.

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 But as commander of the army of the Lord, I have now come.

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 Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence and asked him,

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 What message does my Lord have for his servant?

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 The commander of the Lord's army replied,

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 Take off your sandals for the place where you are standing is holy.

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 And Joshua did so.

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 Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites.

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 No one went out and no one came in.

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 Then the Lord said to Joshua,

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 See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

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 March around the city once with all the armed men.

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 Do this for six days.

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 Make the seven priests carry trumpets of ram's horns in front of the ark.

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 And on the seventh day, march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the trumpets.

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 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, make all the people give a loud shout.

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 Then the wall of the city will collapse and all the people will go up, every man straight in.

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 So Joshua, son of Nun, called the priests and said to them,

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 Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

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 Make the seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.

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 Then he ordered the people,

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 Advance!

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 March around the city with the armed guard, going ahead of the ark to the Lord.

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 When Joshua had spoken to the people,

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 the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward,

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 blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord's covenant followed them.

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 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets,

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 and the rear guard followed the ark.

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 All this time the trumpets were sounding.

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 But Joshua had commanded the people,

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 Do not give a war cry.

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 Do not raise your voices.

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 Do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout.

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 Then shout.

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 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once.

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 Then the people returned to camp and spent the night there.

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 Joshua got up early the next morning,

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 and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

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 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward,

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 marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets.

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 The armed men went ahead of them,

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 and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord,

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 while the trumpets kept sounding.

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 So on the second day,

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 they marched around the city once,

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 returned to the camp.

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 They did this for six days.

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 On the seventh day,

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 they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner,

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 except that on that day they circled the city seven times.

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 The seventh time around,

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 when the priests sounded the trumpet blast,

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 Joshua commanded the people,

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 Shout!

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 For the Lord has given you the city.

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 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord.

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 Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in the house shall be spared,

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 because she hid the spies we sent.

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 But keep away from the devoted things,

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 so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them.

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 Otherwise, you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.

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 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord

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 and must go into his treasury.

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 When the trumpet sounded,

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 the people shouted,

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 and at the sound of the trumpet,

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 when the people gave a loud shout,

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 the wall collapsed,

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 so every man charged straight in and they took the city.

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 They devoted the city to the Lord

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 and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it,

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 men and women,

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 young and old,

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 cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

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 And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land,

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 Go into the prostitute's house and bring her out

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 and all who belong to her

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 in accordance with your oath to her.

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 So the young men who had done the spying went in and bought out Rahab,

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 her father and mother and brothers,

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 and all who belonged to her.

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 They brought her out,

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 her entire family,

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 and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.

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 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it.

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 But they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron

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 into the treasury of the Lord's house.

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 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute with her family

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 and all who belonged to her,

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 because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho,

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 and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

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 At that time Joshua pronounced his solemn oath,

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 Cursed before the Lord is the man who undertakes to rebuild the city, Jericho.

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 At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations,

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 at the cost of its youngest will he set up its gates.

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 So the Lord was with Joshua,

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 and his fame spread throughout the land.

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 I'm going to ask Derek to come up now.

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 He's going to preach.

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 And before he does,

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 I'm going to pray for him and for us as well.

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 Okay?

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 So let's pray together.

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 Our Father God,

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 we thank you again for these stories

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 which have been recorded for us,

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 to teach us and to tell us

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 about your salvation and your plan.

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 We thank you for your gifts in people

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 who are able to teach your word.

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 We thank you for Derek who is here with us today.

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 We pray that you would fill him

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 and that you would fill us afresh with your Holy Spirit,

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 that we may understand your word,

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 apply it to our lives,

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 that you would change us and transform us

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 and encourage us through it.

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 We ask this in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Thanks, Derek.

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 Well, we have enjoyed being here with you all this week.

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 It has been great.

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 And we were especially looking forward to,

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 and I think we have enjoyed

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 worshipping with you all this morning.

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 And especially now as we look to God's word,

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 we are reminded this is God's word

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 to all his people over all the earth.

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 And that's such an exciting thing

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 to remember and realize.

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 Now, I've learned a bit about Irish culture

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 since I've been here.

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 I haven't learned everything.

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 And I don't think I may not have vetted

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 this particular introduction properly.

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 But we have in the United States

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 a television show called The Office,

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 which I understand actually originally came from England.

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 We have an American version of it.

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 And there's one particular episode

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 in which the character who's the manager in The Office,

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 his name is Michael Scott,

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 he gets into a bit of a pickle

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 because he has promised a bunch of primary school students

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 that when they graduate from high school,

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 he's going to pay for their college tuition.

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 Anybody seen that episode?

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 Okay.

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 The Americans raised their hand, yeah.

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 Now, the problem is

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 he doesn't actually have any money.

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 Well, I suppose he has some money,

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 but he can't come through on the promise.

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 It was an empty promise.

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 And so Michael is trying to explain himself.

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 He's trying to justify himself

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 and say why this is not such a bad thing.

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 And this is what he says

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 as he tries to explain himself.

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 He says,

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 I've made some empty promises in my life,

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 but hands down,

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 that was the most generous.

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 As if to say,

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 a generous empty promise

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 is any better

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 than an empty promise

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 that is not generous.

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 But of course,

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 that's not the case, is it?

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 An empty barrel of water

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 is of no more use

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 to a thirsty man

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 than an empty glass of water.

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 An empty promise

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 is an empty promise.

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 And so, you know,

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 sometimes we've all experienced

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 being on the receiving end

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 of empty promises.

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 We've all experienced

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 the uncertainty

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 that comes from

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 not knowing

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 if somebody's really going to come through

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 on their promise for us or not.

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 And so many of the promises

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 that people make today

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 are empty.

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 They may be generous.

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 They may be quite generous.

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 But they're empty.

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 And it's not just other people.

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 It's not just

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 what you might promise

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 to somebody else

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 or what somebody else

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 might promise to you.

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 But we make promises

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 to ourselves

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 that are empty also,

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 don't we?

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 How many of you,

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 I don't know

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 if this is a cultural thing here,

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 but do you make

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 New Year's resolutions

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 in Ireland?

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 Okay.

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 Raise your hand.

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 Be honest.

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 Raise your hand

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 if you made

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 a New Year's resolution

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 this year.

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 Oh, come on.

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 Oh, come on.

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 Nobody?

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 Okay.

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 A few of you

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 raised your hand.

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 Are any of you

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 to this day,

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 you've been totally faithful

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 to your New Year's resolution?

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 Anybody?

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 No.

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 Of course not.

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 And that's why most of you

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 didn't raise your hands

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 because you get to a certain point

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 where you realize

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 it doesn't matter

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 what I promised myself.

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 Right?

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 I'm never going to do that again.

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 Or I'm going to start doing that.

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 You know,

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 it's,

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 I'm going to lose weight.

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 I'm going to start running.

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 Or I'm not going to do

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 this habit anymore.

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 Or I'm going to,

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 you know,

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 for those of us

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 who like to think of ourselves

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 as super spiritually,

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 I'm going to wake up

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 at four o'clock every morning

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 and pray for two hours.

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 And, you know,

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 or something like this nature.

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 Or I'm going to read the Bible,

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 you know,

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 three times a day.

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 Or whatever it is,

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 we make these promises

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 to ourselves.

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 We resolve.

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 But they're empty.

00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:52.680
 Our promises to ourselves,

00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:53.980
 they may be grand,

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 they may be generous.

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 I shouldn't use the word

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 grand improperly,

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 sorry.

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 They may be generous,

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 but they're empty.

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 So the question is,

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 is there nowhere we can turn?

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 Is there no one we can turn to

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 for a promise that is not empty?

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 If we're so used to giving

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 and receiving empty promises,

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 then where do we find someone

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 who can give us a promise

00:11:20.379 --> 00:11:21.199
 that he can keep?

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 Because it takes a couple of things

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 to keep a promise.

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 It takes the intention

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 to keep it.

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 It takes the power

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 and ability to keep it.

00:11:30.140 --> 00:11:31.680
 It takes the resolution

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 and the steadfastness,

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 the faithfulness,

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 we might say,

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 to keep it.

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 Well, I think we're going to find

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 an answer to that question

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 in today's text.

00:11:41.060 --> 00:11:42.759
 But before we dig into

00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.820
 Joshua chapter 5,

00:11:45.540 --> 00:11:47.140
 let's back up just a bit

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 and set some context

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 for those of you maybe

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 who haven't been here.

00:11:51.200 --> 00:11:52.020
 Every week,

00:11:52.259 --> 00:11:53.720
 as Johnny has been preaching

00:11:53.720 --> 00:11:54.480
 through Joshua,

00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.220
 the book begins

00:11:58.220 --> 00:11:59.960
 with God's chosen people

00:11:59.960 --> 00:12:02.160
 on the verge of realizing

00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:04.540
 a promise that was made to them.

00:12:05.600 --> 00:12:06.879
 They're on the verge

00:12:06.879 --> 00:12:07.640
 of this land

00:12:07.640 --> 00:12:08.720
 that was promised to them.

00:12:09.060 --> 00:12:10.200
 A promise was given,

00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.480
 a very generous promise.

00:12:11.940 --> 00:12:12.920
 And the question is,

00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:14.180
 is this an empty promise

00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:15.259
 or is this a promise

00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:16.360
 that's going to be fulfilled?

00:12:16.900 --> 00:12:18.820
 The first time they tried to enter,

00:12:18.900 --> 00:12:19.420
 they failed.

00:12:20.319 --> 00:12:21.099
 They failed,

00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:22.000
 according to Scripture,

00:12:22.199 --> 00:12:23.740
 by virtue of their unbelief.

00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:26.479
 They didn't believe the promise.

00:12:27.459 --> 00:12:28.319
 So the problem was not

00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.279
 the promise was empty,

00:12:29.379 --> 00:12:29.919
 the problem was

00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:30.699
 they didn't believe it.

00:12:31.579 --> 00:12:33.000
 And by virtue of that,

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:33.559
 they failed.

00:12:34.139 --> 00:12:35.240
 So this is

00:12:35.240 --> 00:12:38.259
 possession of the promise 2.0.

00:12:38.439 --> 00:12:39.179
 Or this is

00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:40.620
 sort of the second attempt

00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:42.519
 to possess the promise of God.

00:12:42.519 --> 00:12:44.699
 And so what's really interesting

00:12:44.699 --> 00:12:46.120
 in these first couple of chapters

00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:46.740
 of Joshua

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:49.039
 is that this really is

00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:50.399
 the second time.

00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.799
 And everything is occurring again.

00:12:53.340 --> 00:12:54.699
 Everything that had happened before.

00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:57.620
 This is basically

00:12:57.620 --> 00:12:59.079
 an affirmation

00:12:59.079 --> 00:13:00.679
 that the present generation

00:13:00.679 --> 00:13:01.860
 that's about to

00:13:01.860 --> 00:13:03.740
 attain the promise of the land

00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:05.720
 are, in fact,

00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:07.579
 the same people of God

00:13:07.579 --> 00:13:08.980
 as those who received

00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:09.980
 the promise originally.

00:13:09.980 --> 00:13:12.460
 You have a new leader

00:13:12.460 --> 00:13:13.639
 replacing Moses

00:13:13.639 --> 00:13:15.060
 in the person of Joshua.

00:13:15.800 --> 00:13:17.740
 You have a new experience

00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:18.759
 with the spies,

00:13:19.019 --> 00:13:19.800
 whereas before

00:13:19.800 --> 00:13:21.360
 the spies were unfaithful,

00:13:21.580 --> 00:13:22.440
 now the spies

00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:23.440
 come back

00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:24.820
 and make a faithful report.

00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:25.680
 You have Israel

00:13:25.680 --> 00:13:27.200
 responding with faith

00:13:27.200 --> 00:13:28.220
 to the spies' report.

00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:29.899
 You have a whole new

00:13:29.899 --> 00:13:31.120
 crossing experience

00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:32.480
 of the Jordan River

00:13:32.480 --> 00:13:33.480
 instead of the Red Sea.

00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:35.580
 You have a circumcision

00:13:35.580 --> 00:13:36.580
 occurring again

00:13:36.580 --> 00:13:38.539
 earlier in chapter 5.

00:13:38.960 --> 00:13:40.100
 And you have the Passover

00:13:40.100 --> 00:13:41.159
 occurring again.

00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.240
 Both of those things

00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:43.039
 are very significant

00:13:43.039 --> 00:13:45.700
 because the people of Israel

00:13:45.700 --> 00:13:46.340
 who are there

00:13:46.340 --> 00:13:47.240
 on the verge

00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.480
 of receiving the promise,

00:13:49.019 --> 00:13:49.980
 they're saying,

00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:52.159
 we are the people of God.

00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:53.740
 The circumcision

00:13:53.740 --> 00:13:55.019
 was given as a sign

00:13:55.019 --> 00:13:56.360
 that we belong to God

00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:57.200
 and His promises

00:13:57.200 --> 00:13:58.340
 are our promises.

00:13:58.860 --> 00:13:59.560
 And the Passover

00:13:59.560 --> 00:14:01.480
 was a ritual

00:14:01.480 --> 00:14:02.659
 that would have

00:14:02.659 --> 00:14:03.340
 connected them

00:14:03.340 --> 00:14:04.560
 back to the original Exodus

00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.420
 and said,

00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:06.440
 that was our story.

00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:06.980
 That's the story

00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:07.620
 of our people.

00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:08.139
 That's the story

00:14:08.139 --> 00:14:08.980
 of God at work

00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:10.080
 among His people

00:14:10.080 --> 00:14:11.279
 and that's us.

00:14:12.360 --> 00:14:13.340
 And so all of those things

00:14:13.340 --> 00:14:13.980
 that are happening

00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:16.139
 as Israel is standing there

00:14:16.139 --> 00:14:16.920
 on the verge

00:14:16.920 --> 00:14:18.279
 of receiving the promise,

00:14:18.740 --> 00:14:20.000
 everything is falling

00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:20.779
 into place

00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:22.200
 to reaffirm

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:23.139
 that these are

00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:24.039
 the people of God

00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:25.620
 and He has given them

00:14:25.620 --> 00:14:26.120
 a promise.

00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.879
 Now what is that promise?

00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:31.379
 Well, the promise was

00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.820
 I will be your God

00:14:32.820 --> 00:14:33.980
 and you will be my people.

00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:35.919
 And that included

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.100
 a couple of elements.

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:38.000
 One of those elements

00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:38.820
 was land.

00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:40.960
 You see, you have God

00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:42.120
 who is king,

00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:43.820
 you have people

00:14:43.820 --> 00:14:44.779
 who are subjects,

00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:46.200
 and then you have land.

00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:46.980
 And all those things

00:14:46.980 --> 00:14:48.500
 together would constitute

00:14:48.500 --> 00:14:50.200
 in that way of thinking

00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.620
 the kingdom of God.

00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:53.139
 This was the promise.

00:14:55.320 --> 00:14:56.460
 But there was a problem.

00:14:58.659 --> 00:14:59.919
 Guess what they found

00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.819
 as they were ready,

00:15:02.059 --> 00:15:02.719
 they had actually

00:15:02.719 --> 00:15:03.519
 already crossed,

00:15:03.599 --> 00:15:04.259
 they were ready now

00:15:04.259 --> 00:15:05.199
 to possess the land,

00:15:05.519 --> 00:15:06.779
 but there's already

00:15:06.779 --> 00:15:07.500
 somebody there.

00:15:09.819 --> 00:15:10.779
 There are already

00:15:10.779 --> 00:15:11.500
 other nations

00:15:11.500 --> 00:15:12.120
 living there.

00:15:13.719 --> 00:15:14.799
 And it's even worse

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.319
 than that.

00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:16.620
 They're prepared

00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:17.620
 to defend themselves.

00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:20.299
 They're planning

00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:20.860
 to fight.

00:15:20.860 --> 00:15:22.539
 So how are we going

00:15:22.539 --> 00:15:23.480
 to receive this land?

00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:23.960
 Is this just

00:15:23.960 --> 00:15:24.740
 an empty promise?

00:15:25.560 --> 00:15:26.399
 Was this God

00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.820
 just being overly optimistic

00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:29.000
 and hopeful,

00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:29.800
 but it's not going

00:15:29.800 --> 00:15:30.399
 to come through?

00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:31.919
 Or will something

00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:32.480
 else happen?

00:15:33.300 --> 00:15:34.779
 And this is where we are

00:15:34.779 --> 00:15:35.639
 as we step into

00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.879
 Joshua chapter 5,

00:15:37.019 --> 00:15:38.100
 verse 13.

00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:40.240
 As we look at this text,

00:15:41.820 --> 00:15:44.720
 I'm going to go ahead

00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:45.259
 and give you

00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:46.340
 the main point,

00:15:46.460 --> 00:15:47.159
 the big picture,

00:15:47.159 --> 00:15:48.719
 just in case

00:15:48.719 --> 00:15:50.159
 you're tempted

00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:51.100
 to lose sight

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:51.759
 of the forest

00:15:51.759 --> 00:15:52.459
 for the trees,

00:15:52.839 --> 00:15:53.500
 you can kind of

00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:54.179
 keep coming back

00:15:54.179 --> 00:15:54.620
 to this.

00:15:54.919 --> 00:15:56.039
 This is the main point

00:15:56.039 --> 00:15:56.779
 of this text.

00:15:57.159 --> 00:15:58.360
 God is a divine

00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:58.879
 warrior

00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:00.519
 who,

00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:01.519
 by His holy

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.120
 presence,

00:16:03.219 --> 00:16:04.659
 secures His promises

00:16:04.659 --> 00:16:06.259
 for His people,

00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.899
 judges His enemies,

00:16:09.899 --> 00:16:11.159
 and saves

00:16:11.159 --> 00:16:12.379
 those who have faith.

00:16:12.919 --> 00:16:13.559
 Let me say that again.

00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:15.019
 God is a divine warrior

00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:16.279
 who,

00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:17.199
 by His holy

00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:17.839
 presence,

00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.779
 does three things.

00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:20.719
 He secures

00:16:20.719 --> 00:16:21.479
 His promises

00:16:21.479 --> 00:16:22.479
 for His people,

00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:23.939
 He judges

00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.559
 His enemies,

00:16:25.279 --> 00:16:26.759
 and He saves

00:16:26.759 --> 00:16:28.179
 those who have faith.

00:16:29.899 --> 00:16:30.259
 And so,

00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:31.079
 at its core,

00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:32.779
 this is a story

00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:33.879
 about God,

00:16:35.000 --> 00:16:35.859
 as all the stories

00:16:35.859 --> 00:16:36.559
 of Scripture are.

00:16:37.339 --> 00:16:38.299
 It's a story

00:16:38.299 --> 00:16:39.379
 about God's presence,

00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.299
 God's gift,

00:16:40.619 --> 00:16:41.239
 God's holiness,

00:16:41.240 --> 00:16:42.980
 and so let's look

00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:43.639
 at this story.

00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:45.720
 We see at the end

00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.580
 of chapter 5,

00:16:47.500 --> 00:16:49.120
 this very interesting

00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:49.659
 occurrence.

00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.240
 Joshua looks up

00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:52.980
 and sees a man

00:16:52.980 --> 00:16:54.139
 standing in front of him.

00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.399
 This mysterious figure

00:16:56.399 --> 00:16:57.799
 who identifies himself

00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.639
 as commander

00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.259
 of the Lord's army.

00:17:01.259 --> 00:17:02.539
 Well, who is this commander

00:17:02.539 --> 00:17:03.899
 of the Lord's army?

00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:04.460
 Well,

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:05.740
 obviously,

00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:07.319
 we can see a couple

00:17:07.319 --> 00:17:07.779
 of things,

00:17:07.839 --> 00:17:08.740
 or at least one thing,

00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:09.519
 very obvious.

00:17:09.980 --> 00:17:10.759
 This is a warrior.

00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:13.220
 After all,

00:17:13.259 --> 00:17:13.880
 what does it say?

00:17:14.400 --> 00:17:15.599
 It says he sees a man

00:17:15.599 --> 00:17:16.660
 standing in front of him

00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.980
 with a drawn sword.

00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.279
 This is somebody

00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:21.420
 ready to fight.

00:17:22.420 --> 00:17:23.240
 This is somebody

00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:24.180
 ready for battle.

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.120
 This is a warrior.

00:17:26.140 --> 00:17:27.220
 And then he identifies

00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.680
 himself more specifically

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.759
 when he says

00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.660
 in verse 14,

00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.859
 I have now come

00:17:31.859 --> 00:17:33.000
 as commander

00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.660
 of the Lord's army.

00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:37.720
 This is a phrase,

00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.960
 the idea of the Lord's army,

00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:41.579
 or Yahweh's army,

00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:42.340
 specifically,

00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.000
 the God of Scripture

00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:45.940
 as opposed to

00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.319
 the various other gods

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:47.980
 of that time.

00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:49.079
 God's army

00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.980
 would have been understood

00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:51.620
 to be primarily

00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:53.660
 the angels

00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.620
 or sort of,

00:17:54.620 --> 00:17:54.779
 you know,

00:17:54.840 --> 00:17:55.720
 a heavenly host,

00:17:55.840 --> 00:17:56.480
 a heavenly army.

00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.779
 But it could also be

00:17:58.779 --> 00:18:00.240
 God's people

00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:02.120
 if they were willing

00:18:02.120 --> 00:18:03.299
 to fight on his side.

00:18:03.299 --> 00:18:06.119
 And this is the question,

00:18:06.339 --> 00:18:06.500
 you know,

00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:07.259
 Joshua asks,

00:18:07.359 --> 00:18:08.079
 are you for us

00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:08.839
 or for our enemies?

00:18:09.799 --> 00:18:11.000
 And the response is,

00:18:11.899 --> 00:18:12.119
 well,

00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.779
 I'm sort of on my own side.

00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.519
 I'm on the Lord's side.

00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:16.519
 I fight for the Lord's army.

00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.279
 So, Joshua,

00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:18.339
 the question really is,

00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.960
 are you for us

00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.599
 or for our enemies?

00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:23.799
 And Joshua,

00:18:23.919 --> 00:18:24.940
 like we so often do,

00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:27.740
 wants to sort of claim God

00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:29.539
 for whatever our cause is

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:32.559
 or whatever our nationality is

00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.059
 or whatever,

00:18:33.420 --> 00:18:33.559
 you know,

00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:34.779
 we might want God

00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:35.920
 to be on our side for.

00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:37.039
 But the real question is,

00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:38.079
 you know,

00:18:38.159 --> 00:18:40.139
 God commands his own army.

00:18:40.859 --> 00:18:42.619
 Are we in that army?

00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:45.159
 So the question for Joshua is,

00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:46.099
 are you for me

00:18:46.099 --> 00:18:47.839
 or for my adversaries?

00:18:48.839 --> 00:18:49.279
 Now,

00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:50.200
 this is an example.

00:18:51.339 --> 00:18:53.079
 As we ask the question,

00:18:53.159 --> 00:18:53.960
 who is this commander?

00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:54.859
 This would be an example

00:18:54.859 --> 00:18:55.500
 of what's called

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.759
 a theophany,

00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.639
 which is just a big word

00:18:58.639 --> 00:18:59.200
 that means

00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:00.420
 God showed up.

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:02.600
 God is there.

