Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the
cave at Makkedah. When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found
hiding in the cave at Makkedah, he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of
the cave, and post some men there to guard it. But don’t stop! Pursue your
enemies, attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for
the LORD your God has given them
into your hand.” So Joshua and the Israelites destroyed them completely—almost
to a man—but the few who were left reached their fortified cities.
The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites. Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day. (Joshua 10:16-27)
Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony, the Seven Deadly Sin. There were only five kings in today's passage, but that doesn't mean there weren't other kings. Take note, the kings hid in a cave while their armies did battle with Israel and God. How often is our behavior driven by wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy or gluttony but we don't even realize it. One or more of those seven deadlies gang up and we hurt others, steal, lie, cheat, or whatever. When we repent, we confess the harm, the theft, the deceit, the adultery, or whatever. Five minutes later, or five days later, we're doing it again. We can't seem to help ourselves. Could it be, at least partly, because hiding in a cave in our souls, two, three, five or even seven of the deadly kings have been calling the shots in a battle to keep us from taking the "land" we've been promised away from the sins that have possessed it long enough?
This is something I need to consider prayerfully, because there are battles that I have not been winning. I'm too busy, fighting with soldiers. Joshua told the Israelites to rock up the kings, to keep them either escaping or attacking while Israel dealt with the soldiers. How does one block the cave entrance where the "king sins" hide? Admittedly, we need to address the sins that we're facing on a moment by moment basis, but how do we imprison the bigger, hiding sins that motivate the smaller so that they can be dealt with appropriately? How do we do this when we might not even know about the cave, or about what is hiding in it? One obvious answer, pray and let Scripture provide you with light.
The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites. Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. When they had brought these kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” Then Joshua struck and killed the kings and hung them on five trees, and they were left hanging on the trees until evening. At sunset Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day. (Joshua 10:16-27)
Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony, the Seven Deadly Sin. There were only five kings in today's passage, but that doesn't mean there weren't other kings. Take note, the kings hid in a cave while their armies did battle with Israel and God. How often is our behavior driven by wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy or gluttony but we don't even realize it. One or more of those seven deadlies gang up and we hurt others, steal, lie, cheat, or whatever. When we repent, we confess the harm, the theft, the deceit, the adultery, or whatever. Five minutes later, or five days later, we're doing it again. We can't seem to help ourselves. Could it be, at least partly, because hiding in a cave in our souls, two, three, five or even seven of the deadly kings have been calling the shots in a battle to keep us from taking the "land" we've been promised away from the sins that have possessed it long enough?
This is something I need to consider prayerfully, because there are battles that I have not been winning. I'm too busy, fighting with soldiers. Joshua told the Israelites to rock up the kings, to keep them either escaping or attacking while Israel dealt with the soldiers. How does one block the cave entrance where the "king sins" hide? Admittedly, we need to address the sins that we're facing on a moment by moment basis, but how do we imprison the bigger, hiding sins that motivate the smaller so that they can be dealt with appropriately? How do we do this when we might not even know about the cave, or about what is hiding in it? One obvious answer, pray and let Scripture provide you with light.
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