Joshua 23-24; Psalm 57; 1 Corinthians 11

Joshua 23
1-16 Joshua Exhorts the People

• This is a "long time afterward." Israel has had a peaceful period of existence under Joshua's leadership. Now he's an old man.
• He gathers the Israelite leaders together.
• Joshua to the people: God has done for you everything he promised, and he will continue to fight for you against nations you have yet to conquer.
  
• But be warned: If you don't continue to follow him, if you intermarry with the nations you conquered, he will turn away.
• 15 - "But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the bad things...." If God is true and faithful to award those who are faithful, then He also has to be true and faithful to his promise to destroy those who are not. To praise him for the good but to withhold our belief for the bad is to expect God to be a liar.

Joshua 24
1-28 The Tribes Renew the Covenant

• Again they gather at Shechem -- all the tribes and their leaders.
• Joshua to the people: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel....," then gives a history from Abraham to Canaan to Egypt and back to Canaan.
• This is what I did for you: I led Abraham and gave him descendants; I sent Moses and Aaron; I plagued Egypt; I brought your ancestors out of Egypt; I brought you to the land of the Amorites; I handed them over to you; I destroyed them before you; I rescued you out of the hand of Balak; I handed over Jericho, the Amorites, and all the others to you; I sent a hornet ahead of you to conquer them.
  
• "I gave you a land on which you had not labored, and towns that you had not built, and you live in them; you eat the fruit of vineyards and oliveyards that you did not plant." How often do we think of those who have made our lives so much easier today?
• Joshua: THEREFORE, Revere the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and faithfulness...."
• And his famous line: "Choose this day whom you will serve...as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
• The people: We remember what God has done for us. We will serve him!
• Joshua: I don't think you can -- remember, he is a very jealous God.
• The people: But we will!
• Joshua: You have spoken; you are your own witnesses.
• Joshua made a covenant with the people and set up a large stone as a witness.

29-33 Deaths of Joshua and Eleazar

• Joshua: 110 years old, buried in the land of his own inheritance.
• Joshua's legacy: "Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua." Our US Presidents are always wanting to leave a "legacy" of their leadership. What a tribute that would be!
  
• They buried the bones of Joshua at Shechem, in the ground that Jacob had purchased (Genesis 33:9). See also Genesis 50:24-26 re Joseph's request.( Note: Joseph was also 110 years old when he died!)
• Eleazar the priest, son of Aaron, also died, buried in the town of his son Phinehas.

Psalm 57 - A Miktam of David in the cave, when he was fleeing from Saul
A combination of pleading, faith that God will rescue him, affirmation, and praise
1 - "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me."
3 - "[God] will send from heaven and save me, he will put to shame those who trample on me."
7 - "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast."
11 - "Be exalted, O God, above the heaven, Let your glory be over all the earth."

1 Corinthians 11
1 - Imitate Paul, just as he imitates Christ

2-16 Head Coverings

• I commend you for remembering what I told you, but...
• Remember the order of things: God - Christ - husband - wife
• This is the way it is: A man who prays with a head covering disgraces his head (double meaning here -- both his physical head and his spiritual head - Christ? Paul uses double meanings in other places in this letter.)
• This is the way it is: A woman praying or prophesying without a head covering disgraces her head (again, double meaning - her husband and herself).
• If she's not going to cover her head, she might as well cut it off -- it carries the same kind of stigma.
  
• Verse 7 I don't understand. Weren't both the man and woman made in God's image? I suppose this refers to the fact that Adam was created first ("let us make man in our own image), and Eve was fashioned after him -- from his very flesh. Man was made for God; woman was made for the sake of man.
• v. 10 - I keep thinking if I just read this enough times, it will make sense to me. Does anyone understand what "because of the angels" means? Do the angels have a symbol of authority on their heads?
• A reminder, though -- men and women are equally important to each other. The first woman came from man; but no man since has ever been born without a mother.
• Judge for yourselves what is proper and improper regarding the head covering, but you know how you naturally look down on a man who has long hair, and you admire a woman for her long hair.
  
• But -- if anyone is disposed to be contentious--we have no such custom nor do the churches.

17-23 The Lord's Supper

• I hear you don't even get along when you gather as a church! (Factions, though, serve to indicate who is genuine and who is not.) Maybe this is indicated by who can rise above the conflict -- and following Paul's earlier teaching, think of another's soul, not one's own rights.
• In your meal together -- Commentators state that it was common practice to have a meal together before the Lord's Supper, but they seemed to be mixing it all together. And some were bringing a lot of food and drink for themselves without sharing with others. Paul tells them that if that's the way they're going to act, it's better they eat at home. They're not only humiliating others, they're abusing the Lord's Supper.
• The purpose of the Lord's Supper: To remember the body and blood of the Lord Jesus.
• Therefore, be careful of your manner when you eat the Lord's Supper.
  
