Jesus the new priest - better than Aaron Heb And it opens up a better sanctuary Heb And is sealed by a better sacrifice Heb And it achieves far better results Heb Faith the true response to these "better" things Heb It has always been vindicated as such: examples Heb Is now to endure, patiently looking to Jesus Heb Is to express itself in practical sanctity Heb Parting words Heb It was written to Hebrew disciples, probably of Jerusalem, to avert the danger of their drifting back into Judaism.
They are exhorted to let go everything else, in order to hold fast the faith and hope of the Gospel. The Epistle is attributed to Paul, and though many question this, there is abundance of evidence in its favor. Throughout this Epistle we note that whatever Christ touches He makes eternal.
Ed : There is another "time word", once , which speaks of finality in Hebrews - see Hebrews , , , 12, 26, 27, 28, , 10, , Hebrews Christ better than the angels both in His deity and His humanity. He is able to meet all our need, because He is perfect God. The Epistle dwells upon the supreme importance and power of the blood of Christ in obtaining eternal redemption for us, in purging the conscience, in opening to us the heavenly sanctuary. Call to follow this glorious company and the great Captain Himself in the path of outward loss for eternal gain.
Call to go forth unto Him without the camp bearing His reproach. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes opens the introduction to his commentary on Hebrews with some insights into this very enigmatic book:. If there is a widespread unfamiliarity with the Epistle to the Hebrews and its teaching, it is because so many adherents of the church have settled for an understanding and superficial association with the Christian faith.
Yet it was to arouse just such persons from the lethargic state of compromise and complacency into which they had sunk, and to incite them to persevere wholeheartedly in the Christian conflict, that this letter was originally written.
It is a tonic for the spiritually debilitated. Hebrews Introduction. The theological epicenter of the Epistle to the Hebrews may be summed up in one word: Christology. No biblical document outside of the four Gospels focuses as totally and forcefully on the Person and redemptive achievement of Jesus For purposes of analysis the epistle may be divided into two major sections.
In Hebrews , the primary theme is the superiority of Christ as eternal High Priest. He is declared ultimately superior to the most cherished institutions of the ancient Hebrew faith. He is superior to the word of God spoken through the prophets since He Himself is God's ultimate redemptive Word. He is superior to the angelic hosts because no angel can boast of being the Son of God, fully Divine Heb , and yet fully Human Heb These two factors qualify Him uniquely to be the faithful and perpetual sin-bearer of His people.
On the basis of that same uniqueness of being, He is as superior to Moses the great lawgiver of Israel Heb , as Creator is to the created. The spiritual rest from dead works offered by Jesus is superior to that temporal one represented in Moses and Joshua through the occupation of the promised land Heb ; esp.
Heb Beginning with Hebrews the central theological concern of the epistle emerges: the eternal spiritual priesthood assumed by Jesus through offering up Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice for sins. It is infinitely superior to the temporal earthly ministry exercised by Aaron and his descendants Heb ; Hebrews Theology.
Henry Alford Charles Haddon Spurgeon writes that this text "is an invaluable aid to the critical study of the text of the New Testament. You will find in it the ripened results of a matured scholarship, the harvesting of a judgment, generally highly impartial, always worthy of respect, which has gleaned from the most important fields of Biblical research, both modern and ancient, at home and abroad.
You will not look here for any spirituality of thought or tenderness of feeling; you will find the learned Dean does not forget to do full justice to his own views, and is quite able to express himself vigorously against his opponents; but for what it professes to be, it is an exceedingly able and successful work.
The later issues are by far the most desirable, as the author has considerably revised the work in the fourth edition. Lectures to my Students, Vol. Lectures on Hebrews - Click here for list of all 24 lectures. What a Way to Go! The extraordinary event made international headlines. D Edmond Hiebert - Prints the author's own translation. Barclay defends Petrine authorship of 1 Peter but not of 2 Peter.
Valuable for its numerous helpful word studies and background material. Barclay holds that Christ's descent into Hades gave those who there heard Him a second chance. Comment : I appreciate Barclay's unique insights on Greek words and culture, but clearly his teaching about a "second chance" is NOT sound doctrine!
Be an Acts Berean with Barclay. Barclay is not always orthodox. See discussion of his orthodoxy especially the article " The Enigmatic William Barclay ".
The New Testament part of this old work was first published in — Various authors contributed. It is evangelical and amillennial Often the explanations of verses are very worthwhile. C H Spurgeon "Albert Barnes is a learned and able divine, but his productions are unequal in value, the gospels are of comparatively little worth, but his other comments are extremely useful for Sunday-school teachers and persons with a narrow range of reading, endowed with enough good sense to discriminate between good and evil Placed by the side of the great masters, Barnes is a lesser light, but taking his work for what it is and professes to be, no minister can afford to be without it, and this is no small praise for works which were only intended for Sunday-school teachers.
John Cereghin - Valuable commentary that had a wide sale when first published by this Presbyterian pastor. Bengel condensed more matter into a line than can be extracted from pages of other writers. John Wesley said of Bengel "I know of no commentator on the Bible equal to Bengel" and referred to him as "The great light of the Christian world.
James Rosscup writes "This work Gnomon , originally issued in , has considerable comment on the Greek, flavoring the effort with judicious details about the spiritual life.
It has much that helps, but has been surpassed by many other commentaries since its day. Spurgeon comments on the goal to make Bengel's Gnomon -- "Such is the professed aim of this commentary, and the compilers have very fairly carried out their intentions.
We strongly advise the purchase of this book, as it Tischendorf and Alford have contributed largely Necessary to Methodist Students. Spurgeon on Calvin - Of priceless value James Rosscup - Calvin was not only a great theologian but also a great expositor, and his insight into Scripture contributed to his grasp of doctrinal truth.
His commentaries are deep in spiritual understanding, usually helpful on problem passages, and refreshing in a devotional sense to the really interested reader. He usually offers good help on a passage. Calvin is amillennial on long-range prophecy, but in other respects usually has very contributive perception on passages and doctrinal values edifying to the believer.
He also can be very wordy, but the serious and patient glean much. It is surprising that Criswell preached no messages related to the warning passages in Hebrews 6. Each lesson on this study of Hebrews is designed fit into the whole of the book. The attached Powerpoint and audio were given during the teaching of these lessons.
The attached word document study guides are questions for the congregation, handed out the week prior to the lesson. Devotionals on Hebrews by Chapter and Verse. These make excellent sermon illustrations. Most of this first group are from Our Daily Bread devotionals which always begin with an illustration. Here are a few examples of the type of illustrations that can be found on these pages of devotionals Could I see them anyway?
Could I pay for her a little at a time? I sure did. And just forget the money. Hebrews Scottish physician A. Cronin was forced by illness to take a leave of absence from his medical practice. He then decided to write a novel. But when half done, he became disheartened and threw his manuscript into a garbage can. Totally discouraged, Cronin was walking the Scottish Highlands and saw a man digging in a bog, trying to drain it for use as a pasture.
As Cronin talked with him, the man said, "My father dug at this bog and never made a pasture. But my father knew and I know that it's only by digging you can make a pasture.
So I keep on digging. That novel, Hatter's Castle, sold three million copies. Cronin left his medical practice and became a world-famous writer. At times, you and I may feel trapped by circumstances that demand patience and persistence.
Are we willing to keep digging away at whatever "bog" God has assigned to us? Powell describes a picture of a rugged wagon train painted by a famous artist of the American West. On the map a heavy black line traces the zigzag course they have followed. They had swung north a little, then south, but always toward the west.
An argument seems to have erupted about which way to go next. But the leader, with weary determination, has placed one finger on the end of the black line. With his other arm he is pointing toward the shadowy mountains. He seems to be saying, "We may have to go south around a mountain, or north across a river, but our direction will always be west. High mountains may stand in our way as we continue on the course God has marked out.
