This is document meant to synopsize aspects of The Old and New Testament Scriptures as they pertain to the current church age and to specific bodies of Christ. Our desire here at Midtown Church is to have a Biblical Church Culture, and by culture I mean concrete actions, lifestyle, practices; what we actually do, not ideas, theories or intentions. (Culture does not consist of ‘intentions’, it consists of action, deeds, relationships, practices, habits, rituals, and words spoken face to face) These paragraphs communicate standards, values and practices that are expressed in norms and values and behaviors that mark our ‘Biblical Church Culture’.

Preamble:

Having surrendered our lives to God’s grace as followers of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and having been publicly baptized as a testimony of our love and submission to Him, we, the members of Midtown Church, purposefully and joyfully enter into this covenant with one another, affirming our God-given leadership, in common unity as a family in the Lord. Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant:

• ‘Christ-Given Unity’
• A surrendered life is a prerequisite, each member’s response to God’s Grace
• Baptism is a common declaration
• We covenant together by choice with purpose and joy
• In submission to Christ we submit to HIS body
• John 17 / Ephesians 4 / Philippians 1

Article 1:

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To affirm by action, word, presence and heart, The Midtown Church Statement of Belief. And in unity of belief we will identify as ‘Life-long Disciples of Jesus Christ’ and actively pursue sanctification.

• ‘Body Member Identity’
• Our complete agreement on the ‘Biblical Essentials’ found in our Statement of Belief
• The identity of a disciple means it permeates every aspect of your life (Goal)
• The active pursuit of sanctification requires showing up and growing
• John 13 / John 17

Article 2

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To live out our valuing of the gatherings of this body by our consistent attendance in our Sunday Activities as well as other gathering prioritized by the Leadership, fully participating in the discipleship journey of our church body, including mentoring and small groups.

• ‘Body Presence’
• 1^st you value being here by prioritizing it in your life, then you live that out
• Sunday matters! Members of Christ’s body figure out how to be here
• Gatherings prioritized by the leadership means the stuff we are all doing together
• Hebrews 10 / Romans 12 / Psalm 133

Article 3

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To Biblically practice the sacraments of Immersion Baptism and The Lord’s Supper. To be dedicated to the prayerful, consistent study and application of God’s Word, and the Spirit-Led praying for others and ourselves.

• ‘Common Basics’
• Immersion Baptism: Jesus did it, each of us should do it.
• The Lord’s Supper: Jesus commanded we do this every time
• Matthew 3 / Mark 1 / Luke 3 / Acts 2
• Matthew 26 / Mark 14 / Luke 22 / John
• 1^st Corinthians 11 / Ephesians 6 / 2^nd Timothy 3

Article 4

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To prioritize being a part of communicating the Biblical Gospel of Jesus Christ in humble cooperation with God’s Spirit in every sphere of our lives.

• ‘Shared Purpose’
• We exist to be the ongoing presence of Jesus Christ
• ‘Holistic Gospel Declaration’…
• Spirit led living
• CANNOT BE DONE WITHOUT A LIFESTYLE OF DISCIPLESHIP IN CHRIST
• Matthew 10 / Luke 4 / Acts 5, 8, 9 & 17 / Romans 15 / Colossians 4
• Jeremiah (19 references…) 20:9 ‘God’s Word is a fire, I can’t keep in me’

Article 5

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To practice with our actions, words and attitudes, loving other members by considering others’ needs and perspectives more important than our own, following Christ’s example.

• ‘Consideration’
• The practice of caring for people, consistently matching intention with action
• We will never consider other member’s needs if we don’t know the other members
• Christ put the needs of the members of His Body before His own needs
• Philippians 2 / Romans 12:3 / James 4 / Deuteronomy 8

Article 6

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To pursue intimacy in our relationships with other church members, living all of our lives together in brotherly/sisterly love as exemplified in Scripture. To value and practice transparency and openness in our relationship together.

• ‘Relational Health’
• The ‘One Anothers’ of Scripture
• Transparency and openness requires equal commitment and shared sacrifice
• Healthy relational intimacy comes from real unity of action, belief and attitude
• Intimacy takes time and trust (Consistent demonstration of commitment)
• John 13:34-35 / Romans 12 & 13 / 2^nd Corinthians 13 / 1^st Peter 3

Article 7

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To exercise ‘Spirit-Given Tender Care’ for each other, with the goal of faithfully encouraging, instructing, and admonishing one another in truth and love; guided by The Spirit through The Scriptures. Going out of our way to be slow to take offense, quick to reconcile, sharing burdens and joys with tangible humility and love.

• ‘Biblical Conflict Resolution’
• God’s principals for interpersonal issues
• Recognition of our shared identity and condition
• We need Jesus to teach us how to encourage, admonish and instruct in healthy way
• Giving up our rights to everything as Jesus’ disciples, we should be hard to offend
• Tangible humility and love is the way of Christ / our honoring of HIM
• Ephesians 4 / 1^st Thess. 4 / Hebrews 10 / 1^st Peter 1 / 1^st John 4

Article 8

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To generously and consistently give financially to the general fund of Midtown Church, as well as to approved designated budget items, based on Scripture and an informed understanding of Body Undertakings.

• ‘United Generosity’
• 10% of your net income is a good starting place, give it to your church body
• In unity we agree how everyone’s shared sacrifice will be used (no ‘pet’ giving)
• We agree to be informed about what the financial priorities of the church are
• 1^st Corinthians 16 / Malachi 3 / Mark 12 / Luke 20

Article 9

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To serve the church body and our neighbors in humble and repentant representation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, informed by Scripture and empowered by The Holy Spirit who indwells us equally.

• ‘Servant Attitude’
• The opposite of demanding and entitled
• We all serve each other in The Body because we are all vessels of God’s Spirit
• We don’t serve from our own resources; rather we are empowered by God’s Spirit
• Philippians 2 / John 13 / 1^st Peter 4 / 2^nd Corinthians 5 & 8

Article 10

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To actively work together (collaborate with and encourage fellow members) to advance Christ-centered ministry in our church and other Christ Affirming Entities for the purpose of identifying and cultivating our spiritual gifts as we discover and practice them.

• ‘Body Ministry’
• There is no ‘My Ministry’ only ‘Our Ministry’ or Christ’s Ministry or Church ministry
• The use of the gifts God has given us is not optional,
• Matthew 25; the parable of the talents / Hebrews 13 / Ephesians 2 / Ephesians 4

Article 11

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To submit in unity to the authority of The Midtown Church Body, as led by Our Elder Team, in all matters that are Biblical, align with our Statement of Belief, Our Church Constitution, By-Laws and this Covenant.

• ‘Biblical Leadership’
• Biblically Qualified Elders & Deacons
• The Authority is held by the Body, exercised by and through the Elders
• We each submit to the body as we submit to Christ
• Ephesians 5 / Hebrews 13 / Luke 22 / Hebrews 13

Article 12

Together before Christ Our Lord, God The Father and The Holy Spirit, as members of Midtown Church we covenant: To respectfully question in reverent order, all matters and practices of the church that are not being led in accordance with Scripture, our Statement of Belief, Our Constitution, By-Laws and this Covenant.

• ‘Biblical Accountability’
• The leadership of the church is accountable to members
• The Body is responsible to ensure the leadership is doing what we have agreed to
• 1^st Timothy 5 / Acts 15 / 1^st Corinthians 1

SUMMARY:

Our membership covenant is a synopsis of our Biblical Church Culture. It is a summary of God’s Word pertaining to the function of Christ’s Body. It is what we agree to do together as Jesus Christ’s church, standards, beliefs, norms, attitudes and practices. The more Biblical our church culture, the more God is glorified!

APPLICATION:

Learn the Covenant and the Scripture behind it, work through any questions you have and then practice the actions and attitudes prescribed by it.

1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for from you will come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the magi and determined from them the exact ]time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.”

9 After hearing the king, they went on their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on ahead of them until it came to a stop over the place where the Child was to be found. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

11 And after they came into the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And after being warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.

13 Now when they had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to kill Him.” 14 So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod; this happened so that what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet would be fulfilled: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent men and killed all the boys who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. 17 Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more.”

SUMMARY

• It would have been so hard to make something fit as perfectly as it does. This chapter has 4 of the over 300 prophecies Jesus fulfills.

