TITLE: THE DAY THE SUN STOOD STILL
SCRIPTURE: JOSHUA 10:6-14
On this past Monday, August 21st, all of North America, millions of people were treated to see one of nature’s most wondrous spectacles. Anyone within the path of totality was able to see one of nature’s most awe inspiring sights – a total solar eclipse. An eclipse is a cosmic billiard shot — the Sun, Moon, and Earth line up to reveal the Sun's atmosphere, its corona. Eclipses on Earth occur only because of an amazing celestial performance.
• Eclipses happen somewhere around the world about every six months
• But this one was special
• For the first time in almost 40 years, the path of the moon's shadow passes through the entire Continental United States
• For the first time in 90 years the path extended from the West Coast of Utah through the East Coast of the Carolinas
• This will not happen in this location again for another approximately 90 years
• It was a scene of unimaginable beauty
• The Moon completely blocked the Sun
• Daytime became a deep twilight
• And the Sun’s corona shimmered in the darkened sky
Schools across our communities were on lock down to keep our Children safe from damaging their eyes by looking directly at the eclipse. Other schools made it a scientific project and provided children with proper glasses and took them outside to view. Here in Ardmore, around 1:15 in the afternoon it looked as though it was dusk as though it were 6:30 in the evening and the temperature dropped over 10 degrees. Few minutes later the Sun resumed its shine and the heat of Summer quickly returned. Can I tell you this morning my brothers and sisters – only God can perform something so magnificent and spectacular!
I call your attention this morning to an even greater feat performed by the Lord way back in the Old Testament -- The Day The Sun Stood Still. One of the things I love about the Old Testament it is filled with many accounts of fascinating and sometimes very strange miracles performed by God.
• God rained down fire and brimstone out of the heavens on Sodom and Gomorrah
• He parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River so His people could cross on dry ground
• He turned Water into Blood
• He bought Water out of a Rock
• He made Bitter Water Turn Sweet
• He even made an Ax Head Float on Water
• He sent Plagues of Frogs – Lice – Flies – Locusts
• He made a Donkey Talk
• He opened up the earth to Swallow Korah and his 250 men that rebelled against Moses
This morning I call your attention to one of the greatest miracles God performed found here in this OT text -- The Day The Sun Stood Still. Let’s take a moment for some Background behind this passage that we have read. It 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) -- 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 had made an alliance with Joshua and because Gibeon was a great city, they decide they will take it so that Joshua and the Israelites would not have the opportunity to take the land of the Gibeonites. I need to footnote here for a few minutes. When the Gibeonites heard what Joshua and the Israelites had done to Jericho and Ai, they CONCOCTED A DECEPTIVE PLAN to “save their own hides.”
• Pretending to be ambassadors from a foreign country, the Gibeonites came to Joshua bearing gifts
• They told Joshua how they had heard about the great things his God had done in Egypt and how He had given them the victory over the surrounding nations
• Their intent was to get Joshua to make a peace treaty with them by offering themselves as servants to the Israelites
WITHOUT CONSULTING GOD on this matter, Joshua agreed to make a Peace Treaty with them. It wasn't until three days later that Joshua found out the truth. These people weren't foreigners at all. They were the Gibeonites who lived nearby. Well it didn't take long for word to spread to the other inhabitants of the land that the Gibeonites had “DEFECTED” and became allies with the Israelites.
• So five kings decided to form “an alliance” of their own and send their armies to attack the Gibeonites to teach them a lesson
• Although the Gibeonites were renowned as the strongest men in the land, they knew they were no match for the allied armies of the five kings
• So they sent word to Joshua that they desperately needed the help of the Israelites to defend themselves against these approaching armies
This is where our text picks up this morning. When the Gibeonites saw the Amorite armies were come up against them, they SENT FOR JOSHUA AND THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL to come and save them. Joshua and Israel would respond to their cry, since they did have a “Peace Treaty” with them, and come up at once to fight with and defend them. Not much has changed today – THE ENEMIES OF GOD STILL HATE AND FEAR GOD’S PEOPLE.
• God’s people are a threat to their wicked, sinful ways
• God’s people expose the darkness of their sins
• We are a threat to their wicked and perverse lifestyles and their idolatry
• Therefore they hate the presence of God’s people in the land
• Forces of evil continue to unite to fight against God’s plan and his people even today
I BELIEVE GOD REVEALS HIS DIVINE PROVIDENCE IN TWO WAYS HERE IN THIS TEXT.
