010-Joshua 8

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There's not one word that we don't read and apply to our lives on our Sunady night Bible studies. We believe the whole Bible for the whole church for the whole of history.

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In our story last time we met the children of Israel experienced their first and only defeat in the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey. What could be better? What an exciting thing, but as soon as they get in the land, after Jericho, comes another little city called Ai, which has a small population of only about 12,000 at that time. And this mighty arm of Yahweh, of God, is defeated before the people of Ai, which caused them to reassess this whole "God called me to this place" stuff. "If God called us here, why are we experiencing defeat? All the promises he said we would encounter, where are they?" Very difficult soul-searching time for the children of Israel.
Joshua 8:1 NKJV
1 Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
Joshua 8:1-2
Joshua 8:1–2 NKJV
1 Now the Lord said to Joshua: “Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, 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 cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.”
Joshua The Lord said to Joshua, do not be afraid nor be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you, arise, and go up to Ai. See I have given into your hand the King of Ai, his people, his city and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as plunder-- treasure, booty-- for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.
The Lord said to Joshua, do not be afraid nor be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you, arise, and go up to Ai. See I have given into your hand the King of Ai, his people, his city and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as plunder-- treasure, booty-- for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.
Don't be afraid, Joshua. He was afraid. God tells Joshua what God told Joshua in chapter 1. Don't be afraid, Josh. God tells Joshua what Moses told Joshua in . Don't be afraid, Joshua. Don't be dismayed. The Lord is with you. So don't be afraid nor be dismayed, Joshua had heard at least twice before in his life. Now he's hearing the same message a third time.
Don't be afraid, Joshua. He was afraid. God tells Joshua what God told Joshua in chapter 1. Don't be afraid, Josh. God tells Joshua what Moses told Joshua in . Don't be afraid, Joshua. Don't be dismayed. The Lord is with you. So don't be afraid nor be dismayed, Joshua had heard at least twice before in his life. Now he's hearing the same message a third time.
Maybe Joshua is thinking, when the Lord said this to him, I already know this sermon. I've heard it before. I heard it before in chapter 1. You're telling me the same thing you did in chapter 1. Moses told me this sermon back in . The Lord's telling him the same thing 3 times.
Maybe Joshua is thinking, when the Lord said this to him, I already know this sermon. I've heard it before. I heard it before in chapter 1. You're telling me the same thing you did in chapter 1. Moses told me this sermon back in . The Lord's telling him the same thing 3 times. Why? It's pretty obvious why. He's forgotten.
Why? It's pretty obvious why. He's forgotten.
The circumstances of life have blinded his eyes to see the truth, that God is with them. That's why some truths bear repeating. What Peter said in his book, he said, I will not be negligent to remind you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the present truth. I know you know this stuff. Let me repeat.
The circumstances of life have blinded his eyes to see the truth, that God is with them. That's why some truths bear repeating.
What Peter said in his book,
2 Peter 1:12 NKJV
12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
I know you know this stuff. Let me repeat.
Paul in the book of Philippians, we're going to get to that on Sunday mornings. Rejoice in the Lord always. And I'll say it again, rejoice. Some truths bear repeating. And there are some truths that bear repeating because we forget them, because the circumstances of life blind us to the truth. So we walk into situations fearful. Though he says, don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed.
Paul in the book of Philippians.
Philippians 4:4 NKJV
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Rejoice in the Lord always. And I'll say it again, rejoice. Some truths bear repeating. And there are some truths that bear repeating because we forget them, because the circumstances of life blind us to the truth. So we walk into situations fearful. Though he says, don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed.
Some truths bear repeating. And there are some truths that bear repeating because we forget them, because the circumstances of life blind us to the truth.
So we walk into situations fearful. Though he says, don't be afraid. Don't be dismayed.
. So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 men, men of valor, and sent them away by night. Now, hold onto your seat belts. I'm going to read a whole chunk of this. We'll sum it up, because it's pretty obvious.
Joshua 8:3 NKJV
3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai; and Joshua chose thirty thousand mighty men of valor and sent them away by night.
Now, hold onto your seat belts. I'm going to read a whole chunk of this. We'll sum it up, because it's pretty obvious.
Joshua 8:4-13
For they will say, they are fleeing before us as at the first. Therefore, we will flee before them. Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. And it will be, when you have taken the city, that you have set-- that you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the Lord, you shall do. See, I have commanded you.
