Sharon Reformed Presbyterian Church · Sermon study sheet

Craftiness and Covenants

Bryan Schneider · March 5, 2022

Joshua 9

sharonrpc.org/sermons/craftiness-and-covenants

Summary

Joshua 9 presents two acts of faithlessness: the Gibeonites deceive Israel from fear, and Israel evaluates appearances without asking counsel from the Lord.
The Gibeonites carefully stage worn provisions and claim to come from far away so that Israel will make a covenant with them.
Israel notices the possibility of deception but trusts visible evidence and its own judgment rather than seeking God's wisdom.
The failure repeats the pattern seen at Ai and warns that prayerlessness can follow both spiritual defeat and spiritual success.
Christians walk amid spiritual conflict in which false ideas and temptations can appear friendly, so they need Scripture, prayer, watchfulness, and one another.
Once Israel's rulers swear by the Lord, they must preserve the Gibeonites' lives despite the deception and congregation's anger, because covenant vows are serious.
Jesus perfectly models the faithfulness Israel lacks: he prays continually, does his Father's will, and now intercedes as the one Mediator for his people.
Faithful Christian living therefore listens to God's Word, seeks his wisdom, prays in Christ's name by the Spirit, keeps lawful promises, and perseveres in spiritual armor.

How does the Gibeonites' fear differ from saving reverence and faith in the Lord?
Which details make their deception persuasive to Israel?
Why is Israel culpable when the leaders had already suspected that the ambassadors might live nearby?
What does the phrase they did not ask counsel from the Lord identify as the decisive failure?
Why can prayerlessness arise after both defeat and spiritual success?
What teachings or temptations presently appear compatible with Christianity while opposing Christ's truth?
Why must Israel keep its oath even though the Gibeonites obtained it through deception?
How do Jesus' prayers, present intercession, and gift of the Spirit help believers walk faithfully?

Craftiness: Calculated deception that manipulates visible evidence to secure an advantage.
Covenant: A solemn, binding relationship or promise whose sworn obligations must not be treated casually.
Walking by sight: Making judgments from appearances, feelings, or unaided wisdom without trusting and consulting the Lord.
Walking by faith: Living in reliance on God's Word, wisdom, promises, and presence rather than self-sufficiency.
Prayerlessness: Practical dependence on oneself that neglects communion with God and the wisdom he commands believers to seek.
Spiritual warfare: The Christian struggle against Satan, worldly falsehood, fleshly corruption, and ideas opposed to Christ.
Intercession: Prayer offered on behalf of another; Jesus is the perfect heavenly Intercessor and Mediator for his people.
Persevering prayer: Continuing to offer desires to God according to his will through dry seasons, delay, suffering, and temptation.