Boldy take possession of the promised land
1. The Lord spake unto Joshua... Moses' minister (cf. Ex 24:13; Num 27:18-23; Deut 1:38; 31:23). Whereas Moses, whom Joshua had served as chief assistant or officer, had previously given a charge to him, now God spoke directly to him to assume command of the Israelites. While probably not "mouth to mouth" (Num 12:8), this revelation must have come almost immediately after Moses died, in order to maintain the continuity of God's theocratic rule. The Lord gave Joshua four specific orders: (1) go over Jordan; (2) be strong...; (3) cause this people to inherit; (4) observe to do according to all the. Law. 2. Arise, go over this Jordan. Up! prepare to cross over into Canaan. The Jordan was now at flood stage (3:15). The land which I do give. I am giving (Heb. participle), or, I am about to give.
3. As I said unto Moses. See Deuteronomy 11:23-32. They actually had to occupy the territory in order to receive it from God, as Christians must claim and appropriate their spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph 1:3), 4. This Lebanon. According to the lxx, Anti-Lebanon, of which range Mount Hermon, perhaps visible from a height above Abel-shittim, is the southernmost peak. The land of the Hittites. This phrase is not in Deut 11:24; the lxx omits it here. In 1407 b.c. the Hittite emperors had not yet overrun Syria; their supremacy between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean began thirty to fifty years later, under King Suppiluliumas. If this phrase is genuine in the original manuscript, then the book of Joshua was not written before about 1350 b.c.
5. I will not fail thee. Literally, I will not drop, abandon thee (cf. 10:6, "drop not," or "slack not, thy hand"); lxx, I will not leave thee in the lurch. 6. Be strong and of a good courage (cf. 1:7a, 9). God's second order, so necessary to a warrior, was, Be strong and resolute, inflexible; lxx: Behave like a man. For unto this people... the land. Literally, for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land, God's third command to Joshua. Canaan was promised in the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 15:16-21).
7. Observe to do according to all the law. The fourth command was to keep watch or be careful to practice the whole Mosaic law, not merely the letter of the Law, but the spirit of it as well (cf. Mt 5:27, 28, etc.). 8. Meditate therein day and night. Hāgâ, "recite in an undertone." The lxx uses meletâō, denoting the meditative pondering and audible practice of orators. Joshua's courage, hope of victory, and wisdom necessary for success were dependent upon his constant attention and inflexible adherence to the written Law (tôrâ, "instruction, teaching").
—Wycliffe Bible Commentary, The
A - The application for me is grow in my confidence of the Lord's commandment in my life, and embrace the season of entering the promised land. The season of entering the promised land promises to be one of provision but also great challenge. Confidence in God's promise is the key to successfully and boldly stepping forward and actually possessing God's promise. Boldly doesn't mean without humility. Humbleness is towards God, knowing in my own strength I cannot take the promised land, but instead through Him I shall receive the promise land, my part is to simply be obedient and step in the right direction. This is symbolic of our first step of salvation. He has set up salvation so that we cannot earn it, Jesus has already paid for it, all we must do is turn toward God and take the first step in faith and salvation and eternity with God are ours for the taking. In seasons of entering the promised land the challenge ahead will not be small, in fact it will likely seem impossible. The promises will seem great , but the act of how exactly you will be able to possess the land will be dependent on God and not me.
Here are three take aways from Joshua that I can apply to my life:
1. Arise and go when God says go. A listening ear, and a discerning heart , tuned into God is necessary to ensure first you hear God's whisper (or shout) to stand up and move out. Trust and obedience are the second requirement.
2. Be strong and courageous. While the first step is generally the hardest, the process of taking the promised land is rarely a moment, it is usually a long season of challenges and victories, even some small set backs and defeats. This will take a deep sense of courage and commitment to God's call so that when the passion and excitement from the initial push wears off and the middle one third of the journey when your spirit starts to flag
3. Observe God's law, meditate on His word day and night. For me this one seems only at this point in my life more obvious. It is is critical to stay connected to God's word, daily. I am in a growing season, where my old reading plan has been set aside for a more spirit led and in depth book study in the bible. While each reading plan is different, and the journaling different, the key is daily interaction with the word of God, as both a reminder, and refreshing of what it is God expects of me. God's word is alive and speaks to me in my circumstances and in preparation for the day, week, month and year ahead.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank your for your inspiration and guidance through the study of Joshua. I thank you for your encouraging and enboldening words to get up and take the promised land with confidence. I thank you for your daily guidance on where it is I am to go, what challenge I am to face, and the strength and endurance to overcome the obstacles that each challenge presents. I pray Lord for a refreshing, and restoring spirit, and grateful and humble heart, and fearless and unashamed spirit to take the promises you have laid before me. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
S -
"No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.6 "Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.7 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.8 Josh 1:5-8 (NASB)
O -
—Matthew Henry Concise
O -
GOD PROMISES TO ASSIST JOSHUA. (1:5-9)
Joshua is to make the law of God his rule. He is charged to meditate therein day and night, that he might understand it. Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. All his orders to the people, and his judgments, must be according to the law of God. Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God. Let not the sense of thine own infirmities dishearten thee; God is all-sufficient. I have commanded, called, and commissioned thee to do it, and will be sure to bear thee out in it. When we are in the way of duty, we have reason to be strong and very bold. Our Lord Jesus, as Joshua here, was borne up under his sufferings by a regard to the will of God, and the commandment from his Father.THE PEOPLE PROMISE TO OBEY JOSHUA. (1:16-18)
The people of Israel engage to obey Joshua; All that thou commandest us to do we will readily do, without murmuring or disputing, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go. The best we can ask of God for our magistrates, is, that they may have the presence of God; that will make them blessings to us, so that in seeking this for them, we consult our own interest. May we be enabled to enlist under the banner of the Captain of our salvation, to be obedient to his commands, and to fight the good fight of faith, with all that trust in and love his name, against all who oppose his authority; for whoever refuses to obey him must be destroyed.—Matthew Henry Concise
I. Entrance Into the Promised Land. 1:1-5:12
A. God's Commission to Joshua. 1:1-9. At the close of the Pentateuch the death of Israel's outstanding leader and lawgiver and Jehovah's faithful servant is recorded. The Israelites were still encamped east of the Jordan. God's inspired history of his chosen people now continues.1. The Lord spake unto Joshua... Moses' minister (cf. Ex 24:13; Num 27:18-23; Deut 1:38; 31:23). Whereas Moses, whom Joshua had served as chief assistant or officer, had previously given a charge to him, now God spoke directly to him to assume command of the Israelites. While probably not "mouth to mouth" (Num 12:8), this revelation must have come almost immediately after Moses died, in order to maintain the continuity of God's theocratic rule. The Lord gave Joshua four specific orders: (1) go over Jordan; (2) be strong...; (3) cause this people to inherit; (4) observe to do according to all the. Law. 2. Arise, go over this Jordan. Up! prepare to cross over into Canaan. The Jordan was now at flood stage (3:15). The land which I do give. I am giving (Heb. participle), or, I am about to give.