00:19:03.180 --> 00:19:04.340
 And I think there's

00:19:04.340 --> 00:19:05.240
 compelling evidence

00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:07.220
 that this is God

00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.740
 in some form

00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:10.700
 appearing to Joshua

00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:13.039
 because of one reality.

00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:16.220
 And that is found

00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.160
 in verse 15.

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:20.120
 The commander of the Lord's army

00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:21.140
 said to Joshua,

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:23.420
 remove the sandals

00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.200
 from your feet

00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:25.759
 for the place

00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:26.779
 where you are standing

00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:28.420
 is holy.

00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.799
 And Joshua did so.

00:19:34.340 --> 00:19:34.980
 Holiness

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:37.980
 is going to be

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.819
 a significant theme

00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:41.220
 throughout this entire passage.

00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:42.920
 And it's set up right here.

00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:44.200
 As Joshua,

00:19:44.340 --> 00:19:45.759
 prepared to enter into battle,

00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.539
 is confronted

00:19:47.539 --> 00:19:48.819
 with an appearance

00:19:48.819 --> 00:19:50.620
 of some sort

00:19:50.620 --> 00:19:51.559
 of God himself.

00:19:52.299 --> 00:19:54.120
 And wherever God is,

00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:55.500
 is holy.

00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:55.539
 holy.

00:19:57.240 --> 00:19:58.119
 That's what you need

00:19:58.119 --> 00:19:58.640
 to understand

00:19:58.640 --> 00:19:59.259
 about holiness

00:19:59.259 --> 00:19:59.900
 this morning,

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:01.079
 is that wherever God

00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.640
 is,

00:20:01.859 --> 00:20:02.440
 is holy.

00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:05.039
 I understand

00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:05.920
 the Queen of England

00:20:05.920 --> 00:20:06.440
 was here

00:20:06.440 --> 00:20:07.460
 recently.

00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:08.559
 And,

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:12.940
 we went to the

00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:13.519
 English market

00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.339
 yesterday

00:20:14.339 --> 00:20:15.619
 and toured around

00:20:15.619 --> 00:20:16.579
 and I saw a little

00:20:16.579 --> 00:20:17.859
 plaque that apparently

00:20:17.859 --> 00:20:18.599
 had been unveiled.

00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:19.680
 I guess the Queen

00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.740
 had showed up there

00:20:20.740 --> 00:20:21.740
 and a plaque

00:20:21.740 --> 00:20:22.380
 had been unveiled.

00:20:22.380 --> 00:20:25.160
 I've never seen

00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.560
 the Queen

00:20:25.560 --> 00:20:26.680
 in person.

00:20:27.340 --> 00:20:28.260
 But I would imagine

00:20:28.260 --> 00:20:29.240
 had I been there

00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:29.760
 that day,

00:20:29.940 --> 00:20:31.160
 had I been in that market

00:20:31.160 --> 00:20:31.760
 on that day

00:20:31.760 --> 00:20:32.260
 when the Queen

00:20:32.260 --> 00:20:32.740
 was there,

00:20:34.180 --> 00:20:35.260
 I may have acted,

00:20:36.260 --> 00:20:36.960
 I don't know if I would

00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:37.700
 have acted differently,

00:20:37.820 --> 00:20:38.640
 it wasn't like I was being

00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:39.480
 particularly rude

00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.880
 or anything,

00:20:40.220 --> 00:20:41.460
 but I would have been

00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:42.220
 sure to be on my best

00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:42.920
 behavior, right?

00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:43.640
 The Queen is here.

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:44.360
 This is somebody

00:20:44.360 --> 00:20:44.860
 important.

00:20:46.700 --> 00:20:47.500
 Because somebody

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:48.440
 is important here,

00:20:48.840 --> 00:20:49.700
 then to be here,

00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:50.600
 there's something

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.640
 significant about it.

00:20:51.640 --> 00:20:52.040
 There's something

00:20:52.040 --> 00:20:53.360
 momentous about this.

00:20:53.560 --> 00:20:54.400
 Because the Queen

00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:54.860
 is here.

00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:56.480
 And so,

00:20:56.560 --> 00:20:57.280
 had you had children

00:20:57.280 --> 00:20:57.480
 there,

00:20:57.540 --> 00:20:58.040
 you would have made

00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:58.460
 sure they were

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:58.880
 on their best

00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:01.120
 behavior and maybe

00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:01.940
 not acting the way

00:21:01.940 --> 00:21:02.660
 they normally do

00:21:02.660 --> 00:21:03.660
 or you might have

00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:04.460
 been particularly

00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.660
 respectful or

00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:06.280
 whatever.

00:21:07.060 --> 00:21:07.740
 It's the nature

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.420
 of somebody

00:21:08.420 --> 00:21:09.340
 important being

00:21:09.340 --> 00:21:10.320
 there makes

00:21:10.320 --> 00:21:10.900
 that entire

00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.700
 location special.

00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:14.580
 Well,

00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:15.160
 now,

00:21:15.380 --> 00:21:16.140
 multiply that

00:21:16.140 --> 00:21:16.720
 times,

00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:19.220
 and I know

00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.960
 this is mathematically

00:21:19.960 --> 00:21:20.420
 incorrect,

00:21:20.420 --> 00:21:21.340
 but multiply it

00:21:21.340 --> 00:21:21.980
 times infinity

00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:22.580
 because I don't

00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:22.900
 know what else

00:21:22.900 --> 00:21:23.460
 to multiply it

00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:23.660
 by.

00:21:24.080 --> 00:21:24.220
 Alright?

00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.720
 Imagine God

00:21:26.720 --> 00:21:27.580
 was there in the

00:21:27.580 --> 00:21:27.880
 market.

00:21:30.200 --> 00:21:31.100
 Then it would be

00:21:31.100 --> 00:21:32.200
 holy ground.

00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:34.220
 Not just special,

00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:35.560
 not just interesting

00:21:35.560 --> 00:21:35.940
 or unique,

00:21:36.140 --> 00:21:36.400
 it would be

00:21:36.400 --> 00:21:37.400
 holy ground.

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.200
 And the reason

00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:39.920
 why this is so

00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:40.820
 important to grasp

00:21:40.820 --> 00:21:41.600
 is because,

00:21:42.600 --> 00:21:44.100
 remember,

00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:45.160
 wherever God is,

00:21:45.300 --> 00:21:45.860
 is holy.

00:21:45.859 --> 00:21:45.919
 holy.

00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:49.740
 I think the

00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.299
 whole point of

00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.099
 this whole story

00:21:51.099 --> 00:21:51.779
 is to say,

00:21:51.899 --> 00:21:53.659
 God is here

00:21:53.659 --> 00:21:54.259
 among his

00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:54.599
 people.

00:21:55.819 --> 00:21:56.799
 His people are

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.740
 taking the land

00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:59.399
 and now the

00:21:59.399 --> 00:22:00.819
 land is holy.

00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:02.539
 Now,

00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:02.939
 that may be

00:22:02.939 --> 00:22:03.759
 misunderstood in

00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:04.719
 our modern context

00:22:04.719 --> 00:22:05.639
 and I'll try to

00:22:05.639 --> 00:22:06.219
 clear that up as

00:22:06.219 --> 00:22:06.619
 we go,

00:22:07.159 --> 00:22:08.079
 but that's an

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:08.879
 important idea.

00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.519
 God is in the

00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.039
 midst of his

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.379
 people.

00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:12.819
 And so what

00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.519
 does that make

00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:13.839
 them?

00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:15.839
 It makes them

00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:17.179
 a holy people.

00:22:18.439 --> 00:22:19.740
 So God is the

00:22:19.740 --> 00:22:20.599
 divine warrior

00:22:20.599 --> 00:22:22.579
 and God is

00:22:22.579 --> 00:22:23.039
 holy.

00:22:23.659 --> 00:22:24.339
 As we move on

00:22:24.339 --> 00:22:25.099
 to chapter 6,

00:22:25.179 --> 00:22:25.859
 we see that God

00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.980
 gives gifts

00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:28.279
 and God makes

00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.799
 promises.

00:22:30.159 --> 00:22:30.919
 We read in

00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.399
 verse 1,

00:22:31.459 --> 00:22:31.699
 it says,

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.519
 Now Jericho was

00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:33.559
 strongly fortified

00:22:33.559 --> 00:22:34.220
 because of the

00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:34.720
 Israelites,

00:22:34.879 --> 00:22:35.539
 no one leaving

00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:36.139
 or entering.

00:22:36.679 --> 00:22:38.039
 The Lord said

00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:38.699
 to Joshua,

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:40.519
 Look,

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.519
 I have handed

00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.339
 Jericho its

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:43.099
 king and its

00:22:43.099 --> 00:22:43.720
 fighting men

00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.500
 over to you.

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.779
 This is an

00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.740
 encouraging word

00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.539
 for Joshua

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.240
 on the eve

00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.880
 of combat.

00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.519
 For the

00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:54.960
 commander

00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.700
 of the

00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.380
 Lord's army

00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:58.700
 who is

00:22:58.700 --> 00:22:59.200
 holy

00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:00.360
 with his

00:23:00.360 --> 00:23:01.180
 sword drawn

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:02.400
 to say

00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.480
 to Joshua,

00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:06.420
 I have

00:23:06.420 --> 00:23:07.019
 given you

00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:07.559
 this city.

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.500
 It was a

00:23:08.500 --> 00:23:08.779
 gift.

00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:10.000
 It wasn't

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:10.519
 something that

00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.019
 Israel was

00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.539
 supposed to

00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.440
 somehow earn

00:23:12.440 --> 00:23:13.039
 or somehow

00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.920
 deserve.

00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.740
 That wasn't

00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.160
 the point.

00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:15.580
 The point

00:23:15.580 --> 00:23:16.019
 was it was

00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:16.600
 a gift.

00:23:17.380 --> 00:23:17.759
 I have

00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.380
 given it

00:23:18.380 --> 00:23:18.980
 to you.

00:23:19.220 --> 00:23:19.740
 It was a

00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.240
 promise.

00:23:20.620 --> 00:23:21.200
 It was a

00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:21.880
 promise given

00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:23.299
 as a gift.

00:23:24.100 --> 00:23:24.500
 And that's

00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:25.160
 important because

00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:25.820
 this is not

00:23:25.820 --> 00:23:26.480
 the story

00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.720
 of one

00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:29.600
 ethnic group

00:23:29.600 --> 00:23:31.279
 being morally

00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:32.600
 superior to

00:23:32.600 --> 00:23:33.320
 another group

00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.480
 and thereby

00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.519
 deserving to

00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:35.960
 take their

00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.339
 land.

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:37.579
 There would

00:23:37.579 --> 00:23:37.819
 be a

00:23:37.819 --> 00:23:38.419
 misunderstanding

00:23:38.419 --> 00:23:39.200
 of this

00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:40.500
 whole book

00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.079
 of Joshua.

00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.000
 Turn to

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:42.639
 Deuteronomy

00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:43.700
 chapter 7.

00:23:46.839 --> 00:23:47.639
 In verses

00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.559
 6-8

00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:50.779
 it says,

00:23:50.960 --> 00:23:51.439
 For you are

00:23:51.439 --> 00:23:52.019
 a holy

00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:52.980
 people.

00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.359
 That idea

00:23:54.359 --> 00:23:54.799
 should sound

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.139
 familiar.

00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.159
 You are a

00:23:56.159 --> 00:23:56.919
 holy people

00:23:56.919 --> 00:23:57.919
 belonging to

00:23:57.919 --> 00:23:58.319
 the Lord

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:58.919
 your God.

00:23:59.099 --> 00:23:59.679
 The Lord

00:23:59.679 --> 00:24:00.079
 your God

00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.720
 has chosen

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.759
 you to

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.120
 be his

00:24:02.120 --> 00:24:02.420
 own

00:24:02.420 --> 00:24:02.960
 possession

00:24:02.960 --> 00:24:03.720
 out of

00:24:03.720 --> 00:24:04.120
 all the

00:24:04.120 --> 00:24:04.700
 peoples on

00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:05.120
 the face

00:24:05.120 --> 00:24:05.380
 of the

00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:05.660
 earth.