Joshua 8:4–14 NKJV
4 And he commanded them, saying: “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind the city. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready. 5 Then I and all the people who are with me will approach the city; and it will come about, when they come out against us as at the first, that we shall flee before them. 6 For they will come out after us till we have drawn them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are fleeing before us as at the first.’ Therefore we will flee before them. 7 Then you shall rise from the ambush and seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand. 8 And it will be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire. According to the commandment of the Lord you shall do. See, I have commanded you.” 9 Joshua therefore sent them out; and they went to lie in ambush, and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai; but Joshua lodged that night among the people. 10 Then Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai. 11 And all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near; and they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now a valley lay between them and Ai. 12 So he took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. 13 And when they had set the people, all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley. 14 Now it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of the city hurried and rose early and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against him behind the city.
Joshua, therefore, sent them out. And they went to lie in ambush and stayed between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people. Then, Joshua rose up early in the morning and mustered the people and went up-- he and the elders of Israel-- before the people, to Ai. And all the people of war who were with him went up and drew near.
And they came before the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now, there was a valley between them and Ai. And so, he took about 5,000 men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And when they had set the people-- all the army that was on the north of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city-- Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
And remember the day before? The people of Israel fled before them and 36 were killed.
Now, it happened, when the king of Ai saw it, that the men of his city hastened and rose early and went out against Israel to battle. He and all the people at an appointed place before the plain. But he did not know that there was an ambush against the city. And remember the day before? The people of Israel fled before them and 36 were killed.
Now, the king of Ai sees Israel coming back and they go, oh, they want more? You want some of this? You want round two of this? And so, they go out, not knowing it's an ambush.
Now, the king of Ai sees Israel coming back and they go, oh, they want more? You want some of this? You want round two of this? And so, they go out, not knowing it's an ambush. And Joshua and all of Israel made as if they were beaten before them. And they fled by the way in the wilderness.
Joshua 8:15-
So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua, were drawn away from the city. There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel. Then the Lord said to Joshua, stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.
Joshua 8:15–26 NKJV
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness. 16 So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue them. And they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city. 17 There was not a man left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. So they left the city open and pursued Israel. 18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. 19 So those in ambush arose quickly out of their place; they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered the city and took it, and hurried to set the city on fire. 20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and behold, the smoke of the city ascended to heaven. So they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who had fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. 21 Now when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. 22 Then the others came out of the city against them; so they were caught in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they let none of them remain or escape. 23 But the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua. 24 And it came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness where they pursued them, and when they all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai and struck it with the edge of the sword. 25 So it was that all who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city. So those in ambush arose quickly out of their place. They ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand. And they entered the city and took it and hastened to set the city on fire. And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw. And behold, the smoke of the city ascended to Heaven.
So they had no power to flee this way or that way. And the people who fled to the wilderness turned back on the pursuers. Now, when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that the smoke of the city ascended, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai. Then the others came out of the city against them.
Now does that sound familiar? He's stretching out his hand during the whole battle. Who else did that?
So they were caught in the midst of Israel, some on this side, some on that side. And they struck them down, so that they let none of them remain or escape. But the king of Ai, they took alive and brought him to Joshua. It came to pass when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness, where they pursued them, and when all had fallen by the edge of the sword until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai struck it with the edge of the sword.
Moses did that with both his hands. No spear in it, just his hands were up. When they fought the Amalekites and his hands got tired, so a couple of guys came and hoisted up his hands until the battle was done.
So that all who fell that day, both men and women, were 12,000. All the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he stretched out the spear until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai. Now does that sound familiar? He's stretching out his hand during the whole battle. Who else did that? Moses did that with both his hands. No spear in it, just his hands were up. When they fought the Amalekites and his hands got tired, so a couple of guys came and hoisted up his hands until the battle was done.
Exodus 17:8–13 NKJV
8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Where did I leave off?
Where did I leave off? Thank you. Only the livestock-- verse 27-- and the spoil of the city, Israel took as booty. You know, I like the word plunder better than that, because unfortunately, that word has been ruined. No explanation needed. According to the word of the Lord, which he had commanded Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day.
joshua 8:27-- and the spoil of the city, Israel took as booty. You know, I like the word plunder better than that, because unfortunately, that word has been ruined. No explanation needed. According to the word of the Lord, which he had commanded Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day.
Joshua 8:27–30 NKJV
27 Only the livestock and the spoil of that city Israel took as booty for themselves, according to the word of the Lord which He had commanded Joshua. 28 So Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever, a desolation to this day. 29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day. 30 Now Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal,
And the King of Ai, he hanged on a tree until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his corpse down from the tree, cast it at the entrance of the gate of the city, and raise over it a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Now Joshua-- we'll finish this off and comment a little bit in the next few minutes, on the last part.
Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal. Mount Ebal is next to another mountain called Gerizim. Two hills that mark the geographic center of the land of Israel.
Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal. Mount Ebal is next to another mountain called Gerizim or [? Gerizim. ?] Two hills that mark the geographic center of the land of Israel. It is here, years before, where Abram came and built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. And it was there, in that place, that the Lord God first told Abraham his promise for the land that he was giving him and his descendants after him.
It is here, years before, where Abram came and built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. And it was there, in that place, that the Lord God first told Abraham his promise for the land that he was giving him and his descendants after him. So Joshua built an altar in that same spot. But notice this. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded the children of Israel-- as it is written in the book of the law of Moses-- an altar of whole stones, over which no man had wielded any iron tool. And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrifice peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.
It is here, years before, where Abram came and built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. And it was there, in that place, that the Lord God first told Abraham his promise for the land that he was giving him and his descendants after him.
So Joshua built an altar in that same spot. But notice this. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded the children of Israel-- as it is written in the book of the law of Moses-- an altar of whole stones, over which no man had wielded any iron tool. And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrifice peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.
So Joshua built an altar in that same spot. But notice this. As Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded the children of Israel-- as it is written in the book of the law of Moses-- an altar of whole stones, over which no man had wielded any iron tool. And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrifice peace offerings. And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.
So Joshua built an altar in that same spot. But notice this.
Joshua 8:31-Wow. What a labor to write, no computers, no typewriters, no paper. They probably wrote on stones, whitewashed stones, as Moses commanded the words of the law. That would have taken a long time. And all of the words were recorded.
Then, all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord. The stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim, half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded before that they should bless the people of Israel.
Joshua 8:31–34 NKJV
31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: “an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.
And afterward, he read all the words of the law. The blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. Wow. What a labor to write, no computers, no typewriters, no paper. They probably wrote on stones, whitewashed stones, as Moses commanded the words of the law. That would have taken a long time. And all of the words were recorded.
Wow. What a labor to write, no computers, no typewriters, no paper. They probably wrote on stones, whitewashed stones, as Moses commanded the words of the law. That would have taken a long time. And all of the words were recorded.
Now, it says it was the commandment of Moses. You say, where was it the commandment of Moses? In Deuteronomy chapter 27. Before Moses kicked the bucket, before he died, he told Joshua, he told the people of Israel these words. It shall be, on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones and whitewash them with lime.
Now, it says it was the commandment of Moses. You say, where was it the commandment of Moses? In Deuteronomy chapter 27. Before Moses died, he told Joshua, he told the people of Israel these words.
Deuteronomy 27:2–8 NKJV
2 And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. 3 You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ just as the Lord God of your fathers promised you. 4 Therefore it shall be, when you have crossed over the Jordan, that on Mount Ebal you shall set up these stones, which I command you today, and you shall whitewash them with lime. 5 And there you shall build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones; you shall not use an iron tool on them. 6 You shall build with whole stones the altar of the Lord your God, and offer burnt offerings on it to the Lord your God. 7 You shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before the Lord your God. 8 And you shall write very plainly on the stones all the words of this law.”
It shall be, on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones and whitewash them with lime.
So they are doing exactly what the book says. They are doing exactly-- they believe in the literal interpretation of scripture.
You shall write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land, which the Lord your God has given you, flowing with milk and honey. Therefore, it shall be when you have crossed over Jordan, that on Mount Ebal, you shall set up these stones which I command you today. Whitewash them with lime. And there, you will build an altar to the Lord your God, an altar of stones. You shall not use any iron tool on them. You shall build with whole stones the altar of the Lord your God.
They're not spiritualizing it. Well, what could that mean? How can we apply this to our lives? I'll tell you how we apply it. We actually get stones, whitewash them, and write the words on it. So they did it.
So they are doing exactly what the book says. They are doing exactly-- they believe in the literal interpretation of scripture. They're not spiritualizing it. Well, what could that mean? How can we apply this to our lives? I'll tell you how we apply it. We actually get stones, whitewash them, and write the words on it. So they did it.
Deuteronomy 27:11–12 CSB
11 On that day Moses commanded the people, 12 “When you have crossed the Jordan, these tribes will stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.
Deuteronomy 27:11–13 NKJV
11 And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, 12 “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; 13 and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.
:11-. There you shall stand at Mount Gerizim to bless the people when you have crossed over the Jordan-- Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. Six tribes on one side. And these shall stand at Mount Ebal to curse-- Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naptholi.