3. As I said unto Moses. See Deuteronomy 11:23-32. They actually had to occupy the territory in order to receive it from God, as Christians must claim and appropriate their spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph 1:3), 4. This Lebanon. According to the lxx, Anti-Lebanon, of which range Mount Hermon, perhaps visible from a height above Abel-shittim, is the southernmost peak. The land of the Hittites. This phrase is not in Deut 11:24; the lxx omits it here. In 1407 b.c. the Hittite emperors had not yet overrun Syria; their supremacy between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean began thirty to fifty years later, under King Suppiluliumas. If this phrase is genuine in the original manuscript, then the book of Joshua was not written before about 1350 b.c.
5. I will not fail thee. Literally, I will not drop, abandon thee (cf. 10:6, "drop not," or "slack not, thy hand"); lxx, I will not leave thee in the lurch. 6. Be strong and of a good courage (cf. 1:7a, 9). God's second order, so necessary to a warrior, was, Be strong and resolute, inflexible; lxx: Behave like a man. For unto this people... the land. Literally, for thou shalt cause this people to inherit the land, God's third command to Joshua. Canaan was promised in the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 15:16-21).
7. Observe to do according to all the law. The fourth command was to keep watch or be careful to practice the whole Mosaic law, not merely the letter of the Law, but the spirit of it as well (cf. Mt 5:27, 28, etc.). 8. Meditate therein day and night. Hāgâ, "recite in an undertone." The lxx uses meletâō, denoting the meditative pondering and audible practice of orators. Joshua's courage, hope of victory, and wisdom necessary for success were dependent upon his constant attention and inflexible adherence to the written Law (tôrâ, "instruction, teaching").
—Wycliffe Bible Commentary, The
A - The application for me is grow in my confidence of the Lord's commandment in my life, and embrace the season of entering the promised land. The season of entering the promised land promises to be one of provision but also great challenge. Confidence in God's promise is the key to successfully and boldly stepping forward and actually possessing God's promise. Boldly doesn't mean without humility. Humbleness is towards God, knowing in my own strength I cannot take the promised land, but instead through Him I shall receive the promise land, my part is to simply be obedient and step in the right direction. This is symbolic of our first step of salvation. He has set up salvation so that we cannot earn it, Jesus has already paid for it, all we must do is turn toward God and take the first step in faith and salvation and eternity with God are ours for the taking. In seasons of entering the promised land the challenge ahead will not be small, in fact it will likely seem impossible. The promises will seem great , but the act of how exactly you will be able to possess the land will be dependent on God and not me.
Here are three take aways from Joshua that I can apply to my life:
1. Arise and go when God says go. A listening ear, and a discerning heart , tuned into God is necessary to ensure first you hear God's whisper (or shout) to stand up and move out. Trust and obedience are the second requirement.
2. Be strong and courageous. While the first step is generally the hardest, the process of taking the promised land is rarely a moment, it is usually a long season of challenges and victories, even some small set backs and defeats. This will take a deep sense of courage and commitment to God's call so that when the passion and excitement from the initial push wears off and the middle one third of the journey when your spirit starts to flag
3. Observe God's law, meditate on His word day and night. For me this one seems only at this point in my life more obvious. It is is critical to stay connected to God's word, daily. I am in a growing season, where my old reading plan has been set aside for a more spirit led and in depth book study in the bible. While each reading plan is different, and the journaling different, the key is daily interaction with the word of God, as both a reminder, and refreshing of what it is God expects of me. God's word is alive and speaks to me in my circumstances and in preparation for the day, week, month and year ahead.
P - Dear heavenly Father, thank your for your inspiration and guidance through the study of Joshua. I thank you for your encouraging and enboldening words to get up and take the promised land with confidence. I thank you for your daily guidance on where it is I am to go, what challenge I am to face, and the strength and endurance to overcome the obstacles that each challenge presents. I pray Lord for a refreshing, and restoring spirit, and grateful and humble heart, and fearless and unashamed spirit to take the promises you have laid before me. I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment