Conference Notes

The Bible doesn't merely contain stories for us to enjoy; they are lessons for us.

Who leads the battle? Joshua, an older man Gideon, who may have been middle-aged David, a younger man

Before facing Jericho, Joshua had already learned several lessons. First, he had already experienced victory when he fought against the people of Amalek in Exodus 17. That battle was won through prayer, as pictured by Moses lifting up his rod to God.

Jericho was a great city. As with cities in general, Jericho offered enjoyment and safety. But it was an obstacle to God's people. It had to be removed if they would be able to progress. In the Christian life, conflict should be expected. But victory can also be expected. God had promised Joshua that no one would be able to stand against him because He Himself was with him.

In Numbers 13 and 14, Joshua had already shown faith in God's power when he spied out the land as a younger man. At that time, everyone else (except Caleb) had shown a lack of faith. But now Joshua, as an older believer, was able to encourage the people to trust in the Lord. The rest of Israel must have encouraged Joshua, too, because now they responded in faith to his direction. He had been waiting 40 years for this victory! Making spiritual progress is a way for us to encourage one another.

The first five chapters of Joshua are like a soldier's boot camp. There has to be preparation for battle. In boot camp, soldiers are removed from old relationships, and they don't just get to do anything they want or eat whatever they want. Similarly, Joshua and the Israelites had to cross the Jordan River (ch. 3), they had to meet the true commander of the army (5:14), and they had to have a new source of food (5:12). Spiritually speaking, Christians have to learn the same lessons.

Each soldier and priest had a particular place in the ranks. The people were to be completely silent; but when Joshua told them to shout, they were to shout! And when the walls fell, the soldiers were to move straight ahead to the part of the city near them. We are also arrayed in a particular place in God's army. Can we keep rank, following God's directions precisely and at exactly the right time?

The walls looked impenetrable. However, that was only an illusion. They were not strong before God. Let's not think of the world as a safe place.

Notice that there are no spectators. All the people obeyed, and nobody was on the sideline watching.

The trumpets would be heard by the people inside Jericho as the priests blew them outside the city. Probably that sound did not seem very ominous to them. The world today believes that God is not of much danger to their lives; they are content to ignore Him.

The priests carrying the ark remind us to be holy priests, offering spiritual sacrifices to God by Jesus Christ. The priests who blew the trumpets show the Christians' character as royal priests, announcing the praises of God (1 Peter 2:5, 2:9). To the world, our testimony as royal priests is seen first, just as the priests with trumpets were in front of the ark.

This battle was against the people of Midian. This enemy had brought the Israelites into complete poverty by stealing their harvest year after year (6:3-6). They took everything for themselves. The flesh in us also does that.

Through the battle, God taught Gideon that He could deliver His people even when just a few soldiers remained from the original army---just a remnant who were brave and watchful. We don't have to be discouraged by small numbers, either. Large crowds might not be full of faithful people.

Gideon was threshing wheat in his family's winepress to hide it from the Midianites. This shows he was determined to provide food for his family in a time of poverty. Are we determined to provide spiritual food for ourselves and others?

Probably the prophet's words in chapter 6:8-10 had already been growing in Gideon's mind and heart. It's the Scriptures that produce in us the understanding and expectation that God can help His people.

In terms of the nation of Israel, there was a root problem of sin and idolatry that had brought God's discipline upon them. Even Gideon's family (his father) had an idol in the home. Before calling his army, Gideon had to deal with the obvious obstacle at home by knocking down that idol.

Are we looking for any glory ourselves? All victories for God must bring glory entirely to Him.

Not only did God decrease the army, but He also exposed the hearts of those who lacked faith. They had not learned the lessons of confidence in God that Gideon had shown in chapter 6.

We should be watchful for the Lord's return. We should also be watchful as soldiers. Am I one of the 300 whom God wants to keep for the battle? How we conduct ourselves in the little things of life, even how we eat and drink, will prove our character.

There are some things in the world that we can either use or abuse (1 Corinthians 7:31). The Midianites can represent those earthly things that choke our spiritual progress when we value them too dearly (compare the Lord's words in Matthew 6:31-34 and 13:22). Those who kneeled to drink, showing no concern for the impending battle, displayed that attitude. God's things must come first.

The battle itself was won by thoroughly unconventional methods. In 2 Corinthians 10:4, Christians are told that our weapons are not natural, fleshly ones, but spiritual; yet they are effective to overthrow the enemy.

God's grace allows Gideon to receive extra encouragement before the battle begins. Gideon and his servant sneaked to the guard tents of Midian and overheard one guard telling another about his dream, in which a loaf of barley bread knocked over a Midianite tent. The second guard said, "This is the sword of Gideon! Into his hand God has delivered Midian" (7:14).

Like Joshua and Gideon, David also had spent time with God in private. He had tended his father's sheep, and he had no doubt already composed psalms of praise to God and brought Him pleasure in that way.

The Philistines were already in the land which God had given to the Israelites. One of their habits all through the Old Testament was to rob God's people---for example, taking Isaac's wells of water or filling them with dirt (Genesis 26:14-21), taking the ark of God (1 Samuel 4:11), and putting out Samson's eyes (Judges 16:21). When we feel robbed of our spiritual devotion to God, we have probably allowed the devil, our spiritual enemy, to use this "Philistine" tactic against us.

Saul was even the biggest man in Israel, head and shoulders above everyone else (1 Samuel 9:2). This just shows that our natural flesh cannot overcome the tactics of the flesh (represented by the Philistines) or the god of this world (represented by Goliath).

At the same time, David was not irresponsible in other things. When he arrived at the army camp, David left his supplies with a keeper. He had even left his sheep in the care of someone else before departing from home. He had a predominant interest in those sheep. God's leaders are often those with shepherd's hearts.

David was willing to stand for God. It's good to be willing! Of course, we also have to follow through; but at least let's start with being willing. No one else was.

David had already proved God's power in his life. God had helped him protect his sheep from a lion and a bear. His confidence in God wasn't just empty talk.

David was the eighth son of his family. Eight symbolizes a new beginning, just as the eighth day is the beginning of a new week. David brought a new beginning to God's people.

David knew that victory would be his, to the point that he even described Goliath's defeat.

Goliath had suggested terms of surrender if Israel would defeat him. But there would be no terms of surrender accepted. God wants full defeat of His enemies; they cannot be His servants if they are opposed to Him.

David defeated Goliath with a stone and sling; and then he used Goliath's own sword to cut off his head. The head of the defeated enemy was brought to Jerusalem, the capital city, to dispel all fear of the enemy. In the same way, the Lord Jesus has thoroughly defeated Satan, even using his own weapon---death---to defeat him (Hebrews 2:14).