WAR A LONG TIME #2
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Joshua 11:18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings. 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
It is very interesting to see the message for the present believer in his warfare against inner lusts that lie hidden in the meanings of the name of the kings Joshua fought against. We tend to read over, with not much interest, such verses as Joshua 11:1. Let me list it out for you. Joshua 11:1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
But if we take the time to search out these names, we can find a lot of benefit for our lives today. Just remember this verse; 1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
The name, Jabin means “intelligent.” It comes from the word skilful as found in 1 Chronicles 15:22. That same Hebrew word appears as, that were cunning, in 1 Chronicles 25:7. Hence we see that our warfare today is with that same “king,” which seeks to maintain control of our thoughts. In fact, we are specifically instructed to use our spiritual weapons against him! 2 Corin. 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Have you really read, with meditation, this verse? Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. In order not to be CON-formed to the image of the world, we must be TRANS-formed by the renewing of the mind, the intelligence! Therefore, we are at war with our own Jabin; our own worldly mindedness!
Failure to conquer the mind, bringing it under the authority of the Lord God is the reason given for God’s destroying the human population in the flood! Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
The mind is a huge battle ground on which the believer must constantly fight in order to bring it into submission to Christ! 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
The next king’s name is Jobab. His name means “howler.” It comes from the word in Judges 5:28 translated into the English as, and cried. And here is another great enemy of the spirituality of the soul, – self pity! We are commanded to bring our self-serving souls into a quiet trusting faith before the Lord. 1 Thess. 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
“Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
Katharina von Schlegel, b.1697
And we must also note that king Jobab lives in Madon, which means great statue (2 Sam. 21:20). For when self is esteemed, pity is highly exalted! And this is most dangerous! Because harlot religion is sustained by Satan, the angel of light (2 Corin. 11:14), who uses inordinate affections as a counterfeit substitute for the indwelling Holy Spirit! Ninety per cent of religion today is nothing more than fleshly emotions which have not been warred against by those professing Christ! And these affections are used of the devil to promote idolatry! Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
We must bring down high emotions of great statue (Madon), and bring up low affections of fleshly self loathing, which is a false humility, and straighten the crooked places of disobedience in order for there to be a higher way for the entrance of the Lord’s rule in our souls! Until we fight faithfully on this battle field, giving lusts no place to hide, we shall never experience the revelation of the glory of God! Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Dear Friend, if there were no devil to tempt, nor world to entice, we should still have a full time job of warring against the lusts of our own souls! Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 2 Corin. 7:1 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.
Now we come, in this first verse of Joshua eleven to two unnamed kings that fought against Joshua & Israel! I’m sure that both had names, but I’m equally certain that they are wisely left out of the Scriptures, in which is included all things for our belief in the Lord Jesus! (John 20:30,31). And just in the absence of their names we are silently directed to beware of those dangerous presumptuous sins, those subtle unnamed tendencies, to which we referred from David’s Psalm 19, in article one of this subject.
But we are not left without spiritual edification concerning these last two! For the first is said to be king of Shimron, which means “guardianship.” It is from the Hebrew word translated, ye shall diligently keep, in Deuteronomy 6:17. It is also translated, shall preserve thee, in Psalm 121:7.
And in this we must realize that there is a spirit which fills this world which causes it to be a place of great deception! 1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. It is an ever present, working spirit! Ephesians 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Our Lord tells us that those whom he, (as the stronger man), has not conquered by grace, remain under the power of Satan, to whom he refers as a strong man. Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. And the Apostle Paul writes in Romans six that every individual soul is either the servant of sin, or of righteousness! (6:16-18).
Therefore we see that the spirit of this world causes it to be said that Satan is the god of this world (2 Corin. 4:4). For they, under the delusion of sin make him so, who really only has designated power, under Christ’s absolute authority which he won in his victory at Calvary! Hebrews 1:3 … when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
And our last king’s dwelling place goes right along with this same concept! For he is said to be the king of Achshaph, which means, “fascination’” or “to enchant.” It is derived from the word translated, the sorcerers in Exodus 7:11; and from a witch in Exodus 22:8. For, as it has been well established throughout the years of sacred writings, that sin has an exceedingly bewitching nature!
Failure to believe the gospel comes at an extremely dangerous price! For the Apostle Paul informs us that Satan stands very near it’s preaching! He clearly tells us that the god of this world has the power and authority from God to blind the minds of them that believe not! And the reason given is, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The effectual call of the Holy Spirit granting life, by God’s preaching of the gospel to the elect soul, awakens one from the death of sin, destroying the deception of Satan’s image and mark! The son in the far county was said to come to himself in the midst of the hog pens! But the rich man in hell was never awakened to the image of the beast until he was said to lift up his eyes, being already in eternal torments!
Ever war against these constant influences, dear reader! Eternal matters are involved!
Pastor Gene Breed.
