KEEPING COVENANT
The Book Joshua #13
Pastor Dennis Clanton
Woodland Church
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
(Joshua 9:16-19, NLT) “Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby! The Israelites set out at once to investigate and reached their towns in three days. The names of these towns were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. But the Israelites did not attack the towns, for the Israelite leaders had made a vow to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty. But the leaders replied, “Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel, we cannot touch them.”
(Proverbs 6:16-19, NLT) “There are six things the LORD hates- no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.”
OUR WORD IS OUR BOND
LAP – HONOR YOUR MARRIAGE VOWS, YOUR COMMITMENTS
OUR ENEMY IS CLEVER AND DECEPTIVE
(2 Corinthians 2:11, GW) “I don’t want Satan to outwit us. After all, we are not ignorant about Satan’s scheming.”
A. SATAN STUDIES OUR WEAKNESSES
B. NEVER FORGET PRIDE COMES BEFORE THE FALL
SATANIC STRATEGIES ARE OVERCOME BY YOUR NEARNESS TO GOD
(James 4:7, NCV) “Give yourselves completely to God. Stand against the devil, and the devil will run from you.”
(Joshua 9:20-23, NLT) “This is what we must do. We must let them live, for divine anger would come upon us if we broke our oath. Let them live.” So they made them woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community, as the Israelite leaders directed. Joshua called together the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you lie to us? Why did you say that you live in a distant land when you live right here among us? May you be cursed! From now on you will always be servants who cut wood and carry water for the house of my God.“
TURN YOUR MISTAKES INTO MINISTRY
GOD REDEEMS OUR MISTAKES AND WEAVES THEM INTO OUR FAITH STORY
JESUS CARRIED THE WOOD CROSS, HIS SIDE POURED OUT WATER, AND HE WAS MADE SIN FOR YOU AND ME
(Joshua 9:24-27, NLT )“They replied, “We did it because we-your servants-were clearly told that the LORD your God commanded his servant Moses to give you this entire land and to destroy all the people living in it. So we feared greatly for our lives because of you. That is why we have done this. Now we are at your mercy-do to us whatever you think is right.” So Joshua did not allow the people of Israel to kill them. But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the LORD-wherever the LORD would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.”
LAP – WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE MAKE YOUR MISTAKE WORK FOR YOU
(Joshua 10:1-6, NLT) “Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and completely destroyed Ai and killed its king, just as he had destroyed the town of Jericho and killed its king. He also learned that the Gibeonites had made peace with Israel and were now their allies. He and his people became very afraid when they heard all this because Gibeon was a large town-as large as the royal cities and larger than Ai. And the Gibeonite men were strong warriors. So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messengers to several other kings: Hoham of Hebron, Piram of Jarmuth, Japhia of Lachish, and Debir of Eglon. “Come and help me destroy Gibeon,” he urged them, “for they have made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.” So these five Amorite kings combined their armies for a united attack. They moved all their troops into place and attacked Gibeon. The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. “Don’t abandon your servants now!” they pleaded. “Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us.”
YOUR UH-OH MOMENT COULD BE YOUR AHA MOMENT
(Joshua 10:6-7, NLT) “The men of Gibeon quickly sent messengers to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal. “Don’t abandon your servants now!” they pleaded. “Come at once! Save us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings who live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us.” So Joshua and his entire army, including his best warriors, left Gilgal and set out for Gibeon.”
LAP – YOU HAVE A COVENANT WITH JESUS. REST IN HIS PROMISES TO YOU
(Joshua 10:8, NLT) “Do not be afraid of them,” the LORD said to Joshua, “for I have given you victory over them. Not a single one of them will be able to stand up to you.”
(Joshua 10:9, NLT) “Joshua traveled all night from Gilgal and took the Amorite armies by surprise.”
GOD FIGHTS FOR US
(Joshua 10:10, NLT) “The LORD threw them into a panic, and the Israelites slaughtered great numbers of them at Gibeon. Then the Israelites chased the enemy along the road to Beth-horon, killing them all along the way to Azekah and Makkedah.”
(Joshua 10:11, NLT) “As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, the LORD destroyed them with a terrible hailstorm from heaven that continued until they reached Azekah.
(Joshua 10:12-13, NLT) “On the day the LORD gave the Israelites victory over the Amorites, Joshua prayed to the LORD in front of all the people of Israel. He said, “Let the sun stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stayed in place until the nation of Israel had defeated its enemies. Is this event not recorded in The Book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal day.”
(Joshua 10:14-16, NLT) “There has never been a day like this one before or since, when the LORD answered such a prayer. Surely the LORD fought for Israel that day! Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal. During the battle the five kings escaped and hid in a cave at Makkedah.”
LAP – To lengthen your day speak to the Son
(Deuteronomy 33:25, NKJV) “As your days, so shall your strength be.”
GOD GIVES US COURAGE AND THE VICTORY
(Joshua 10:18-19, NKJV) “So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them. And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.”
(Joshua 10:19-27, NLT) “The rest of you continue chasing the enemy and cut them down from the rear. Don’t give them a chance to get back to their towns, for the LORD your God has given you victory over them.” So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and completely crushed the enemy. They totally wiped out the five armies except for a tiny remnant that managed to reach their fortified towns. Then the Israelites returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to speak even a word against Israel. Then Joshua said, “Remove the rocks covering the opening of the cave, and bring the five kings to me.” So they brought the five kings out of the cave-the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. When they brought them out, Joshua told the commanders of his army, “Come and put your feet on the kings’ necks.” And they did as they were told. “Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua told his men. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies.” Then Joshua killed each of the five kings and impaled them on five sharpened poles, where they hung until evening. As the sun was going down, Joshua gave instructions for the bodies of the kings to be taken down from the poles and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. Then they covered the opening of the cave with a pile of large rocks, which remains to this very day.”
THE REST OF THE CHAPTER IS ABOUT COMPLETE CONQUEST
(Joshua 10:28-37, NLT) “That same day Joshua captured and destroyed the town of Makkedah. … Then Joshua and the Israelites went to Libnah and attacked it. There, too, the LORD gave them the town and its king. … Libnah, Joshua and the Israelites went to Lachish and attacked it. Here again, the LORD gave them Lachish. … During the attack on Lachish, King Horam of Gezer arrived with his army to help defend the town. But Joshua’s men killed him and his army, leaving no survivors. … Then Joshua and the Israelite army went on to Eglon and attacked it. … From Eglon, Joshua and the Israelite army went up to Hebron and attacked it. … They did the same thing to all of its surrounding villages. And just as he had done at Eglon, he completely destroyed the entire population.”
(Joshua 10:38-43, NLT) “Then Joshua and the Israelites turned back and attacked Debir. …He did to Debir and its king just what he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king. So Joshua conquered the whole region-the kings and people of the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills, and the mountain slopes. … from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and from the region around the town of Goshen up to Gibeon. Joshua conquered all these kings and their land in a single campaign, for the LORD, the God of Israel, was fighting for his people. Then Joshua and the Israelite army returned to their camp at Gilgal.”
GROWTHWORK
- YOUR WORD IS YOUR BOND.
- DON’T UNDER ESTIMATE THE DEVIL, BUT DON’T FEAR HIM.
- DRAW NEAR TO GOD.
- LET GOD REDEEM YOUR MISTAKES.
- HE TURNS BLUNDERS INTO BLESSINGS.
- REST IN THE PROMISES OF GOD.
- GOD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU.
- BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS.