34 SESSION LifeWay

Transcription

1 34 SESSION 3

2 The Point Leaders keep doing what God tells them to do. The Passage Joshua 6:1-5, 12-16, 20 The Bible Meets Life We all want to succeed in whatever we are doing, but many of us don t stick it out and persist until the task is complete. In whatever God calls us to do, the only way we will be successful is to do it God s way and not give up. Joshua led the Israelite army to do something repeatedly that seemed to have no results march around the city of Jericho but their persistence in obedience gave them great victory. The Setting The children of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground and entered into the promised land. They made a permanent memorial of stones taken from the middle of the river to remind them, and cause future generations to inquire about, the work God did to bring them into the land. After dedicating themselves to God through circumcising the men, the people faced their first challenge to possessing the promised land the walled city of Jericho. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 35

3 What does the Bible say? Joshua 6:1-5, 12-16, 20 (HCSB) Jericho (v. 1) Jericho was one of the oldest, if not the oldest city in the world, and it was the first fortified city Israel encountered in the promised land. The city is located near the northern end of the Dead Sea in the lower Jordan Valley west of the Jordan River. Ark of the LORD (v. 12) Also known as the ark of the covenant, this was a wooden chest containing the stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron s rod. The ark symbolized God s presence among His people. 1 Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites no one leaving or entering. 2 The LORD said to Joshua, Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its fighting men over to you. 3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. 5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead. 12 Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the ark of the LORD, 13 and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of the LORD. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed troops went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of the LORD. 14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. 15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. 16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city. 36 SESSION 3

4 THE POINT Leaders keep doing what God tells them to do. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members to turn their attention to the image at the bottom of page 29 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG). Ask: When have you seen persistence pay off in a big way? RECAP THE PSG: Wax on. Wax off. In the 80s movie The Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso is a bullied teenager who moves to a new city with his mother. After Daniel meets a karate teacher named Mr. Miyagi, he becomes enthusiastic about learning how to fight his way toward respect. Notes TIP: To strengthen relationships, gather your group for lunch or dinner once a month (or once every quarter). Enlist someone to host, plan a potluck, or pick a restaurant. But when Daniel comes to Mr. Miyagi s home ready to learn how to kick and punch, Mr. Miyagi hands him a water bucket and a rag. He instructs Daniel to wash and wax his car, and he wants it done a particular way. Later, the teacher hands Daniel a paintbrush and instructs him to paint his fence, using very specific up-and-down motions. Daniel becomes more frustrated, but he obeys. Only later does Daniel realize the motions he learned waxing the car and painting the fence have taught him the fundamentals of karate (PSG, p. 30). SAY: God calls us to a life of persistent trust and obedience, and sometimes that obedience may be displayed in unconventional ways. Joshua embodied tenacious obedience in his leadership, and we can benefit from the truth we see lived out in his life. GUIDE: Call the group s attention to The Point on page 30 of the PSG: Leaders keep doing what God tells them to do. Explain that this key idea will drive your discussion (it appears at the top of each session page). PRAY: Transition into the Bible study by praying for those in your group facing an insurmountable task. Pray for clear guidance from the Lord and for persistent faith. Display Pack Item #5 for use with Discussion Question 3. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 37

5 10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Joshua 6:1-5 Notes 1 Now Jericho was strongly fortified because of the Israelites no one leaving or entering. 2 The LORD said to Joshua, Look, I have handed Jericho, its king, and its fighting men over to you. 3 March around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry seven ram s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. But on the seventh day, march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the trumpets. 5 When there is a prolonged blast of the horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the city wall will collapse, and the people will advance, each man straight ahead. READ: Ask a group member to read Joshua 6:1-5 aloud. SUMMARIZE: Joshua had successfully led the Israelites to cross the Jordan River and enter the promised land. Now, their first major obstacle to possessing the promised land was to take control of the well-secured city of Jericho. RECAP: Interestingly, God gave no great battle plans; He essentially told them to strap on their sandals and walk! The soldiers were to march around the city once a day for six days while seven priests carried seven rams horn trumpets in front of the ark of the covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city walls seven times, as the priests blew the trumpets. After the seventh lap, the priests would give a blast on the horns and the marchers were to give a mighty shout. Then the walls would crumble and the city would be theirs for the taking (PSG, p. 32). ALTERNATE QUESTION: Which of God s commands in Scripture seem unconventional in today s culture? DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 32 of the PSG: Why do you think God sometimes calls us to do the unconventional? SUMMARIZE: God s unconventional strategy was dependent on His presence. As the soldiers marched, they were to lead a convoy of priests who carried trumpets. More soldiers would form the rear guard. Right in the middle of the marching was the physical symbol of God s presence the ark of the covenant. TRANSITION: In the next verses, we find out if the Israelites would follow God s carefully laid out plan. 38 SESSION 3