• Examine yourselves before you eat and drink
• The reason many of you are weak -- and some have even died -- is because you're not remembering Jesus' sacrifice
• Remembering his death and his judgment helps us to discipline ourselves
• So -- when you come together to eat, don't leave others out. If you're so hungry you can't remember why you've come together and end up condemning yourselves by abusing the Lord's Supper, eat at home.

Joshua 21-22; Psalm 56; 1 Corinthians 10

Joshua 21
1-45 Cities Allotted to the Levites

• Commanded by God through Moses that Levites would be given towns and pasture lands.
• Kohathites (Descendants of Aaron) - 13 towns - tribes of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin
• Remaining Kohathites - 10 towns - Ephraim, Dan, Half-tribe of Manasseh
• Gershonites - 13 towns - Asher, Naphtali, half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan
• Merarites - 12 towns - Reuben, Gad, Zebulun (No Issachar?)
  
• Towns include cities of refuge
• "Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to their ancestors that he would give them..."

Joshua 22
1-9 Eastern Tribes Return to Their Territory

• Joshua blesses the tribes and sends them back, telling them to be sure to keep God's laws
• He sends them back to the land of Gilead (see Joshua 12:2) with wealth and livestock, silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and much clothing -- the spoil of the land -- to divide with their families

10-34 Memorial Altar East of the Jordan

• Eastern tribes build a large altar, which offends the Western tribes so much they want to make war on them. The altar at the tabernacle is the only acceptable place of worship.
  
• They send Phinehas the priest and 10 chiefs, one from each tribe.
• Israelites to Eastern tribes: What is this treachery? Remember what God did at Peor (Numbers 25:1-9), and to Achan (Joshua 7)? He did not perish alone for his iniquity. Were they concerned about what the fallout might be for them?
  
• Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh: This is not an altar for worship, but for a reminder to our children and to you that we are also the children of God. The boundary between us might make you forget that we are a part of you.
• This satisfies the Western tribes, and they speak no more of making war with them.
• They call the altar "Witness."

Psalm 56 - A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath
Twice he says what is repeated in Hebrews 13:6
4 - "...in God I trust; I am not afraid; what can flesh do to me?"
11 "...in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me?"

1 Corinthians 10
1-22 Warnings from Israel's History

• A warning: Our ancestors were chosen children of God - led by God, rescued by God, baptized into Moses, eating spiritual (miraculous) food and drinking spiritual (miraculous) water.
• Yet God allowed them to die in the wilderness because of their lack of faith.
• These are examples to us not to be idolaters or to indulge in sexual immorality, put Christ to the test, or complain.
• If you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.
• Don't be afraid of being tested; God will not allow you to be tested beyond your strength -- he will give you a way of escape.
• This is the main point: Flee from the worship of idols. Have nothing to do with them, even if they mean nothing to you.
  
• When we partake of the Lord's supper, we share in the blood and body of Christ.
• Likewise, when we partake in pagan suppers, we share in their idol worship. You can't have it both ways -- Christ and paganism.

23 - 31 Do All to the Glory of God

• Seek to benefit others, not just to obey the law; seek to build up others, not just to take advantage of your own rights.
• You can eat anything, but if it is pointed out to you that what you are eating has been sacrificed to idols, have nothing to do with it -- for the sake of the one who is telling you.
• Again -- a continuation of all Paul is trying to get across -- Do everything for the glory of God, being careful not to offend either Jews or Gentiles or the church -- with the end that others may be saved.
  

Joshua 18-20; Psalm 55:12-23; 1 Corinthians 9

Joshua 18
1-10 Territories of the Remaining Tribes

• Joshua instructs the 7 tribes who have not yet claimed their land to hurry up!
• Three men from each tribe are to go throughout the land, write a description of it, divide it 7 ways, bring the descriptions back to Joshua, and he will cast lots on their behalf.
• They do so, and return to Joshua in Shiloh.
• 1st Lot: Territory of Benjamin - Between Judah and Joseph (14 towns)
  

Joshua 19

• 2nd Lot: Territory of Simeon - Within the boundaries of Judah (18 towns with villages)
• 3rd Lot: Territory of Zebulun (12 towns)
• 4th lot: Territory of Issachar (16 towns)
• 5th lot: Territory of Asher (22 towns)
• 6th lot: Territory of Naphtali (19 towns)
• 7th lot Territory of Dan (17 towns)
• Israelites gave to Joshua Timnath-serah in the hill country Ephraim, which he had asked for.

