Summer to Remember

8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Summer to Remember

God issues an arousing call to Joshua.

Joshua 1:1 KJV 1900

1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,

The people’s hearts were gripped with a deep sense of grief and anguish, broken over the passing of the man who had led them for so long.

Keep in mind that Moses was the Father of the nation Israel. Through the guidance of God, Moses had founded and established the nation. Moses had freed the Israelites from Egyptian slavery and given them the law at Mt. Sinai and led them through the wilderness wanderings.

Despite all the trials suffered by both Moses and the people, the people respected and revered, even loved, this dear man who was the father of them as a people.

When he died, the people were bound to be deeply affected, gripped with an intense, perhaps almost unbearable, sense of grief. It seems that Joshua himself had fallen into a spirit of despair over the death of Moses, that he was lingering in grief well beyond what he should. For this reason, God forcefully spoke to the heart of Joshua and gave him an arousing call:

Joshua 1:2 KJV 1900

2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

“Moses My servant is dead! Arise! Fill the gap! Take up the mantle of leadership! Prepare the people to cross the Jordan River into the promised land.”

It was time for Joshua to arise and cease his mourning over the death of Moses. It was time for him to take up the mantle of leadership and lead God’s people. He was now the appointed leader of the nation, the Commander-in-Chief. Leading the people to claim their inheritance in the promised land was now his duty. And it was time to begin the mobilization. It was time to make the final preparations to cross the Jordan River and actually enter the land that had been promised to God’s people for such a long time. But the arousing call was not all that God had to say to Joshua.

God gives three wonderful promises to Joshua and the Israelites (vv.2–5).

These were ancient promises, promises that had been given to God’s people ever since their birth through Abraham. At long last, these promises were to be fulfilled and personally experienced by the Israelites. Their fulfillment was on the verge of taking place.

1) A Promised Inheritance (vv.3–4).

Joshua 1:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

The Israelites were to secure and occupy all the land, every place they marched. Note that God Himself gives the land to His people. It is a gift from God Himself; however, it was the people’s responsibility to march forth and claim the land, claim it by faith in the promise of God. The promised land was theirs—a gift of God—but they had to lay claim to the promised land. They had to march forth, laying hold of the promised land. As they marched forth, they would secure the land that flowed with milk and honey.

Note the enormous territory promised by God. The boundaries of the land are described by their furthermost point in each direction:

⇒ South: the desert (the Negev)

⇒ North: Lebanon

⇒ East: the Euphrates River

⇒ West: the Mediterranean Sea

John 14:1–3 KJV 1900

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

2) A Promise of Victory (v.5).

Joshua 1:5 KJV 1900

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

This is a picture of the believer’s full and victorious life. As the Israelites marched forth, they would face opposition. There would be enemies who would confront and wage war against them. These enemies would do all they could to defeat the Israelites and either enslave or kill them. But the great promise of God is that of victory and triumph. They would conquer all the enemies who opposed them.

Thought 1. A full and victorious life is one of the great promises of God. The genuine believer who marches forth laying claim to the promised land will be victorious. There is only one condition: the believer must trust God, really focus upon God, marching forth and seeking the great promised land of God. This believer will conquer all the enemies, trials, and temptations that confront him. He will live a full and victorious life through the presence and power of the Lord.

Romans 8:35–39 KJV 1900

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 5:4–5 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

3) A Promise of Presence (v.5)

the continued, unbroken presence and rest of God (v.5).

Joshua 1:5 KJV 1900

5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

The Israelites would defeat all enemies by the presence of God. God promised to be with them, to never leave them nor forsake them. The unfailing presence of God would always be present with His dear people. His unfailing presence would guide His people and give them victory over all enemies. What a promise from God, the glorious promise of His unfailing presence!

Thought 1. What a promise God has given us! The promise of His unbroken presence, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. No matter what enemy, trial, or temptation may face us—no matter what trouble, difficulty, or problem—no matter the size, the strength, or the destructive potential of the obstacle—God will be with us. His unfailing presence will never leave us nor forsake us.

