Looking at the Old with New Perspective

This morning I was briefly reading through Joshua chapters 7 & 8. In Chapter 7, God confronts the disobedience of Achan and in chapter 8 they deal with the city of Ai, and destroy it following God's directions. As I was reading this, I felt like the Lord gave me some perspective on how to interpret these chapters and put them in proper perspective.

1) These events took place under the old covenant, which was pointing towards the new covenant. The events and dealings of God with these people are not directly applicable to us, who live under the new covenant, but we learn from them.
2) Israel was in the process of learning to be a nation, they had spent 40 years in the desert, and were now entering the land that had been promised to them, and they were going to need to follow God's directions, for they weren't a warring nation, but had been slaves.
3) Obedience in all things was critical to their survival.
4) After Jericho, they thought they were the ones fighting and assumed God would bless them without actively listening to His counsel. God taught them their need for His direction.
5) Sin and disobedience affects the nation, but its the individual who bears responsibility. They were learning to be a nation who depended on one another, and individual weakness could affect them all.
6) They had been given a specific territory to extend their rule over - and they had to defeat the present inhabitants to take possession of the land.

The new covenant application of these truths follows:
1) We have in Jesus the fulfillment of the old covenant and the law, and the establishment of the new covenant (Matt 26:28)- His life and example are the basis of this new covenant.
2) The establishment of the church, the Body of Christ was the new and continuing work. We need to learn to be a Body, and we need to follow the Holy Spirit's direction, to become one (John 16 -17)
3) Obedience to God is out of love and relationship (John 14:23), and still critical for our survival and growth, but there is now an internalization of the this new covenant, written on our hearts (Jer 31:33) and witnessed by our spirits, being united with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us (John 14:25-26)
4) Our battle is not against mortal men, but against spirits and powers - and as such we must learn to put on His (Jesus') armor and stand in the truth. (Eph 6)
5) We are all one body and we are all affected by each other (1 Cor 12:26) but we are not judged or punished for the sins others (Acts 5) for the perfect sacrifice has already been made for the sins of all (Heb 10). We need each other in the Body of Christ, the way our bodies need every cell.
6) We have been given the whole world, to extend the Kingdom of Heaven into it, and bring all nations to Jesus (Matt 28:18-20) and our battle to do this is against the rulers and principalities of this present age (Eph 6:10), not each other.

Lord, Thank You for new perspectives and understanding. Help me to apply that which You show me into my daily life. Help me to understand the fullness of the Gospel, the Good News of salvation and life available to me.