• In the Mormon bible, Joseph smith had to write additional verses at the end of chapter 50, at the end of genesis. He could not find ripe prophecy for the taking, to be interpreted to predict him.

• The reason this is important, is there are more prophecies in the Bible that have not yet been fulfilled. Christ says he is coming back. Much like Herod back then, Satan is not a legitimate king. Satan is troubled, because his dominion over this earth and over us has come to an end.

• The announcement of Jesus as foretold hundreds and even thousands of years ahead of time, gives us confidence in the words of God.

• We can be Herod and all of Jerusalem. Or we can be the magi.

• Jerusalem was perfectly content to sit around and ignore what God was doing around them. They averted their eyes from the star above because it was in their short-term best interest.

• Herod could have gone with the Magi, instead of paying lip service. The bible does not tell us of anyone who goes with them.

• The wise men were seekers, looking for the truth. They went to great lengths, sacrificing earthy possessions and a great deal of time. And when they found the Christ, they fell to the ground and worshiped.

• It did not matter that the magi were foreigners. They were not the religious leaders of the day; they were not Gods chosen people. They were far away from God, but God drew them to Him.

• When David was running from King Saul, his followers consisted of similar outsiders

• 1 Samuel 22:2 “And everyone who was in distress and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul gathered to him”

• David gathered the downtrodden, the rejects, and built-up a following. 1,000 years later Jesus would do the same thing, the religious establishment was content, already worshiping themselves and their wicked ways, they refused to look up, or make a 6-mile journey to Bethlehem.

• Sometimes we can feel like Jerusalem, thinking we’re on the inside of God’s plan. It can be easy to think of ourselves as a pretty good person who was raised in a Christian home, that we go to church, have religious friends. God shows us that isn’t enough.

• Make the trip to Bethlehem. Give what you have, and fall down before him.

Ways we can apply this text

• When God reveals himself, take time a figure out what he’s telling you.

• There is tension between taking time to listen, and to act when he tells you!

• Drawing near to God and serving Him takes obedience and sacrifice

• Study the Old Testament, it will enrich our understanding of who God is and what He has done.

Advent: Hope, Peace, Joy & Love. It is all about God glory, and this is part of the back story… We celebrate the Advent of Glory, God’s ultimate glory: JESUS CHRIST!

The story of this glory is full of revelation about God and about US! The Biblical narrative is about the preparation that went into the preparation for the advent of our Lord! This greatest of all stories has quite a back story, we refer to it as the Hebrew Scriptures or The Old Testament. The back story has lessons for us if we desire to be used by God for HIS glory. Part of our celebration of Advent and Christmas is learning about God and about ourselves. The back story of God’s ultimate glory is all about humble people who believed God was who HE says HE is. That is who Zach and Beth were…

Luke 1:5-25 & 39-45

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

• They were righteous in God’s sight yet childless
• The culture at that time saw children as a blessing from God
• Since they had no child their neighbors would view them as disobedient to God

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

• Priests lived all over Israel and would travel to Jerusalem to serve a period
• A group would serve for a week and some would get to do special things
• Worship and prayer took place durning the ceremony of burning incense
• Incense symbolized the prayers and praise going up to God (pleasing aroma)

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.

• We can’t comprehend what it is like to see an Angel (it always causes fear)
• There is a difference between feeling afraid and BEING afraid
• More than 200 times in scripture God says: ‘Do not be afraid’
• A child, and specifically a son, must have been a focus of Zach’s prayer life
• The answered prayer will be a great joy for Zach & Beth that many will share in
• The child that the Angel is foretelling will be great in the sight of the Lord
• Notice the distinction between being great to people & being great to God
• Jesus confirms his cousin John’s status in Luke 7:28
  • “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

• Aspects of the Nazarite Vow regarding alcoholic beverages
• Filled with the Holy Spirit even while still in the womb (must be a person)
• We will explore this term ‘Filled with The Holy Spirit’ later in the text
• He will lead Jews to reconnect with God (lots of disconnection is present)
• He is to set the stage for the coming of the Lord
• How to find God: Gratitude for what HE gives & desiring HIS wisdom
• These 2 PRACTICES (giving God gratitude & seeking God’s wisdom) Biblical paths to God

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

• Zacheriah asks the question we all ask: ‘How can I be sure of this’
• This is an expression of our desire for control
• Even those who are righteous in God’s sight can doubt revelation from God
• Gabe says: Look I am an Archangel, I hang with God and do HIS business
• You can be sure of what I tell you because I am a projection of God’s will
• As a lesson, Zach is struck speechless until the birth of the child
• My guess is that he never doubted God again…or maybe he did (only human)

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

• The people gather at the temple for these daily sacrifices.
• The incense burning only took a couple minutes, what was the hold up?
• He was able to communicate that something had happened with gestures
• Why is Zach disciplined and yet Mary will not be?

