No King But Jesus

April 26, 2014
Joshua:  Turning Obedience Into Blessing
Joshua 12                                                              NOTES NOT EDITED

SIS – Obedience to Jesus Christ as the Sovereign King of Kings is the foundation for all blessings, both temporal and eternal.

What did Israel’s battle for the Promised Land have in common with America’s battle for freedom from English tyranny.  You could say, they both had the same “battle cry” with slight modifications.  Both battles involved the overthrow of a king, or kings.  The Conquest of Canaan was a “conquest of kings.”  The American revolution likewise unshackled the colonies from the tyranny of the King of England.

It seems that the idea of an earthly king reigning over people is problematic by nature.  Though Israel had many kings, the very idea of a king arose in rebellion against the sovereign reign of God over Israel.  Samuel records this “evil request” from God’s people:

^{1Sam. 8    6} When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand sinful, so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected Me as their king

Clearly, the very idea of an “earthly king, or sovereign” is problematic by nature.  The idea of an “earthly king” disregards the Sovereign Right of God to rule in the affairs of men.  In fact, the justification for Pilate, the Roman governor, to crucify Jesus was the fact that Jesus, along with His followers, called Himself, “King.” When Rome crucified a criminal, the technical charge against that person was written on a placard and nailed to the cross above the head of the accused, or sometimes hung around the neck.  We are told the “official” charge against Jesus was:

^{Mt. 27    37} Above His head they put up the charge against Him in writing: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

The Gospel of John (19:19) tells us that the Jews objected to this charge and wanted Pilate to write instead, “He said, I am the King of the Jews.”  The Jews absolutely did not want to accept Jesus for who He, Himself, and also Pilate, said He was—King of the Jews.  The Jews flatly denied the Sovereign Kingship of Jesus, and in fact declared,

^{Jn. 19:15} But they shouted, “Take Him away! Take Him away! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?” “We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

Now, we know the real reason was not insurrection, but blasphemy. To refer to Himself as the Jewish King was equivalent to being the Messiah, and therefore God.  The Jews were offended because Jesus referred to Himself as, God, or the Eternal King—the King of Kings. 

Herein is the very essence of sin—who reigns as the Sovereign King of a person’s life?  As the Bible always demonstrates there is but two choices.  Either Jesus, the God of the Word, will rule supreme in a person’s life, or the Devil, called the “Prince of this World,” will rule.  Everyman makes a choice and that choice has both temporal and eternal consequences.

We know that many thousands of men and women were carried off to the Roman Coliseum to be tortured and killed because they would not state that “Caesar is Lord, or King.”  Thousands upon thousands chose a brutal death rather than deny allegiance to Jesus Christ as, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”  The battle cry of any true believer is always, “No King But Jesus!”

This same “battle cry” of believers in the Bible became the battle cry of the American Revolution—“No King but Jesus!”.  This rallying cry rang out by means of the Committees of Correspondence. The Committees of Correspondence were shadow governments organized by the Patriot leaders of the Thirteen Colonies on the eve of the American Revolution. They coordinated responses to Britain in regard to the affairs of the Colonies.  These Committees of Correspondence rallied opposition on common causes and established plans for collective action against the increasingly hostile actions of the King George III.   These groups of committees were the beginning of what later became a formal political union among the colonies. A total of about 7,000 to 8,000 Patriots served on these committees at the colonial and local levels, comprising most of the leadership in their communities—the British Loyalists were excluded (Wikipedia).

The rallying cry took a few forms such as “No King but Jesus,” or “No governor but Jesus,” or other such forms.  The sentiment was the same:  the American colonists did not recognize any sovereign power but the God of the Bible, Jesus Christ.  We see clearly this sentiment in our Declaration of Independence.  God, and God alone, has the right to rule over the lives of people.  The Declaration states it like this:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Both Israel in their battle against the kings in the Promised Land and the Colonists in their battle against the King of England, rallied around the same cry:  “No King But Jesus!”

Understanding the foundational issue of the absolute Sovereignty of God gives meaning to this text in Joshua 12 that looks like a meaningless list of kings with difficult to pronounce names.  But, when this chapter is read under the light of the doctrine of God’s sovereign kingship, it makes perfect sense.  There is not King but God, and Jesus is His Name.

Here in Joshua 12 we have a list pagan kings who became the “victims” of God’s wrath.  In the remaining chapters of Joshua we will see the inheritance of  “victors” according to God’s grace.  Wrath or grace.  Two lists.  Two destinies.  Everyone will be consigned to one of these two lists.  Those who reject Jesus as King will be on the “victims” list and feel the full force of God’s wrath in an eternal manner just as these 31 kings felt it in a temporal manner.  Those we willingly and enthusiastically embrace as a motto of life, “No King but Jesus,” will find themselves on the “victor’s list” and feel the full flow of the blessings of God’s grace.  Wrath or grace?  Which list are you on?

Let’s Read Together the Fate of the False Kings of Canaan (12:1-24).

Three reminders in regard to the Kingship of Christ emerge from this passage.

1.  The Kingship of Christ provides the foundation for Christian Unity (1-6)

The discussion of pagan kings begins by identifying two for special mention:  Sihon and Og, both kings of territories to the east of the Jordan River.

Verse 2 mentions,  Sihon king of the Amorites lived in Heshbon.

Verse 4 mentions, Og  king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

Both Sihon and Og occupied territory to the East of Jordan, one to the South and the other to the North.  Og, from the north held the special distinction of being from a race of Rephaim, who were extremely tall, or giants, like the Anakim, of Numbers 13.  These were the first of the pagan kings to be encountered by Israel, but on the Eastern side before the official conquest of the Promised Land had begun.  Why bring these two kings up now? 

One Bible teacher suggests the answer to that question is that “it highlights the importance of the unity of God’s people” (Davis).  Back in Numbers 32 we read of the agreement to allow the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and Half-tribe of Manasseh to settle on the Eastern side.  Moses objected at first but agreed as long as Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh first fought to secure the Promised Land.  Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh agreed and fought alongside of Israel to secure the Land for God’s people.  Sihon and Og, though not officially apart of the Conquest of the Promised Land, tie the tribes West of the Jordan to the tribes east of the Jordan.  Sihon and Og serve as testimonials of the importance of the “unity of God’s people.”  All of those who declare allegiance to God, the Son, Jesus Christ march under one banner.  “United we stand, divided we fall” as the old adage so aptly sums up the matter.

Unity does not mean, “uniformity.”  A friend of mine who is a beloved pastor used to say, “A person doesn’t have to be my twin to be my brother.”  This is true.  The body of Christ is one body though we may display many variations.  Some like the government elders, the other the leadership of pastors.  Some like praise songs, some like hymns.  Some love the King James, some prefer the New Living Translation.  We all have personal preferences in life, including in our spiritual life.  But, we must always band together under Lordship of Jesus Christ as He is presented to us in the Word of God, the Bible.  Jesus is God’s Son, the Bible is His Book, and we are to be His obedient disciples.  Unity based upon the Lordship (Kingship) of Jesus is what makes us strong as God’s people.  In the Lord’s Prayer of John 17 Our Lord expresses the desire of His heart.  He says,

¹¹ I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy  Father, protect  them by Your name that You have given Me, so that they may be one  as We are  one.

Paul also mentions how important the unity of God’s people is:

Eph 4  Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord,  urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, ² with all humility  and gentleness, with patience,  accepting  ^o one another in love,  ³ diligently keeping the unity  of the Spirit  with the peace  that binds us. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit —just as you were called to one hope  ^v at your calling— ⁵ one Lord,  one faith,  one baptism, ⁶ one God  and Father  of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

I could say much more about the importance of a church uniting around a common mission under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, but I must move on.  But, we must remember as one author said, “Unity among God’s people is no idle luxury” (Davis).  We must constantly be on guard against those who would sow seeds of disharmony in the church body.

2. The Kingship of Jesus Secures the Goodness of God (7-24)

Review the formula used in verses 9-24:

⁹ the king of Jericho                                          one

the king of Ai,  which is next to Bethel            one

¹⁰ the king of Jerusalem                                   one

the king of Hebron                                           one,

and this formula continues down to the second half of verse 24 which concludes:  the total number of all kings:   31.

Now, what do we make of this list of kings form unfamiliar places and many with unpronounceable names?  This list is far from monotonous or meaningless.  The great scholar of the church, John Calvin points out:  “There is very good reason for here placing before our eyes as it were a living picture of the goodness of God, proving that there had been a complete ratification and performance of the covenant made with Abraham as given in the words, ‘Unto thy seed will I give this land.’ (Gen. xii.7; xiii15).

Verses 9-24 sets forth in literary beauty an “itemization of the goodness of God.”  The Bible is full of “promises” God has made to us as His people.  This passage is but a synopsis of the “fidelity of God”—that is, when God makes a promise, He is faithful to fulfill that promise.  The Bible reminds us that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, secures for the believer every promise God has made.  Paul delivers God’s word in regard to Jesus Christ securing for us the goodness of God:

^{2Cor.1   20} For every one of God’s promises  is “Yes” in Him.