And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying-- I'm a few verses down, in , verse 11. There you shall stand at Mount Gerizim to bless the people when you have crossed over the Jordan-- Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. Six tribes on one side. And these shall stand at Mount Ebal to curse-- Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naptholi.
. There you shall stand at Mount Gerizim to bless the people when you have crossed over the Jordan-- Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. Six tribes on one side. And these shall stand at Mount Ebal to curse-- Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naptholi.
Now, it's interesting. They're divided into two. One are the descendants of Jacob through his two wives, Rachel and Leah.
Now, it's interesting. They're divided into two. One are the descendants of Jacob through his two wives, Rachel and Leah. And the other were the descendants-- the six tribes-- were the descendants of Jacob through the handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah. Two different allotments, two different sections. One shouting out the blessings, one shouting out the cursings. The law of God written down and people saying amen to it. Amen.
And the other were the descendants-- the six tribes-- were the descendants of Jacob through the handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah.
Two different allotments, two different sections. One shouting out the blessings, one shouting out the cursings. The law of God written down and people saying amen to it. Amen. Amen, as the blessings and cursings were read. We won't read them all.
Amen, as the blessings and cursings were read. We won't read them all. We've read them already in Deuteronomy. They would listen to it and they would say Amen to it. This is like a national bar mitzvah. A bar mitzvah or a bat mitzvah, depending if you're male or female, is where the son or daughter becomes a child of the commandment, a son or daughter of the commandment. That's what bar mitzvah or bat mitzvah means.
It means they become responsible for obeying God themselves. At age 12-- going onto 13, age 13-- they're now a full fledged adult in the Jewish community, that rite of passage. And they assume responsibility before the Lord. So the whole nation, now, is making this kind of national bar mitzvah, this covenant of responsibility before the Lord.
So they worshiped before the battle in chapter 5. Now they worship after the battle at the end of chapter 8.
Joshua 8:35 NKJV
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
So they worshiped before the battle in chapter 5. Now they worship after the battle at the end of chapter 8. And verse 35, we'll close it off with. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, the little ones, the strangers who were living among them.
I'm following Joshua's lead. There's not one word that we don't read and apply to our lives on our Sunday night Bible studies. We believe the whole Bible for the whole church for the whole of history.
I'm following Joshua's lead. There's not one word that we don't read and apply to our lives on our Wednesday night Bible studies. We believe the whole Bible for the whole church for the whole of history. We believe in the whole counsel of God. So all the law that had been given so far was written. It could be referenced, it could be applied. They were a textual community. They were enjoying fellowship around the text of scripture that God had given them.
We believe in the whole counsel of God. So all the law that had been given so far was written. It could be referenced, it could be applied.
They were a textual community. They were enjoying fellowship around the text of scripture that God had given them.
Now, let me close by saying this. As Israel stood between two mountains, Ebal and Gerizim-- blessing and cursing-- you and I, as New Testament believers, we stand between two mountains. Mount Calvary, Mount of Olives. If I was in Jerusalem, I'd point to both of them. We stand between Mount Calvary-- where Jesus died for our sins-- and we stand between that and the Mount of Olives, upon which Jesus will return. He'll come back, his foot touching the Mount of Olives.
We live between the first coming of Jesus paying for our sins and the second coming to redeem the world, in terms of taking over the world. As we stand between those two mountains, there are blessings and cursings for us. You will be blessed or you'll be cursed, depending on how you live.
If you live for your own pleasure, for your own satisfaction, it's always about you, you'll be accursed. You can be a believer and live for yourself and not enjoy the full benefit of God. Or you can live for Him who died for your sins. You can realize, I'm bought with a price. I'm not my own. I'm going to live for Him and His pleasure. And you'll be blessed. You'll be blessed.
Father, thank you for the blessings that are announced, promised throughout your word. Thank you, Lord, for a time and a place where we can gather to not just reflect on a verse or two-- a Psalm or a New Testament verse or principle-- but we can take verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book. Consider the holy writ, consider here the Old Testament, the very words of the apostles and Jesus and the New Testament believers. That was their Bible. We're reading their Bible.
And Lord, I pray that we would take these grand principles of blessing and cursing and realize that we can be blessed in our cities and blessed in our needing troughs and blessed as we go out and come in. Or we can be cursed in all those areas. I pray that we'll trust you. I pray that we'll walk with you. I'll pray that we'll tell others about you.
I pray, Lord, that as we enter this Christmas and we have different opportunities of different people we meet, that we would be faithful to tell others about the Savior who came to bless the world with salvation by dying for sins on Mount Calvary, but is coming again. And His foot will touch down on the Mount of Olives. What a blessing to be instructed by you and to live for you. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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