• God could have allowed the Gibeonites to fight this battle all by themselves to punish them for deceiving Joshua and the Israelites
• And for another, God could have told JOSHUA - “You got yourself into this mess, now you can get yourself out
• He could have allowed Joshua and the Israelite Army to go into this battle without His divine protection just as He had done at Ai earlier
We are reminded in ROMANS 8:28 “AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM THAT LOVE GOD, TO THEM WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” By His Goodness and His Grace -
• God can take our Dumbest Mistakes
• God can take our Foolish Decisions
• God can take our Ill-Advised Plans
• And work them out in ways that bring Glory and Honor to Him
• Anyone ever been there this morning?
• Ever mess up and know you messed up
• Ever made decisions without talking to the Lord
• But God looked beyond your foolishness anyhow!
• God decided to bless you anyhow!
• God decided to bless you in spite of you!
So facing their dilemma the men of Gibeah made an appeal to Joshua -- JOSHUA 10:6 “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.”
--Vs. 9 “JOSHUA THEREFORE CAME UNTO THEM SUDDENDLY, AND WENT UP FROM GILGAL ALL NIGHT”
The Lord encouraged Joshua and Israel to fight this battle. GOD’S PEOPLE ARE NOT TO BE SPIRITUAL PACIFISTS, BUT ARE TO BE MILITANT! God encouraged them not to fear, and promised them victory. We are not to fear our spiritual foes. Fear is a great obstacle. So many things we have not accomplished in our lives because of fear. I don’t know why Christians have become so QUITE, TIMID, and SILENT that is why our county is in the shape that it’s in. Only time we want to stand up and be boisterous, loud and be heard is during the Church Business Meeting. 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 receive the Holy Ghost that the fight is over. This is not accurate and the Bible is clear that we must be vigilant –
• II CORINTHIANS 10:3 - WE DO NOT WAR AFTER THE FLESH…
• I TIMOTY 1:18 - THAT THOU BY THEM MIGHTEST WAR A GOOD WARFARE…
• I TIMOTHY 6:12 – FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
• EPHESIANS 6:12 – FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD
• I PETER 5:8 – BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT….
Joshua realized it was the will of God for him to have victory in the battle. VICTORY IS THE WILL OF GOD but at some point in your life there has to be a time that you realize the will of God is to GET UP AND FIGHT. If you are going to have a miracle done in your life, it is going to take a fight! Victory can never come when we are lying down. We are compelled to get up out of our spiritual recliner and battle it out. Somewhere that warrior mentality has to awaken in your soul.
• I have been pushed around long enough!
• I have been at the mercy of my whims long enough!
• The devil has pushed me around long enough!
• I have let my long tongue of gossip destroy too many, I am taking control!
• My pride has kept me from being a worshipper long enough!
• My anger has harnessed me long enough!
• My selfishness has kept me uninvolved long enough!
• I have let my judgmental, legalistic spirit hold me up too long, I am for fighting now!
• I am tired of my envy filling me with jealousy, I am fighting it out!
• I have let my greed shut down my giving long enough!
• My moods have taken me captive for the last time!
• I have been choked down by my half-hearted efforts long enough!
• I have given in to spiritual laziness long enough!
• My self-pity has paralyzed me far too long!
• My besetting sins have ruled long enough!
• Enough is enough!
We see Gods intervention and assurance of victory because he gave Joshua and the soldiers supernatural strength. Text says they came SUDDENLY AFTER MARCHING ALL NIGHT FROM GILGAL. How could Joshua and his army march all night long from Gilgal to Gibeon, a distance of 27 MILES, and be prepared to fight all day long? There is only one explanation. God gave them supernatural strength!
The distance is about 27 miles which for an army with all their gear and weapons would have been stretched out over 3 days. But Joshua was pressured and had to get there quickly because GIBEAH WAS UNDER SIEGE. Joshua knew God assured victory yet, he had no idea what kind of victory was waiting for him. In fact he probably was somewhat anticipating the idea they may be getting in a little over their heads. While they were travelling through that long night, GOD WAS PREPARING TO STRETCH OUT THEIR DAY! They just did not know it. Isn’t that how it is when you are fighting through the NIGHT SHIFTS OF THE HEART - the NIGHT SEASONS OF THE SPIRIT?
• Nights of nothing
• Nights of disappointed hope
• Nights of toil in the same setting
• Nights on the deep
• Nights that faith flounders
• Nights where it seems all hope is gone
• Nights of pain
• Nights of separation
• Nights of mistrust
• Nights of failure
• Nights of longing for a better tomorrow
• Nights of wasted effort
• Those nights can seem so destructive to our faith
• Sometimes it seems like they are endless
• But the secret of a long day is that you stretch your night!