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.019
 The Lord

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.620
 was devoted

00:24:08.620 --> 00:24:09.079
 to you

00:24:09.079 --> 00:24:09.740
 and chose

00:24:09.740 --> 00:24:10.059
 you,

00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:12.440
 not because

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.299
 you were

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.039
 more numerous

00:24:14.039 --> 00:24:14.600
 than all

00:24:14.600 --> 00:24:15.019
 peoples,

00:24:15.700 --> 00:24:16.519
 for you were

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.019
 the fewest

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.319
 of all

00:24:17.319 --> 00:24:17.680
 peoples,

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.920
 but because

00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:20.380
 the Lord

00:24:20.380 --> 00:24:21.059
 loved you

00:24:21.059 --> 00:24:22.279
 and kept

00:24:22.279 --> 00:24:22.759
 the oath

00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.319
 he swore

00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:23.680
 to your

00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:24.100
 fathers.

00:24:25.100 --> 00:24:25.900
 He brought

00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.259
 you out

00:24:26.259 --> 00:24:26.579
 with a

00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.380
 strong hand

00:24:27.380 --> 00:24:28.019
 and redeemed

00:24:28.019 --> 00:24:28.440
 you from

00:24:28.440 --> 00:24:28.940
 the place

00:24:28.940 --> 00:24:29.579
 of slavery,

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.360
 from the

00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.379
 power of

00:24:31.379 --> 00:24:31.799
 Pharaoh,

00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.919
 king of

00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:33.299
 Egypt.

00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:36.099
 God

00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.759
 chose

00:24:36.759 --> 00:24:38.159
 this

00:24:38.159 --> 00:24:38.500
 people.

00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:39.899
 He set

00:24:39.899 --> 00:24:40.599
 his affection

00:24:40.599 --> 00:24:41.119
 and his

00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:41.740
 love on

00:24:41.740 --> 00:24:41.979
 them,

00:24:42.979 --> 00:24:44.259
 but not

00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.240
 because they

00:24:45.240 --> 00:24:45.599
 were such

00:24:45.599 --> 00:24:46.240
 a great

00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.659
 people,

00:24:47.799 --> 00:24:48.639
 for reasons

00:24:48.639 --> 00:24:48.919
 that are

00:24:48.919 --> 00:24:49.379
 mysterious

00:24:49.379 --> 00:24:49.839
 that we

00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.299
 may never

00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.919
 understand,

00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.699
 but probably

00:24:51.699 --> 00:24:52.240
 having something

00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.139
 to do with

00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:53.519
 the fact

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:53.899
 they were

00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:54.559
 the smallest

00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:55.559
 of all

00:24:55.559 --> 00:24:55.979
 peoples.

00:24:56.919 --> 00:24:57.479
 God

00:24:57.479 --> 00:24:57.979
 chose

00:24:57.979 --> 00:24:58.939
 them and

00:24:58.939 --> 00:24:59.339
 gave them

00:24:59.339 --> 00:24:59.919
 a promise

00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:01.900
 and that

00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:02.259
 promise

00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:02.720
 involved

00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:03.100
 giving

00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:03.680
 them a

00:25:03.680 --> 00:25:03.980
 gift,

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:04.300
 giving

00:25:04.300 --> 00:25:04.560
 them

00:25:04.560 --> 00:25:04.800
 the

00:25:04.800 --> 00:25:05.120
 land.

00:25:06.940 --> 00:25:07.460
 There's

00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.000
 an application

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.779
 for this

00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:10.080
 for us

00:25:10.080 --> 00:25:11.800
 because if we

00:25:11.800 --> 00:25:12.060
 go to

00:25:12.060 --> 00:25:12.400
 Hebrews

00:25:12.400 --> 00:25:13.240
 chapter 4,

00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.140
 we understand

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.380
 that this

00:25:16.380 --> 00:25:17.080
 same idea

00:25:17.080 --> 00:25:17.640
 of God

00:25:17.640 --> 00:25:18.759
 giving his

00:25:18.759 --> 00:25:19.180
 people in

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.500
 the Old

00:25:19.500 --> 00:25:19.900
 Testament

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.660
 this land

00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.080
 as a

00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:21.340
 gift.

00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.200
 We have

00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:24.039
 a similar

00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.640
 promise

00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:25.400
 ourselves.

00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.039
 It's really

00:25:26.039 --> 00:25:26.480
 the same

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:26.920
 promise

00:25:26.920 --> 00:25:27.340
 sort of

00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:27.980
 fleshed out

00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:28.420
 more

00:25:28.420 --> 00:25:29.000
 fully.

00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:30.019
 In

00:25:30.019 --> 00:25:30.279
 Hebrews

00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:30.960
 chapter 4

00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:31.539
 verse 1

00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:31.880
 it says,

00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:32.240
 therefore,

00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:32.880
 while the

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:33.480
 promise to

00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:33.960
 enter his

00:25:33.960 --> 00:25:34.980
 rest remains,

00:25:35.839 --> 00:25:36.240
 let us

00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:36.740
 fear that

00:25:36.740 --> 00:25:37.059
 none of

00:25:37.059 --> 00:25:37.339
 you should

00:25:37.339 --> 00:25:37.759
 miss it.

00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:38.720
 He's

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:39.059
 writing here

00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.259
 in the

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:39.779
 New Testament

00:25:39.779 --> 00:25:40.460
 to New

00:25:40.460 --> 00:25:40.779
 Testament

00:25:40.779 --> 00:25:41.339
 Christians

00:25:41.339 --> 00:25:42.900
 saying the

00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.779
 promise to

00:25:43.779 --> 00:25:44.299
 enter the

00:25:44.299 --> 00:25:45.819
 rest was

00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.240
 not an

00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:46.740
 Old Testament

00:25:46.740 --> 00:25:47.259
 promise.

00:25:47.720 --> 00:25:47.940
 It

00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:48.519
 remains.

00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:49.579
 If you

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:50.019
 back up to

00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.539
 chapter 3,

00:25:50.620 --> 00:25:51.039
 you see that's

00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:51.680
 the context.

00:25:51.880 --> 00:25:52.420
 The context

00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:52.920
 he's talking

00:25:52.920 --> 00:25:53.779
 about is

00:25:53.779 --> 00:25:54.980
 the parallel

00:25:54.980 --> 00:25:56.360
 with Israel

00:25:56.360 --> 00:25:56.980
 entering the

00:25:56.980 --> 00:25:57.620
 promised land.

00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.420
 And the

00:25:59.420 --> 00:25:59.799
 writer of

00:25:59.799 --> 00:26:00.240
 Hebrews is

00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.799
 saying this

00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.620
 promise is

00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.140
 still in

00:26:02.140 --> 00:26:02.660
 front of

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:02.860
 us.

00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.180
 It's not

00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.860
 behind us.

00:26:04.299 --> 00:26:04.680
 It's still

00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.220
 in front of

00:26:05.220 --> 00:26:05.500
 us.

00:26:06.360 --> 00:26:07.019
 And then you

00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:07.500
 read down in

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.240
 verse 8 where

00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:08.579
 it says,

00:26:08.740 --> 00:26:09.779
 if Joshua had

00:26:09.779 --> 00:26:10.299
 given them

00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:11.180
 rest, God

00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.880
 would not have

00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:12.660
 spoken later

00:26:12.660 --> 00:26:13.640
 about another

00:26:13.640 --> 00:26:14.019
 day.

00:26:15.299 --> 00:26:15.680
 See, our

00:26:15.680 --> 00:26:16.400
 promise, we

00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.000
 have a promise

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:17.680
 of eternal

00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.259
 rest.

00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.160
 Just as a

00:26:19.160 --> 00:26:19.660
 promise was

00:26:19.660 --> 00:26:20.099
 given to

00:26:20.099 --> 00:26:20.620
 Israel of

00:26:20.620 --> 00:26:21.099
 this land,

00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:21.579
 we have the

00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:22.140
 same promise,

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.559
 don't we?

00:26:23.259 --> 00:26:23.640
 It's a

00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:24.240
 promise given

00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.900
 to us in

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.340
 Christ.

00:26:26.019 --> 00:26:26.680
 I know it's

00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:27.259
 given to us

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:27.740
 in Christ

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.259
 because of

00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:28.880
 Hebrews chapter

00:26:28.880 --> 00:26:30.040
 9 where it

00:26:30.040 --> 00:26:30.400
 says in

00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:31.080
 verse 12,

00:26:32.500 --> 00:26:32.920
 He entered

00:26:32.920 --> 00:26:33.640
 the most holy

00:26:33.640 --> 00:26:36.700
 place once

00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.240
 for all,

00:26:37.580 --> 00:26:38.080
 not by the

00:26:38.080 --> 00:26:38.420
 blood of

00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:38.900
 goats and

00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:39.800
 calves, but

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.460
 by His own

00:26:40.460 --> 00:26:41.160
 blood, having

00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:42.620
 obtained eternal

00:26:42.620 --> 00:26:43.280
 redemption.

00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.900
 And so

00:26:45.900 --> 00:26:47.440
 Christ, by

00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:48.019
 His own

00:26:48.019 --> 00:26:50.019
 blood, obtained

00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.019
 in eternal,

00:26:51.160 --> 00:26:51.460
 that means

00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:51.940
 forever,

00:26:52.320 --> 00:26:52.820
 redemption,

00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:54.660
 being brought

00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:55.300
 out of

00:26:55.300 --> 00:26:55.820
 something,

00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.560
 being purchased

00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.160
 for something

00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:57.580
 else.

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.000
 And we

00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.519
 have clarity

00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:00.120
 of what that

00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.700
 is a few

00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.360
 verses later

00:27:01.360 --> 00:27:01.779
 in verse

00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:02.279
 15.

00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.200
 Therefore,

00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:06.140
 He, Christ,

00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:06.519
 is the

00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.220
 mediator of

00:27:07.220 --> 00:27:07.540
 a new

00:27:07.540 --> 00:27:07.900
 covenant,

00:27:08.440 --> 00:27:08.880
 so that

00:27:08.880 --> 00:27:09.480
 those who

00:27:09.480 --> 00:27:10.140
 are called

00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:11.060
 might receive

00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:12.140
 the promise

00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:13.259
 of the

00:27:13.259 --> 00:27:13.740
 eternal

00:27:13.740 --> 00:27:14.720
 inheritance,

00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:16.400
 because a

00:27:16.400 --> 00:27:16.800
 death has

00:27:16.800 --> 00:27:17.440
 taken place

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:18.259
 for redemption

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.080
 from the

00:27:19.080 --> 00:27:19.880
 transgressions

00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.820
 committed under

00:27:20.820 --> 00:27:21.259
 the first

00:27:21.259 --> 00:27:21.620
 covenant.

00:27:21.619 --> 00:27:24.059
 you see,

00:27:24.159 --> 00:27:24.799
 Christ, by

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:25.299
 His own

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.679
 death, secured

00:27:26.679 --> 00:27:28.039
 for us, for

00:27:28.039 --> 00:27:28.879
 His people, a

00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:30.259
 promise, a

00:27:30.259 --> 00:27:31.059
 rest that is

00:27:31.059 --> 00:27:31.779
 still in front

00:27:31.779 --> 00:27:32.279
 of us, an

00:27:32.279 --> 00:27:33.179
 eternal redemption

00:27:33.179 --> 00:27:34.779
 that begins when

00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.500
 we put our faith

00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.259
 in Christ, but

00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.939
 the fullness of

00:27:36.939 --> 00:27:37.559
 the promise is

00:27:37.559 --> 00:27:38.139
 still in front

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.559
 of us.

00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.199
 And so, just

00:27:40.199 --> 00:27:41.459
 as for Israel,

00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:42.539
 this land,

00:27:42.739 --> 00:27:43.699
 Jericho, was a

00:27:43.699 --> 00:27:44.599
 gift, and they

00:27:44.599 --> 00:27:45.239
 should never think

00:27:45.239 --> 00:27:45.899
 of it as anything

00:27:45.899 --> 00:27:46.979
 else but a gift

00:27:46.979 --> 00:27:47.899
 freely given by

00:27:47.899 --> 00:27:48.659
 God to a

00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.139
 people who did

00:27:49.139 --> 00:27:49.879
 not deserve it.

00:27:49.880 --> 00:27:50.640
 So, when we

00:27:50.640 --> 00:27:51.080
 think of the

00:27:51.080 --> 00:27:51.720
 promise that is

00:27:51.720 --> 00:27:52.380
 out in front of

00:27:52.380 --> 00:27:52.800
 us, we should

00:27:52.800 --> 00:27:53.740
 never come to

00:27:53.740 --> 00:27:54.660
 the point where

00:27:54.660 --> 00:27:56.540
 we think, you

00:27:56.540 --> 00:27:56.900
 know, it was

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:57.940
 really, you

00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.280
 know, God

00:27:58.280 --> 00:27:58.780
 really knew what

00:27:58.780 --> 00:27:59.260
 He was doing

00:27:59.260 --> 00:27:59.880
 when He saved

00:27:59.880 --> 00:28:00.780
 me, because,

00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:02.600
 you know, He

00:28:02.600 --> 00:28:03.500
 really foresaw

00:28:03.500 --> 00:28:04.240
 that, you know, I

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:04.920
 was going to be a

00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:05.580
 great Christian.

00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:06.560
 You know, God

00:28:06.560 --> 00:28:07.720
 is awfully smart.

00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:08.960
 No.

00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:10.900
 This was a

00:28:10.900 --> 00:28:11.280
 gift.

00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:12.080
 Don't forget

00:28:12.080 --> 00:28:12.440
 that.

00:28:13.280 --> 00:28:14.040
 And this whole

00:28:14.040 --> 00:28:15.160
 story is constructed

00:28:15.160 --> 00:28:16.520
 to remind Israel

00:28:16.520 --> 00:28:17.860
 forever and ever

00:28:17.860 --> 00:28:19.040
 and ever that they

00:28:19.040 --> 00:28:19.560
 didn't take

00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.079
 Jericho.

00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:21.159
 God did.

00:28:22.419 --> 00:28:23.419
 God gives gifts

00:28:23.419 --> 00:28:24.220
 and makes

00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:24.720
 promises.

00:28:25.879 --> 00:28:26.819
 Next, we see in

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:28.059
 verses 3 through

00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:30.200
 14 that God is

00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:32.200
 present among His

00:28:32.200 --> 00:28:32.519
 people.

00:28:33.059 --> 00:28:34.200
 God is present

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:34.819
 among His

00:28:34.819 --> 00:28:35.119
 people.

00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:37.639
 In verses 3

00:28:37.639 --> 00:28:38.619
 through 14, we

00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:40.159
 have a

00:28:40.159 --> 00:28:41.440
 explanation of

00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:43.240
 a continuing

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.899
 explanation.

00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:44.799
 God speaking to

00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.659
 Joshua with

00:28:45.659 --> 00:28:46.200
 instructions.

00:28:47.819 --> 00:28:48.460
 And then Joshua

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:50.059
 transferring those

00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.900
 instructions to the

00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:51.559
 people and then

00:28:51.559 --> 00:28:52.900
 they begin the

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:55.279
 first six days of

00:28:55.279 --> 00:28:56.039
 following through

00:28:56.039 --> 00:28:56.400
 with those

00:28:56.400 --> 00:28:56.880
 instructions.

00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.420
 We've already read

00:28:58.420 --> 00:28:58.920
 that text.

00:28:59.019 --> 00:28:59.640
 You can look back

00:28:59.640 --> 00:29:00.600
 and see some of

00:29:00.600 --> 00:29:01.200
 these things that I

00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:01.700
 refer to.

00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:03.240
 But here are a

00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:03.799
 couple of key

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:04.759
 ideas in these

00:29:04.759 --> 00:29:05.100
 verses.

00:29:05.900 --> 00:29:07.340
 Number one is the

00:29:07.340 --> 00:29:07.660
 ark.

00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:11.680
 Now, the ark is a

00:29:11.680 --> 00:29:12.559
 box that they would

00:29:12.559 --> 00:29:13.779
 carry around, but it

00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:14.839
 wasn't just a box.

00:29:16.940 --> 00:29:17.359
 You see, in the

00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:18.759
 Old Testament, there

00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:20.139
 were many very

00:29:20.139 --> 00:29:21.379
 profound realities,

00:29:22.139 --> 00:29:23.399
 very abstract sorts

00:29:23.399 --> 00:29:24.180
 of things that are

00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:25.579
 hard to understand,

00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.799
 and they were all

00:29:26.799 --> 00:29:28.099
 made very concrete,

00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.559
 very tangible,

00:29:30.059 --> 00:29:30.819
 things you could

00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:32.619
 touch and smell

00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:34.639
 and feel and look

00:29:34.639 --> 00:29:34.839
 at.

00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.399
 That's why there was

00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:37.579
 a sacrificial system

00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:39.579
 with blood, so that

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.559
 you could see the

00:29:40.559 --> 00:29:41.619
 animals that you

00:29:41.619 --> 00:29:42.299
 were slaughtering, so

00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:42.819
 that you could feel,

00:29:42.819 --> 00:29:43.559
 so you could feel

00:29:43.559 --> 00:29:44.599
 the blood on

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.259
 yourself, so that

00:29:45.259 --> 00:29:45.899
 you could see that

00:29:45.899 --> 00:29:46.460
 you were applying

00:29:46.460 --> 00:29:47.759
 blood to an altar

00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:48.819
 or to the ark.

00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.619
 And so, all of the

00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.399
 rituals in the Old

00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:51.939
 Testament are not

00:29:51.939 --> 00:29:52.399
 random.

00:29:53.359 --> 00:29:54.159
 They're like object

00:29:54.159 --> 00:29:55.099
 lessons that we give

00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.259
 to children as we

00:29:56.259 --> 00:29:57.379
 try to instruct them

00:29:57.379 --> 00:29:58.740
 about very complicated

00:29:58.740 --> 00:29:59.419
 concepts.

00:30:00.220 --> 00:30:00.919
 And so, in the Old

00:30:00.919 --> 00:30:01.579
 Testament, when you

00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.960
 see the ark, just

00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.240
 realize this is

00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.279
 supposed to be God.

00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.759
 Wherever the ark

00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:08.399
 is, that's where

00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:08.960
 God is.

00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:11.000
 In fact, that was

00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:12.359
 the whole symbolism

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.199
 of it all, wasn't

00:30:13.199 --> 00:30:13.339
 it?

00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:14.439
 You have this

00:30:14.439 --> 00:30:15.740
 mercy seat on top,

00:30:15.799 --> 00:30:16.699
 which is actually a

00:30:16.699 --> 00:30:17.039
 throne.

00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:18.919
 It's a throne of

00:30:18.919 --> 00:30:19.259
 mercy.

00:30:20.059 --> 00:30:21.000
 You have the ark,

00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.000
 which is the object

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.979
 inside the most

00:30:22.979 --> 00:30:24.059
 holy place, and so

00:30:24.059 --> 00:30:25.399
 once a year, that is

00:30:25.399 --> 00:30:26.240
 the object that has

00:30:26.240 --> 00:30:27.659
 to be atoned for, or

00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:28.199
 that's where you

00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:29.619
 atone for your sins

00:30:29.619 --> 00:30:30.879
 of the nation, is at

00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:31.579
 the ark, because

00:30:31.579 --> 00:30:32.439
 that's where God is.

00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.579
 And so, in this

00:30:34.579 --> 00:30:35.379
 story, as you see

00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.419
 all of these

00:30:36.419 --> 00:30:37.379
 references to the

00:30:37.379 --> 00:30:38.939
 ark, and there are

00:30:38.939 --> 00:30:40.719
 many, the picture

00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.559
 there seems to be

00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:43.480
 you have this ark

00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:44.519
 just going around

00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.420
 in circles around

00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:45.839
 the city.

00:30:47.100 --> 00:30:47.839
 And all these

00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.740
 references to the

00:30:48.740 --> 00:30:49.440
 priests, and the

00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:50.059
 only reason the

00:30:50.059 --> 00:30:50.740
 priests are important

00:30:50.740 --> 00:30:51.339
 is because they're

00:30:51.339 --> 00:30:51.839
 the ones who

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.519
 handle the ark.

00:30:53.920 --> 00:30:54.640
 What's actually

00:30:54.640 --> 00:30:56.400
 quite mysterious is

00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:57.039
 that this entire

00:30:57.039 --> 00:30:57.700
 thing is a

00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.480
 religious ritual.

00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:00.559
 Priests?

00:31:02.059 --> 00:31:03.059
 The ark, which is

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:03.940
 a religious object?

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:05.640
 This is not

00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.220
 combat.

00:31:06.220 --> 00:31:06.420
 That?

00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.200
 This isn't a

00:31:08.200 --> 00:31:09.220
 military strategy.

00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:12.120
 This is some kind

00:31:12.120 --> 00:31:13.000
 of worship service.

00:31:14.460 --> 00:31:15.400
 This is some kind

00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:16.380
 of religious ritual,

00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:18.279
 which is really

00:31:18.279 --> 00:31:19.100
 confusing because

00:31:19.100 --> 00:31:20.339
 God is just

00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.259
 walking around

00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:22.200
 circles around the

00:31:22.200 --> 00:31:23.539
 city, and why?

00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:27.279
 Well, it's because

00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.079
 God is present

00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.860
 among his people,

00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:30.140
 and he wanted to

00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:30.860
 make that clear,

00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.660
 that he was there

00:31:32.660 --> 00:31:33.319
 in the midst of

00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:33.740
 his people.

00:31:34.299 --> 00:31:34.799
 There are other

00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.620
 references in this

00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.079
 passage.

00:31:36.460 --> 00:31:37.880
 In verse 27, at

00:31:37.880 --> 00:31:38.460
 the end, it says

00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.299
 God was with

00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.180
 Joshua.

00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:41.720
 We can even back

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.400
 up to the end of

00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:43.559
 chapter 5 and see

00:31:43.559 --> 00:31:44.960
 that the commander

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:45.740
 of the Lord's army

00:31:45.740 --> 00:31:47.360
 says, I have now

00:31:47.360 --> 00:31:48.539
 come, right?

00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:49.160
 Presence.

00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:50.640
 So throughout this

00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:51.579
 passage, there's this

00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:53.000
 continuing theme that

00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.480
 God is here, God is

00:31:54.480 --> 00:31:55.819
 present with us.

00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.660
 God is present among

00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.160
 his people.

00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.559
 And there's

00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:01.600
 application here as

00:32:01.600 --> 00:32:02.400
 well, isn't there?

00:32:03.279 --> 00:32:04.220
 Because God is

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:04.940
 present with his

00:32:04.940 --> 00:32:06.120
 people now through

00:32:06.119 --> 00:32:06.979
 Jesus Christ.

00:32:08.079 --> 00:32:08.579
 Emmanuel?

00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.319
 God?

00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:11.199
 What?

00:32:12.079 --> 00:32:12.939
 With us.

00:32:15.079 --> 00:32:16.119
 We see this in

00:32:16.119 --> 00:32:17.079
 Matthew chapter 1,

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:22.979
 in verses 22 and 23,

00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:28.099
 where it says this,

00:32:28.099 --> 00:32:30.059
 now all this took

00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:31.959
 place to fulfill what

00:32:31.959 --> 00:32:33.019
 was spoken by the

00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.779
 Lord through the

00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:34.139
 prophet.