6 THE POINT Leaders keep doing what God tells them to do. Joshua 6:1-5 Commentary Do what God tells you to do. Verse 1 Under Joshua s leadership, the Israelites had successfully crossed the Jordan River and had entered the promised land. The first major obstacle to possessing the promised land was the fortress of Jericho. Jericho was an oasis city, located to the west of the Jordan River approximately 8 miles north of the Dead Sea. It served as a border town, being one of the oldest, if not the oldest city in the world. This central location meant Jericho would factor heavily into many historical events. The translation Jericho was strongly fortified renders the literal Hebrew one shutting up and one being shut up, indicating that the inhabitants had taken extensive measures to secure their city. If Israel was to capture this city, they would have to follow precisely God s step-by-step instructions. Verse 2 The LORD confirmed to Joshua what the spies had told him. The name LORD appears in all capital letters, signifying the use in Hebrew of the covenant name for God (Yahweh). The name s appearance in this context established the entire episode at Jericho as a covenant venture. Jericho, its king, and its fighting men, the entire politico-military establishment of the enemies, had been handed... over to Joshua. The Hebrew verb form here indicates an accomplished fact. What Joshua and the people were yet to see, God had accomplished already! Verse 3 God called for the Israelites to march around the city with all the men of war, circling the city one time. Do this for six days. These daily circuit marches are rightly deemed as ceremonial in nature rather than being standard military maneuvers. 1 God was more concerned that His people focus on Him by obediently acting on His commands than He was concerned about any meaningful resistance on the part of the Jericho forces. Verse 4 As part of the military procession, seven priests were to carry seven ram s-horn trumpets in front of the ark. This detail of God s instructions cast the entire plan in a different light. The Israelites had just experienced how the raging waters of the flooded Jordan River had been halted; they had entered the promised land walking on dry ground. The miracle had occurred when the priest carrying the ark of the covenant entered the river. God had dammed up the river, allowing His people to cross. The instructions to make the priests and the ark a part of the military procession transformed a seemingly silly and dangerous plan into a reminder that the Lord would win this battle on behalf of His people. Verse 5 The Lord guaranteed Joshua the outcome of this plan provided he and the people obeyed His instructions. On the seventh day, the seven priests were to give a prolonged blast of the horn that was to serve as a signal to have all the people give a mighty shout. Then, the city wall would collapse. 1. David M. Howard, Jr., Joshua, vol. 5 in The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998), 167. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 39

7 5 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Joshua 6:12-16 Notes 12 Joshua got up early the next morning. The priests took the ark of the LORD, 13 and the seven priests carrying seven trumpets marched in front of the ark of the LORD. While the trumpets were blowing, the armed troops went in front of them, and the rear guard went behind the ark of the LORD. 14 On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. 15 Early on the seventh day, they started at dawn and marched around the city seven times in the same way. That was the only day they marched around the city seven times. 16 After the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, Shout! For the LORD has given you the city. READ: Ask a group member to read Joshua 6:12-16 aloud. RECAP: The Israelites responded in persistent obedience to God s unusual commands. Early on the morning of the first day, they left camp in the formation God had prescribed (v. 8). They marched around the city once, with the priests continually blowing the trumpets. They did this for six days. What must the soldiers have been thinking as they marched around the city in silence, feeling their opposition peering out from inside the walls, surely confused at this strange method of warfare? And what were the people of Jericho thinking? (PSG, p. 33) ALTERNATE QUESTION: What is the relationship between leadership and consistent obedience? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 33 of the PSG: Is partial obedience to God really obedience at all? Explain. ENHANCEMENT: Bring your group s attention to Pack Item #5, Diligent Faith poster, during your discusion of Question 3. TRANSITION: Would God s strategy lead the Israelites to capture the city? 40 SESSION 3

