In Honor of Juneteenth
In honor of June 19th please watch this powerfully beautiful rendition by Wintley Phipps. June 19th is also known as Juneteenth: Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of slavery—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
1 Samuel 17:31-58: The Battle is the Lord's
This is a very brief version of David versus Goliath, please read the entire story on your own in 1 Samuel 17.
The Philistines were a large threat to the Israelites, quite literally. There were giants among them, including their leader Goliath. A young shepherd named David has decided that he will be the one to defeat Goliath. He knows it will not be by his power, but God's.
David was not only fearless but also full of faith. In verse 46 he acknowledges, "This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee... that all the earth may know that there is a God..."
David never says it is in his own strength or power that he will defeat the giant. He is humble before God and gives credit to the true victor of the battle. And, yes, he does just as he says he will do. He kills the mighty warrior with only a slingshot and a stone.
We also cannot defeat a single giant on our own. Be it a sinful addiction, an attitude adjustment, or a physical condition; the only way we can find victory is with the Power of the Holy Trinity giving us help.
(John 15:4-5) [Jesus said], "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."
I am weak, but God is strong, and He will always help when I ask Him to. I pray I never take credit for any victory but always give God the glory!
(This is a long portion of scripture, but I edited some of it out, but please read the entire thing on your own.)
(1 Samuel 17:1-58) Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle... and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span [about 9 feet, 9 inches]. And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.
And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, "Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us..."
When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.
Now David... the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them. And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid...
And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, " ..who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?... And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine."
And Saul said to David, "Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."
And David said unto Saul... "Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God... moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. "
And Saul said unto David, "Go, and the Lord be with thee." And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail...
And David said unto Saul, "I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them." And David put them off him.
And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine...
And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.
And the Philistine said unto David, "Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?..."
Then said David to the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands..."
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David... And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled...
1 Samuel 8:1-22 & 12:12-15: Be Careful What You Ask For
The Israelites demand a king in place of the judges God had been appointing. This is partly because Samuel's own sons did not follow the way of the Lord but became greedy men who loved money and accepted bribes to influence how they judged. Although Samuel had always been a righteous man, his children became rebellious.
God tells a (probably) frustrated and heart-broken Samuel that the people are not rejecting Samuel, but God. This is important for us to remember - not to take human rebellion as an attack against us, but against God, which is actually much more serious than our ego being wounded.
When God decides to answer their cries, he tells them what kind of king they can expect: one that will take from them all that is precious. God says He will not answer them when they complain about their king who will become a cruel dictator. However, the people stubbornly refuse to listen to Samuel when he tells them what God has said about their future King Saul.
When we ask God to go against His will just to appease our own selfish wants and do not care if what we want is right or wrong, be very careful that God may answer you! Then He just may give you the evil desires of your heart and may not hear you when you cry for help! This is a stern warning for today!
But here is the good news: In 1 Samuel 12:14-15, Samuel tells them if all of them (including King Saul) fear the Lord and obey Him, then they will be in the Lord's favor. But if they continue to rebel against the Lord, His hand will stay against them.
God gives them a chance to choose His ways but also warns them what will happen if they dishonor Him. We have the same choice every day we draw breath: choose the Lord and His ways, or reject Him and suffer the consequences, if not in this life, then certainly in the next.
(Lamentations 3:21-23) This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Make no mistake, however, the Lord is very kind and gracious and will always forgive us of our sins when we ask Him to. He will always take us back if we backslide when we come to Him with repentant hearts. But why waste time living in rebellion and misery when you can choose Jesus Christ today and live in His strength and joy!
(1 Samuel 8:1-22) And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel... And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre [money], and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel... And said unto him, "Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations."
But the thing displeased Samuel... And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. And the Lord said unto Samuel, "Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them."
And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, "This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself... to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters... And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards... and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants... He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day."
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles."
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, "Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. "
And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
(1 Samuel 12:12-15) [Samuel said], ..."ye said unto me, 'Nay; but a king shall reign over us:' when the Lord your God was your king. Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the Lord hath set a king over you. If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers."
1 Samuel 7:3-13: Raise a Memorial Stone
As we read in Joshua 24:1-28, in 1 Samuel 7, a similar speech is orated by Samuel, and the people agree to follow only God.
1 Samuel 3:1-21: Speak, Lord; For Your Servant Hears
Samuel is called by God. In verse 7 it says, "Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him." Yet, in spite of this, God called Samuel and, based on advice from Eli, tells the Lord he is listening.
Verses 19-21 tell us that Samuel became prophet of the Lord as was well-known. Because of his humble and willing heart, the Lord used Samuel in a mighty way. Because he has an honorable reputation, both Kings Saul and David often called upon Samuel for council and/or a word from God.
May I also always be willing to be used by and for the Lord and say, "Speak, for thy servant heareth." And may I always be as bold as Samuel and never fear to speak the Truth!
(1 Samuel 1:1-21) And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision... and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, "Here am I."
And he ran unto Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou calledst me."
And he said, "I called not; lie down again."
And he went and lay down. And the Lord called yet again, "Samuel."
And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou didst call me. "
And he answered, "I called not, my son; lie down again."
Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, "Here am I; for thou didst call me. "
And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, "Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, 'Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.'"
So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, "Samuel, Samuel."
Then Samuel answered, "Speak; for thy servant heareth."
And the Lord said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not...."
And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.
Then Eli called Samuel, and he said, "What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me..."
And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him... And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.
Hannah prays for a child. We don't know how old she is, only that she is barren, is the second wife of Elkanah, and taunted by the first wife Peninnah.
(1 Samuel 1:10) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
I see those first 7 words as significant. In spite of her bitterness, she still managed to pray and trust the Lord. One of many signs that she truly loves and trusts the Lord.
Hannah begged the Lord to give her a son. She took her prayer a step farther when she promised to dedicate this child to the service of the Lord, even knowing that would mean the child would have to live apart from her.
God honored her humble prayer and granted her a son she named Samuel, which means "God has heard". She kept her promise and dedicated Samuel to the Lord's service. Does she weep at the parting? Maybe, the Bible does not say, but it does say he prayed a beautiful prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (see below). Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she chooses to praise the Lord! Another sign of her true love for God.
She is able to only see Samuel once a year, which must have been difficult. However, God blessed her with 3 more sons and 2 daughters because she had kept her vow as well as graciously and humbly praised God for answering her prayers.
What faith and devotion Hannah had! I believe it was the legacy of his mother's faithfulness that coincided with a profound call on Samuel's life. What a mighty and gracious God to reward both Hannah and her son for her faithfulness!
(This is a long portion of scripture, but I edited some of it out, but please read the entire thing on your own.)
(1 Samuel 1:1-2:11) Now there was a certain man.. his name was Elkanah... And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children... And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.
And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore. And she vowed a vow, and said, "O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head... I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord... for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto."
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord... and the Lord remembered her. Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked him of the Lord."
She said unto her husband, "I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever."
And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her... and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.
And she said, "Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. " And he worshipped the Lord there.
And Hannah prayed, and said, "My heart rejoiceth in the Lord... because I rejoice in thy salvation. There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed... He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them. He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed."
...And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest.
Judges 6:11 to 8:32: The Patience of God in Times of Doubt
I shared a link to Gideon's story in both my doubter series and Exploring the Angels From the Bible series, but in case you did not read the article, here it is:
In the book of Judges, it is repeatedly stated that God was displeased with the Israelites for their disobedience. Yet, you will also read how God, in His great mercy, has compassion on them (like us) many more times than they (or we) deserve. In chapter 6, we learn:
(Judges 6:1) The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
However, due to the Israelites crying out to God in their dire situation, God answers their call by raising up Gideon to lead them. Like many before and after him, Gideon is called into service by an angel.
(Judges 6:11-12) And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him," The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour."
The definition of valor is: "great courage in the face of danger, especially in battle." So right away, you can see Gideon is being called to bravely lead his people to battle. Is Gideon always brave? No, and even more surprising, Gideon very often lacks faith and doubts God. As soon as he is called by the angel, we see his pattern of questioning God.
(Judges 6:13) "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us... now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
As disrespectful as this seems, haven't we all acted this exact same way? I know I have. While we may not literally have an angel in front of us, we can be given messages from other sources such as dreams, visions, and even other people. (A note of warning here: Be careful if someone says they heard from God. If that person is not living a Godly life, or their words go against the Bible, disregard the message. If it is a person you can trust as a spiritual leader, it is okay to still ask God for confirmation.) When we receive true messages, we may still refuse to believe and question God based on negative experiences in our past. This side of Heaven, we cannot know why God chooses to allow difficult things to happen. Although difficult, we cannot live in the pains of the past, but trust God for each circumstance as separate occasions. Try to trust in his sovereignty even if you feel let down in the past. Remember God is always good, even though men rarely are.
Again, God is gracious to Gideon and slow to anger. Instead of the angel leaving and choosing someone else, he calmly states,
(Judges 6:14) "Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? "
Gideon still is full of doubt and but now it is in himself that he questions. Why would God choose him? He is "poor" and "the least in" his "father's house." (verse 15). Goodness, that sounds like me! I have used too many excuses to count for why I am not worthy to be used by God. God does not want our list of shortcomings and failures. He knows them better than we do. He wants our obedience. He will always provide what we lack.
In verse 16, the angel insists God will be with Gideon, and he will be successful in defeating the Midianites. But is Gideon satisfied yet? Nope. He continues his doubting track.
(Judges 6:17) And he said unto him, "If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me."