00:32:34.639 --> 00:32:35.619
 See, the virgin will

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.599
 become pregnant and

00:32:36.599 --> 00:32:37.559
 give birth to a son,

00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:38.579
 and they will name

00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:40.980
 him Emmanuel, which

00:32:40.980 --> 00:32:42.480
 is translated, God

00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.319
 is with us.

00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.219
 Just as, you know,

00:32:46.259 --> 00:32:47.019
 when you think about

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:48.399
 this story, there are

00:32:48.399 --> 00:32:49.159
 other references in the

00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.919
 New Testament that make

00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:52.119
 this clear, but as you

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:53.119
 think of this story and

00:32:53.119 --> 00:32:54.219
 you think of God present

00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:54.939
 among his people,

00:32:54.940 --> 00:32:55.539
 people marching

00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:56.519
 around the city,

00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.200
 sort of being

00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.259
 transported, carried

00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:59.140
 around the city by

00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:01.779
 these priests, I

00:33:01.779 --> 00:33:02.480
 think it's a helpful

00:33:02.480 --> 00:33:03.860
 picture for us to

00:33:03.860 --> 00:33:04.440
 keep in mind.

00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:06.440
 That that's where our

00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:07.519
 hope and confidence is,

00:33:07.559 --> 00:33:08.740
 that God really is

00:33:08.740 --> 00:33:09.620
 present among his

00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:09.920
 people.

00:33:11.299 --> 00:33:12.220
 We don't have to go

00:33:12.220 --> 00:33:13.019
 try to knock those

00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:14.180
 walls down by some

00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:15.240
 military strategy.

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:16.320
 We simply need to

00:33:16.320 --> 00:33:17.000
 believe that God

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.360
 really is here among

00:33:18.360 --> 00:33:19.680
 his people, among us,

00:33:20.580 --> 00:33:21.600
 through Jesus Christ,

00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.919
 and through the

00:33:22.919 --> 00:33:23.740
 spirit of Christ.

00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.559
 And I think that has

00:33:27.559 --> 00:33:28.459
 a special relevance

00:33:28.459 --> 00:33:29.419
 when we think about

00:33:29.419 --> 00:33:30.799
 what we call the

00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:31.439
 Great Commission,

00:33:31.639 --> 00:33:32.139
 right, in Matthew

00:33:32.139 --> 00:33:33.879
 chapter 28, when

00:33:33.879 --> 00:33:35.559
 Jesus says, I will be

00:33:35.559 --> 00:33:37.559
 with you always to the

00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:38.240
 end of the age.

00:33:40.079 --> 00:33:42.000
 That's a reality that

00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:43.399
 we have to trust.

00:33:45.299 --> 00:33:46.379
 I don't know really

00:33:46.379 --> 00:33:48.959
 how to explain that

00:33:48.959 --> 00:33:50.419
 any better to you than

00:33:50.420 --> 00:33:51.519
 to just sort of give

00:33:51.519 --> 00:33:52.840
 you an example in my

00:33:52.840 --> 00:33:53.820
 own life this morning.

00:33:54.640 --> 00:33:55.759
 As I thought about,

00:33:55.860 --> 00:33:56.700
 and as I was praying,

00:33:57.279 --> 00:33:58.400
 you know, God, I want

00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:00.340
 your word to build up

00:34:00.340 --> 00:34:00.840
 your people.

00:34:01.019 --> 00:34:02.019
 I want your spirit to

00:34:02.019 --> 00:34:02.880
 be here and be at

00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:03.200
 work.

00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.120
 And, you know, I

00:34:04.120 --> 00:34:05.320
 don't want to, you

00:34:05.320 --> 00:34:06.680
 know, the worst thing a

00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:07.720
 preacher can imagine is

00:34:07.720 --> 00:34:09.260
 to just stand up there

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:10.539
 and talk to himself

00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:12.200
 and nobody get it,

00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:13.039
 right, nobody be

00:34:13.039 --> 00:34:14.740
 changed, nobody grow,

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:16.440
 nobody be fed by God's

00:34:16.440 --> 00:34:16.740
 word.

00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:18.619
 So I was praying as I

00:34:18.619 --> 00:34:19.519
 often do and just

00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:20.400
 asking God to,

00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:22.059
 to be here.

00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:25.340
 And then it dawned on

00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:27.680
 me, what am I

00:34:27.680 --> 00:34:28.340
 preaching about?

00:34:29.680 --> 00:34:30.800
 God is here.

00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:33.599
 God is present among

00:34:33.599 --> 00:34:34.180
 his people.

00:34:35.480 --> 00:34:36.659
 God will do the work.

00:34:37.860 --> 00:34:38.940
 And it was encouraging

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:40.300
 for me, myself, in that

00:34:40.300 --> 00:34:40.860
 situation.

00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.639
 And I'm sure that there

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.440
 are situations you

00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:44.760
 might encounter where

00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:45.559
 it would be helpful to

00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:47.019
 recall this event and

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:48.180
 think of God marching

00:34:48.180 --> 00:34:49.280
 around the city with his

00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:50.280
 people and then

00:34:50.280 --> 00:34:51.240
 realize that God is

00:34:51.240 --> 00:34:52.019
 present with you.

00:34:52.340 --> 00:34:53.460
 Believe it by faith.

00:34:54.120 --> 00:34:55.760
 God is present among

00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:56.220
 his people.

00:34:57.300 --> 00:34:59.600
 As we continue on and

00:34:59.600 --> 00:35:01.460
 we see the results in

00:35:01.460 --> 00:35:03.019
 verses 15 through 27,

00:35:03.400 --> 00:35:05.060
 we see that God's holy

00:35:05.060 --> 00:35:06.700
 presence, because

00:35:06.700 --> 00:35:07.680
 remember he is present

00:35:07.680 --> 00:35:09.120
 and he is holy,

00:35:09.820 --> 00:35:11.200
 God's holy presence

00:35:11.200 --> 00:35:13.440
 results in two things,

00:35:14.140 --> 00:35:16.140
 in one of two things.

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:19.579
 judgment or salvation.

00:35:23.000 --> 00:35:24.940
 After all, the people do

00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:26.000
 what they are instructed.

00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:28.359
 They perform this

00:35:28.359 --> 00:35:29.699
 religious ritual, this

00:35:29.699 --> 00:35:31.500
 consecration ritual, really

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:33.099
 it is, which goes back to

00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:34.019
 the issue of holiness.

00:35:35.299 --> 00:35:35.400
 Right?

00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:37.379
 This city is being set

00:35:37.379 --> 00:35:37.799
 apart.

00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:39.000
 It's being made holy.

00:35:39.759 --> 00:35:40.619
 It's a way of

00:35:40.619 --> 00:35:41.980
 consecrating the entire

00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:42.440
 land.

00:35:42.920 --> 00:35:43.759
 That's why they had to

00:35:43.759 --> 00:35:44.779
 destroy it completely.

00:35:44.780 --> 00:35:46.180
 It was like a first

00:35:46.180 --> 00:35:47.440
 fruits sort of offering.

00:35:50.360 --> 00:35:51.420
 So they do all of

00:35:51.420 --> 00:35:54.019
 this and then the walls

00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.980
 come down, don't they?

00:35:56.160 --> 00:35:57.620
 The walls come down and

00:35:57.620 --> 00:35:58.500
 the people do what they

00:35:58.500 --> 00:35:59.519
 are instructed to do.

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:01.420
 In verse 16 it says,

00:36:01.500 --> 00:36:02.480
 After the seventh time

00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.480
 the priests blew the

00:36:03.480 --> 00:36:05.120
 trumpets and Joshua said

00:36:05.120 --> 00:36:05.680
 to the people,

00:36:06.000 --> 00:36:07.360
 Shout, for the Lord has

00:36:07.360 --> 00:36:08.260
 given you the city.

00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:09.900
 But the city and

00:36:09.900 --> 00:36:11.080
 everything in it are set

00:36:11.080 --> 00:36:12.200
 apart to the Lord for

00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:12.720
 destruction.

00:36:12.719 --> 00:36:14.879
 Only Rahab the

00:36:14.879 --> 00:36:17.119
 prostitute and everyone

00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:18.219
 with her in the house

00:36:18.219 --> 00:36:19.859
 will live because she

00:36:19.859 --> 00:36:20.939
 hid the men we sent.

00:36:22.119 --> 00:36:23.819
 But keep yourselves from

00:36:23.819 --> 00:36:26.199
 the things set apart or

00:36:26.199 --> 00:36:27.439
 you will be set apart for

00:36:27.439 --> 00:36:27.939
 destruction.

00:36:28.879 --> 00:36:30.359
 If you take any of those

00:36:30.359 --> 00:36:32.139
 things, you will set

00:36:32.139 --> 00:36:33.539
 apart the camp of Israel

00:36:33.539 --> 00:36:35.219
 for destruction and bring

00:36:35.219 --> 00:36:36.299
 disaster on it.

00:36:36.919 --> 00:36:38.379
 For all the silver and

00:36:38.379 --> 00:36:39.679
 gold and the articles of

00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:41.219
 bronze and iron are

00:36:41.219 --> 00:36:43.039
 dedicated to the Lord and

00:36:43.039 --> 00:36:44.239
 must go into the Lord's

00:36:44.239 --> 00:36:44.679
 treasury.

00:36:46.599 --> 00:36:50.459
 God's holiness results in

00:36:50.459 --> 00:36:52.579
 judgment or salvation.

00:36:53.939 --> 00:36:56.319
 It's judgment for those who

00:36:56.319 --> 00:36:57.899
 even though they fear God

00:36:57.899 --> 00:37:00.459
 in some sense, ultimately

00:37:00.459 --> 00:37:03.699
 reject God and entrench

00:37:03.699 --> 00:37:05.019
 themselves behind walls,

00:37:06.079 --> 00:37:07.339
 refusing to believe and

00:37:07.339 --> 00:37:09.679
 instead choosing to remain

00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:10.460
 as they are.

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.539
 And it's important to

00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:14.899
 understand that this is

00:37:14.899 --> 00:37:15.919
 not a story of ethnic

00:37:15.919 --> 00:37:16.339
 cleansing.

00:37:16.819 --> 00:37:17.779
 I've already mentioned that

00:37:17.779 --> 00:37:18.879
 this is not a story of

00:37:18.879 --> 00:37:19.940
 ethnic superiority.

00:37:20.239 --> 00:37:21.179
 It's also not a story of

00:37:21.179 --> 00:37:21.859
 ethnic cleansing.

00:37:22.460 --> 00:37:24.239
 It's not a story of some

00:37:24.239 --> 00:37:26.019
 sort of simple, just, you

00:37:26.019 --> 00:37:27.239
 know, people greedy for land

00:37:27.239 --> 00:37:28.519
 and coming and taking it.

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:32.500
 Because this was judgment.

00:37:34.299 --> 00:37:36.019
 It wasn't just like God was

00:37:36.019 --> 00:37:38.319
 looking around and saying,

00:37:38.320 --> 00:37:40.000
 my people need a place to

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.380
 live.

00:37:40.740 --> 00:37:41.900
 That looks convenient.

00:37:42.300 --> 00:37:43.080
 Let's go over there.

00:37:45.080 --> 00:37:46.920
 No, the people in Canaan

00:37:46.920 --> 00:37:48.780
 were under God's judgment.

00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:53.039
 This was not just an act of

00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.500
 conquest.

00:37:53.760 --> 00:37:55.240
 It was an act of judgment.