But if we keep our eyes on the goal by "looking unto Jesus," we will not stray from the path He has outlined. As we stay true to the Lord, we will keep heading toward our goal. The challenge was not so much the distance, but the bone-chilling waters of the Pacific.
To complicate matters, a dense fog lay over the entire area, making it impossible for her to see land. After about 15 hours in the water, and within a half mile of her goal, Chadwick gave up. Later she told a reporter, "Look, I'm not excusing myself. But if I could have seen land, I might have made it. Once more a misty veil obscured the coastline and she couldn't see the shore. But this time she made it because she kept reminding herself that land was there.
With that confidence she bravely swam on and achieved her goal. In fact, she broke the men's record by 2 hours! James Rosscup - Though this work is generally helpful on historical background, it is often not of great assistance on the original text or problem passages. It skips over these many times. It is generally conservative, but not always.
Some sections are by radical liberals, for example George A. Smith on Isaiah and the Minor Prophets. James Rosscup - This dispensationally oriented work is not verse-by-verse, but deals with the exposition on a broader scale, treating blocks of thought within the chapters. The author was a popular evangelical Bible teacher of the first part of the century, much like H.
Ironside in his diligent but broad, practical expositions of Bible books. Gaebelein was premillennial and dispensational, and editor for many years of Our Hope Magazine.
Mp3's - Click on the links below for multiple Mp3's on each chapter. Moody was a Baptist pastor and evangelist in England involved in ministry and inner city mission work on both sides of the Atlantic.
Author of numerous religious books and articles, many of which remain in print today, he has been described as The Archbishop of the Free Churches.
Newell was premillennial and dispensational. On Hebrew 6, Newell takes the stance that professors are in view. Commentaries for Biblical Expositors. Cyril Barber - Presents the superiority of Christ by deftly and ably showing how the OT types and prophecies were fulfilled in His life, death, and resurrection. The Bible student will find this a helpful volume on the English text.
The Minister's Library. Hiebert - An independent, popular, heartwarming, verse-by-verse exposition by a competent, conservative Bible teacher. Contains a clear premillennial emphasis. A variety of rich summaries and comments in the footnotes.
NET Bible uses bold italics. NKJV uses italics. A date in the late 60s is believed to be the time of its composition. As expected, the comments are brief, pertinent, and pastoral in tone. The problem passages e. However, such issues aside, this is a useful commentary from which lay people will profit. Preachers, too, will derive some unique insights for the application of the text to the lives of their hearers.
All things considered, this is a work from which believers can derive great benefit. The Theological Journal Library on galaxie. Click the following links to search by topic, author , or bible reference.
Hebrews Sermons messages all Mp3 - although these are only available in mp3 format no transcripts , they are generally excellent.
Following sermons are available. Note: In the links below click arrow to go to next set of sermons on the next verse. Click here for all of the Hebrews studies listed below. This may be taken as the keynote of the Epistle. The Jewish Christians, to whom this Epistle was specifically addressed, owing to the taunts and jeers of their persecutors, were beginning to undervalue their Christian possessions. Therefore the writer rings the changes on the word "better," conceding they had certain things under the Law, but under Grace far "better.
The Jewish Christians were being taunted by their unconverted countrymen that through espousing the cause of Christ they had lost everything. The Apostle proves to them that they have only lost the shadow for the substance.
The "We have's" of the Apostle must have greatly impressed them. Our Peril: How? The unanswerable question. What must I do to be lost?
Just nothing. No need to reject salvation or treat it with contempt—just neglect it. Our Benefactor: Author. Captain means author or originator.
Those who are called to evangelize Jews declare that there is no better statement of the Gospel to present to Jews than this Epistle.
Let us trace the method of presentation, as seen in this Epistle. This is an important point. We cannot but admire the courage and faithfulness of the Apostle, for the Jews then, as now, were prepared to admire much in Jesus', but would not listen to His claim to Deity. Observe how slowly and methodically he declares and proves this.
Greater than Prophets. The prophets whom all Jews value, were great, but Jesus was greater than any or all of them Hebrews Jesus is the. Unique amidst all. Here the writer points out the absolute uniqueness of Jesus.