Joshua 20
1-9 Cities of Refuge

• Person guilty of manslaughter must explain his case to the elders before being allowed into the city
• The fugitive remains in the city until a trial
• Cities: 1) Kedesh in Galilee (Naphtali); 2) Shechem in Ephraim; 3) Kiriath-arba (Hebron) in Judah; 4) Bezer in Reuben, east of the Jordan; 5) Ramoth in Gilead (Gad); 5) Golan in Bashan (Manasseh)

Psalm 55:12-23 - The real source of David's distress
"It is not enemies who taunt me - I could bear that...It is you, my...familiar friend."
"But I call upon God."
Betrayal of a friend: "With speech smoother than butter, but with a heart set on war."
"But you, O God, will cast them down into the lowest pit; the bloodthirsty and treacherous."

1 Corinthians 9 - The Rights of an Apostle

• Last verse of 8:13 is Paul's determination never to eat meat if it causes another to fall.
• Chapter 9 begins with: "Am I not free? Am I not an apostle?" It seems to be a break in continuity until you get to verse 12: "...we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ." The same principle as the marriage chapter; the same principle as the eating meat chapter. What is most important is the salvation of souls. If it takes celibacy, then that is what we must do. If it is not taking advantage of the rights we have, that is what we must do.
• Back to his defense in verse 1-7 - a list of Paul's "rights": to eat and drink; to marry; to receive material wages for preaching.
• However, he is not writing in order to paid for his preaching, because if he was paid, he wouldn't be able to boast! (Is this said with a bit of irony?)
  
• His reward is being able to make the gospel free of charge: He doesn't want to use his freedom to receive wages, because it's a greater reward to preach at his own expense. (It is more blessed to give than to receive, Acts 20:35)
• For the sake of the gospel, Paul adapts to those he is trying to teach, whether they're Jew or Gentile, strong or weak. He makes himself a slave to all, though he is free.
• In a race, only the self-disciplined win. So much the more so do we need self-discipline in striving for the most important reward of all: one that never perishes.
  

Joshua 15-17; Psalm 55:1-11; 1 Corinthians 8

Joshua 15
1-12 Territory of Judah - Located in southern portion - southern boundary goes to the wilderness of Zin. Boundaries listed in great detail.

13-19 Caleb Receives His Promised Land

• He drives out the 3 sons of Anak and takes possession.
• Marries his daughter Achsah to his nephew Othniel in return for defeating Kiriath-sepher (Debir), gives her springs of water at her request, "Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb."

20-53 Towns of Judah's Inheritance

• Detailed list - 114 towns taken, if I've counted them right.
• One exception: they couldn't drive out the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Joshua 16 - Territory of Ephraim
They did not drive out the Canaanites from Gezer; they forced them to do labor.

Joshua 17
1-13 Territory of Half-Tribe of Manasseh (West)

• Daughters of Zelophehad receive their inheritance, as promised
• Manasseh does not drive out all the Canaanites, but as they grow in strength, they put the Canaanites into forced labor.

14-18 Protests from the Tribe of Joseph

• Complains to Joshua that they're a big nation, and don't have enough land
• Joshua: If you want more land, go into the forest and clear the land.
• Josephites: But the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots of iron
• Joshua: You are a big nation, and you can overcome them. This conversation reminds me of a conversation between a mother and a child that doesn't want to do her homework, complaining that life's not fair; it's just too hard.
  

Psalm 55:1-11 - A Maskil of David - Another Plea for Rescue from the Enemy
"I am distraught by the noise of the enemy...My heart is in anguish...Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me..."
And he just wants to run away: "O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest..." Not unlike a lot of us feel sometimes, without an enemy in pursuit!

1 Corinthians 8
1-13 Food Offered to Idols

• Knowledge must be attended by love, for "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." This truth is stated later in 1 Corinthians 13: "If I have prophetic powers and understand all mysteries...and have not love, I am nothing." Knowledge can be dangerous source of pride.
  
• God is not impressed with our knowledge; we'll never know enough. He knows those who love him.
• As mature Christians we know that idols do not exist; they mean nothing to us.
  
• However, some Christians who have recently come out of paganism still associate eating meat offered to idols with worshiping them. To eat such meat goes against their conscience.
• Since the meat means nothing to you, it's better if you don't eat it, if it causes a brother or sister to sin.
• When you eat without thinking of your influence and cause a brother to sin, you wound him, and therefore you are sinning by eating the meat. Not because of the meat, but because you're hurting another believer.