00:37:55.740 --> 00:37:57.420
 God in His holy presence as

00:37:57.420 --> 00:37:58.840
 He's marching around the city,

00:37:58.940 --> 00:37:59.880
 as the trumpets are

00:37:59.880 --> 00:38:01.240
 announcing His presence, as

00:38:01.240 --> 00:38:02.780
 the trumpets, as they often

00:38:02.780 --> 00:38:04.039
 do in Scripture, announce the

00:38:04.039 --> 00:38:05.360
 coming judgment of the Lord.

00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.380
 This was a proclamation of

00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:08.900
 judgment against Jericho.

00:38:10.660 --> 00:38:12.099
 They hid behind their walls.

00:38:15.019 --> 00:38:16.500
 They had nowhere else to go,

00:38:16.820 --> 00:38:18.300
 but they had these big walls to

00:38:18.300 --> 00:38:18.780
 hide behind.

00:38:20.260 --> 00:38:21.519
 And perhaps they thought they

00:38:21.519 --> 00:38:22.039
 were safe.

00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:24.200
 We know that they were fearful

00:38:24.200 --> 00:38:26.960
 because Rahab tells the spies as

00:38:26.960 --> 00:38:27.079
 much.

00:38:27.140 --> 00:38:27.940
 They were afraid.

00:38:28.280 --> 00:38:29.599
 They understood that they were

00:38:29.599 --> 00:38:30.680
 not dealing with something that

00:38:30.680 --> 00:38:31.300
 they could handle.

00:38:31.300 --> 00:38:34.360
 But it didn't lead them to seek

00:38:34.360 --> 00:38:34.900
 salvation.

00:38:36.300 --> 00:38:37.800
 It didn't lead them to seek some

00:38:37.800 --> 00:38:38.440
 sort of treaty.

00:38:38.580 --> 00:38:39.760
 It didn't lead them as it led

00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:41.539
 Rahab to proclaim, this is the

00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.100
 true God.

00:38:42.180 --> 00:38:43.340
 I want to join you.

00:38:43.960 --> 00:38:45.100
 No, they didn't seek escape.

00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:49.220
 They just doubled down and tried

00:38:49.220 --> 00:38:51.539
 to hide inside their fortress, even

00:38:51.539 --> 00:38:52.460
 though they were scared.

00:38:54.180 --> 00:38:56.820
 Sometimes we can fall into the

00:38:56.820 --> 00:38:57.420
 same trap.

00:38:57.420 --> 00:39:00.659
 It's easy to fear God.

00:39:00.740 --> 00:39:02.079
 It's easy to be afraid of God.

00:39:02.880 --> 00:39:03.800
 And yet never repent.

00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:07.099
 Yet never seek that salvation.

00:39:07.260 --> 00:39:08.680
 Never seek that rescue because

00:39:08.680 --> 00:39:10.260
 we would rather just keep building

00:39:10.260 --> 00:39:12.639
 up walls and sort of try to be

00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:14.059
 safe from the judgment of God,

00:39:14.139 --> 00:39:16.200
 even though the trumpets are

00:39:16.200 --> 00:39:18.220
 sounding and the judgment is

00:39:18.220 --> 00:39:20.400
 coming and we hear it, we hear it,

00:39:20.400 --> 00:39:21.720
 it's happening every day.

00:39:21.800 --> 00:39:23.579
 We hear this proclamation, but we

00:39:23.579 --> 00:39:24.680
 don't want to believe it.

00:39:24.679 --> 00:39:28.559
 And so God's holiness becomes

00:39:28.559 --> 00:39:29.859
 judgment for us.

00:39:31.899 --> 00:39:33.460
 Now it's important to note that

00:39:33.460 --> 00:39:36.679
 this same principle would apply to

00:39:36.679 --> 00:39:38.679
 other nations later in history as

00:39:38.679 --> 00:39:39.899
 they would judge Israel.

00:39:42.399 --> 00:39:44.159
 I'm going to give you a few texts

00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:45.119
 you can read later.

00:39:45.440 --> 00:39:47.440
 I don't have time to go into them,

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:49.279
 but Jeremiah chapter 4 and verses

00:39:49.279 --> 00:39:50.159
 5 through 8.

00:39:50.960 --> 00:39:53.079
 Jeremiah chapter 4 verses 16 through

00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:53.739
 21.

00:39:55.880 --> 00:39:58.019
 Leviticus 18, 24 through 28.

00:39:58.079 --> 00:39:59.039
 If you're taking notes, look up

00:39:59.039 --> 00:39:59.699
 those passages.

00:40:00.360 --> 00:40:01.980
 Those are passages that make this

00:40:01.980 --> 00:40:02.639
 point clear.

00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:05.460
 But I will read one verse, and that

00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:07.239
 is Isaiah chapter 1 verse 7.

00:40:11.579 --> 00:40:13.779
 Isaiah is speaking to the nation as

00:40:13.779 --> 00:40:15.199
 they are running away from God.

00:40:16.219 --> 00:40:17.940
 This is much later in history.

00:40:18.139 --> 00:40:19.699
 They are now, they possess the land,

00:40:19.779 --> 00:40:21.139
 but they are running away from God.

00:40:21.139 --> 00:40:22.779
 And it says this,

00:40:23.779 --> 00:40:25.119
 Your land is desolate.

00:40:25.859 --> 00:40:27.599
 Your cities burned with fire.

00:40:28.819 --> 00:40:30.579
 Foreigners devour your fields

00:40:30.579 --> 00:40:32.219
 before your very eyes.

00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:35.659
 A desolation demolished by foreigners.

00:40:37.239 --> 00:40:39.239
 The exact same judgment would later

00:40:39.239 --> 00:40:40.059
 come upon Israel.

00:40:40.119 --> 00:40:41.359
 That's how we know this has nothing

00:40:41.359 --> 00:40:42.079
 to do with ethnicity.

00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:43.879
 This has nothing to do with ethnic

00:40:43.879 --> 00:40:45.079
 cleansing or just sort of,

00:40:45.279 --> 00:40:46.679
 some sort of conquest for land.

00:40:46.759 --> 00:40:48.279
 This has to do with God and His people

00:40:48.280 --> 00:40:48.900
 in holiness.

00:40:50.240 --> 00:40:51.760
 And I think that this story was

00:40:51.760 --> 00:40:54.340
 included in the history here in Joshua

00:40:54.340 --> 00:40:56.540
 precisely to teach and encourage

00:40:56.540 --> 00:40:58.380
 God's people that, you know what?

00:40:58.440 --> 00:40:59.680
 God gave us this land.

00:40:59.820 --> 00:41:01.100
 God made this land holy.

00:41:01.300 --> 00:41:03.220
 And the same thing can happen to us

00:41:03.220 --> 00:41:05.500
 if we reject the covenant.

00:41:06.340 --> 00:41:07.720
 If we reject God.

00:41:07.720 --> 00:41:08.980
 What prevents the same thing

00:41:08.980 --> 00:41:09.980
 from happening to us?

00:41:09.980 --> 00:41:14.300
 But it's not just a proclamation of judgment,

00:41:14.460 --> 00:41:16.139
 but it's also salvation, isn't it?

00:41:18.619 --> 00:41:20.219
 Because there is somebody here

00:41:20.219 --> 00:41:21.519
 in this story who is saved,

00:41:22.019 --> 00:41:25.099
 which reminds us that salvation is possible.

00:41:26.159 --> 00:41:28.900
 Even as God encircles us

00:41:28.900 --> 00:41:30.159
 proclaiming His judgment,

00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:32.320
 salvation is possible.

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:34.760
 It's possible for those outside.

00:41:35.219 --> 00:41:36.659
 It's possible for the outsiders,

00:41:36.659 --> 00:41:38.480
 which in fact,

00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:39.980
 all of us were at one time,

00:41:40.059 --> 00:41:41.480
 outside the people of God.

00:41:42.739 --> 00:41:44.719
 And so we see the example of Rahab,

00:41:45.359 --> 00:41:47.000
 who according to Hebrews 11,

00:41:47.319 --> 00:41:49.539
 by faith Rahab was saved.

00:41:49.659 --> 00:41:50.440
 This was the issue.

00:41:50.799 --> 00:41:52.859
 Rahab saw all the same things

00:41:52.859 --> 00:41:54.279
 that the rest of her people saw.

00:41:55.279 --> 00:41:56.500
 But she had faith.

00:41:58.019 --> 00:41:59.420
 And so when the spies came,

00:42:00.039 --> 00:42:02.239
 she basically turned against her own people

00:42:02.239 --> 00:42:03.739
 and said,

00:42:03.899 --> 00:42:04.939
 I'm with you.

00:42:06.459 --> 00:42:08.079
 Your God is my God.

00:42:09.119 --> 00:42:10.819
 Your people are my people.

00:42:12.219 --> 00:42:13.179
 And it's interesting,

00:42:13.279 --> 00:42:16.299
 Rahab broke with a couple of specific things.

00:42:16.379 --> 00:42:17.339
 She broke with her people

00:42:17.339 --> 00:42:19.759
 and she broke with her past.

00:42:20.459 --> 00:42:20.659
 Right?

00:42:20.699 --> 00:42:21.500
 She's a prostitute.

00:42:23.099 --> 00:42:25.079
 And I know that there are so many people

00:42:25.079 --> 00:42:26.039
 here in Carraghline

00:42:26.039 --> 00:42:27.819
 and Ireland

00:42:27.819 --> 00:42:29.019
 and across the world.

00:42:29.019 --> 00:42:31.759
 And if only we had the chance

00:42:31.759 --> 00:42:32.880
 to sit down with him and say,

00:42:33.340 --> 00:42:33.559
 you know,

00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:34.639
 there was somebody in Scripture

00:42:34.639 --> 00:42:36.159
 who made that break

00:42:36.159 --> 00:42:37.619
 with her own people

00:42:37.619 --> 00:42:39.320
 and her own past

00:42:39.320 --> 00:42:41.099
 and by faith

00:42:41.099 --> 00:42:43.079
 was saved out of judgment.

00:42:43.360 --> 00:42:43.500
 You know,

00:42:43.539 --> 00:42:45.119
 everybody else in this city

00:42:45.119 --> 00:42:45.759
 is destroyed

00:42:45.759 --> 00:42:47.440
 except for Rahab and her family.

00:42:49.239 --> 00:42:49.719
 Salvation,

00:42:49.880 --> 00:42:50.420
 it's rescue.

00:42:50.559 --> 00:42:51.000
 And of course,

00:42:51.099 --> 00:42:51.880
 we understand

00:42:51.880 --> 00:42:53.960
 now in the New Testament

00:42:53.960 --> 00:42:56.099
 that all of this

00:42:56.099 --> 00:42:57.440
 is pictured in the cross,

00:42:57.579 --> 00:42:57.980
 isn't it?

00:42:59.019 --> 00:42:59.860
 The judgment

00:42:59.860 --> 00:43:01.639
 and salvation

00:43:01.639 --> 00:43:03.340
 in the presence

00:43:03.340 --> 00:43:04.219
 of a holy God

00:43:04.219 --> 00:43:07.559
 which presents for us

00:43:07.559 --> 00:43:10.659
 I think a very clear application.

00:43:11.659 --> 00:43:13.320
 Is God's holiness

00:43:13.320 --> 00:43:16.259
 judgment for you

00:43:16.259 --> 00:43:18.599
 or is it salvation?

00:43:18.599 --> 00:43:22.659
 Are you entrenched

00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:24.059
 like a fortified city?

00:43:27.559 --> 00:43:29.099
 Or do you seek mercy

00:43:29.099 --> 00:43:30.699
 as Rahab did?

00:43:32.380 --> 00:43:34.559
 Have you come to Christ

00:43:34.559 --> 00:43:35.539
 with empty hands

00:43:35.539 --> 00:43:37.219
 saying,

00:43:37.380 --> 00:43:37.839
 I'm leaving

00:43:37.839 --> 00:43:39.380
 my fortification behind

00:43:39.380 --> 00:43:42.759
 because I want to be rescued.