Click to download: Romans — Jamieson Fausset Brown. Click to download: Preface to the Romans — Martin Luther. Click to download: Romans — Alexander MacLaren. Click to download: Romans — William R. For more, see the page Free Romans Bible Commentaries to learn more about each author, including their theology. Click to download: James — Wesleys Notes on the Bible. Click to download: James — John Calvin Commentaries.
Click to download: James — Jamieson Fausset Brown. Click to download: James — Augustus Neander. Watch this presentation and learn about these exciting prophecies from the book of Daniel. The Lord God omnipotent reigneth! The Bible tells us more about the salvation of this Italian than any other man but Paul. When was he saved? Did Peter save him by the gospel? Instead of listening to uninspired men tell you how they were saved, learn the truth by this inspired account.
Where is scripture in ? Do we pick and choose from the Babel of competing versions? God promised to preserve His words, and He gave rules to identify them, so a faith-based approach beats academic discussion of texts and manuscript evidence. He has revealed His perfect divine library of 66 books for His children. I was expecting a dramatic contrast from the east side of the Jordan. I rephrased the question. Then I understood. I had ridden across the barren desert in the luxury of an air-conditioned bus stocked with cold bottled water.
To me, an oasis was nothing spectacular. The Israelites had spent years wandering in a hot, dry desert. To them, the sprawling patch of pale green in the hazy distance meant refreshing, life-sustaining water. They were parched; I was refreshed. They were exhausted; I was rested. They had spent 40 years getting there; I had spent 4 hours. How often, I wonder, do we fail to see His goodness because our spiritual senses have been dulled by comfort.
May we always thirst for Him Ps. Dear Lord, may our desire for You be like that of a deer panting for cold, refreshing water. When our son Stephen was eight, he was invited to stay overnight at a cousin's house. It was his first time away from home and it all sounded like an exciting adventure. But when we got ready to leave, he started getting that homesick feeling! With tears glistening in his eyes and his voice quavering, he cried, "Mommy, I don't feel so good. I'd better go home with you.
We too can become fearful sometimes as we look ahead because we've "never been there before. Perhaps right now you are anxious about some new and untried pathway on which the Lord is leading you. Then listen to God's Word and take courage: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye" Ps.
Place your hand by faith in your heavenly Father's hand, and let Him lead the way. De Haan. I have promised you My presence With you everywhere you go; I will never, never leave you As you travel here below. As a nonswimmer, she was just learning to become comfortable in the water.
Her instructor waited in the pool with outstretched arms. As my daughter hesitated, I saw the questions in her eyes: Will you catch me? What will happen if my head goes under? The Israelites may have wondered what would happen when they crossed the Jordan River. Could they trust God to make dry ground appear in the riverbed? Was God guiding their new leader, Joshua, as He had led Moses?
Would God help His people defeat the threatening Canaanites who lived just across the river? To learn the answers to these questions, the Israelites had to engage in a test of faith—they had to act.
Exercising their faith allowed them to see that God was with them. He was still directing Joshua, and He would help them settle in Canaan vv. Relying on Him will help you move from where you are to where He wants you to be.
May we trust You today and into the new year—whatever uncertainties we face. You are the God who can be trusted. But sometimes they have a more profound emotional effect. These Facebook memories nudge me towards prayer and gratitude. All of us are prone to forget the things God has done for us. We need reminders. God parted the waters, and His people walked through on dry land v.
To create a memorial of this miracle, they took twelve stones from the middle of the riverbed and stacked them on the other side , 6—7. By: Amy Peterson. God, thank You for Your faithfulness to me over many years! Help me to trust You with the present and the future as well. Share it with us in the comment section at odb. She gives an example of a family reunion where the youngsters are given a video to watch in the back room so the adults can talk undisturbed.
Pipher believes this diversion actually deprives kids. Children need to mix with the older generation so they can hear the stories of aunts, uncles, grandparents, and parents. This helps them learn from those who have gone before them. The Old Testament places a high value on children being taught their spiritual heritage.
After God parted the waters of the Jordan River, Joshua was instructed to take 12 stones from the river to create a memorial for future generations. We need spiritual interaction between generations. Remember, Bible stories are often family stories. And our children need them and us. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks. A young boy was in a church service with his grandfather.
When the minister began his sermon, he took off his watch and placed it on the podium. Not a thing. He knew that children of future generations would ask about the pile of stones in the Jordan River. So he told parents to use the opportunity to tell how God had miraculously parted the waters of the Jordan Josh. Since questions can open the door for us to witness about our faith, we should invite them from children or adults.
If we are friendly, moral, kind, and peaceful under pressure, people will notice. And some will even ask how we can live this way. Then we will have the opportunity to share with them the life-changing message of the gospel. By: Herbert Vander Lugt. Lord, help us live in such a way That people ask and want to know How they can have real joy and peace While living in a world of woe.
When your children ask. Not long ago, our friends had a gathering at their house and invited a group of people who were all music lovers. Kevin and Ilse, who are both gifted musicians, requested that each person or couple bring a rock for a fire pit that was often the site for their evening musical jams. They asked that each one be marked with a name or date or event that indicated how or when everyone had become friends.
God felt that the Israelites needed a reminder of an amazing event in their lives. Although the Jordan River had been at flood stage, the Israelites had been able to cross over on dry ground because God had stopped the water from flowing Josh.
Something similar had happened years before in an escape from Egypt see Ex. On this occasion, however, God instructed His people to build a memorial of stones so that in the future when children would ask about the stones, parents could remind them of the mighty hand of God Josh. As God continually cared for the Israelites, He continues to provide for us today.
In , sculptor Gutzon Borglum completed his work on Mount Rushmore. The Lord wanted future generations to have a memorial to their national history. He wanted them to live not only in the present, but with the reminder of the values, faith, and experiences of their founding fathers: Moses, Aaron, and Joshua.
We need physical reminders of spiritual truths. By: Mart DeHaan. How can you make sure you'll remember? With whom can you talk about it today? Recently I realised that all of the photos and mementos in my office represent the past. I considered removing them, but wondered if those reminders of people, places and events might serve some purpose beyond happy memories. Each of the men was to take a stone from the middle of the river, and carry it to their campsite that night Josh.
Those mementos remind us that His faithfulness continues today, and we can follow Him confidently into the future. The memories of what God has done for us can become building blocks for today and tomorrow.
An army officer may have an overall plan, but before each battle he has to receive and give out new instructions. Joshua, a leader of the Israelites, had to learn this lesson. The first stronghold they faced was the city of Jericho. Joshua fell on his face and worshiped.
As a result, they were deceived into making a peace treaty with the people of Gibeon, enemies in the land of Canaan. This displeased the Lord vv. He longs for us to come near to Him today in humility. Keila Ochoa. And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand.
This man Joshua has been likened to the first SAS soldier! Joshua started out as a brave young soldier and eventually ended up as a great leader. Before this fight God spoke to Joshua through the commander of His own heavenly armies. He wanted to know if God was on his side. The response was remarkable. Whose side was the commander on? We can ask the same question of God when we have to go into battle: is God on our side? What if He is for the other side? The truth is, as Joshua realised, that for every one of us who gives our lives to God, we will be fully accepted by Him forever, and He will always be on our side.
He is the God of His people those who trust Jesus :. In [Jesus] you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance a place in heaven. No matter what stands we may have to make or battles we may have to fight, let us make sure that first and foremost we belong to God. When we do, we know He will be with us forever, and that we have a guaranteed place in heaven when we die.
In the story about Joshua and the city of Jericho, we have a most vivid illustration of faith. God commanded Joshua to gather all the men of war and have them march around Jericho once a day for six days.
The Lord promised Joshua that if they did this, the walls of the city would fall down flat. Have you ever tried to put yourself in Joshua's place, and imagine how you would have reacted to such a command? In fact, I'm rather ashamed of myself that I didn't devise such a brilliant plan in the first place. It really makes a lot of sense.