Joshua 12-14; Psalm 54; 1 Corinthians 7

Joshua 12
1-6 Kings Conquered by Moses

• King Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan
  
• A treasure chest for geographers: A detailed description of the area defeated when Moses defeated these kings.
  
• This land given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh

7-24 Kings Conquered by Joshua

• A detailed listing of 31 kings in all.
• These lands given to other Israelite tribes

Joshua 13
1-7 God to Joshua

• You're old now, and there's still much to be conquered.
• Go ahead, divide up the lands among the other 9 -1/2 tribes, and I will conquer them.
  

8-32 Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh.

• They drove out all except Gushur and Maacath
• Levites receive no inheritance
• Details of territory given to Reuben - Kingdom of Sihon of the Amorites. Among these defeats they also killed Balaam, who "practiced divination." (An example of using someone evil for good purposes?)
  
• Gad - some of Sihon's land and also Gilead
• Half-tribe of Manasseh (East) - Kingdom of Og of Bashan, half of Gilead

Joshua 14
1-5 Distribution west of the Jordan

• Distributed by lot by Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal heads
• Repeated: No inheritance for Levi; Double portion to Joseph through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh

6-15 I'd Been Wondering What Happened to Caleb!

• People of Judah (Caleb's tribe) and Caleb come to Joshua at Gilgal and ask him to fulfill God's promise to Caleb that he would receive Hebron - formerly Kiriath-arba (Numbers 14:24-25). (An exception to land divided up by lot for an exceptional person.)
  
• At 85 years old, Caleb is still ready to take on the Anakim in the hill country. "...my strength now is as my strength was then, for war, and for going and coming."
• "And the land had rest from war." (An indication, maybe, that war is not only hard on people, but it's hard on the land, too?)
  

Psalm 54 - A prayer of David when the Ziphites reveal to Saul that David is hiding among them
Plea: 1 - "Save me, or God, by your name..."
Praise: 4 - "God is my helper...the upholder of my life."
Promise: 6 - "With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you..."

1 Corinthians 7
1-16 Regarding Marriage (about which they had written him)

• It is okay -- even preferable in some cases -- not to be married.
• But if you are not able to be celibate, it is best to be married.
• However, be aware that a part of marriage is giving your husband or wife the conjugal rights due to him or her.
• If you refrain, it must be by mutual agreement, for spiritual purposes, and only temporary.
• If you're married, the wife should not leave her husband. If she does, she should remain unmarried or reconcile to her husband.
• A husband should not divorce his wife.
• If a believer is married to an unbeliever, it is no reason to divorce. A believer can be a good influence on an unbeliever, even leading to his or her salvation.
  
• However, if the unbeliever cannot tolerate being married to a Christian, you can't force him or her to stay. God has called us to peace. Your conscience can be clear in the matter. I think this indicates that a Christian shouldn't feel guilty about being a Christian under any circumstances, even if it means the end of a marriage relationship. It reminds me of Paul's injunction in Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all." We can't force even those closest to us to accept our faith; it is on their heads, not ours, if they choose to reject it. In context, I don't think this passage even speaks to the subject of re-marriage in such circumstances -- either for or against. That is not the purpose of Paul's instructions here.
  

17-24 The Life that the Lord Has Assigned

• Whatever your physical state when you became a Christian -- circumcised or uncircumcised, free or in slavery -- be content there. (Philippians 4:11 - "I have learned to be content with whatever I have.")
• This seems to follow Paul's theme in 6:12 ("I will not be dominated by any") that whatever our physical circumstances, we are to rise above them...
• ...for we are all slaves of God, not of humans. Ultimately, our greatest obligation is not to a husband or wife, religious traditions, our appetites, or even to our masters. Our obligations to them are guided by our first obligation to God.

25-39 Re: The Unmarried and Widows

• Paul only alluded to them earlier (v. 8); now he goes into more detail.
• Also a continuation of his instruction for people to remain as they were when they became Christians.
• However, if you wish to get married, it is not a sin.
• Be warned, though, that getting married will cause you distress in life, because you will care about and will be bound to someone other than yourself. You'll have more than yourself to be concerned about in the case of persecution, for instance. "For the present form of this world is passing away," and when it's gone, none of this will matter.
• "I want you to be free from anxieties." An echo of "The Lord has called us to peace" (v. 15). That's the reason I advise you not to get married.
• Advice to those who are engaged. If you can remain so, do it. If not, it's okay to get married.
• To widows: Of course you know you were bound to your husband as long as he lived. And if he has died, of course you are free to marry a Christian (saving yourself from the conflict of marrying an unbeliever). But it's better to remain single and fully dedicate yourself to God.
• Bottom line: Verse 35: "I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord."

