Category: Joshua

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Verse 31 is one key verse to understand the spiritual import of this the first prophetic book in the Old Testament. This verse sets the scene for the rest of the Earlier Prophets – Judges, Samuel and Kings. It reveals the importance of Jesus’ resurrection – we must have a living Saviour, else we too will slip away.

SJA Notes

* God of mercy, blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Here the book of Joshua ends!

We see a renewal of the covenant between the people and the Lord God.

We see Joshua truth-telling to them, exhorting them to obedience (faithfulness to the Lord), but also warning them of disobedience (idolatry).

For a generation, perhaps two, the people renew their side of the covenant after the cleaning out of Israel.

Joshua knew a deep truth however.

The people still had idols amongst them (v23), and they were prone to turn away and serve other gods (v19-20).

We see in the book of Judges how true this was.

But Joshua was able to stand firm,

“But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

In Jesus, our greater Joshua, we are able to grasp hold of this covenant theology.

We are able to struggle with what it means, how it works out practically in our lives today.

May we serve the Lord!

* Dear Lord God,

Thank You for Joshua’s words here.

May we hold fast as he did, to You – And be able to say with trust and obedience, that we will serve You!

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Joshua gives Israel a farewell speech. He gives them with a great commission to finish what he has begun. Our greater Joshua – Jesus Christ – has also given us a similar great commission to preach the Gospel to all the world. Our Joshua lives! It is no accident that the three Synoptic Gospels end with Jesus’ ascension and His great commission.

SJA Notes

* Holy Father, God Above, in You do we take refuge, let us never be put to shame.

“I am now old and well advanced in years.”

Here we read Joshua’s farewell speech

Joshua the son of Nun is going to way of all things. He gives his farewell message (across this and the next reading), and then he dies.

His words are for the exhortation and encouragement of Israel, for them to continue in faithfulness and obedience to the Father God, the LORD.

But Joshua, the great leader of God’s people, he dies.

Joshua was not able to save the next generations, as they devolve and abandon God’s path.

Jesus, the greater Joshua, is a better saviour and leader by far.

Jesus died, but then He rose again.

And Jesus, the rider the white horse – King of kings and Lord of lords – He is coming back!

Unlike Joshua the son of Nun, Jesus the Son of God is a leader whose word goes on. He is not dead – He is alive!

* Gracious and merciful God,

Thank You for Jesus, our ever-living King, whose word continues on undiminished through all the span of time!

Please open our hearts to see and hear what You want us to know today.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Read Matthew 18:15,16. This is the principle at work in this chapter. It headed off a potentially violent confrontation between the tribes. The two and a half tribes from across the Jordan wanted to remind the others that the Lord was their God too. Our true unity is in the Lord our God and not in location or origin.

SJA Notes

* Holy God, we have cried to You for help, and You have healed us. We sing praises to You O Lord, You have clothed us in gladness!

“Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, …”

This passage shows us why we need Jesus.

In Jesus we have a new covenant, where the boundaries are not earthly, where we must be reborn anew regardless of biological lineage or family name.

The tribes of Reuben, Gad and (half of) Manasseh wanted to the remind the others that they too were part of God’s people.

So they built an altar, a witness.

The rest of the tribes saw the altar and jumped to the conclusion of idolatry.

This generation of God’s people wanted to obey Him, to follow Him, to be careful to walk according to His will (and clear out sin and wrongdoing).

This passage is a good reminder to be careful when jumping to spiritual conclusions.

There are absolutes, but we humanity have flawed and limited perception, our own motivations can very often be suspect – We can easily misunderstand, from person to person, from church to church, and outwards.

In Jesus we have a King who knows our hearts, the very depths of our souls, He never jumps to conclusions and His word (Him the word become flesh) has an always and continual profound impact in every part of life.

In Jesus we have a Prophet who spoke truth at all times, a truth that often went against what the human leadership were preaching.

In Jesus we have a High Priest who has opened up the Most Holy Place with His own blood shed, and even now sits and takes our petitions, our cries and anguish, our fervent requests and heartfelt thanks, to His Father.

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

* God Above,

You have brought us Your people into a kingdom without earthly borders, a kingdom that spreads through Your word, Your will, You at work saving dead hearts.

Thank You for saving us!

Amen.