That is, he couldn't take out his "slide rule" and calculate scientifically that the predicted results would necessarily follow such actions. And yet, even though some would have ruled it an insane plan thus to attempt the conquest of Jericho, Joshua obeyed God anyway, simply because he had faith!
Yes, he was willing to rely on the word of the Lord, despite the fact that it seemed contrary to his own understanding of things. That's what God expects of us today. He wants us to believe His Word — to accept the Bible record in its entirety — whether we can comprehend it or not.
In , house values were tumbling in the United Kingdom. But 2 weeks after my husband and I put our home of 40 years on the market, a buyer offered us a good price and we agreed to a sale. Soon our builders started work on the house I had inherited, which would be our new home. But a few days before the sale of our old home was finalized, our buyer pulled out.
We were devastated. Now we owned two properties—one whose value was tumbling rapidly, and the other a virtual ruin that we could neither sell nor move into. Until we found a new buyer, we had no money to pay the builder. It was an impossible situation. When Joshua faced Jericho, a fortified city in lockdown, he may have felt as if he was facing an impossible situation Josh.
But then a Man with a drawn sword appeared to him. Some theologians think the Man was Jesus Himself. Joshua anxiously asked if He would be backing the Israelites or their enemies in the forthcoming battle. Joshua bowed in worship before he took another step. By: Marion Stroud. Dear Lord, often when I am faced with an impossible situation I choose worry rather than trust. Help me to trust You and to remember that nothing is too hard for You.
All the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. Are you troubled because the goals you want to reach always seem to elude you? The strange, roundabout march of Joshua illustrates that God sometimes accomplishes His purposes in mysterious ways. He may not lead us in obvious paths when He intends to show His power. Sometimes I am sent on a long circuitous march when I am expecting to be retained for the assault. These moments are very hard for me.
Although we cannot always see the promised land, yet we may trust the guidance of the promised Hand. By: Henry G. Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see The distant scene— One step enough for me! By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. Unbelievers have long scoffed at the biblical story of the fall of the ancient city of Jericho. Once again, archaeology bears testimony to the truthfulness of Scripture.
The children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan. This truth became clear to journalist Sebastian Junger as he followed a platoon of soldiers. Junger watched a soldier accost another soldier whose bootlaces were trailing on the ground. Junger realized that what happens to one happens to everyone. After the great victory at Jericho, God gave Joshua specific instructions on how to deal with the city and its loot Josh. But they disobeyed his command to them The interesting thing is, not all of Israel sinned; only one person did—Achan.
But because of his actions, everyone was affected and God was dishonored. By: Marvin Williams. Lord, we know our sin is never private, though we may try to hide it. Help us to remember that we belong to You and to one another and that what we do individually grieves You and impacts fellow Christians. There was something wrong with my lawn.
After investigating, I discovered the problem: moles. Those voracious little bug-eaters were crawling around just under the surface of my previously well-groomed lawn looking for food and wreaking havoc on my grass.
The children of Israel also had a problem with a hidden cause Josh. There was something hidden from their view that was causing serious damage. The trouble became noticeable when Joshua sent 3, troops to attack Ai. Ai routed the Israelites, killing 36 of them and chasing them back where they came from. Joshua had no idea why this trouble had come.
Only when that hidden sin was discovered and taken care of could Israel have victory. Hidden sin does great damage. We need to bring it to the surface and deal with it—or face certain defeat.
Reveal any areas of my life that are not pleasing to You and forgive me. By the time it was brought under control, SARS had spread globally and killed nearly people. One reason for the high mortality rate was that the virus was not recognized initially. But once recognized and understood, SARS was contained. An even more dangerous disease is on the loose in our world—sin.
It too is difficult to bring under control because many people do not recognize its deadliness. In Joshua 7, we read the tragic story of Achan. We may recoil at the extreme way God dealt with him. He and his entire family paid with their lives v.