8 THE POINT Leaders keep doing what God tells them to do. Joshua 6:12-16 Commentary Demonstrate persistent obedience. Joshua 6:6 7 relate that Joshua passed on the Lord s instructions to the priests and to the people. Verses 8-11 relate how the people did what God told them to do. Emboldened by God s great miracle of damming up the Jordan and confident of His presence, the people quietly marched around the city accompanied by priests carrying seven ram s-horn trumpets and the ark of the covenant. Verses Joshua, the priests, and the armed troops marched around Jericho in silence for six straight days. Each day, they made one circuit before returning to camp. The only sound on those six days was the sound of the trumpets summoning the armed troops to line up. The notice that Joshua got up early the next morning speaks to his eagerness to implement the Lord s plan on the appointed day. The prominent role of the ark of the LORD, mentioned three times in 6:12 13, signified the ever-present Yahweh in the midst of His people. The procession featured the ark of the LORD being carried by the priests immediately behind seven priests with seven trumpets. In front of the priests the armed troops marched, with a rear guard following behind the ark. Thus the ark of the LORD literally was positioned in the middle of the armed troops, with half the soldiers in front of the ark and the other half behind the ark. Yahweh truly was among His people. For six days the procession marched around the city once and returned to the camp, demonstrating unrelenting obedience. We can only imagine what must have raced through the minds of those Israelite soldiers as they quietly paraded around the walls under the suspicious stares of Jericho s fighting men. The occasion was ripe for despondency, uneasiness, anxiety, and desertion. However, after each day s march ended uneventfully and the armed troops returned safely to camp, the confidence in the Lord s protection no doubt increased. Jericho would fall because the Lord said so, but His promise was prefaced on the people s obedience. Verses Then the seventh day arrived. Only on this day are we told they started at dawn. The seventh day called for seven circuits of the city. Once the seventh circuit had been completed, the priests blew the trumpets. At last, Joshua gave the command to shout, just as he earlier had instructed the people he would (6:10). Joshua s command to shout was supported by the statement, For the LORD has given you the city. Joshua was echoing the language used by the Lord in Joshua 6:2. Just as the Lord had guaranteed Joshua that He had handed Jericho over to him (literally given in your hand, v. 2), so Joshua echoed the guarantee to the Israelites that the Lord had given them the city. God s guarantee would become Israel s reality by sticking to His plan. Persistent obedience was the key to success and victory. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 41

9 15 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Joshua 6:20 Notes 20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city. READ: Ask a group member to read Joshua 6:20 aloud. SUMMARIZE: Finally, on the seventh day, the time had come for the Israelites to circle the city seven times. They were about to reap the rewards of their willingness to follow the instructions Joshua gave. As they began the seventh lap, the priests would give a mighty blast on the trumpets, and that would be their cue. At that moment, all the people shouted, the walls crumbled, and the Israelites ran in and took the city for God. DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 34 of the PSG: What are the positive and negative consequences to taking a step of faith? DO: Instruct group members to complete the activity on page 34 of the PSG on their own. If time allows, call on volunteers to share their responses. By Faith: ]] What area in your life feels insurmountable right now? ]] How can you be obedient to God while you wait for Him to work? ]] What would victory look like for that area? ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you seen group persistence lead to group victory? DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 35 of the PSG: How do we make the most of a God-given victory? TRANSITION: God is pleased with our faith and rewards those who exercise it diligently under His leading and direction (Hebrews 11:6). As we obey both conventional and unconventional commands God grows us and guides us as we continue to march on in our leadership journey. 42 SESSION 3

