• from taking the land (5-12) to possessing the land (13-21)
• prizing Yahweh Himself more than Yahweh’s gifts

• tribal allotments in Canaan
• no trivial commands

• a five-fold repetition
• remembering God’s past word
• anchoring identity in the Master’s promise, not the majority report

• a request for the hills
• cultivating strength for later faithfulness
• the blessing that follows obedience

• Because you can trust the LORD of the promises completely, wholly follow Him.
• Think recalibration rather than retirement.
• connection to Jesus/NT: the ultimate “rest” of Heb. 4:9-11
• “Since from His bounty I receive such proofs of love divine, had I a thousand hearts to give, Lord, they should all be Thine.” (S. Stennett, “Majestic Sweetness Sits Enthroned”)

• after the crossing of Jordan and the conquest of Jericho
• wrath: settled hostility, refusal to compromise, resolve to condemn (Piper)

• broken faith and burning wrath
• hasty retreat and melted hearts

• processing a devastating defeat
• danger of Israel and Yahweh’s reputation

• disclosure of Israel’s sin and hinge of the whole chapter (12b)
• ultimate goal of restoration

• confrontation and confession followed by severe penalty for serious sin
• monuments to severe wrath and saving help (4:1-10)

• Because of sin’s severe consequences, tremble before God’s wrath.
• connection to Jesus and the NT: sharing His alarm over sin (Matt. 5:29-30)
• from the valley of trouble to the door of hope (Hos. 2:14-15)

• instructions regarding the ark and its significance
• call for consecration and the ark passing on before the people

• affirmation of presence
• commanding the priests and the people

• here is how you will know…
• the reasoning of faith and the stopping up of the Jordan

• information about springtime river conditions
• resolution: people pass over on dry ground

• intervention, fidelity and purpose

• Because He writes His faithfulness across the calendar of your life, follow the LORD.
• connections to NT and Jesus: Heb. 11:29-30 and Matt. 3:13-17
• the “why” of remembrance
• “On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye, to Canaan’s fair and happy land where my possessions lie…” (Stennett, “On Jordan’s Stormy Banks I Stand”)

• preceded by commissioning of Joshua (1) and followed by crossing the Jordan River (3)

• especially Jericho and lodging with Rahab

• the king informed and in communication with Rahab
• the narrator’s commentary

• heart of the story: might, majesty and mercy of Yahweh
• spies respond

• let down by a rope through the window…scarlet cord in the window

• the land into our hands… melting inhabitants (Josh. 6:25)

• Assured that He sovereignly advances His saving purposes, align yourself with the LORD and His Kingdom.
• connections to NT and Jesus: James 2:25, Heb. 11:31, Matt. 1:5
• “Oh, for the wonderful love He has promised…” (“Softly and Tenderly,” Thompson)

• v.1 Consensus
• v.2-3 Courage
• v.4-6 Commitment
• Worshiping God should be our highest priority.

• v.7-9 Planning the work
• v.10-13 Praising the Lord
• Recognizing God’s faithfulness fuels worship.

• Putting God first and worshiping Him should always be our highest priority.
• “You are worthy, Father, Creator. You are worthy, Saviour, Sustainer. You are worthy, worthy and wonderful. Worthy of worship and praise.” (Terry W. York, “Worthy of Worship”)

• historical narrative: declaration from God about God
• no failing of promises (21:43-45)
• human leadership transition: from Moses to Joshua

• context: following the incomparable Moses (Deut. 34:10-12)
• content: Yahweh’s gift of land (Gen. 12:6-7)

• in the midst of threatening circumstances (Ex. 3:12)
• basis of instruction: be strong and bold

• being careful to do… (Psa. 1)
• stress on the urgency of obedience

• Because of His unfailing promises and unceasing presence, go boldly into God’s future for you.
• three specific applications: sever, claim and confirm…
• “Abide with Me” (H. Lyte)

• Matthew’s Spirit-inspired quest to show the significance of the death of Jesus
• transition from people around the cross to the Person on the cross

• sign of judgment and OT connections (Amos 8:9, Ex. 10:21-23)

• statement and Psa. 22:1
• isolation and silence followed by responses of misunderstanding, pity and ridicule

• sovereign volunteer (Isa. 53:10-12) and an accomplished mission (Jn. 19:30)

• the issue of access (Heb. 10:19-25)
• testimony of the Father’s delight (Isa. 29:6, Ezek. 37:12-13, Dan. 12:2)

• rebuke of religious unbelief

• “Because of His role as your forsaken substitute, submit yourself fully to Jesus.”
• “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed” (Watts)

• preceded by prediction of betrayal and followed by prediction of denial
• mysterious harmony of divine sovereignty and human responsibility
• within the walls of Jerusalem on the night of Passover
• intentional linkage pointing to a greater exodus (Ex. 12:15)
• disciples with the taste of the Passover lamb in their mouths

• bread and its explanation
• cup and its explanation
• centrality of sacrifice for sins (Ex. 24:8)
• certainty of accomplishment
• feasting by faith (1 Cor. 11:17-34)
• reversing the curse (Isa. 53:11)

• when the Savior sang
• The Hallel psalms: 113-118

• Because Jesus is merciful and sovereign, feast by faith at His table of grace.
• “What is certain is that Jesus bids us commemorate, not His birth, nor His life, nor His miracles, but His death.” (Carson)
• “We’ll gather soon where angels sing, We’ll see the glory of our Lord and coming King, Now we anticipate the feast for which we wait, Come take the bread, Come drink the cup, Come share the Lord.” (Leech, “Come Share the Lord”)

• preceded by questioning of the Pharisees and Sadducees: taxes (15-22), resurrection (23-33) and commandment (34-40)
• followed shortly by the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus

• Jesus poses the question of identity to Pharisees
• Pharisees provide a correct but incomplete answer

• reference to David speaking in the Spirit and appeal to Psalm 110:1
• How is Messiah both David’s son and David’s Lord?

• not only but also…
• scriptural testimony: Matt. 1:1; 9:27, Acts 2:32-36, Rom. 1:3-4

• exposure of superficial understanding of Scripture
• end of questions and a foretaste of Psalm 110:1

• Because Jesus is David’s divine Lord, stop debating about Him and devote yourself to Him.
• words of application: reduction, confusion and correction
• “Jesus, the Savior, reigns, the God of truth and love…” (“Rejoice, the Lord is King,” Wesley)

• after three parables; the last is the wedding feast (22:1-14)
• escalating tension and exchanges with religious leaders; this account is followed by the attempt of the Sadducees

• their objective
• shared opposition as a binding force
• effusive flattery
• trick question

• malice of opponents
• excoriating rebuke
• an ancient NIL question
• timeless principle regarding what is “due” to God

• amazed but unchanged
• absence of submission

• Because Jesus is the Lord of all who owns all, surrender completely to Him now.
• Pray for a tender heart: “Lord, make my heart willing, responsive, and easily governed by Your Word.” (Isaac Watts, commenting on Psalm 119:33-40)