Commission and Fruition

The point: Ask, 'Lord, what does this portion say to me, where I live, and where I seek to glorify You in my generation?' when reading Old Testament narrative.

Achan's sin is presented as an extended illustration of the principle from 1 Corinthians 5, showing how one person's sin can corrupt the entire community.

We come today to the second in our series of studies on Joshua's chapter 6 and 7, and then spilling over a little bit into chapter 8. These chapters, which deal specifically with the sin of Achan, which in turn is an extended illustration of the statement in 1 Corinthians chapter 5, a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. In our introductory study last Lord's Day, I sought to do several things as we approached this passage of Scripture. First of all, I gave you just a general background of the purpose of Old Testament history. Since the portion we are studying is a historical portion, it is ...

0:05 - 1:30 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin reviews the twofold purpose of Old Testament history—to admire God's wisdom and grace, and for our example and admonition—and the setting of Achan's sin, emphasizing God's…

The church's current endeavor to purchase land and construct a new building is likened to Israel facing Jericho, emphasizing the need for divine power and corporate obedience.

Rehab, Rehab and her family all of the gold and the silver and the precious metals which are to be brought back for the sanctuary and service of God. Now the whole point of this background, this setting of the narrative of Achan's sin as it applies to us is this and with this we end our review as we as a congregation have come to this point in God's dealings with us. And we face a whole new dimension of responsibility and ministry as we contemplate the purchase of land and the construction of a building that unlike this it has already had 50 years service in various functions all the way from ...

6:58 - 8:18 Read in full sermon

Driving home: There was this inordinate, forbidden desire to lay hold of that which was accursed and that which was devoted to God.

The relationship between Shinar and Babylon is compared to New England and Boston to clarify the geographical context of the 'Babylonish mantle.'

What was it that he saw? Well, first of all, he says, I saw a Babylonish mantle, or as you have it in the margin of the ASV, a mantle of Shinar. Now, Shinar is the word used to describe the large region of which the city of Babylon was a part, much as we might say New England, and then mention Boston as a part of New England. And one of the things for which this area was noted was its costly, beautiful, ornamented garments.

12:56 - 13:34 Read in full sermon

Driving home: There was this inordinate, forbidden desire to lay hold of that which was accursed and that which was devoted to God.

The substantial value of Achan's silver and gold is emphasized by contrasting it with 'peanuts' or 'a handful of chains,' highlighting the deliberate nature of his theft.

Also, he says that he saw 200 shekels of silver and a wedge of gold of 50 shekels. Now, trying to work out the rate of exchange from shekels into English money or into American money is difficult, especially these days. The difficulty is amplified if you even use a Bible dictionary that was printed five years ago. But suffice it to say, this was not, not peanuts.

14:02 - 14:29 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin uses 'sanctified imagination' to reconstruct Achan's experience during the conquest of Jericho. He vividly portrays Achan pausing with his torch, rationalizing his desire…

Martin vividly reconstructs Achan's actions in Jericho, imagining him pausing with his torch, seeing the garment, rationalizing his desire, and then taking and hiding the forbidden items, illustrating the progression of sin.

Now, these are just the facts. I've not used an ounce of imagination. I've simply given to you the words as they stand describing the sin of Achan in its commission. But will you try to relive it with me?

17:44 - 17:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine whether you are an 'Achan' in the church, refusing to deal with things devoted to destruction or to consecrate what belongs to God.

Worldly sins and unmortified fleshly desires are metaphorically called 'Babylonish garments,' which are 'devoted to destruction' and must be consumed by the 'torch of mortification.'

Let me amplify. What I believe to be the New Testament application of the Babylonish garment and the wedge of gold and the shekels of silver. The Babylonish garment was an item devoted to destruction. An Israelite and a Babylonish garment incompatible.

23:56 - 24:17 Read in full sermon

The point: Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, consecrating your redeemed humanity and all its faculties to God.

The precious metals consecrated to God are used as a metaphor for believers' redeemed humanity, time, energy, and substance, which are God's possession and must be presented to Him.

all anger now what of the wedge of gold and the shekels of silver are you going to do well you see that which that was the thing that was to be consecrated to God these were the things that were to be given unto him things which were his by right of creation and then by his sovereign decree were to be brought into the service of the sanctuary Joshua 6 19 the New Testament application is clear I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice that's the gold and the shekels of silver my redeemed humanity and all of its faculties is to be presented ...

31:06 - 32:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine what forbidden things you have looked upon, coveted, taken, and hidden in your heart, and give glory to God by making full confession.

Martin uses the hyperbolic image of being unable to 'build a cheese box to sit six dogs' or 'purchase enough land to play marbles on' if God's anger is against the church, emphasizing the church's utter dependence on God's blessing for any advance.

when you are when Israel's God is offended and grieved because of Achan's sin beloved if God turns in anger against us we couldn't build a cheese box to sit six dogs we couldn't purchase enough land to play marbles on if God turns in anger against us AI's will conquer us now do you see the seriousness of being part of the visible community of God's people maybe some of you want to rethink the whole matter of your membership maybe some of you now that's an out so you can still spare your Babylonish garment and your wedges of gold beloved you're part of God's visible community you've identified ...

50:10 - 51:38 Read in full sermon