In verses 18-21 Gideon prepares a goat and bread and places it on an altar with some broth, and the angel uses his staff to create fire and consume the meal. Let me make clear a brief, but important truth on angels. Angels are often depicted as magical. They are often shown as having special powers to perform ridiculous tasks I will not even go into. Be not deceived, God HATES witchcraft (Galatians 5:19-21- Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these... witchcraft... of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. ) as it comes from Satan, and not from God. Any "powers" angels display do not come from them but are granted by God. Just as when holy saints perform miracles, it is ONLY by God's power that allows them to do so. No angel or human can produce a miracle on their own. If God is not involved, the power comes from Satan not man.
Therefore, this act performed from the angel in Judges is not an evil conjuring of fire from Hell, but fire from Heaven. It was not the angel's power, but the power of God.
After Gideon witnesses the sign of God, he finally believes.
(Judges 6:22) And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.
Gideon then gets to work and destroys the altars of Baal. Now he is finally letting go of doubt and stepping into his role as a man of valor.
Throughout the rest of Gideon' story, we see the pattern of doubt. He continually questions God and asks for signs of proof. Yet God is beyond patient and provides each sign. Gideon is also very successful in battle, even when greatly outnumbered (you can read the rest of his amazing story through to Judges 8:35).
Maybe you can relate, or maybe you have always had an unshakable faith and never questioned God, but we can agree that God is always gentle and kind with us. He understands our doubts and as a patient Father, continues to give us time to wake up to His Truths and He will strengthen our doubts.
Trust & Obey
Written by John H. Sammis
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
For the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
Joshua 24:1-28: Choose You This Day Whom You Will Serve
Joshua's last speech before he dies is to first remind the people of all of God's miracles, then he instructs them to fear the Lord and put away false gods and serve the Lord. He tells them that now is the time to make a choice whom they will serve. They remember the Lord's goodness and choose the Lord.
(2 Corinthians 5:10, 15-17) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(This is a long portion of scripture, but I edited some of it out, but please read the entire thing on your own.)
(Joshua 24:1-28) And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel... and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said unto all the people, "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 'Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time... and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.... sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea... And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat. Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord. '"
"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you THIS DAY whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
And the people answered and said, "God forbid that we should forsake the Lord, to serve other gods; For the Lord our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed... therefore will we also serve the Lord; for He is our God."
And Joshua said unto the people, "Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve Him."
And they said, "We are witnesses."
"Now therefore put away," said he, "the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel."
And the people said unto Joshua, "The Lord our God will we serve, and His voice will we obey."
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day... and Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord.
And Joshua said unto all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God."
Joshua 7:1-26: Touch Not What is Forbidden
After their victory in Jericho in Joshua 6, the Israelites are given permission to take silver, gold, brass, and iron but not any false idols. (Joshua 6:18 - And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.) Just as in the Garden of Eden when God tells Adam he can enjoy all except the one tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (see Genesis 2:15-17 & 3:124), but he and Eve wanted what they were told not to touch. Just as Adam and Eve were not satisfied with all they were allowed to have but selfishly and rebelliously wanted more than God had generously blessed them with (sounds like most people today), Achan takes from the spoils exactly what has been forbidden.
Joshua is unaware of Achan's sin and takes an army to defeat Ai, but about 36 of his men are killed and the army flees. Confused because they have been so successful until now. When Joshua falls on his face before the Lord, God tells him they are never going to have victory again because of the "accursed thing" in their camp. God says the people must sanctify (purify or cleanse) themselves and purge the camp of the item representing false religion which must be destroyed if they ever want to win another battle.
After searching the camp, it is discovered that Achan has taken the permitted silver and gold as well as some kind of forbidden "Babylonish garment." His disobedience has brought a curse upon their people. He is punished and killed.
This sounds harsh by today's standards, and such strong punishment is obviously not necessary under new covenant ways, but we can still see this as an object lesson for us today. You can absolutely think of it as symbolic that false idols will bring about spiritual death.
Forbidden items brought into homes can curse entire families and make it impossible for blessings, especially when these things are chosen just as rebelliously and recklessly as Achan chose his items. Just as the army could not find victory and his family and animals had to die because of Achan, innocent people may suffer the consequences because of your sin.
In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 6 tells us that when we refuse to touch the things God considered unclean, we can be blessed and called His children.
(2 Corinthians 6:14-18 & 7:1) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God... "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate," saith the Lord, "and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters," saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
What are the accursed things today? Pornography, television/movies, ungodly music/ books, drugs/alcohol, all occultic items and practices (Ouija boards, tarot cards, yoga, etc.), and false religions that worship anyone except Jesus Christ, and bows to false idols such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, etc. Even being "unequally yoked," or too closely bonded with someone living in active rebellion against the things of God can cause us harm.
Search your heart and soul and remove all accursed things from your life to find victory in Jesus!
(Joshua 7:1-26) But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan... took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai... saying, "Go up and view the country..."
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men... and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord...
And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us?..."
And the Lord said unto Joshua, "Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you... And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel."
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes... and he brought his household man by man; and Achan...
And Joshua said unto Achan, "My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession unto Him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me."
And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done: When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it."
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the Lord. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and... all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
And Joshua said, "Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day..." So the Lord turned from the fierceness of his anger.
