Men's Group Study Guide
Introduction
The time had come. The southern kings were in full battle array. Their fear shown in verse two drove them to muster all their forces for battle. The people of Gibeon were shown mercy for their humility, but the rest of the people of the land had to much pride in their own foundations (Luke 6:49). Jerusalem was now the closest city to Gilgal and the camp of Israelites, that had not yet been destroyed. So it is only reasonable that the king of Jerusalem would be the one to gather the troops. This is very similar in the spiritual sense. The things that are closest to our flesh are the first to rise up in defiance to our new found glory in Christ. Will we remain obedient to the vision given to us by the Lord? Will we push thru to the end, and take what God has promised to us?
STUDY NOTES: verses 1-43
Vs.1-5 Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it—as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king—and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty........
vs.5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
Just like a badger that has been cornered by something of greater dominance, and fights fiercely for its survival, the kings of this new Promised Land are fighting for their continued existence. We can safely assume that these kings had already heard of these things to come. They were aware of the new inhabitants of their land. So why wait until three other cities had been taken? Maybe because they were only concerned with their own interests and until those were threatened there was no need for aggression. The battle will always become fiercest for us when we threaten our flesh with the things of the
spirit (Romans 7:23).
Vs.6-11 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, " Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us." vs.8 And the Lord said to Joshua, " Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you." Vs.11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword. The first thing we see here is the Gibeonites calling for the aid of the Israelites. Verse six has a content that we should take to heart. “Do not forsake your servants, come and help us and save us oh Lord."
(Psalm 6:4,7:1) So what then does the Lord say in reply to their cry? Verse eight. In the last few chapters I have stated this again and again. It is an important theme for us to put to memory and never forget. May we constantly cry out to the Lord for His saving grace in our lives. In vs. 11 they did not have to do much. The Lord took care of the majority of the work. Do you see what the proper heart condition can do for us? (2 Corin.1: 9-10)
vs.12-15 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: " Sun, stand still over Gibeon; And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon." So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge upon their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day........ vs.15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. Here is scripture that presents a great debate to many Christian and secular people alike. The sun stopped! Many try to explain it scientifically. I am personally convinced that if we really believe in the Bible and what it says, then we need no explanation other than God is amazingly powerful and real. The ancient Hebrew text
(the book of Jasher) was a kind of hymn book if you will. Another form of recording and remembering the great things that God would do and had done for His people. Many godly men including king David made this a habit in their own lives to build up God continually in their minds and in the minds of their families. Deut. 31:19/Psalm 102:18
Vs.16-27 But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. And it was told Joshua, saying, " The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah." vs. 27 So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the caves mouth, whish remain until this very day. It is the final stage of the epic battle. The leaders of the opposition that once had threatened the Israelites and their companions were now cowering in defeat hiding in a cave. So what did Joshua do? Strategically he knew better than to let the other things that were going on slide by. Close the cave and go finish off the rest of the troops(vs.19).
Then Joshua reminded them, “for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand."
Is it always necessary for us to have to be reminded of what the Lord has promised? Or will we take to memory the methods of Gods people that have gone before us and basically write these things on our foreheads (Deut. 6:6-8). Now that the remainder of the fighting forces had been slain everyone returned to camp. Makkedah was near where the kings had been held captive in a cave. This was also one of the fortified cities that would eventually be destroyed, but for now it was camp. We see no sign of the people being hostile toward Joshua and friends. In the same manner God’s love and grace and truth should be emanating from our lives causing others to surrender to Him. Notice that I said it should be God’s and not our own persuasive words or human wisdom (1 Corin. 2:4-5), it must be completely the power of the Spirit. But people still manage to harden their necks against Him. Finally it was time to bring out the five kings. The first thing Joshua does to strengthen the hearts of the men is to have them put their feet on the necks of these kings. What happens in your heart and mind when you experience great victory by God’s provision? Isn’t this something that sticks in your mind and gives you courage? It should. But then ask yourself. Am I quick to forget or is God’s power something that I am constantly reminded of in my life (Psalm 42:4/Eccles.12:1,6), and do I hold fast to it for dear life? Now follow thru in the truth. Day after day, pummel your flesh into surrender (1 Corin. 9-27). Throw it in the cave it came out of and leave it there.
Vs. 28-43 On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed them—all the people who were in it. He let none remain He also did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.......to Libnah, to Lachish, and Gezer, to Eglon, to Hebron, to Debir.......vs. 42-43 All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. Here is where Makkedah gets it. I almost think they could have had a chance just like the Hivites in chapter 9 if they would have humbled themselves. But they were tight lipped and didn’t speak up when they had a chance (Isaiah 55:6 / 1 Tim. 2:3-4). God’s desire is that we would all be able to experience the victory in our lives that was experienced here by the children of Israel. To take on our spiritual battles time after time in the faith and power of God. Through each one of these victorious conflicts in our lives we will be changed from glory to glory ( 2 Corin. 3:18). Remember, it was God who fought for the Israelites and it is God who will fight for us.
TRUTH APPLIED:
Q. 1 In practical terms, what does "walk in the Spirit" mean to us?
Q. 2 Has the last season of your life been characterized by walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit? How did this happen?
Q. 3 Does God fight for you like He fought for Israel? Why or why not?
Q. 4 In the battles that you are in each day, do you fight with your will? Is will power your main weapon? Or do you fight with a mindset that says, "The victory is already won."?
CONCLUSION:
Jesus has provided the victory for us through the cross. When we come to realize the victory is already ours, we need to be living in that mind set each day. In the days of Rome, a victorious general would parade his defeated enemies through the streets. In the same way we should have an approach to our battles that is coming from victory already obtained. Colossians 2:15 says that He already disarmed the principalities and powers and made a public spectacle of them and triumphed over them on the cross. It is in this truth that we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8:37).