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

• Once he is reunited with Beth they conceive
• Perhaps she thinks she is pregnant but waits to be sure (no ultrasound)
• It is a good practice to be sure of what God is doing before we declare it
• Beth recognizes that God has in this act declared HIS favor for Zach & Beth
• Since the disgrace was removed that means it must have been there
• People had judged what God thought of Zach & Beth based on circumstances
• People who serve God suffer; it is part of the deal
• Their years of suffering through childlessness prepared them for this

Then Gabriel visits Mary (Luke 26-38)

Guess what Mary, you are going to give birth to God!!!

You will have a child even though you are a virgin, even your relative Beth (cousin or aunt) who was thought to be barren has conceived, because God can do anything!

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

• Right away (at that time) Mary goes to see the one person who will understand
• Once Mary (and Jesus) were in Beth’s (and John’s) presence sparks fly!
• John in her womb was already ‘Filled with The Holy Spirit’; now Beth is also
• What does ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ mean?
• Luke uses this term ‘Filled’ here and in the book of Acts

42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

• When ‘filled’ with the Holy Spirit she speaks with His voice
• The filling of the Holy Spirit always results in God being glorified (Acts 4 & 13)

SUMMARY:

God’s favor is not equal to earthly prosperity. In Scripture, God’s eternal grace is not always displayed in earthly circumstances. This ‘long-suffering’ couple is used to birth the greatest human ever…God’s blessings are not denoted by worldly success.

Zach & Beth are model servants, observing God’s Word blamelessly for decades, even though their dreams of a family go unrealized. God will refine willing vessels by hardship and faithful obedience, and then use them for HIS glory!

As spiritually mature as Zach was, he still doubted God’s messenger; all of us humans doubt. Obedience over time lays the groundwork to overcome doubt. This season is given by God to encourage us, even when we doubt. It is hard to doubt when you rejoice!

God fills HIS people with HIS Spirit creating focus and connection to participate in what HE is doing.

This text is just a chapter of the story of how God HIMSELF came to earth without comfort, acceptance or accolades. HE was unappreciated, un-thanked and to many, HE seemed cursed not blessed! The ONE who appeared to this world as most despised is in fact, the definition of blessing, the definition of love, the definition of Grace and Mercy and Forgiveness!

HE did not strive for a successful career or family or empire or office or travel or the accumulation of things …. He was born into lowliness and died in lowliness… for you and I. Born in a cave! Killed on a cross! That you and I might be united with God! Might we surrender our lives more fully to HIM today!

And THIS SEASON we get to celebrate this REALITY, God with us! Not just today but for weeks!

APPLICATION:

What circumstances in your life keep you from fully obeying and serving the Lord?

When you have doubts about God how do you go about alleviating them?

What are the eternal blessings that you count on to get you through tough times?

VISION & PRACTICE:

When we focus on what God has done and what He is doing, HE will lead us to belief in HIS favor for us. Let us intentionally celebrate HIM this Christmas and rejoice in our belief in God’s grace to us in Christ.

How does history become ‘accepted’? What has been the process of consensus building around event to the point where we call it ‘historical fact’? History is recorded in various ways over time, with the dominant narrative of events undergoing periods of fluidity…until consensus is reached and affirmed, and reaffirmed.

