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Point of Grace International
PGI - March 06, 2022 Sunday Service
In our church we aim to make it feel like a home, where strangers feel they are part of the family, where smiles are overflowing and hugs are natural, because we believe that life is a journey, and that we are simply channel of blessings. In our church we value three things, gratitude because it's the proper response to God, excellence because God expects nothing less, and grace because we all need it.
Locations & Times
Point of Grace Church
15601 Sheridan St, Davie, FL 33331, USA
Sunday 9:30 AM
https://www.facebook.com/PGIFortLauderdale
LYRICS FOR TODAY'S SONGS
CCLI License # 1613304
CCLI License # 1613304
Sermon Notes
March 06 | Joshua 8:1-29 (ESV)
Literary Analysis
A 1 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.
B 7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will give it into your hand. 8 And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you.”
C 9 So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people. 12 He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.
D 14 And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
C’ 15 And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. 16 So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. 17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
B’ 19 And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire.
A’ 26 But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction. 27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the LORD that he commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. 29 And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.
March 06 | Joshua 8:1-29 (ESV)
Literary Analysis
A 1 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.
B 7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize the city, for the LORD your God will give it into your hand. 8 And as soon as you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the word of the LORD. See, I have commanded you.”
C 9 So Joshua sent them out. And they went to the place of ambush and lay between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai, but Joshua spent that night among the people. 12 He took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So they stationed the forces, the main encampment that was north of the city and its rear guard west of the city. But Joshua spent that night in the valley.
D 14 And as soon as the king of Ai saw this, he and all his people, the men of the city, hurried and went out early to the appointed place toward the Arabah to meet Israel in battle. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
C’ 15 And Joshua and all Israel pretended to be beaten before them and fled in the direction of the wilderness. 16 So all the people who were in the city were called together to pursue them, and as they pursued Joshua they were drawn away from the city. 17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city open and pursued Israel.
B’ 19 And the men in the ambush rose quickly out of their place, and as soon as he had stretched out his hand, they ran and entered the city and captured it. And they hurried to set the city on fire.
A’ 26 But Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the javelin until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction. 27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as their plunder, according to the word of the LORD that he commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day. 29 And he hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. And at sunset Joshua commanded, and they took his body down from the tree and threw it at the entrance of the gate of the city and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day.
ISG Material
Context
The first part of chapter 8 tells the story of the defeat of Ai and the hard lesson Israel learned from the story of Achan. Jericho being the first city to be destroyed is likened to the firstfruits, all spoils must belong to God. but the spoils taken from Ai now belong to the people. They learned this the hard way but more than that, they learned that God means serious business. Holiness just like obedience is non negotiable.
Critical Points
1. God is in charge. Ai is a small city with only about 12,000 residents. Israel was defeated during their first attempt on Ai because of Achan and because they have misplaced their confidence. So that in the next attack, God commanded Joshua to bring in the whole military force of 30,000. This was not to overwhelm the people of Ai but to demonstrate to the whole fighting men of Israel who really is in charge.
2. Absolute obedience. Joshua meticulously followed God’s instruction. The ambush was a smart move. But it must be clarified that the reason for the victory was not the military strategy but the power of God (8:18). With regard to the spoils of war, the people obeyed the LORD (8:27), took the livestock and spoils as plunder but the rest they burned. Consecration has no room for compromise (Achan).
3. Curse. The people of Israel killed everyone with the sword except for the king of Ai. And as a symbol of a curse on the city, it was made as a heap of ruins. The king was hanged on a tree, this too symbolizes the curse of God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) with a precondition that the corpse must be taken before sunset so that it will not defile the land they are trying to consecrate. The king of Ai represented the city and his hanging was a gesture of God’s justice in the land.
Small Group Guide questions:
1. Summarize. Summarize the passage Joshua 8:1-29 and determine the main idea/event.
2. Analyze. What does consecration mean in the context of Achan’s sin? (7:13-15)
3. Consider the context. Although the battle against Ai was a military warfare, it must be understood in the context of consecration. How is the concept of total destruction, burning, killing of all inhabitants, and making it a heap of stones related to consecration?
4. Analyze. What does it mean to say that, “...until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.” (8:26) and why can't Israel just co-exist among the inhabitants of the land? What is with consecration of the land that coexistence was not an option?
5. Analyze. What's the difference between the capture of Jericho and Ai? Why were they allowed to take the spoils in Ai and not in Jericho? Did God simply change his mind? (8:2, 27)
6. Analyze. Why was the body of the king of Ai hanged on a tree? Why take it down before sunset? (cf. Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Numbers 35:33-34) How is God’s intent to make his dwelling among men the main reason behind the conduct of Israel in even warfare?
7. Jesus Connect. How did Paul use the concept of hanging in the context of Jesus? And how is the crucifixion connected to this? (cf. Galatians 3:13)
8. Apply. How can I continuously live a consecrated life knowing that Christ has already atoned for my sin?
Context
The first part of chapter 8 tells the story of the defeat of Ai and the hard lesson Israel learned from the story of Achan. Jericho being the first city to be destroyed is likened to the firstfruits, all spoils must belong to God. but the spoils taken from Ai now belong to the people. They learned this the hard way but more than that, they learned that God means serious business. Holiness just like obedience is non negotiable.
Critical Points
1. God is in charge. Ai is a small city with only about 12,000 residents. Israel was defeated during their first attempt on Ai because of Achan and because they have misplaced their confidence. So that in the next attack, God commanded Joshua to bring in the whole military force of 30,000. This was not to overwhelm the people of Ai but to demonstrate to the whole fighting men of Israel who really is in charge.
2. Absolute obedience. Joshua meticulously followed God’s instruction. The ambush was a smart move. But it must be clarified that the reason for the victory was not the military strategy but the power of God (8:18). With regard to the spoils of war, the people obeyed the LORD (8:27), took the livestock and spoils as plunder but the rest they burned. Consecration has no room for compromise (Achan).
3. Curse. The people of Israel killed everyone with the sword except for the king of Ai. And as a symbol of a curse on the city, it was made as a heap of ruins. The king was hanged on a tree, this too symbolizes the curse of God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23) with a precondition that the corpse must be taken before sunset so that it will not defile the land they are trying to consecrate. The king of Ai represented the city and his hanging was a gesture of God’s justice in the land.
Small Group Guide questions:
1. Summarize. Summarize the passage Joshua 8:1-29 and determine the main idea/event.
2. Analyze. What does consecration mean in the context of Achan’s sin? (7:13-15)
3. Consider the context. Although the battle against Ai was a military warfare, it must be understood in the context of consecration. How is the concept of total destruction, burning, killing of all inhabitants, and making it a heap of stones related to consecration?
4. Analyze. What does it mean to say that, “...until he had devoted all the inhabitants of Ai to destruction.” (8:26) and why can't Israel just co-exist among the inhabitants of the land? What is with consecration of the land that coexistence was not an option?
5. Analyze. What's the difference between the capture of Jericho and Ai? Why were they allowed to take the spoils in Ai and not in Jericho? Did God simply change his mind? (8:2, 27)
6. Analyze. Why was the body of the king of Ai hanged on a tree? Why take it down before sunset? (cf. Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Numbers 35:33-34) How is God’s intent to make his dwelling among men the main reason behind the conduct of Israel in even warfare?
7. Jesus Connect. How did Paul use the concept of hanging in the context of Jesus? And how is the crucifixion connected to this? (cf. Galatians 3:13)
8. Apply. How can I continuously live a consecrated life knowing that Christ has already atoned for my sin?