Joshua 9-11; Psalm 53; 1 Corinthians 6

Joshua 9 - The Gibeonites

• When they hear of the defeat of Ai, the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites gather together to fight Israel.
• The people of Gibeon, however, conspire to pretend they are from a distant country by donning old clothes and carrying old bread and presenting themselves before Joshua and the other leaders, offering their servitude and asking for a peace treaty. It seems to me they are showing more respect here than those who gathered together to fight, because the Gibeonites realize they won't win.
• The leaders do not ask direction from the Lord, and they make a treaty with the Gibeonites. So if they had consulted God, it is supposed he would have destroyed these people, even though they, among all the people, swallowed their pride and willingly offered their servitude? Or maybe he would have excused them. I'm trying to find a spiritual application here, if the Israelite defeat of the pagan nations is a type of our overcoming sin. So if some sinful thing or influence recognizes the power of God within us, we agree to tolerate it, and make it a servant? We use it in some way for good? (Maybe everything can't be "spiritualized.")
• Three days after the treaty is made, the leaders hear that the Gibeonites actually live in the land. They go to Gibeon and verify that fact, and -- to the dismay of the Israelite people -- honor the treaty.
• When Joshua asks the Gibeonites about their deceit, they answer: "...it was a certainty that the LORD your God [would]...destroy all the inhabitants of the land...so we were in great fear for our lives...now...do as it seems good and right in your sight to do for us."
• Joshua curses the Gibeonites to a history of servanthood -- hewers of wood and drawers of water.

Joshua 10
1-15 The Sun Stands Still

• Another reaction to the defeat of Jericho, Ai, and now Gibeon (a large city, and all its men were warriors)
• King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem gathers with 4 other kings (Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon) to attack Gibeon.
• The Gibeonites call on Joshua's help (apparently part of their treaty), and God promises Joshua they will defeat them.
• The attackers panic, and Israel chases them. As they flee, God throws down "huge stones" from heaven. More die from the stones than by the sword.
• Joshua asks God to make the sun stand still until the armies are defeated. God responds, and "the sun stopped in midheaven, and did not hurry to set for about a whole day."
• The Israelites return to Gilgal.
  

16-43 Defeat of the 5 Kings

• While their people are being defeated, the 5 kings hide in the cave at Makkedah.
• Joshua instructs that exit from the cave be blocked while Israelite armies follow enemy armies to their cities to destroy them. When "survivors had entered into the fortified towns" (I don't understand this; I thought they were supposed to be destroyed before they could enter their towns.)
  
• Joshua brings the kings out of the cave, and in the presence of the Israelites, the chief warriors put their feet on the kings' necks, Joshua declaring "Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous; for thus the LORD will do to all the enemies against whom you fight."
• Joshua kills the kings and hangs them on 5 trees until sunset, takes them down, throws their bodies into the cave and replaces the stones.
• They then destroy Makkedah with its king
• They then defeat Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron and Debir, leaving no survivors. And this answers my previous question.
  
• Joshua defeats all, from Kadesh-barnea, to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.
  

Joshua 11
1-15 Next - The Kings of Northern Canaan

• King Jabin of Hazor gathers the kings of Madon, Shimron, Achsphaph, and others in the north to join forces, camping together at the waters of Merom.
• God promises to help Joshua defeat them, to "hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire." And he does.
• They kill all the people of the towns, and take the spoils. They burn only Hazor.

16-23 Summary of Joshua's Conquests

• All the defeated lands are mentioned here. Joshua has killed all the kings and made war for a long time.
• No town makes peace with the Israelites except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon.
• "It was the LORD's doing to harden their hearts so they would come against Israel in battle...."
  
• Special mention: The Anakim from the hill country (the people of whom 10 of the original spies had been so afraid in Numbers 13).
  
• "And the land had rest from war."

Psalm 53 - A Maskil of David
1 - "Fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they commit abominable acts; there is no one who does good." Question: Are all unbelievers corrupt because that is the nature of man, and only God makes them good, because "no one does good"? Or is this talking about characteristics of particular evildoers, and one of their characteristics is that they don't believe in God? I understand that no one can be good enough to deserve spiritual blessings that come only from God, but does that make all their works abominable, just because they don't acknowledge him?

1 Corinthians 6 (Speaking of evil -- it's certainly enumerated here)
1-12 Lawsuits among Believers

• If believers have disputes, settle it among yourselves. It's a shame to take it to an outsider.
• Actually, even to have disputes indicates a character weakness. Act like spiritual beings and rather be wronged.
• A reminder of other sins, by the way: Fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers -- That's what you used to be.
• But now -- you're different -- and you don't need to be acting as if you were still in the world.
• Now? You've been washed, sanctified, justified. Isn't that much better than wallowing in selfish desires?

13-20 Glorify God in Body and Spirit

• Following the same theme: Just because it's legal doesn't make it wise.
  
• When you're a Christian, you have a different perspective on physical wants and needs -- they are of no importance anymore.
• What you do with your body as a Christian indicates the level of your spirituality; Christ is your head, and what you do with your body affects your Savior.
• This is especially true of the sin of fornication, where the whole body is involved. When you commit such an act as a Christian, you are engaging Christ in the same act. This is unthinkable.
  
• Whoa! Looking at sin with this perspective shames us all, because at some time we have all abused our bodies in some way, even if it's been gorging ourselves on pizza. I think this passage is saying when we do it with our own bodies, it's like we're making Christ do it, too.
• V. 12 -- I will not be dominated by anything. Is this something only a disciple with Paul's fervor and self-discipline can say or even try to say?

Joshua 7-8; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 5

Joshua 7 - The Sin of Achan
It only appears that they have donated all the silver and gold to the tabernacle. As usual, the love of money leads to sad consequences.

• Achan, of the tribe of Judah, takes some of the "devoted" things, angering God.
• In the meantime, Joshua send spies to Ai, who come back and report they'll need only two or three thousand men to defeat Ai.
  
• The 3000 go, but they are chased back, and 36 are killed. Now their hearts "melt."
• In true Moses fashion, Joshua tears his clothes and falls to the ground before the ark -- he and the elders.
• God explains to Joshua that since Israelites have stolen a devoted thing, they themselves will become "devoted to destruction." A few die for the sins of one.
  
• The next day they are to come before God tribe by tribe, family by family, person by person, until the culprit is discovered, who is then to be burned with fire.
• Achan is discovered. He confesses taking a mantle, 200 shekels of silver, and a 50-shekel gold bar and tells them where to find it.
• He is stoned to death, and his family and everything he owns, including the goods he stole, are burned; their grave is marked with stones. There is to be no trace of Achan's family remaining.
  
• The place is called the Valley of Achor (Heb. Trouble).

Joshua 8
1-29 Ai Defeated This Time

• God to Joshua: "Do not fear or be dismayed." I will give you Ai just like I gave you Jericho. Only this time, the spoil will be yours. Again, God wants the first fruits, even of the spoil of Canaan. But he is generous with the rest; after all, he is the one who is responsible for the victory in the first place. Shouldn't he receive the first rewards?
• The Plan: Joshua will send 30,000 soldiers behind the city. He and the rest of the people will draw the people of Ai out of the city, by ambushing and then fleeing. Then the 30,000 will take the city and set it on fire.
• It goes as planned: Every man in Ai and Bethel pursue the 5,000 "fleeing" Israelites.
• At Joshua's signal, the 30,000 enter the city and set it on fire. The Ai-ites are trapped between the now turned-back 5,000 and Israelite soldiers coming out of the city.
• Joshua does not withdraw his signal (a drawn sword) until all men and women are dead -- 12,000 inhabitants.
• They take the livestock and spoils, burn the city -- a permanent ruin -- and hang the king.

30-35 Joshua Builds an Altar and Renews the Law of Moses

• Joshua builds an altar on Mount Ebal (See Deuteronomy 27) and offers offerings of well-being, in the manner prescribed by Moses (God)
• He writes the law of Moses on stones
• Half the people stand in front of Gerizim and half in front of Ebal, as before, and Joshua reads all the words of the law, including the blessings and cursings. (In Deuteronomy 27, I've just discovered, 5 of the tribes standing on Gerizim reciting the blessings are the legitimate sons of Israel by Leah and Rachel, plus Issachar; those standing on Ebal, except for Reuben, are sons of the handmaidens.)
  
• An important ceremony -- even on this side of the Jordan they are to keep God's statutes.
  

Psalm 52 - Judgment on the Deceitful
Refers to Doeg the Edomite, who betrayed David to King Saul
Accusation: v. 3 - "You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking the truth."
Result: v. 5 - "God will break you down forever...he will uproot you from the land of the living."

1 Corinthians 5 - Sexual Immorality
Paul leaves the discussion of elevating men to condemning their permissive attitude toward immorality.

• A deplorable situation there - a man living with his father's wife -- and the Corinthians are arrogant about it.
• I don't have to be there in the flesh to pass judgment on this man. You (Corinthians) must, with my (Paul's) encouragement and power from Christ, officially hand over this man to Satan so he will recognize his sin, to the end of saving his soul.
  