The hebrews Scriptures (Holy Writings) were preserved, copied with supernatural care and circulated throughout the Mediterranean in paleo-Hebrew 1000 B.C. – 500B.C. Around 500 BC. the Aramaic alphabet was adopted for the Hebrew language in the time of Nehemiah and Ezra, returning exiles from Babylon. This enabled literate people in that area of the world to read the Hebrew scriptures. Around 300 B.C. The first five books of the O.T. were translated into Greek and less than 100 years later the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Scriptures began circulating throughout the Greek speaking world. From there they were translated into many languages for the last 2000 yrs. These events in Joshua happened around 1400 B.C. For about 3400 years, the historical information of the Hebrews scriptures was known in agreement with other historical sources to be undisputed, universally accepted as historical fact.

Through out Scripture, the listing of people and places is how God embeds verifiable historical information into HIS Holy Writings. The significance of Chapter 12 is the documenting of God’s work through HIS people as to how God could conquer an entire region.

Joshua Chapter 12

1 These are the kings east of the Jordan River who had been defeated by the Israelites and whose land was taken. Their territory extended from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon and included all ‘The Land’ east of the Jordan Valley.

• This is the conquest of the portion of the promised land led by Moses
• These conquests are described at the end of the book of Numbers, chapter 21

2 King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, was defeated. His kingdom included Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon Gorge, and extended from the middle of the Arnon Gorge to the Jabbok River, which serves as a border for the Ammonites. This territory included the southern half of the territory of Gilead. 3 Sihon also controlled the Jordan Valley and regions to the east—from as far north as the Sea of Galilee to as far south as the Dead Sea, including the road to Beth-jeshimoth and southward to the slopes of Pisgah.

• Arnon George is east of the southernmost part of the Dead Sea
• The Jabbok River meets the Jordan river where the city of Succoth is

4 King Og of Bashan, the last of the Rephaites, lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei. 5 He ruled a territory stretching from Mount Hermon to Salecah in the north and to all of Bashan in the east, and westward to the borders of the kingdoms of Geshur and Maacah. This territory included the northern half of Gilead, as far as the boundary of King Sihon of Heshbon.

• Raphaites: Giants like Anakites, (11:21-22) & Goliath. Og had 6 fingers & toes
• Bashan was a region that was called that in 1400 B.C. (Bible & other sources)
• 732 BC city of Ashtaroth in region known as Bashan conquered by Assyrians
• Then Assyrians made the Northern kingdom of Israel pay tribute (2nd Kings 15)
• Then they conquered & deported population (2^nd Kings 16 & 1^st Chronicles 5)
• Scripture is grounded in verified history (Accounts were verified for centuries)
• History was a oral record alongside the written (99% of people illiterate)

6 Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites had destroyed the people of King Sihon and King Og. And Moses gave their land as a possession to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

• Reuben, Gad and Manasseh ASKED FOR THE LAND
• Good land for livestock…
• They would be the 1^st of the tribes to be exiled (1 Chronicles Ch. 5)

7 The following is a list of the kings that Joshua and the Israelite armies defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which leads up to Seir. Joshua gave this land to the tribes of Israel as their possession, 8 including the hill country, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley, the mountain slopes, the Judean wilderness, and the Negev. The people who lived in this region were the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

• Geographic look at the territory conquered
• Listing of people groups that were largely destroyed (remnants on coast & hills)

These are the kings Israel defeated: 9 The king of Jericho. The king of Ai, near Bethel. 10 The king of Jerusalem. The king of Hebron. 11 The king of Jarmuth. The king of Lachish. 12 The king of Eglon. The king of Gezer. 13 The king of Debir. The king of Geder. 14 The king of Hormah. The king of Arad. 15 The king of Libnah. The king of Adullam. 16 The king of Makkedah. The king of Bethel.

• The listing of the kings is a social / political look at what was conquered
• Not all the cities conquered were initially occupied
• Not all of these Kings were previously mentioned

17 The king of Tappuah. The king of Hepher. 18 The king of Aphek. The king of Lasharon. 19 The king of Madon. The king of Hazor. 20 The king of Shimron. The king of Acshaph. 21 The king of Taanach. The king of Megiddo. 22 The king of Kedesh. The king of Jokneam in Carmel. 23 The king of Dor. The king of Goyim in Gilgal 24 The king of Tirzah. In all, thirty-one kings were defeated.

• Kings not mentioned before may have been defeated in Ch. 11:16-18
• 33 kings in all…The KING of 33 kings…the KING of all kings: Yahweh!