Thankfully, God does not deal with us in that way. If He did, none of us would remain alive. It sent Christ to the cross for us. Like SARS, the first step to deal with sin is to recognize it for what it is. Receive with gratitude the gift of eternal life. By: C. He died for your sins and rose from the dead. He offers forgiveness to all who believe in Him Rom. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. She brutally murdered two people in , but in prison Karla Tucker confessed her sins to God and became a vibrant Christian.
Many people hoped her transformation would persuade legal authorities to change her punishment to life imprisonment. But the courts rejected all appeals, and her execution was carried out in I thought about Karla as I was reading the tragic story of Achan. Those words make me think it possible that he, like King David many years later Psalm , was forgiven by God.
We love You, Lord, and want to do What's pleasing in Your sight; Help us to fear sin's consequence, So we will do what's right. During my days as a high school basketball coach, I made a huge mistake. I sent some of my players to scout an opponent. They returned with this report: We can take those guys easily. Overconfident, we lost to that team.
Does that sound familiar? But there was more to the defeat at Ai than bad scouting. Israel lost the battle and 36 soldiers for several reasons that I think we can learn from. But there is no mention of Joshua consulting God before Ai. Prior to the battle of Jericho, the men had consecrated themselves to God Josh. Achan had stolen from the spoils of Jericho They could not defeat Ai until the sin was confessed and the people had consecrated themselves Then God gave them a plan for victory A winning strategy for our daily battles: confessing our sin and living in the power that God provides.
Dear Lord, before I go off into the battle today, forgive me of my sin and lead me in the path You want me to go. I want to serve You. Empower me to live for You and Your will. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. A writing deadline loomed over me, while the argument I had with my husband earlier that morning swirled through my mind.
I stared at the blinking cursor, fingertips resting on the keyboard. He was wrong too, Lord. When the computer screen went black, my reflection scowled. My unacknowledged wrongs were doing more than hindering the work before me.
They were straining my relationship with my husband and my God. I grabbed my cell phone, swallowed my pride, and asked for forgiveness. Savoring the peace of reconciliation when my spouse apologized as well, I thanked God and finished my article on time.
The Israelites experienced the pain of personal sin and joy of restoration. Only after his sin was exposed and dealt with vv. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord, admitting our sin, and seeking forgiveness provides the foundation for healthy and faithful relationships with God and others. By submitting to our loving Creator and Sustainer daily, we can serve Him and enjoy His presence—together.
By: Xochitl Dixon. Lord, please help us recognize, confess, and turn away from our sin, so that we can nurture loving relationships with You and others. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We may feel guilty, but our desire to avoid admitting our responsibility is often stronger than our guilt.
Achan tried to hide his sin. He had stolen silver and gold and hidden it in his tent Josh. But when the Israelites were defeated in battle, the Lord told their leader Joshua that the loss was due to sin in the camp vv.
The Lord identified Achan as the one who had sinned. And even though Achan confessed, he and his family were executed v. God is lovingly calling you and offering His cleansing, forgiveness, and restoration. Signs that someone may be lying include fidgeting, lack of eye contact, and noticeable pauses in speaking.
Even with these clues, experts warn that it is still quite tough to tell deceivers from honest people. Joshua needed to know if he could trust the Gibeonites. When they discovered that God wanted him to get rid of some neighboring nations Josh.
The Israelites were suspicious v. Many want to gain our trust: salespeople, financial advisors, or estranged family members. Wisdom from above will help us decide who to trust. Protect us from deceivers, Lord, Who lie and plot to take Advantage of us and confuse Decisions we must make. Joshua had just won two astounding victories, destroying both Jericho and Ai through the power of the Lord.
The Gibeonites knew they would be next, so in fear they resorted to trickery to save their lives. They put on old clothes, took moldy bread with them, and made their way to the camp of Israel. Joshua and the elders were completely taken in by the ruse. Without consulting the Lord, they entered into a covenant with the enemies of Israel whom God had told them to destroy.
I see several spiritual lessons in this account.
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