The Twenty-Fifth Hour

Joshua 10:6-15 KJV And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. [7] So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour. [8] And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. [9] Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. [10] And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. [11] And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. [12] Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. [13] And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. [14] And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel. [15] And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

I. INTRODUCTION—THE SETTING OF THE TEXT

-The background behind this passage that we have read is one of where the city of Gibeon is under siege from five kings of the surrounding area. All of these kings, Adonizedek (Jerusalem), Hoham (Hebron), Piram (Jarmuth), Japhia (Lachish), and Debir (Eglon), have watched Joshua and the Israelites take over Jericho and Ai.

-As the battles continued and Israel pressed her way into the land of Canaan, these kings notice that the Gibeonites have made an alliance with Joshua and because Gibeon is a great city, they decide they will take it so that Joshua will not get it.

-When they came to the city, as was common in the ancient times, they would surround the city and then start to barter and bargain with the people inside. They would literally shut off all outward resources that might have been coming into the city and they would close off those who were exporting goods out of the city. The siege could become very taxing on the people.

-So facing their dilemma the men of Gibeah made an appeal to Joshua:

Joshua 10:6 KJV And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

-The story behind all of how Joshua responded will give a focus for this message. As it turns out, Joshua on that day experienced a great victory.

-There are some faith building and inspiring lessons that come from this miracle.

II. LESSONS FROM THE TEXT

A. It Takes a Warrior Mentality.

-The first lesson comes from Joshua 10:6-7.

Joshua 10:6-7 KJV And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. [7] So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

-With the threat from the intruders, Joshua determined that he would be a warrior. Any victory that comes to us in our spiritual lives will be accomplished because of the fight that is in us. Some might argue that after you get the Holy Ghost that the fight is over. This is not accurate especially when one looks to the Bible.

• 2 Corinthians 10:3 . . . . we do not war after the flesh:

• 1 Timothy 1:18 . . . that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;