SUMMARY:

The land promised to Abram by God had people occupying it. God had HIS people devote these people to destruction in order to fulfill HIS promise. It happened and God wanted us to know it happened. For centuries this information was attested to as historically accurate. (not necessarily complete)

Moses and Joshua were commanded by God to devote these kingdoms according to to HIS plan. The listing of physical territory and each ‘king’ is a display of historical verifiability for generations to come with specific geographic and political information. This victorious God-Given conquest is part of the identity of HIS people, then and now.

At this point God’s people begin to occupy The Promised Land, but it is not a completed conquest of all the territory promised to Abram. Up to this point there has been unified obedience under Joshua (except 1^st battle of Ai).

BIG Themes of the Book of Joshua:

• Obedience fuels the miraculous
• God’s People can possess what God promises them
• God’s People are strong & courageous when they trust HIM
• The value of our faith in God is found in our acting on it
• Disobedience leads to disaster
• Leadership matters to all of us
• God always fulfills His Promises

APPLICATION:

Why is it important for a follower of Christ to embrace the Historicity of the Hebrew Scriptures?

How does YOUR historical understanding of all Scripture influence your life as a disciple of Christ?

Which ones of the seven themes listed above do you fully resonate with? Which ones do you not fully agree with?

VISION & PRACTICE:

God has embedded history into Scripture and The Scripture contains verifiable history for us to see HIM at work in HIS Story. Might we grow in our practice of applying historical context to our understanding of God’s Word.

Today’s passage is easily dismissed and overlooked as just more conquest. But it is just as important as any part of God’s Word. Do we have the humility before the ‘All-Everything God’ to trust HE knows best? Do you believe that whatever your idea of best is, God’s idea of best is better?

Previously on Joshua: The Longest Day:

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

• The battle had begun as a defense of Gibeon (they made a treaty)
• The 5 Kings (led by the King of Jerusalem) were surprised and routed
• The armies in retreat before Israel were killed by massive hailstones
• Kings hid in a cave while God extended the daylight for and extra day
• They stood on the necks of the kings, the sun finally set now the 2^nd day

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

• Approached as the sun set, they surrounded them, and then attacked in the am
• ‘Took up positions’ can also be translated as ‘laid siege to’
• The second day of the campaign will be a normal length day so they get busy

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish. 36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

• Again they took up positions, the armies are not coming out fo the cities
• Hebron is a bit bigger, a city with villages surrounding it
• So at this point it seems like an unnecessary amount of carnage
• We look at this and say, ‘maybe he can just kill soldiers…’
• This is what obedience can look like sometimes…

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir. 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.

• Repetition is to show the continued obedience
• Just like you and I they might begin to say, (‘Do we have to kill them all?’)

40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon.

• They did as God commanded, no shortcuts, no editing of the command
• It may not have been made explicit earlier in chapter, this summation does
• Every life God put before them they devoted to HIM, that was HIS Plan

42 All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

• One campaign 2 days; a double length day and a single length day
• How could this all be accomplished in such a short period of time?
• Why didn’t they attack Jerusalem on their way back to Gilgal?
• Why did God have the Israelites kill everyone?

SUMMARY:

City after city is attacked and utterly destroyed as an act of obedience to what God had commanded HIS people to do. (Deut. 20:16-18) Every life was ‘Devoted’ to the Lord.

The army trusted Joshua’s leadership to the point where they trusted God’s plan even if they could not fully understand it.

In God’s Judgement HE used the Israelites to devote to HIM earthly lives, but ultimately God is in charge of the eternal lives of all the humans everywhere. We are born & die according to HIS Plan.

This is an extreme example of the Biblical Principal: God’s people are called to obey without complete information, because HE made us HIS people.

APPLICATION:

Is there something God has led you to do that you can’t understand why you should do it? Will you do it anyway? What would a Biblical Practice of that process look like?

Why does God allow seemingly innocent people to die? Do you require an answer you agree with? What standards do you use to judge if God is fair or not?

If God Judged these people, can you trust they deserved to be Judged?

If God Saved these people, can you trust God’s decision to give them eternal life?

VISION & PRACTICE

What we can see of God’s plan is fundamentally limited. Biblically following Christ is about developing a relationship with God where we humbly trust in HIS character; then we can trust HIS Plan!