Monday, April 8, 2013

Joshua 10-11 & Psalm 38

The treaty with Gibeon is quickly tested in Joshua 10 as the neighboring kingdoms hear about it. Lead by the king of Jerusalem, the cities go up against Gibeon who then sends for assistance from Israel. Not only do the people of Israel faithfully respond to this desperate plea for assistance but so does the Divine Warrior.

In the first half of the account, it would seem that God takes a particular interest in the defeat of these kings, bringing confusion and hail stones upon their heads. Israel wins in a rout, forcing the kings to hole up in a cave. While trapping the kings in the cave, they turn back to destroy the armies of these kings. After defeating these armies, Joshua brings forth the kings and allows Israel to place their feet on the necks of the kings, showing how Israel has subjugated the peoples. Then the kings are put to death.

Joshua then leads Israel against the cities of these kings and lays waste to them. All that is except Jerusalem, which remains an independent city until David conquers it.

With the southern region conquered, Joshua and Israel can look north in Joshua 11. Hazor, the major city of the north by Galilee, leads the charge of the north but again the Divine Warrior falls upon this northern army. They are scattered and flea to the north. Israel then takes the cities, and completely destroys Hazor.

The chapter closes out with a quick run down of the conquests of Joshua and Israel, including the defeat  the ancient enemy, the Anakim who now only reside in the Gaza region.

Psalm 38

The voice of one who is sick calls out for help to the Lord. The psalmist fears that the illness that inflicts him or her might be due to God's judgment on them so the prayer contains a confession. The hope is they by confessing one's sins, the psalmist will find themselves in a better standing with God and that God would relent. Whether the illness stems from God or not, the psalmist understands that only God can bring the healing that they seek, that only God can offer salvation.

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