10 THE POINT Leaders keep doing what God tells them to do. Joshua 6:20 Commentary Reap the victory when it comes. Verse 20 In last week s session, we learned that Confidence is best expressed through obedience. Before Jericho s walls fell, even before the Israelites shouted, Joshua informed them that this military victory would be different. Under normal conditions, the conquering army carted off the riches, produce, and possessions of their foes as spoils of war. Joshua, however, informed the people that everything in Jericho was set apart to the LORD for destruction (v. 17). The sole exception was to be Rahab the prostitute and her family. In response to her protection of Israel s spies, she and her family were to be spared. Prophetically, Joshua warned the Israelites to keep themselves from the things set apart for destruction; offenders would be set apart for destruction themselves (v. 18a). Even worse, the entire camp of Israel would be set apart for destruction and the disobedience would bring disaster on it (v. 18b). Then Joshua explicitly enumerated items of silver, gold, bronze, and iron as being dedicated to the LORD, mandating that such items be placed in the Lord s treasury (v. 19). The moment of truth had arrived. The people had completely obeyed the Lord s command to march around the city in silence for six days and then another seven times in silence on the seventh day. The priests had blown the trumpets and Joshua had given the command to shout. At that moment, trust turned into a final act of obedience as the people shouted. When the people heard the blast of the trumpet, they collectively gave a great shout. The Hebrew term rendered shout refers to a signal of alarm, a war or battle cry, a shout of joy, or is associated with religious worship. The same term is found in 1 Samuel 4:5 6, when the Israelites shouted as the ark entered their camp. Perhaps here, the senses of a battle cry, a shout of joy, and religious worship all may apply. In any case, the shout was a war cry signaling the decisive act of obedience resulting in Jericho s wall collapsing on itself. As a result of their persistent obedience and God s trustworthiness, the wall collapsed. Other translations render the phrase as the wall fell down flat (ESV, KJV). The literal Hebrew reads the wall fell beneath itself. At the moment the wall collapsed, God s spoken word (Joshua 6:5) became Israel s experienced victory. Then, just as instructed, the people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead. Persistent obedience resulted in permanent victory. The word advanced renders the Hebrew verb meaning to go up. The same verb was used in 4:16 when the priests were commanded to go up from the river with the ark. The verb also occurred in 6:5 where the Lord assured Joshua that the people would advance, each man straight ahead. The once proud city of Jericho lay flattened by heavenly omnipotence and human obedience. Previous Biblical Illustrator articles From Slaves to Soldiers (Fall 2006), The Ark of the Covenant in Joshua s Time (Fall 2001), Jericho: That Ancient City (Fall 2001), and Joshua s Conquest of the Land (Spring 2000) relate to this lesson and can be purchased, along with other articles for this quarter, at Look for Bundles: Bible Studies for Life. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 43

11 5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: What steps will you take to walk in unrelenting obedience? Notes GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 36 of the PSG. ]] Break routine. Complete one ordinary task in an unconventional way this week. Take a different route to work or refrain from ordering your usual morning beverage. This may not sound spiritual, but it s good practice for making unconventional decisions. ]] Memorize Joshua 6:20 as a reminder of how God proved faithful when the Israelites obeyed His commands. ]] Walk around an area and pray for the people who frequent that area. Consider walking your neighborhood, your campus, your workplace, or the ballpark. Notice how this impacts your attitude toward God, these people, and obedience. Wrap It Up SAY: Mr. Miyagi handed Daniel a rag and a paintbrush, and Daniel learned obedience and trust. Joyfully accept what God hands you, walk in obedience, and anticipate what God is going to do through you. 44 SESSION 3

12 My group's prayer requests Additional suggestions for specific groups (women, men, collegiates, and singles) are available at BibleStudiesForLife.com/blog. And for free online training on how to lead a group visit MinistryGrid.com/web/BibleStudiesForLife. Heart for Haiti Jim Bryson has a nearly impossible assignment from God: build a leadership school for children in Haiti. There s just one big catch he doesn t know anything about building a school. He s totally dependent on God, and he wouldn t have it any other way. To continue reading Heart for Haiti from HomeLife magazine, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 45