• PSALMS 30:5 “WEEPING MAY ENDURE FOR A NIGHT, BUT JOY COMETH IN THE MORNING”
• Don’t waste your nights!
• Pray through your long nights
• Talk to the Lord through your long nights
• Spend time with the Master through your long nights
Joshua and his troops must have been exhausted when they finally arrived at the point where the battle was to be waged. But apparently they didn’t even take a breather; while day was just beginning to dawn they swiftly launched their attack. The enemy was taken totally by surprise and frantically began to flee.
--VS. 10-11 “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 BETH-HORON, AND SMOTE THEM TO AZEKAH, AND UNTO MAKKEDAH. AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THEY FLED FROM BREFORE ISRAEL, AND WERE IN THE GOING DOWN TO BETH-HORON, THAT THE LORD CAST 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.”
Not only was it a miracle that the gigantic hailstones fell on the enemy, it was also a miracle that the hailstones DID NOT FALL ON THE ISRAELITES. Thus, Joshua and his soldiers were dramatically reminded of God’s great concern for them. They were prevailing over their enemies because of the mighty intervention of God on their behalf. BUT THEY WERE RUNNING OUT OF DAYLIGHT - -- Joshua was convinced he needed to finish the job while the momentum was so greatly in his favor.
THUS IT WAS THAT JOSHUA ASKED THAT THE SUN STAND STILL - and God again demonstrated his concern for Joshua and his men by granting that request. God made the Sun stand still for about one day. So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. “AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAY LIKE THAT, BEFORE IT OR AFTER IT THAT THE LORD HEEDED THE VOICE OF A MAN, FOR THE LORD FOUGHT FOR ISRAEL.”
WE KNOW SCIENTIFICALLY THE EARTH ORBITS ARORUND THE SUN, NOT THE SUN AROUND THE EARTH. Of course Joshua did not understand that during his day and age. So what exactly happened that day?
--“But for the sun and moon to stand still would be contrary to the laws of nature.” But what are the laws of nature? They are simply processes which God has set into motion -- and because he is Sovereign he can ALTER – SUSPEND – REVERSE – CIRCUMVENT – OR EVEN CANCEL THOSE PROCESSES ANYTIME HE SO DESIRES.
--That’s what a MIRACLE is - it is when some usual pattern of nature is changed or interrupted due to God’s personal intervention.
--It is not reasonable to think God would allow himself to be a prisoner of the very processes which He, himself, has created.
--The late Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church, Dr. R. G. Lee, said, “Any man that has enough sense to make a clock certainly has enough sense to stop it.”
--Surely a God who could speak a universe into existence can do anything He pleases with that universe and its various components. In other words, if you accept the fact of God, then anything is possible--for He is all-wise and all-powerful.
When you get out of God’s way and let God manage the clock - you suddenly get into a place that results are going to happen.
• Hailstorms were about to get in league with Joshua
• The Sun stopping in its tracks was about to take place
• The Moon altering its pattern for God’s plan
• All of these things in themselves could be touted as natural disasters but God was going to use nature to work out something in His time frame
• What looked like a storm was deliverance
• What looked like the world stopping was victory
• What looked like a failure in space was the key to their dilemma
• God is never on our time frame
GOD WILL STOP NATURE FOR YOU AND HELP YOU CAUSE YOUR ENEMIES TO BECOME YOUR FOOTSTOOL! How do I know? Because of a -
--HILL CALLED CALVARY THERE STOOD AN OLD RUGGED CROSS THE EMBLEM OF SUFFERING AND SHAME
--It Was a Friday when My Savior was Crucified
--They nailed him to a Cross
--Around the NINTH HOUR Jesus Cried with a Loud voice saying -- ELI, ELI, LAMA-SABACH-THANI, that is to say MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?
--Then he cried with a Loud voice and gave up the Ghost
--He hung his head and there he Died
--Bible says from The SIXTH UNTIL THE NINTH HOUR THERE WAS DARKNESS IN THE LAND
--That would be form 12:00 Noon until 3:00 pm. The Sun Refused to Shine
--In Joshua’s day he commanded the Sun to Stand Still to Give his Army a Victory
--On that Dreadful Friday when the Sun was in place but Refused to Shine it was to give Mankind the Victory
--I’m glad that was not the end of the Story early on Sunday Morning, My Savior got up with all Power in the Palm of His Hand
--In the Old Testament during Joshua’s time there was The Day The Sun Stood Still
--In the New Testament on Calvary there was the day the Sun Refused to Shine
--What a Mighty God We Serve
--Give God Glory this Morning all over this Sanctuary!