One by one the Holy Word of God recounts how God summarily dispatched 31 kings on behalf of His people to secure the promise He made to Abraham.  The formula states it thusly, “Such and such king—one.  Such and such king—one.  Grand total 31.”  This is an “itemization of the goodness of God.”  God’s promise was specific and His performance was specific.  God WILL fulfill every single promise He has made in the Bible through His Son, Our King, Jesus Christ!  And . . . that’s a fact, Jack!  Each of Yahweh’s displays of power is a cause for praise from God’s people. 

We would do well to follow the pattern of this passage in regard to “thanking God for His goodness.” A distinguished Bible teacher, H.L. Ellison gives us this reminder in regard to the “itemization of God’s goodness” we see here in this passage.  He says, “It would be unfair to suggest that the Church is unwilling to thank God for all His many mercies, but on the whole, we are unwilling to indulge in detailed and specific thanks. . . . Much of our discouragement comes from failing to see how much God has really achieved.

One of the great hymns of the church reminds us of how important it is to remind ourselves that no matter how many promises God has made they will all be secured by Our King, Jesus Christ.  That great hymn says,

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

When you are discouraged . . . start counting God’s blessings until the discouragement leaves you.  God itemized each king He conquered on Israel’s behalf.  When we itemize every blessing our King Jesus has secured for us, discouragement will melt like a snowball in a blast furnace!

This passage reminds us of the strength we have when we march in unity under the banner of Our King Jesus Christ.  This passage reminds us of the goodness of God’s promises that have been secured by Our King Jesus Christ.  Related to these two reminders is the reminder that

3.  Jesus Christ, Our King,  has one more great victory yet to come (Rev. 19:11-16).

Would you not agree that we have many battles to fight in this life and many times it looks like victory will not be within our grasp?  In fact, maybe you feel defeated by life, but I assure you, the story is not yet over.  The final battle has not yet been fought and if you are a believer, your future victory is absolutely assured by the King Jesus Christ.

In Foxes Book of Martyrs, the story is recounted of a great victory by a godly hermit named, Telemachus.  Rome was celebrating its temporary victory over an enemy in its usual manner, by watching gladiators fight to the death in the arena.  Gladiators lived for this type of opportunity.  As the blood-fest began, suddenly there was an interruption. A loosely robed figure boldly leaped down into the arena.  It was Telemachus, one of the hermits who devoted themselves to a holy life of prayer and self-denial and kept themselves apart from the wicked life of Rome. Although few of the Roman citizens followed their example, most of them had great respect for these hermits, and the few who recognized Telemachus knew he had come from the wilds of Asia on a pilgrimage to visit churches and celebrate Christmas in Rome.  Without hesitating an instant, Telemachus advanced upon two gladiators who were engaged in their life-and-death struggle. Laying a hand on one of them, he sternly reproved him for shedding innocent blood, and then, turning toward the thousands of angry faces around him, called to them: "Do not repay God’s mercy in turning away the swords of your enemies by murdering each other!"  Angry shouts drowned out his voice. "This is no place for preaching! On with the combat!" Pushing Telemachus aside, the two gladiators prepared to continue their combat, but Telemachus stepped between them. Enraged at the interference of an outsider with their chosen vocation, the gladiators turned on Telemachus and stabbed him to death.  The crowd fell silent, shocked by the death of this holy man, but his death had not been in vain, for from that day on, no more gladiators ever went into combat in the Colosseum.

What appeared to be a huge defeat, history records as a spectacular victory.  Telemachus had no way of knowing how history would reward his courage under fire.  Unlike Telemachus, we do know how the story of our lives as believers will turn out.

Dr. Dale Davis points out quite accurately, “Every one of Yahweh’s victories over his enemies in the process of history is a partial portrayal of His victory over all His enemies at the consummation of history.”  The Book of Revelation (19) tells us of this final victory:

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened,  and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True,  and He judges and makes war in righteousness.  ¹² His eyes were like a fiery flame,  and many crowns  were on His head.  He had a name written that no one knows except Himself.  ¹³ He wore a robe stained with blood,  ^q and His name is the Word of God.  ¹⁴ The armies that were in heaven followed Him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. ¹⁵ A sharp  sword  came from His mouth, so that He might strike the nations with it.  He will shepherd  them with an iron scepter.  He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God,  the Almighty. ¹⁶ And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh:

KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.

Folks, this is how the story ends.  Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will descend out of heaven and utterly and eternal vanquish those who stand in rebellion against Him—including once for all crushing Satan and casting him into the eternal fire.  The entire Bible is written to give us boldness and hope as we fight the petty kings of this world who stand in rebellion against the One True King—Jesus Christ.  With confidence and courage we can face whatever battle comes our way as long as we have declared in our heart:

“No King But Jesus!”

Obedience to Jesus Christ as the Sovereign King of Kings is the foundation for all blessings, both temporal and eternal.

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