“This Book of the
Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it
day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is
written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then
you will have good success.” -Joshua 1:8 (NKJV).
The occasion of this
verse is Joshua’s commission by the Lord God himself that he was to
succeed Moses as the leader of the Israelites prior to their crossing
the Jordan River and conquering and settling into the land God had
promised to them. The first chapter of Joshua is composed of three
speeches. Verses 1-9 give God’s message to Joshua commissioning him
to succeed Moses and promising to be with the new leader if he will
be strong, courageous, observe the law, not be afraid or dismayed,
and accept God’s presence wherever Joshua goes. What a way to start
a job! To know that God Himself is with the leader and will guide,
protect and guard in all he does.
Verses 10-15 contain Joshua’s address to the Israelites giving a charge to the officers and the trans-Jordan tribes before their crossing into the promised land.
Verses 16-18 contain the people’s response to Joshua’s challenge and their promise to follow Joshua as their leader. God’s commission, and Joshua and the people’s responses are all stately and filled with purpose.
The focal verse, Joshua 1:8, given specifically for the leader has a great message for any who will take its truths to heart. The Rev. Arthur Flake, known for his work in helping Sunday Schools to be strong and grow, writes in his final book, Life at Eighty As I See It (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1944, p. 80): “I memorized this verse more than fifty years ago. It is still fresh and invigorating, and I still love it.” Two commands are given by God in this verse concerning His Word, the Bible: Meditate on it night and day. Observe to do what is written in it. Two promises are given by God as a result of following God’s Word: The doer of the word will make His way prosperous and will have success.
In a Bill Gothard seminar held in 1971, that Christian leader defined “meditation” as “memorizing, visualizing and personalizing” a verse for one’s own good. He also described “wisdom” as seeking to see from God’s point of view. Here in Josuah 1:8-9, we hear God speaking to a leader with a great task and responsibility before him. God promised Joshua He would lead him and be with him. We are to know God has that same promise for each of His children, in each of their particular tasks and callings. Just hear God, as Joshua heard Him: “Do not let God’s Word depart from you; meditate on it day and night; be careful to do what it says. Do not turn away from its teachings.” Then follow the meditation by assimilating God’s wonderful promise to the one who follows His Word: “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Verses 10-15 contain Joshua’s address to the Israelites giving a charge to the officers and the trans-Jordan tribes before their crossing into the promised land.
Verses 16-18 contain the people’s response to Joshua’s challenge and their promise to follow Joshua as their leader. God’s commission, and Joshua and the people’s responses are all stately and filled with purpose.
The focal verse, Joshua 1:8, given specifically for the leader has a great message for any who will take its truths to heart. The Rev. Arthur Flake, known for his work in helping Sunday Schools to be strong and grow, writes in his final book, Life at Eighty As I See It (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1944, p. 80): “I memorized this verse more than fifty years ago. It is still fresh and invigorating, and I still love it.” Two commands are given by God in this verse concerning His Word, the Bible: Meditate on it night and day. Observe to do what is written in it. Two promises are given by God as a result of following God’s Word: The doer of the word will make His way prosperous and will have success.
In a Bill Gothard seminar held in 1971, that Christian leader defined “meditation” as “memorizing, visualizing and personalizing” a verse for one’s own good. He also described “wisdom” as seeking to see from God’s point of view. Here in Josuah 1:8-9, we hear God speaking to a leader with a great task and responsibility before him. God promised Joshua He would lead him and be with him. We are to know God has that same promise for each of His children, in each of their particular tasks and callings. Just hear God, as Joshua heard Him: “Do not let God’s Word depart from you; meditate on it day and night; be careful to do what it says. Do not turn away from its teachings.” Then follow the meditation by assimilating God’s wonderful promise to the one who follows His Word: “Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
I haven’t
written a book, like Dr. Arthur Flake, entitled Life at Eighty As I
See It, but I with the advantage of four-score and ten years and more
in my life span, echo the words God spoke to Joshua and say they are
every bit true and trustworthy. And the “prosperity” and
“success” God promises are not so much in wealth and fame as in
supplying what is needed and in satisfaction of doing faithfully what
God calls one to do. - Ethelene Dyer Jones 06.24.2016
