Men's Group Study Guide
Introduction
Chapter 18 is the continuation of the dividing of the land unto the tribe of Benjamin. But before they get down to the business of distinguishing the boundaries for this tribe, Joshua wants to address some issues. He has been witness to the lack of obedience that the previous tribes have shown and like any good leader he desires to steer them away from the same mistakes. A rebuke is in order. Joshua 18:3 / 1 Timothy 5:20. Joshua understood the hearts of his people. Through some of the earlier groups examples it became fairly obvious what their attitude was. For such a long time they had Joshua to make the executive decisions for them (from God). They really didn’t have to make to many big decisions on their own that would shape their individual futures. They just had to follow and be obedient. Don’t get me wrong. In the first half of the book of Joshua they all demonstrated the faith that was needed to enter into the promised land (through Joshua’s leadership of course). And now was the season for each party to begin to exercise their own leadership and continued obedience. Unfortunately they were failing. What example will we follow? Will it be the example of humility, obedience and leadership that is given through Joshua, or will it be that of the Israelite people?
STUDY NOTES: verses 1-28
Vs. 1-2 Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. All the people that were settled and all those that were still waiting for their allotment had now come together in the very center of Israel to set up the tabernacle of meeting. The city of Shiloh was located in the land of Ephraim just north of Jerusalem. This is where the Ark of the Covenant would come to rest for some years. This was not like the circus coming to town and setting up their tents. This was a revered ritual that was given to the Israelites through Moses from God. It was one of many
Vs. 1-2 Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them. But there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. opportunities for them to enter into that special spiritual relationship with God. A time to reflect and meditate on things. And the land was subdued before them. It is a beautiful thing that we as Christians can go into the presence of the Lord at any time. We don’t have to prepare ourselves or our surroundings in order to approach the almighty God. We can simply come as we are wherever we are and everything around us will grow strangely dim. This is where the law has failed to motivate us to go above and beyond ourselves for the sake of others. It could only have been a true love. Hebrews 4:16 / Hebrews 10:22 / Ephesians 2:19. Our God knows us best and He knows what will truly animate us in this life.
Vs.3-10 Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers has given you?..... vs.10 Then Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions. The tabernacle of meeting was in place along with the Arc of the covenant. This new and strange land was now feeling more and more like their own home base. To the north and the south of them the larger tribes had been established and so a line of defense was in place. Again, the land was subdued before them( 1 Corin.15:55-58). The time of reflection was over, and now it was time to get to the next matter at hand. Verse 3: “How long will you neglect to go and possess that which God promised you?” This is the big question for all of us as men. How many times will the Holy Spirit have to convict us of the sin of unbelief? In your heart will you disobey and complain against the things that God is allowing to take place in your life (heart) (Hebrews 3:17-19)? Joshua chapter 1 vs. 7, this should be burned into your mind by now. God is not asking us to muster up all the strength and courage we can by our own means. He is telling us to simply stand strong on what He has promised us. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left. If there is anything in your life that you should have passion for it should be to hold fast to these promises so that you can have real strength and courage to be used by Him in awesome ways that will fill your life with a joy like nothing else. Look long and hard at the example of the Israelites. I pray that we will take Him at His word and possess what has been given to us. Romans 11:11-22
Vs.11-28 Now the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph...... vs.28 Zelah, Eleph, Jebus (which is Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families. The successful survey and distribution for the tribe of Benjamin was now completed. The borders, cities and families were now in their places which God had promised to them.
TRUTH APPLIED:
Q. 1 In the first verse in this chapter Gods children are given a time to gather and reflect. We need this same time of reflection today. Regularly. Do you make time for the Lord and reflect on what He has already done in your life?
Q. 2 To keep us refined, and close to Him there are often times when He convicts us of sin in our lives. Or He will allow things to take place that round off those rough edges. Honestly, how do you react when these things take place and what are your attitudes? 2 Corin. 7:8-11
Q. 3 The tribe of Benjamin was the tribe that king Saul came from. (1 Samuel 10:20-21) Again I ask you to answer honestly. Do you live like that famous man from the tribe of Benjamin or like that famous man from the tribe of Judah? Are you self centered and self motivated or do you trust and obey?
CONCLUSION:
Philippians 2:12 says for you as Christians to work out your own salvation. This scripture does not charge us to work or to try to accomplish our salvation. That would obviously be contradictory to the gospel message. As sons of the Living God we should each be seeking the vision for each of our own lives (from God of course), and be aggressively pursuing it. How many of us sit in church week after week listening to the truths taught to us but we never truly hear the message because we don’t meditate on it or go out into the mix and practice it. Isaiah 6:9-10 / Luke 8:8-10. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! The verse in Philippians does not compel us to sit idly by and watch others live out what we only think about doing. It does not tell you to park yourself at the feet of another person and let them tell you everything you need to do in order to have a full and joyous life. 1 Corin. 7:23 / Ephesians 6:5-8. Do not become slaves of men. We are called to put forth real effort into our individual Christian lives. Not to work as to accomplish our salvation, but to work out our salvation or see the evidence of it in our lives. By God’s grace we can avoid the pitfalls seen in the book of Joshua. Thank Jesus for that!
“The believer must finish, must carry to conclusion, must apply to its fullest consequences what is already given by God in principle…… He must work out what God by His grace has worked in.” George Muller