• This is nothing to boast about -- this sin will spread among you like yeast in a batch of dough.
• We have a new paschal Lamb in Christ, and we celebrate him with unleavened bread -- untainted by the leaven of malice and evil, an unleavened bread pure and true.
• You shouldn't even sit down to eat with a brother or sister engaged in immorality. We can't keep from associating with the immoral in the world, but you must not encourage a brother or sister in their immorality with casual friendship. You have an obligation to them to bring them back to God's standard.
  

Joshua 3-6; Psalm 51:10-19; 1 Corinthians 4

Joshua 3 - Israel Crosses the Jordan
1-6 The Preparation

• They camp at the Jordan River for three days. What a sense of anticipation there must have been! After all this time, the long journey, the experiences they have had, coupled with the recent loss of Moses, who had been such a powerful presence.
  
• The officers instruct the people to be ready to follow the ark of the covenant
• But they must keep their distance, not coming closer than 2,000 cubits. (3000 feet ~ more than half a mile. That seems like quite a distance, until you think of the multitude of people that will be following it.)
• Joshua to the people: Sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you."

7-8 The LORD tells Joshua he will begin to exalt him as leader. He is to be the one to command the priests.

9-17 The Red Sea Experience Revisited - Evidence of God's Power to Be Victorious

• Jordan River will stand in a single heap the instant the priests' feet touch the water
• As long as the priests carrying the ark stand in the middle of the river, the waters will be held back, allowing the "entire nation" to cross over.
• Note: Only Joshua and Caleb had experienced the first miraculous crossing.
  

Joshua 4 - Twelve Stones Set up at Gilgal
I'm not sure I understand the order of things here, but I think it's this:

• The priests enter the river, the waters heap up on one side, and they go to the center of the river.
• Joshua sets up 12 large stones where the priests are standing, which will still remain when the book is written.
  
• The armies of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (40,000 men) cross over, ready for battle at Jericho. Their families have stayed behind.
• The other tribes follow.
• 12 men, one from each tribe, go to where the priests are standing. Each one (as he leads or accompanies his tribe?) lifts a stone up to his shoulder to carry it to the first place they camp, to set up a memorial for their descendants of this crossing. Apparently, this is a different set of stones from what Joshua set up.
  
• The priests finish their crossing, and the water returns to its place.
• At Joshua's instructions, the second 12 stones are set up at Gilgal.
• This, the 10th day of the 1st month (4 days before Passover) as God has promised Joshua, Israel "stood in awe of [Joshua], as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life."

Joshua 5
1-9 The New Generation Circumcised

• The report of the crossing terrifies the Amorites and Canaanites: "There was no longer any spirit in them."
• These Israelites had not crossed the Red Sea; the ones that had been born in the wilderness also had not been circumcised, so it was given to Joshua to do. Surely it is like the setting up of the stones in the camp; he must have had help.
  
• To God, this represents at last the removal of the disgrace of Egypt, and he names the place Gilgal, "to roll [away the disgrace]."

10-12 No More Manna!

• The Israelites keep the Passover at Gilgal, "in the plains of Jericho." What a sight this must have been to the native people.
• "The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land...."

13-15 Joshua Has a Vision

• He sees a man with a drawn sword and asks him if he's friend or foe.
• The man replies, "I am commander of the army of the LORD."
• Joshua falls on his face, worships him, and asks for a command.
• "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy."
• Was this an incarnation of the Son of God? In Exodus 3:5, when Moses saw the burning bush on "holy ground," God identified himself as YHWH. Here, he doesn't say he's the LORD, he says he's the commander of the army of the LORD. He accepts Joshua's worship, so he's not just a man or even an angel. In Revelation 1:16, the risen Christ has a sword coming from his mouth. In Ephesians 6:17, the sword of the Spirit is the word. In John 1:1, the Word is Christ. God had been speaking to Moses all along; I think this had to be a different person.

Joshua 6 - The Fall of Jericho

• 1 - In demonstration of their fear, Jericho is "shut up inside and out."
• 3 - The warriors (armed men - v. 9) are to circle the city ahead of the ark.
• 4 - Seven priests bearing 7 trumpets of rams' horns are to go ahead of the ark, followed by the rear guard. They are to blow the trumpets continually (v. 9). I'm supposing the people follow the rear guard. It guards the ark, not the people.
  
