Rev. Ted Strawbridge
Joshua, part 5
Holy War is never the leading title for Seminars in Christian Conferences and Retreats. It is understandable. War is ugly. Nevertheless, God, our Father, makes Himself known as a Warrior. Now, Holy War is radically different from geo-political social conflict. Holy War is a reflection of God’s loving plan to bring the whole world to His glory. The New Testament tells us that “our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers and principalities and rulers of this dark world…”
In the Bible Holy War is bound by legal descriptions as when in Deuteronomy rules for battle are outlined. It is also told in narrative form in the stories of how God worked delivering and leading His people. War narratives were not written because the original audience was composed of Marine recruits. Rather, the true stories were told to people just like us, people who wanted God’s blessing and often found themselves sensing His distance. The heart of the stories of Joshua was for moms and business people and teachers and plumbers. It was written to people who had lost the sense of the Lord’s presence in exile and wanted to know, “How do we find our way back to the Lord’s blessing?”
In the world that we live in there is a battle that goes on. God, from before the foundation of the world had a plan to display His glory. He created an image bearer to bring His glory to the earth. When that image bearer failed to obey perfectly a battle that had been incited was blown into a rage. Sides were drawn more clearly and Satan determined to strike the heel of God’s image. God designed to crush Satan’s head. Again, God designed to accomplish His plan through His image bearer, when the first Adam and his descendents by ordinary generation failed, God sent another, also made in His image. The second Adam was the exact representation of God. He was fully God and fully man. When we see the Cristus vicor, when we see Christ, the Captain of our salvation, we are seeing God in Holy War for all of His creation. Christ was wholly consecrated to the will of His Father and the story of Joshua tells us that we too must be consecrated. Holy War meant God would be present with His people.
The story of David and Uriah highlight the importance of being consecrated for blessing. David sought to find a way to mask Bathsheba’s pregnancy. He brought Uriah home from battle and sent him to lay with his wife. But the story in I Samuel 17 tells us that Uriah would not go to his own wife because the Army of the Lord was at battle. He would not make himself unclean, lest he return to the Lord’s presence.
Before going into battle the Israelites were told to consecrate themselves, even within sight of the enemy. It is, as if, the literal shields of the enemy were visible in the distance. Yet, God declares the people must get ready for His presence. His people were so small. Their hearts were so full of fear… their memory so short. They can’t remember that His faithfulness is new every morning. They can’t remember that His presence assures their safety. They were petty little stiff necked sinners… just like us.
So, in the day of Joshua, God took them to through the Kindergarten of faith. Having them practice. March, march, march, march. He asked them to remember, “When you passed through the waters did I not save you?” When He said, “Make a flint knife and circumcise yourself…” did I not protect you?”
Consecration is key to Holy War. The people of God only receive His covenantal blessing when God comes to be present with them. The way to know His presence is to consecrate yourself and march, just like Israel did! “By the mercy of God I beseech you, my dear brothers, that you would make yourself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord, for this is your spiritual act of worship.
War throughout the Old Testament was an act of obedient worship. Every day we find the Spirit of God in our midst. Our blessing hinges on the perfect obedience of God’s image bearer for us. We are consecrated to the Lord by His holiness. It was the same for the people in exile. The heard these stories and they knew, “If I want His presence I must set myself apart to Him.” It is the same for us today.
If you want God’s blessing today, consecrate yourself. It takes time, sacrifice, and is unto a particular calling. Won’t you give yourself to Him right now? I know, you’re American Christians, probably busy with your kids…, or maybe work.
When God marches into battle you are going to wish you had used today to consecrate yourself before Him… Don’t let it be that you were too busy. The story of Joshua was written to call the people of Israel to fall on their face and consecrate themselves in anticipation of His forgiveness, His blessing, and His fulfillment of divine covenantal blessing. Just what you need today!
What time will you give to consecrate your life?
What sacrifice will you make, today?
What calling do you pursue for His kingdom that warrants His coming to your presence? David said, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
Christ was fully consecrated to the will of His Father. When the writer of the book of Joshua tells his story consecration and presence is a huge emphasis. It is for us too.
In His Grace,
Ted