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV 1900

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

With these 3 promises in mind, God gives Joshua a very forceful charge that I want to give us this summer. It begins with the phrase “Be Strong and Courageous” which is repeated 3 times in the next 4 verses.

Be Strong and Courageous

Joshua 1:6–9 KJV 1900

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Strong: to Harden, to make strong.

Courageous: Victorious, Determined.

Joshua 1:6 KJV 1900

6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

In Leading: to the Promised Land

God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous in his task, that of leading Israel to inherit the promised land (v.6). He was the military commander of an army that faced formidable enemies, and he knew that years of warfare lay ahead.

The land promised by God was a vast territory possessed by a number of powerful nations whose people were brutal and savage, wicked and evil to the core. Their “cup of iniquity” had become so full that God was now using the Israelites as His instrument of judgment against them.

In facing such enemies year after year, the days of warfare and the sight of maiming and killing could easily begin to wear upon Joshua. God knew this; therefore, he charged Joshua to be strong and courageous in his task of conquering the promised land. It was his task to conquer the land and to divide it among God’s dear people. He and the Israelites were to be the instruments of God’s justice and judgment against the Canaanites who had become so evil and corrupt.

Throughout the days, months, and years of warfare, this dear servant of God was to stay the course. He was to be strong and courageous throughout the struggle.

Joshua 1:7–8 KJV 1900

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

In Obedience: of the Word of God

God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous in obeying God, in obeying His law, His Word (vv.7–8).

He was to obey everything that Moses had written.

Note exactly what God told Joshua to do with the Word of God:

⇒ He was to obey all God’s law.

⇒ He was not to turn away from God’s Word.

⇒ He was never to stop sharing God’s law or Word.

⇒ He was to meditate on God’s Word day and night.

This would assure obedience.

The result of his obedience would be prosperity and success. All that he and the Israelites put their hands to would prosper and be successful.

Joshua 1:9 KJV 1900

9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

In Overcoming: Fear and Discouragement

God encouraged Joshua to be strong and courageous in overcoming fear and discouragement (v.9).

Having to face enemy after enemy, year-after-year—having to make the decision to send young men, husbands, and fathers into battle time and again who would be witnessing the bloodshed and horror of battle after battle—all this could break down the strength and courage of any commander and army. God knew this, and He cared for Joshua.

Therefore, God commanded Joshua to be strong and courageous in overcoming whatever fear or discouragement attacked him. To encourage and assure Joshua, God gave him the promise of His continued, unbroken presence. God promised that He would go with Joshua wherever he went, never forsaking or leaving him.

Thought 1. There are two strong lessons for us in this charge given to Joshua.

We must be strong and courageous in obeying God.

We must keep His law, His commandments and Holy Word.

We must never turn away from His Word; rather, we must meditate on it day and night.

If we obey God, living in His Word and keeping His commandments, we will prosper and be successful in whatever we do.

Whatever we put our hands to will be blessed by God.

God will give us purpose, achievement, and fulfillment throughout life. But note: this promise is given only to those who obey God by meditating in His Word day and night, only to those who do exactly what He says.

John 14:21 KJV 1900

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

1 Timothy 4:15 KJV 1900

15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

We must be strong and courageous as we march throughout life.

Fear and discouragement can be conquered only as we are strong and courageous. God is with us, and He will never leave nor forsake us. This is His promise to us just as it was to Joshua.

God’s unfailing presence is always with us wherever we go.

Therefore, we must stand strong and courageous against all the enemies, trials, and temptations that confront us. No matter how many crushing problems, tough situations, or difficult people we face—no matter how many lustful temptations or terrifying trials we face—God is right there with us. God will deliver us and give us victory over the enemy that confronts us. We must stand strong and courageous, conquering and fulfilling our task for the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10–13 KJV 1900

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.