Lord's Day Sermon (15 July 2012)

Joshua 9:1-27
What's the Smartest Thing to Do?
By Bro Lim Chien Chong

Today, we have many book-smart people... but are they street-smart?

Being both... is insufficient though valuable.

We need to be governed by wisdom from above. Our learning and experiences must be shaped by wisdom from above.

1. When a decision has to be made (v1 - 15)

See how the Gibeonites knew about God's mighty work in Egypt. (v1 - 7)

What about us?

See how Joshua and Co. checked the Gibeonites' claims (v8 -15).

But they did not seek God's counsel (v14).

Are we prayerful in our decision making?

2. When a Mistake was Made (v16 -27)

True wisdom follows though obligations faithfully despite misjudgments (v16 -21)

Despite what the leaders faced from the purple of Israel and the exposure to external pagan culture - they still honoured the agreement.

A modern example is the marriage covenant... We stay together primarily because of the covenant. God is a covenantal God.

3. The Covenant that was Made

Compare the covenant made by the leaders of Israel to the salvation covenant made by God Himself.

God's covenant is so much better!

Ratified by God Himself thru the oaths that He undertook.

We are truly so much better off!