The Commander of the Lord’s Army

One of the things that is commonly absent in modern piety is a sense of reverence for God’s holiness. We hear his commandments as suggestions that we are free to accept or reject as it suits us. But these responses betray a faulty understanding of who God is. In this passage, God corrects our misunderstanding.

Sermon Outline:

I. Humble Ourselves

II. Assess Alignment

III. Seek Direction

Sermon Discussion Questions:

1. American culture’s tendency to view everyone as equals can distort our view of God. How have you observed this in contemporary Christian culture? What does a proper reverence for God’s holiness look like in daily life?

2. Joshua’s encounter with the commander of the Lord’s army caused him to fall on his face in worship. Have you ever experienced God’s presence in a way that humbled you? What was that experience like?

3. How can we regularly assess whether we’re aligned with God’s purposes rather than expecting God to align with ours?

4. Joshua’s response to the commander was “What does my lord say to his servant?” followed by immediate obedience. What practices might help us maintain this posture of humble submission and obedience in our relationship with God?

5. How does understanding Christ’s work on our behalf change how we approach God’s holiness? In what ways does this gospel truth give you hope in your daily Christian life?