Joshua 9:16-27

¹⁶Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. ¹⁷So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. ¹⁸But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, ¹⁹but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. ²⁰ This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” ²¹They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.
²²Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? ²³You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
²⁴They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. ²⁵We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”
²⁶So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. ²⁷That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

Introduction

Each person has a share of foolish blunders. When you made a careless decision, what did you do to make it right? The worst decision ever is to reject the Lord Jesus as Saviour. At the Judgment Day, there will be no correction if one keeps rejecting the Lord.
‎The leaders of the Israelites made a foolish decision. They ignored the Lord’s warning not to make a treaty with the ‎Canaanites. They did not seek God’s guidance. Joshua and the Israelite leaders have sworn a treaty with the people of Gibeon.

1. Swear

¹⁶Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that ‎they were neighbors, living near them. ¹⁷So the Israelites set out and on the third day ‎came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. ¹⁸But the ‎Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to ‎them by the Lord, the God of Israel.‎ The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, ¹⁹ but all the leaders answered, “We ‎have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.

The leaders did not deny. They did not admit that they made a mistake when they made treaty with the Gibeonites. They did not seek forgiveness from the assembly, why?‎ It wasn’t the assembly who instructed them. The Lord instructed not to make treaty with the Canaanites. ‎ They did not sin against the people. They sinned against the Lord. ‎
The leaders of Israel may be reckless in their decision but they honored their word. They respected what they agreed upon with the Hivites. They promised in God’s name not to harm the Gibeonites. The Israelites grumbled against their leaders because of that.
Similarly church leaders are not spared from grumbling and accusation. As God’s people, what is the biblical principle in addressing accusation against church leaders?
It says in 1 Timothy 5:19-21, ¹⁹Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. ²⁰But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. ²¹I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

Accusation against leaders is common in the church. Paul instructed the young Pastor Timothy the biblical responsibility of a pastor to reprove sinfulness with equality. No favoritism to elders who are sinning. The act of the flesh or worldly lifestyle is sin.
It says in Galatians 5:19-21, ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Many have consciously and unconsciously promote discord, hatred, selfish ambition, dissensions, or faction. They are living a life of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. Review those verses to evaluate our behavior and attitude.
The leaders of the Israelites decided inappropriately and the people grumbled. The leaders could be very sincere and assumed that their decision was great. They may not intentionally wish to disobey God. They were deceived because they forget to pray.
‎‎ ²⁰This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall ‎on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” ²¹They continued, “Let them live, but ‎let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the ‎leaders’ promise to them was kept.‎

The leaders of the Israelites believed that if they break the oath they swore before God, they might make God angry with them. They honored their oath not to destroy the Gibeonites, and they made them servant. The Gibeonites were not forced to be servants because they actually offered themselves as servants for them to be spared from death.

Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)

The VFA between the Philippines and USA allows US troops of temporary presence in the Philippines. President Duterte and protesters wanted the US troops to leave the Philippines but they cannot force them to leave. He must respect the agreement.
Similarly the leaders of the Israelites respected the treaty they made with the Gibeonites. They committed careless decision but they have the right attitude to honor the covenant when they swore to God that they would not destroy the Gibeonites.
The biblical implication of swearing to God is asking for curse or the worst tragedy to come if a covenant is not observed. Was the curse of swearing crucified with Christ? Do you believe that the Lord Jesus has also saved you from the curse of swearing? ‎

2. Save

‎ ²²Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‎‎‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? ²³You are now under a ‎curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for ‎the house of my God.”‎

Joshua told the consequences of the deception made by the Gibeonites. They Gibeonites agreed to be servants as long as the Israelites let them live. Joshua told them also that the leaders of the Israelites have decided that the Gibeonites will serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of God.
‎ ²⁴ They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had ‎commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its ‎inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why ‎we did this. ²⁵ We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”‎
The Gibeonites understood what Joshua said, and they acknowledged that they intentionally deceived the Israelites. They did not pretend to be innocent. They were willing to be subjected to whatever the Israelites want them to do. They also understand that the Israelites will destroy them if they stop serving as woodcutters and water carriers.
‎ ²⁶So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. ²⁷That day he ‎made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for ‎the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.‎

Joshua exemplified decency and dignity on how to honor a covenant.
As Christians, should we not observe a higher decency and dignity to honor our covenant as a church? Let’s pray by God’s grace, to honor our church covenant.

TMEC-COVENANT (The Constitution Article III)

Having been led, as we believe, to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and on ‎profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son ‎and of the Holy Spirit, we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with our brethren at The ‎Maples Evangelical Church:‎
That being led and enabled by the Holy Spirit, we will endeavour to keep Christ first by ‎seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness and to love others especially those of ‎the household of faith;‎ That we will strive to protect the unity of the church by honouring and following our ‎leaders, by refusing to gossip and stir up dissensions, and by serving together in Christian ‎love; ‎
That we will participate in one another’s joys, bear one another’s burdens, be slow to take ‎offense and always ready to forgive;‎ That we will walk circumspectly in the world, be just in our dealings and faithful in our ‎engagements;‎ That we will not neglect the opportunities for public worship with our brothers and ‎sisters in the Lord;‎
That we will seek to acknowledge Christ as Lord of our household by raising our children ‎in the love and admonition of the Lord;‎ That we will support the doctrines, Christian principles, ordinances and disciplines of the ‎church. ‎
That according to our ability, we will participate in the ministry of the church by ‎proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ here and throughout the world, by giving back to ‎God His tithes and our offerings, by using our gifts and talents in service of the church, by ‎living a godly life, and by discipling others to serve;‎
‎ ‎ That we will co-operate constructively with other Christian churches and Christian ‎agencies, wherever conviction permits, in the work our Lord has given us to do; ‎
That in the case of removal from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with ‎another church of like faith and order where we can carry on the spirit of this Covenant;‎
AND FINALLY THAT in all things, we will seek to live to the honour and glory of our Lord ‎Jesus Christ.‎

‎ May God bless more abundantly TMEC members who would honor wholeheartedly the declaration in this covenant.

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