Read it and weep

And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day. Joshua 10:26-27

Resistance is futile. Five kings rise up against Joshua and his God. Obliteration awaits!

The rebellion was led by “Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem” (10:1). It didn’t turn out well. But in this ancient conquest we find looming shadows of the good things to come.

We may summarize the text as follows. The king of Jerusalem was marked as an enemy of God, judged, executed, hung on a tree till evening, put in a cave, and sealed with large stone. It’s all there in the text. It’s always been there.

When the true King of Jerusalem, the Lord of righteousness, was executed, he didn’t stay in that cave. He emerged in new glory. But, like these wicked kings, he left our sins in that grave. They are there to this very day.

Sin and Satan, behold yonder ancient text. Therein is written our redemption. In the name of the Lord we bid thee, Read it and weep.