FIVE KINGS IN A CAVE

Pastor Jerry Rockwell

  FIVE KINGS IN A CAVE

Joshua 10:15 – 43

Introduction: The matters of warfare are always a part of our lives. In my life, there have been very few times when the United States was not engaged in some war. It seems that we are constantly at war as a nation. This is very similar to the Christian life. There is an interesting passage In Judges 3:1-2 (KJV) 1 Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof. We often fail to understand the nature of God. Some people think the Christian life is one of ease and bounty. God has a desire for us to, “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 (KJV). Yet, one of the ways God uses to mature believers is engage them in warfare. God allowed the nations of the Philistines, Canaanites, Sidonians, and the Hivites for the purpose stated in Judges 3:4 (KJV) And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. [Emphasis added.] War was a means to teach Israel obedience. Look also at Judges 2:21-22 (KJV) 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. God desires that we learn to trust and obey Him. One of the ways we learn to trust him is to engage in warfare, as the children of Israel were forced to secure their inheritance. The passage before us is a tremendous type of the Christian life and the warfare involved. We have looked at the enemies we face in Ephesians 2 as the world, the devil, and the flesh. The formidable foe we face is the flesh. Look at Romans 6:13 (KJV) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as 43instruments of righteousness unto God. Romans 13:12 (KJV) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armour of light. Ephesians 4:22-24 (KJV) 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 2 Peter 3:14 (KJV) Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. This demonstrates one of the major tenets of the Christian life that is often overlooked. That is what Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” If we ever expect to be a demonstration of the grace of God, we must learn this lesson.

We need to take this passage and learn these principles of Christian warfare. It is my conviction that this passage will help us understand some of the things God wants us to know about walking in the Spirit and putting to death the deeds of the flesh. Colossians 3:5 (KJV) says, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” The word “mortify” here means “to put to death” or “to make dead.” We will learn from this passage in Joshua this very principle. Look at Matthew 26:59 (KJV) Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death. This is the same principle as in Colossians 3:5. Look at 1 Peter 3:18 (KJV): For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. Again, it is the same principle.

Is easy to see how God views the flesh and what he expects the believer to do in relation to it. The matter of mortification or putting to death the deeds of the flesh is significant for the believer to find victory in the Christian life. Sin is always active in the Christian life, and we must learn to deal with the deeds of the flesh. That is why the Bible often refers to the “members” that war against the flesh. Romans 7:23 (KJV) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members, speaks to this matter. For us to achieve victory, we need to learn the important principles taught in Joshua 10. Let’s look at this story and see if we might learn these principles. Do not forget 1 Peter 2:11 (KJV) Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, and James 4:1 (KJV) From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?    

  1. Securing The Five Kings, Joshua 10:15 – 28.

As we studied last week, the battle against the Army which attacked Gibeon was a devastating defeat for the enemy. God used his artillery, great hailstones (vs. 11), to obliterate the Army that had come against Gibeon. Joshua brings his army back to Gilgal, and word comes to him that the five Kings who had joined together in the battle against the people of Gibeon had taken refuge in a cave. Joshua does an interesting thing. He has the five Kings sealed in the cave by rolling great stones over its mouth and setting guards at the entrance to keep it (Joshua 10:18). This should sound familiar to anyone who knows the Scripture and the events of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ. The same actions were taken to secure the grave of Jesus because of the fear of his resurrection. There are several “cave” incidents found in the Scripture. We find that caves became places to put dead bodies. Abraham in Genesis 19:30 – 38 secured a cave to bury his wife, Sarah. We know that in John 9:38, Lazarus was placed in a sepulchre, which was a cave used for a burial place and it was sealed with a large stone (John 11:38-39). The analogy is very clear and should never be mistaken by the Christian. God is willing to teach us some lessons about putting to death those things that are enemies to the believer. We must realize that what Joshua did is exactly what we must do in relation to the flesh, which is one of the enemies described in Ephesians 2. This passage helps us to understand some principles that will enable us to deal with the flesh.

  1. Their Entombment, Joshua 10:15 – 20. Joshua does an unusual thing when he had the King’s secured by sealing the mouth of the cave. He knew there were battles that needed to be fought that were more important than dealing with these five Kings. Thus, he isolated these five Kings, who led the people in rebellion against Israel. Joshua 10:19 (KJV) tells us, “And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.” Joshua knew the significance of demoralizing the enemy by defeating him. Thus, Joshua secures the Kings and attacks the soldiers of these Kings. This is seen in Joshua 10:19-21 [read]. You and I need to learn an important lesson here. It is significant that we learn the principle of isolating the major problems we face and fighting the battles that could come back and haunt us. Joshua knew that killing the Kings would allow the fighting Army to escape. We must learn that the battles of the flesh are dealing with the members that we war against. Remember Romans 7:23 (KJV) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. This verse should remind us that the members war against the law of our mind, and we must bring into captivity the law of sin which is in our members. This is so graphically illustrated in Joshua 10. The five Kings could be viewed as “the law of sin” (Romans 7:23, 25; 8:2) and the armies of the Kings as the “members.” We need to learn to fight the small battles and gain victory over these enemies and come back and deal with the major issue of life, which is the law of sin. Romans 7 explains some of the battles we have with this matter of the members and the law of sin. It is often better for the Christian to isolate those major issues and come back to them later, as Joshua did.
  2. Their Exposure, Joshua 10:21 – 25. The army of Joshua returned to “Maddedah” which was where the five kings were incarcerated in the cave. The next step Joshua took was to expose these five Kings. These Kings were the leaders of the armies that attacked Gibeon. It is now time to deal with the cause of the attack. Joshua has these five Kings brought forth from the cave. Note that Joshua brought them out and then called his fighting men, especially the “Captains of the men of war,” and placed the five before them. Next, he does an unusual thing. He has the captains put their feet up on the necks of these Kings (Joshua 10:24). We should not miss the significance of this act. In the Bible, the neck is a symbol of strength. We find this principle in, Job 41:22 (KJV) In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him (cf. Job 39:19 (KJV) Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?). Look also at Psalms 18:40 (KJV) Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. It is significant to understand the Bible’s instruction about the role of the neck. Look at Proverbs 29:1 (KJV) He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. According to this verse, the neck is also the place where man rebels against authority. This is also found in Isaiah 48:4 (KJV) Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass. Christians must learn the significance of this event in gaining victory over the things that plague them, especially the deeds of the flesh. There is another lesson to be learned about the neck, and that is the neck is a place where a yoke is secured to symbolize submission. We must acknowledge that the things of the flesh can cause us to be in bondage to those things which the flesh enjoys. We can either deal with them or allow them to dominate us. The Christian must do exactly as Joshua and the men-of-war do, and that is to demonstrate the believer’s superiority over its enemy.

 You may have several Kings hidden in your cave, the cave of your life, which are ruling you. There comes a time when you must expose them and confront them to gain victory. Unless you do this, you will never find the freedom and liberty described in the Scripture for those who trust God and desire to serve him. You may need to expose the sins and place your foot on their neck and demonstrate that they are not going to dominate your life. 

The next step Joshua instructs his people to take is also the step Christians must take to win the victory over the flesh. Look at Joshua 10:25 (KJV) And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight. 

  1. Their Execution, Joshua 10:26 – 28. This third step in the war against the flesh is the most important one. Joshua brings out the five kings, kills them, and does something very interesting. He hangs them on trees (Joshua 10:26). Does that not sound familiar? It is no accident that the events described here have a similar ring to them in the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first time we find the matter of hanging someone on a tree is in Genesis 40:19, where Joseph told the chief baker of his fate regarding Pharaoh. Joseph told him [the baker] he would be “hanged on a tree.” Deuteronomy 21:23 (KJV) tells us, His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God😉 that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. This is also found in Galatians 3:13 (KJV) Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. This verse informs us that Christ was made a curse for us when he was crucified and hanged on a tree. We dare not make mistakes in what is going on here. As we have seen in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (KJV) For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, we know that Jesus took the curse that was upon us that we might be set free. If you go back to Joshua 8:29, you find that Joshua did this very thing to the King of Ai. For you and me to gain victory over the enemy, which is the flesh, we must do exactly the same thing. Look at Romans 6:6 (KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Please note that this verse tells us exactly what we must do to gain victory. We must begin by “knowing this.” That our old man is crucified with Christ. What is the reason for this? That the body of sin might be destroyed, and henceforth we do not serve sin any longer. God wants you and me to have victory in this life. We have a formidable enemy called the flesh, and we dare not allow it to gain dominance over our lives. Look at Romans 6:11 (KJV) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. I know we look at these verses often, but we dare not ignore them and fail to gain the victory God wants us to have. Look at Romans 6:12 (KJV) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. If there’s anything important in Romans 6, it is the significance of learning the principle of victory that God wants us to know. Let’s read Romans 6:13-21 (KJV) 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. Until we are willing to put to death these things that war against the soul, our spiritual life, we will never find victory over sin. This is probably one of the most important principles in the Scripture about gaining victory in this life. Many people struggle with addictions because they’d never learn the matters of warfare in the Christian life outlined in Scripture. If you and I ever expect to have victory, we must learn these things. The lesson to be learned next is just as important. After Joshua deals with these leaders of rebellion, he comes back and deals with the followers of rebellion. He does this in a very interesting way. Look at Joshua 10:28 (KJV) And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. We will see next week this important campaign against the enemy.
  1.  Sentencing the Enemy, Joshua 10:29 – 43. NEXT WEEK