[SLIDE 1] the Hebrew Scriptures Are Referred to As the Tanakh • Tanakh Is an Abbreviation for the 16 Scrolls That Make up the 3 Sections of the Hebrew Scriptures
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
___________________________________________________ JOSHUA [SLIDE 1] The Hebrew scriptures are referred to as the Tanakh • Tanakh is an abbreviation for the 16 scrolls that make up the 3 sections of the Hebrew scriptures... the Torah, N’vi-im and Ketuvim • The first section (scroll) is the Torah, the 5 Books of Moses, referred to as the law The 2nd section is known as the N’vi-im or The Prophets • Why prophets? Because a prophet is an individual who receives a message from God (which is His Word) to declare to the people • The writings of the Prophets is God declaring His Word to Israel through various leaders (like Moses) and the first we will study is Joshua • The writings of the prophets make up 8 of the 16 scrolls • Scrolls 2-5 make up the Early Prophets which include Joshua, Judges, Samuel (1 scroll) and Kings (1 scroll) • The Early Prophets take us from the time Israel enters into the land until they are taken out of the land by the Babylonians • Scrolls 6-8 make up the Later Prophets and include Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel • Scroll 9 makes up the 12 Minor Prophets which include Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi • The Later Prophets and the 12 Minor Prophets ministered around the time of the Babylonian and Assyrian EXiles The 3rd section is known as the Ketuvim or Writings • It makes up the remaining 7 scrolls • Scrolls 10-12 include the 3 poetic books... Psalms, Proverbs and Job • Scroll 13 is called the Five Megillot and include The Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther • The Five Megillot were read on the various Feast Dates • Ruth is read on Pentecost, Esther is read on Purim, Song of Solomon is read on Passover, Lamentations is read on the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple and Ecclesiastes is read on Sukkot • Scrolls 14-16 are other books which include Daniel (written in Babylon), Ezra / Nehemiah (1 scroll written about the rebuilding of the 2nd Temple) and Chronicles (1 scroll giving the history of Israel from a Levitical view) Joshua is the first book of the writings of the Early Prophets 1 THROUGH THE BIBLE / JOSHUA © 2021 Holland Davis ___________________________________________________ JOSHUA • It records the conquering of Canaan by Israel under the leadership of Joshua, who was Moses’ successor • The first chapter records God commissioning Joshua to take the land • It’s divided into 3 sections o Section 1: The Moment of Commission (Vs. 1-2) o Section 2: The Mandate of Commission (Vs. 2-9) o Section 3: The Mission of Commission (Vs. 10-18) [SLIDE 2] Section 1: The Moment of Commission Joshua 1:1–2 (NKJV) 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, it came to pass that the LORD spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise” This first verse connects Joshua with Deuteronomy • At the end of Deuteronomy Moses dies and here in the first verse it says... after the death of Moses The descriptions of Moses and Joshua are important to note • Moses is referred to as the servant of the LORD • Joshua is referred to as Moses’ assistant • By the end of his life, Joshua would be called the servant of the LORD (Joshua 24:29) • There are 3 important things to note FIRST... Joshua did not replace Moses • He will assume the responsibilities of leadership, but the special face to face relationship Moses had with God does not seem to be given to Joshua • Also, Joshua does not take on the role of Mediator between God and the people the way Moses did • When the people were at Mount Sinai, they chose Moses to talk to God for them and they would do whatever Moses said to do • However, this relationship isn’t given to Joshua • He will speak as a prophet (Joshua 24:2), he will intercede for the people (Joshua 7:6-9), he will fulfill the Covenant (Josh 8:30-35) • But Joshua will never equal or replace Moses 2 THROUGH THE BIBLE / JOSHUA © 2021 Holland Davis ___________________________________________________ JOSHUA Deuteronomy 34:10–12 (NKJV) 10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11 in all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh, before all his servants, and in all his land, 12 and by all that mighty power and all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. • That is a spiritual principle... no one is replaceable because each of us bring gifts, characteristics, talents, relationships that are unique to us SECOND... Joshua continues the vision God gave to Moses for Israel • Hence the significance of being called the servant of Moses • Joshua wasn’t coming in with a new fresh vision • Joshua was simply the next leader to accomplish God’s will for Israel • Depending on Joshua’s faithfulness to the vision God gave to Moses would determine if Joshua was a servant of the LORD or just serving himself • Of course, we learn at the end of Joshua’s life he earns the distinction of being called the servant of the LORD (Joshua 24:29) [SLIDE 4] This brings up an important principle about leadership A leader is a person with God given capacity and God given responsibility to influence a specific group of God’s people towards God’s purposes • Leadership is not about fulfilling my vision for God which often results in building a monument to the leader • Leadership is about fulling God’s vision for people which results in building a community who bring the transforming power of God to the world • Joshua is given the capacity to lead, the responsibility to lead and the people to lead by God • How he leads will determine if he is leading them towards God’s purposes to transform the land by driving evil out of the land and establishing a community of faith called Israel • OR if he will simply build a kingdom for himself like all the other nations THIRD... Joshua doesn’t begin until Moses is dead • Moses’ death is an important event in the life of Israel 3 THROUGH THE BIBLE / JOSHUA © 2021 Holland Davis ___________________________________________________ JOSHUA • His death divides Israel’s history into 2 distinct time periods • The first period revolves around Israel’s unbelief in God’s Promise • The second period revolves around Israel’s faith and fulfillment of God’s Covenant through Joshua • But the most important implication of Moses’ death is the mantle of authority doesn’t rest on Joshua’s shoulders until Moses is dead and only then does God command Joshua to ARISE! • Which means the authority Joshua is operating under is the authority of Moses eXpressed through the Torah, the Word of God, given by Moses • In the same way, we operate under the authority of Jesus that was given to us after His death through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and expressed through the Word of God... who is Jesus • And Jesus commands us to ARISE... to GO into all the world making disciples of all men teaching them to obey all that I’ve command you (the Word of God) • Joshua becomes a type of the Spirit filled life [SLIDE 5] Section 2: The Mandate Of Commission Joshua 1:2–9 (NKJV) 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 4 THROUGH THE BIBLE / JOSHUA © 2021 Holland Davis ___________________________________________________ JOSHUA • Joshua is given 2 commands by God • In vs. 2 Joshua is commanded to arise, go over the Jordan with the people to the land which I AM giving to them • In vs. 6 Joshua is commanded to be strong and of good courage • These 2 commands are empowered by 7 promises of God o In vs.