• 12 - On the second day, this happens early in the morning.
• 10 - The people are not to say a word until Joshua tells them to shout (on the 7th day)
  
• 5 - On the 7th day, after the 7th time around, all the people are to shout, and all the people are to charge ahead.
• 20-24 When they charge the city:
• The walls fall flat.
• All the inhabitants of the city are "devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword."
• As instructed by Joshua, they retrieve silver and gold, bronze and iron, and donate them to the tabernacle.
• They spare Rahab and her family, and "her family has lived in Israel ever since." Apparently at this time Rahab's house was left standing. By the way, after she joins the Israelites, Rahab marries a man named Salmon, who just "happens" to be in the tribe of Judah. They have a son whom they name Boaz. Recognize his name? He's the same Boaz that marries Ruth. Isn't that a great connection? I don't know if she was alive at the time, but that means Rahab was Ruth's mother-in-law! That is a recent discovery of mine -- one I can't believe I didn't know before.
  
• Joshua curses the city and all who would seek to rebuild it.

Psalm 51:10-19 - The Consequences of a Repentant Heart
10 - "Create in me a clean heart, O God."
12 - "Restore in me the joy of your salvation...."
13 - "I will teach transgressors your ways...."
17 - "The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise."

1 Corinthians 4
1-13 The Ministry of the Apostles
Paul continues to speak of the place of apostles and other ministers, to prevent the Corinthians from putting such men on a pedestal.

• They are stewards, and therefore must be trustworthy
• They are not subject to the judgment of men, only of God
• The Corinthians are to respect the Word of God, not one man over another
• The apostles are made "last in the world" by God.
• A bit of sarcasm here, it seems: Unlike the Corinthians -- who are wise, strong, and held in honor -- the real apostles are fools (for the sake of Christ), weak, and in disrepute.
• Furthermore, they are hungry, thirsty, poorly clothed, beaten, homeless, and weary, the rubbish of the world. Not in an elevated position at all, but lower than a slave.
  

14-21 Fatherly Admonition

• Paul doesn't write to shame, but as a father -- their earthly father in the faith -- he is admonishing them, as his beloved children, to imitate him.
  
• He is sending his spiritual son Timothy to remind them of Paul's teachings.
• He will come to see them soon, Lord willing, and will discover the source of the arrogant speech.
• "For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power." And Paul has the power of God behind him.
  

Joshua 1-2; Psalm 51:1-9; 1 Corinthians 3

Joshua 1
1-9 God Commissions Joshua

• Moses is dead; it's time to cross the Jordan into the land I am giving them. Even though God is giving them the land, they still have to go in and take it.
• As I was with Moses, so shall I be with you. Be strong and courageous.
• Only be very strong and courageous, and follow the law Moses gave you; turn not to the left or right; meditate on it day and night.
  
• I command you: Be strong and courageous, for I will be with you wherever you go.
• Even though God promises to win our battles for us, we still must go, and it will still take courage, as God tells Joshua no less than three times here. There is no shame in being frightened of what lies ahead; but we must trust God to be there with us.

10-18 Preparations for the Invasion

• Joshua to his officers: Tell the people to be prepared. We enter the land in 3 days.
• Joshua to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh: Remember your commitment to fight with us
• They answer: We remember, and we will follow you as we followed Moses. Be strong and courageous, Joshua.
  

Joshua 2 - Spies Sent to Jericho

• Two spies go to the house of Rahab, a prostitute, and spend the night there.
• The King of Jericho finds out and orders Rahab to bring them out.
• However, she hides them on her roof and tells the king they have left.
• Rahab's confession of faith: She has heard their history and believes that "The LORD your God is indeed God in heaven above and on earth below."
• She asks for protection, and the spies grant it to her whole family -- if:
• She ties the crimson cord in the window through which she lets them escape
• She brings her family into her house
• She keeps quiet
• As she instructs, the spies escape into the hills, staying there 3 days until their pursuers have returned to Jericho
• They return to Joshua with the report and the news that "all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before us." A distinct different between their fear and the fear which the Israelites experience as they prepare to cross. The people of Jericho have no promise of help.

Psalm 51:1-9 A Psalm of David - Sorrow for Sin with Bathsheba
One of the great psalms, appropriate for children of God of all ages; a psalm of recognition of sin and a plea for cleansing.

2 - "Wash me...from my iniquity..."
6 - "You desire truth in the inward being..."
9 - "Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities."

1 Corinthians 3 - On Divisions in the Church

1-4 Your quarreling and jealousy are signs that you are spiritually immature

5-9 Apollos, Paul, and all other servants of God are nothing more than a part of God's building. He is the builder; he provides the growth.

10-15 Through God's grace, I (Paul) laid the foundation by introducing you to Christ. Be careful how you build. Will your building be strong enough to stand the test of fire?

16-17 Recognize who you are: God's holy temple where his very Spirit dwells.

18-22 You may have to become a fool before you realize true wisdom. Remember, human wisdom is foolish in God's eyes. When you belong to Christ as Christ belongs to God, "all things are yours." So don't let anyone boast about human leaders.