00:43:42.760 --> 00:43:45.420
 I don't want to be destroyed.

00:43:46.500 --> 00:43:47.900
 I want to be numbered

00:43:47.900 --> 00:43:49.280
 among Christ's people.

00:43:51.680 --> 00:43:53.480
 The road to life is narrow.

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:55.480
 The road to destruction

00:43:55.480 --> 00:43:56.080
 is broad.

00:43:57.160 --> 00:43:58.620
 Don't let the crowd

00:43:58.620 --> 00:43:59.580
 on the broad road

00:43:59.580 --> 00:44:00.740
 keep you from putting

00:44:00.740 --> 00:44:01.280
 all,

00:44:01.640 --> 00:44:02.160
 all,

00:44:02.360 --> 00:44:03.680
 all of your hope

00:44:03.680 --> 00:44:04.840
 in Jesus Christ.

00:44:04.840 --> 00:44:08.579
 Let Rahab

00:44:08.579 --> 00:44:09.440
 be your example.

00:44:12.680 --> 00:44:13.500
 And I think

00:44:13.500 --> 00:44:14.200
 in closing

00:44:14.200 --> 00:44:14.860
 I would just

00:44:14.860 --> 00:44:15.740
 want to summarize

00:44:15.740 --> 00:44:16.960
 a couple of things.

00:44:17.039 --> 00:44:17.519
 Number one,

00:44:18.880 --> 00:44:20.160
 what I've tried to say today

00:44:20.160 --> 00:44:21.340
 is that

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:22.940
 Jesus Christ

00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:24.539
 in this context

00:44:24.539 --> 00:44:25.579
 it is God

00:44:25.579 --> 00:44:26.579
 but we now understand

00:44:26.579 --> 00:44:27.480
 specifically this

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.700
 we can put this

00:44:28.700 --> 00:44:29.400
 in the context

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:30.260
 of Jesus Christ.

00:44:30.260 --> 00:44:31.300
 Jesus Christ

00:44:31.300 --> 00:44:33.320
 is a divine warrior

00:44:33.320 --> 00:44:35.860
 who by His

00:44:35.860 --> 00:44:36.800
 holy presence

00:44:36.800 --> 00:44:38.520
 secures

00:44:38.520 --> 00:44:39.740
 God's promises

00:44:39.740 --> 00:44:40.760
 for His people

00:44:40.760 --> 00:44:43.160
 judges His enemies

00:44:43.160 --> 00:44:44.880
 and saves

00:44:44.880 --> 00:44:46.180
 those who have faith.

00:44:47.700 --> 00:44:49.340
 Trust the promises

00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:52.260
 heed the warning

00:44:52.260 --> 00:44:55.400
 and trust

00:44:55.400 --> 00:44:56.400
 in Jesus Christ.

00:44:56.400 --> 00:45:00.619
 and I especially

00:45:00.619 --> 00:45:01.579
 want to apply that

00:45:01.579 --> 00:45:01.980
 now

00:45:01.980 --> 00:45:03.680
 to all of you

00:45:03.680 --> 00:45:04.619
 as a church

00:45:04.619 --> 00:45:05.440
 as a body

00:45:05.440 --> 00:45:06.539
 as you hear this word

00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:07.480
 from the Lord together.

00:45:09.820 --> 00:45:10.700
 Believe that God

00:45:10.700 --> 00:45:11.780
 is present among you.

00:45:12.900 --> 00:45:13.599
 His promises

00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:14.220
 are true.

00:45:15.800 --> 00:45:16.599
 He is at work

00:45:16.599 --> 00:45:17.240
 in the world.

00:45:17.380 --> 00:45:17.940
 He is bringing

00:45:17.940 --> 00:45:18.519
 the nations

00:45:18.519 --> 00:45:20.079
 to faith in Christ

00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.900
 through the power

00:45:20.900 --> 00:45:21.780
 of the gospel.

00:45:22.059 --> 00:45:22.360
 Believe.

00:45:22.680 --> 00:45:23.660
 Believe in the power

00:45:23.660 --> 00:45:24.700
 of the gospel.

00:45:25.320 --> 00:45:26.139
 Don't be afraid.

00:45:26.400 --> 00:45:27.720
 Don't be afraid

00:45:27.720 --> 00:45:28.420
 as a church

00:45:28.420 --> 00:45:29.440
 to step out

00:45:29.440 --> 00:45:30.000
 in faith

00:45:30.000 --> 00:45:30.680
 and to do

00:45:30.680 --> 00:45:31.119
 what you feel

00:45:31.119 --> 00:45:31.559
 like you need

00:45:31.559 --> 00:45:32.000
 to do

00:45:32.000 --> 00:45:32.539
 for the sake

00:45:32.539 --> 00:45:33.260
 of the gospel

00:45:33.260 --> 00:45:34.619
 because God

00:45:34.619 --> 00:45:35.180
 is with you.

00:45:37.139 --> 00:45:38.360
 Do not be afraid.

00:45:38.660 --> 00:45:39.420
 Don't let fear

00:45:39.420 --> 00:45:40.320
 control you

00:45:40.320 --> 00:45:41.059
 when you look around

00:45:41.059 --> 00:45:41.619
 and realize

00:45:41.619 --> 00:45:42.740
 you are outnumbered

00:45:42.740 --> 00:45:44.220
 and the task

00:45:44.220 --> 00:45:45.260
 of taking the gospel

00:45:45.260 --> 00:45:46.400
 to this city

00:45:46.400 --> 00:45:47.840
 feels so momentous

00:45:47.840 --> 00:45:48.300
 and there are

00:45:48.300 --> 00:45:49.460
 so many fortifications

00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:50.139
 there are so many

00:45:50.139 --> 00:45:50.740
 barriers

00:45:50.740 --> 00:45:52.599
 but God is with you.

00:45:54.000 --> 00:45:54.960
 Jesus Christ

00:45:54.960 --> 00:45:56.420
 is with you

00:45:56.420 --> 00:45:57.280
 and his gospel

00:45:57.280 --> 00:45:58.119
 is advancing.

00:45:58.500 --> 00:45:59.280
 It will advance

00:45:59.280 --> 00:46:00.280
 here in Karagline

00:46:00.280 --> 00:46:01.720
 through you

00:46:01.720 --> 00:46:02.260
 his people.

00:46:03.519 --> 00:46:04.639
 It will advance

00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:05.179
 to the ends

00:46:05.179 --> 00:46:05.740
 of the earth

00:46:05.740 --> 00:46:07.480
 through you

00:46:07.480 --> 00:46:08.159
 his people.

00:46:09.940 --> 00:46:10.440
 Believe.

00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:11.599
 Trust.

00:46:11.740 --> 00:46:12.380
 By faith

00:46:12.380 --> 00:46:13.639
 that God

00:46:13.639 --> 00:46:14.139
 is present

00:46:14.139 --> 00:46:14.599
 with you.

00:46:15.940 --> 00:46:16.900
 Trust the promises.

00:46:18.360 --> 00:46:19.099
 Heed the warning

00:46:19.099 --> 00:46:20.659
 and trust

00:46:20.659 --> 00:46:21.940
 in Jesus Christ.

00:46:22.900 --> 00:46:23.839
 Let's pray.

00:46:28.639 --> 00:46:29.639
 Heavenly Father

00:46:29.639 --> 00:46:31.619
 this is a story

00:46:31.619 --> 00:46:34.659
 of your great power

00:46:34.659 --> 00:46:37.199
 and of the battles

00:46:37.199 --> 00:46:37.699
 you fight

00:46:37.699 --> 00:46:38.400
 for your people.

00:46:40.639 --> 00:46:41.480
 But Father

00:46:41.480 --> 00:46:42.079
 this is also

00:46:42.079 --> 00:46:42.679
 a story

00:46:42.679 --> 00:46:43.400
 as Hebrews

00:46:43.400 --> 00:46:44.139
 reminds us

00:46:44.139 --> 00:46:44.699
 of faith.

00:46:45.839 --> 00:46:46.920
 It is a story

00:46:46.920 --> 00:46:47.539
 of the faith

00:46:47.539 --> 00:46:48.179
 of your people.

00:46:51.000 --> 00:46:51.440
 Father

00:46:51.440 --> 00:46:52.059
 I pray today

00:46:52.059 --> 00:46:52.699
 that you might

00:46:52.699 --> 00:46:53.259
 give birth

00:46:53.259 --> 00:46:53.840
 to faith

00:46:53.840 --> 00:46:55.659
 in hearts

00:46:55.659 --> 00:46:56.519
 in this very room.

00:46:57.920 --> 00:46:58.480
 That they would

00:46:58.480 --> 00:46:59.360
 see their sin

00:46:59.360 --> 00:47:01.259
 and be repulsed

00:47:01.259 --> 00:47:01.719
 by it.

00:47:02.619 --> 00:47:03.279
 That they would

00:47:03.279 --> 00:47:03.900
 see the coming

00:47:03.900 --> 00:47:04.880
 judgment on their

00:47:04.880 --> 00:47:05.199
 sin

00:47:05.199 --> 00:47:06.500
 but that at the

00:47:06.500 --> 00:47:07.079
 same time

00:47:07.079 --> 00:47:07.820
 they would see

00:47:07.820 --> 00:47:08.340
 a Savior

00:47:08.340 --> 00:47:09.920
 who beckons them

00:47:09.920 --> 00:47:10.380
 and says

00:47:10.380 --> 00:47:10.779
 come

00:47:10.779 --> 00:47:11.480
 come out

00:47:11.480 --> 00:47:12.119
 from the city

00:47:12.119 --> 00:47:12.820
 of destruction

00:47:12.820 --> 00:47:14.199
 and find life.

00:47:14.199 --> 00:47:17.719
 Lord I pray

00:47:17.719 --> 00:47:18.399
 for your people

00:47:18.399 --> 00:47:19.099
 here today

00:47:19.099 --> 00:47:21.099
 that you would

00:47:21.099 --> 00:47:21.960
 give us faith

00:47:21.960 --> 00:47:24.619
 believing your

00:47:24.619 --> 00:47:25.119
 presence

00:47:25.119 --> 00:47:25.799
 believing your

00:47:25.799 --> 00:47:26.299
 promise

00:47:26.299 --> 00:47:28.039
 and marching

00:47:28.039 --> 00:47:28.579
 forward

00:47:28.579 --> 00:47:30.739
 marching forward

00:47:30.739 --> 00:47:31.439
 for the cause

00:47:31.439 --> 00:47:32.119
 of the gospel

00:47:32.119 --> 00:47:32.879
 for the cause

00:47:32.879 --> 00:47:33.480
 of your kingdom.

00:47:34.839 --> 00:47:36.039
 A mighty army

00:47:36.039 --> 00:47:37.500
 not engaged

00:47:37.500 --> 00:47:38.659
 in military battle

00:47:38.659 --> 00:47:40.000
 but a mighty army

00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:40.699
 marching with

00:47:40.699 --> 00:47:41.179
 the presence

00:47:41.179 --> 00:47:41.779
 of God

00:47:41.780 --> 00:47:44.320
 seeing the

00:47:44.320 --> 00:47:45.060
 nations come

00:47:45.060 --> 00:47:45.640
 to faith

00:47:45.640 --> 00:47:46.820
 transformed

00:47:46.820 --> 00:47:48.840
 by Jesus Christ.

00:47:51.240 --> 00:47:52.060
 It is in

00:47:52.060 --> 00:47:52.680
 Christ's

00:47:52.680 --> 00:47:53.240
 glorious

00:47:53.240 --> 00:47:54.480
 name we pray.

00:47:55.480 --> 00:47:56.080
 Amen.

00:48:11.780 --> 00:48:12.240
 Amen.