"All of life is business with God…" John Calvin
Our final lesson before breaking for the holidays covered the conquest of the Northern kingdom by the Israelites recorded in Joshua chapters 11 and 12. Before we launch into the study questions and responses, I’d like to begin with some of the commentary by Keil and Delitzsch on this period. The author of Joshua tells … Continue reading The Conquest Continues- the Northern Kingdoms
In September 2016 I was privileged to begin leading a Women's Bible study at my church on Tuesday mornings and Wednesday evenings. We have been studying the books of Joshua and Ephesians. The material we are using comes from a PCA church in Glenside, Pennsylvania, New Life Presbyterian Church. Their women's ministry write studies for their … Continue reading Bible Study Summaries
(Originally published November 28, 2016) Last week (I'm a week behind) we read Joshua 10, which covers the battle in which Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still, the five Amorite kings who were captured and executed, and the conquest of Southern Canaan. That’s a lot to cover, so let’s dive right … Continue reading If God is For Us, Who Can be Against Us?
(Originally published November 18, 2016) This week we are reading chapter 9 of Joshua, wherein the Israelites, fresh off their victory against Ai, are duped into making a covenant with the Gibeonites. We began our study by looking at how the Canaanites’ attitude toward the Israelites has changed. In chapter 5 the Canaanites were paralyzed … Continue reading The Treaty With the Gibeonites
(Originally published November 3, 2016) In chapter 8 of Joshua the Israelites return to the field of battle against the town of Ai, but this time they are following the command and lead of the LORD. Right off the bat, verse 1 opens with the LORD saying to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not … Continue reading Learning Obedience
(Originally published October 22, 2016) Last week we learned about the fall of Jericho, God's gracious gift of a mighty victory to his people, who watched in faith and obedience as the Lord carried out his covenant promise before them and the unbelieving world. Chapter six ends with, "So the LORD was with Joshua, and … Continue reading Sin in the Camp
(Originally published October 14, 2016) This week's study covers Joshua 5:13-6:27. We began by looking at Joshua's encounter with the commander of the army of the LORD. Our first question was, who is this? As James Montgomery Boice points out without equivocation, this is: "...none the less than Jehovah speaking here in a preincarnate … Continue reading The Fall of Jericho
(Originally published October 6, 2016) In Bible study this week we looked at Joshua 5: 1-12. After briefly reiterating the point that the Canaanites were quaking in fear at the miraculous crossing of the Jordan by the Israelites, we considered God's command to circumcise the sons of Israel. We looked first at his wording of … Continue reading Consecration and Covenant
(Originally published September 29, 2016) This week, in our third lesson studying the book of Joshua, we covered chapters 3 and 4, in which Joshua and the Israelites cross the Jordan River into the Promised land. We dipped our toes into this subject by considering the conditions in which this crossing was made. According to … Continue reading Crossing the Jordan
Grateful 