GIBEONITES LIVE

Joshua 9:16-27 / Keywords 9:24

They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.

 

9:16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

1. The Israelites learned that they were deceived by the Gibeonites. However, since they made an oath before God, the Israelites could not kill them. If the Israelites had inquired of God and made a right decision before God, they could have gotten rid of all their neighboring nations.

 

2. But because of their foolish decision made without the wisdom of God, they now suffered the consequence. They now had to deal with all these remaining Gibeonites. They were not Israelites; they did not know God. The Israelites could be influenced by their idolatrous culture.

 

3. The Gibeonites were saved, and they served as woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly. Our God is a merciful God. Although this was a foolish act by the Israelites and a deception by the Gibeonites, God let them both live. God allowed the Israelites to continue to be victorious and allowed the Gibeonites to live and survive among the Israelites. This is our God’s wonderful mercy and grace. His great mercy was shown by his Son dying on the cross for our sin.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for your mercy upon us in spite of our weaknesses.

One Word God forgives us our sins

THEY DID NOT INQUIRE OF THE LORD

Joshua 9:1-15 / Keywords 9:14

The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD.

 

The Gibeonite Deception

9:1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— 2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

7 The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?”

8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

Footnotes

a. Joshua 9:4 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) They prepared provisions and loaded their donkeys

1. The Israelites had just won a great victory against the king of Ai. As God promised, the Israelites were conquering the land of Canaan and winning the victory through God’s help. There were people of Gibeon who heard what God had done to Israel, and how God gave them victory over Jericho and Ai.

 

2. They knew that they would be conquered by Israel, who were being helped by God. So, they sent a delegation to the Israelites to deceive them, saying that they were from a faraway country and wanted to make a treaty with Israel. Israel had to be more alert when they received these people.

 

3. Verse 14 says, “but did not inquire of the Lord.” Worst of all, they failed to inquire of God. It is important to inquire of God in every matter. God is our wonderful counselor. When we inquire of God, he leads us in the best way. When they failed to inquire of God and seek God’s wisdom, they made a grave mistake and later were not able to annihilate the neighboring nation of Gibeon because of their foolish treaty. In our daily struggle, we need to come to God in prayer and ask for God’s wisdom. Then God gives us wisdom abundantly and leads us in the right direction.

 

Prayer Lord, help us to inquire of you in every matter.

One Word Inquire of God for each problem

BLESSINGS AND CURSES

Joshua 8:1-35 / Keywords 8:35

There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the aliens who lived among them.

 

Ai Destroyed

8:1 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”

3 So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: “Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. 5 I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. 6 They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, 7 you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand. 8 When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the Lord has commanded. See to it; you have my orders.”

9 Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people.

10 Early the next morning Joshua mustered his army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai. 11 The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. 12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So the soldiers took up their positions—with the main camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.

14 When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. 15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. 16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. 17 Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand. 19 As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.

20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up into the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned back against their pursuers. 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. 22 Those in the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. 23 But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai. 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed[a] all who lived in Ai. 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.

28 So Joshua burned Ai[b] and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. 29 He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.

The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses. 33 All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Footnotes

a. Joshua 8:26 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.

b. Joshua 8:28 Ai means the ruin.

1. Israel learned from experience the blessings that flow from obedience and the curses that result from disobedience. In the previous chapter, they experienced a surprising defeat when they attacked the city of Ai. Three thousand went up to attack the city and they fled before the men of Ai. Thirty-six Israelites were killed, and the people were demoralized. The defeat was due to their sin, and it was an example of the curse of disobedience. However, after their sin was exposed and dealt with, God’s presence returned to them. God encouraged them to go up and attack Ai again. He provided them with a plan for an ambush and even signaled when the trap should be sprung. This time, the Lord gave the Israelites all the plunder from the victory. These were the blessings of obedience.

 

2. After recounting the victory, the scene changes to a picture of worship at Mount Ebal. Here, we see the centrality of God’s word and the importance of faithful obedience to it. Obeying what was written in the Law of Moses, Joshua constructed an altar on Mount Ebal and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. He copied the Law of Moses on the stones of the altar. Half of the tribes stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half stood in front of Mount Ebal as Joshua read all of the law to all of the people.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for your words of life.

One Word Faithfully obey the word of God

SIN AND DEFEAT

Joshua 7:1-26 / Keywords 7:1

But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD'S anger burned against Israel.

Achan’s Sin

7:1 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[a]; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,[b] the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel.

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

14 “‘In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. 15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”

16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was chosen.

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia,[c] two hundred shekels[d] of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,[e] I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.

24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them. 26 Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor[f] ever since.

Footnotes

a. Joshua 7:1 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 11, 12, 13 and 15.

b. Joshua 7:1 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 2:6; Hebrew Zabdi; also in verses 17 and 18.

c. Joshua 7:21 Hebrew Shinar

d. Joshua 7:21 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms

e. Joshua 7:21 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams

f. Joshua 7:26 Achor means trouble.

1. Is there such a thing as a small sin? Achan disobeyed the commandment of the LORD and took some of the devoted things from the spoils of Jericho. Because of this, the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel. Perhaps Achan thought it was no big deal. He saw the cloak from Shinar, the silver, and the gold and took them for himself and hid them. He followed the dreadful pattern we are all familiar with. James writes, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Sin in our lives is not to be trifled with. Our God is a holy God, and he would not be with Israel anymore if there was sin in the camp. This was the reason the Israelites suffered such a stunning defeat at Ai.

 

2. God is holy, but he is also merciful and he provided a way for the Israelites to be restored. The pattern he established for the Israelites applies to us as well. First, we must consecrate ourselves and come before God with repentant hearts. Next, with God’s help, the sin in our lives must be exposed and confessed. Once exposed, our sin must be put to death by the power of the Spirit. When the Israelites dealt with the sin in their camp, the Lord turned from his anger and they were restored.

 

Prayer Father, lead us to repentance.

One Word Sin always leads to defeat

THE VICTORY OF GOD

Joshua 6:1-27 / Keywords 6:20

When the trumpets sounded, the people shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the people gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so every man charged straight in, and they took the city.

 

6:1 Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. 9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.

12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[a] to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

20 When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. 21 They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.

24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

26 At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: “Cursed before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:

“At the cost of his firstborn son

    he will lay its foundations;

at the cost of his youngest

    he will set up its gates.”

27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

Footnotes

a. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 18 and 21.

1. Looks can be very deceiving. This is why we have to live by faith and not by sight. The LORD said to Joshua, “‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.’” That is not what Joshua’s eyes told him! Jericho still looked very much intact, and the king and mighty men looked pretty healthy. By faith, though, Joshua could see what the LORD saw, and he believed the LORD. The LORD’s battle plan was certainly not what anyone had expected. The Israelites were to march around the city for six days with seven priests blowing seven trumpets before the ark of the LORD. On the seventh day, they were to do this seven times. By faith, Joshua and all the people obeyed the instructions of the LORD. Sure enough, when they shouted on the last day as they were commanded to, the walls of Jericho fell flat and the victory was won.

 

2. The spoils of this first victory were to be destroyed, with the exception of the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron that were to be placed in the treasury of the LORD. Only Rahab’s family survived the judgment of God on this city. Her family was saved because she believed in God and hid the two spies by faith. The same will be true in the future. When the LORD judges the whole earth, only those who believe in Jesus will be saved.

 

Prayer Father, give us faith to obey your word.

One Word Victory comes through obedience

WHAT DOES THE LORD SAY TO HIS SERVANT?

Joshua 5:1-15 / Keywords 5:14

"Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?"

 

5:1 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[a] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.[b]

4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.

9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal[c] to this day.

10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after[d] they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.

The Fall of Jericho

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord[e] have for his servant?”

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Footnotes

a. Joshua 5:1 Another textual tradition we

b. Joshua 5:3 Gibeath Haaraloth means the hill of foreskins.

c. Joshua 5:9 Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew for roll.

d. Joshua 5:12 Or the day

e. Joshua 5:14 Or lord

1. Being right with God is our first priority in any circumstance. When the kings of the Amorites and Canaanites heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Jordan so that the people of Israel could cross over, their hearts melted with fear. Normally, this would be the best time for the Israelites to take action and attack their enemies. Our first instinct is to seize opportunities and go forward on our own strength. However, that was how the previous generation of Israelites had failed. Because of their disobedience, they were turned away from the Promised Land and forced to wander in the desert until they died. This time, the Israelites sought to obey God and they dedicated themselves to him by circumcising all the males. As a result, God declared their reproach had been rolled away. They celebrated their first Passover in the land and enjoyed the produce of the land.

 

2. Is God on our side, or are we on his? When Joshua met the commander of the LORD’s army, he quickly learned that the battle for Jericho was the LORD’s, not Israel's. This is important for us to think about. Do we prayerfully seek to align our will with God’s—or do we try to turn it around and bend God to our will? Joshua responded by falling on his face and submitting himself to God. God was present with him, and Joshua was on holy ground.

 

Prayer Father, the battle and the victory are yours.

One Word Submit yourself to God

FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD FOREVER

Joshua 4:1-24 / Keywords 4:24

He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.

 

4:1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been[a] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the Lord and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. 12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for war.

14 That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses.

15 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law to come up out of the Jordan.”

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before.

19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea[b] when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”

Footnotes

a. Joshua 4:9 Or Joshua also set up twelve stones

b. Joshua 4:23 Or the Sea of Reeds

1. We tend to have short memories, don’t we? Unlikely as it seems, we often forget what God has done for us. As one generation gives way to the next, the history of God’s great work often goes neglected. God’s work must be remembered and his history taught so that a new generation of believers may live by faith. The LORD commanded Joshua to take 12 men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, and have them bring 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan River where the priests had stood. Joshua took the stones and set up a monument in Gilgal. Later, when children asked their fathers about the meaning of these stones, they were to explain how God dried up the waters of the Jordan so the people could pass into the Promised Land on dry ground. They were to know that it was God who led them into their inheritance.

 

2. The 12 stones were to be a lesson for the whole world. All the peoples of the earth are to know that the hand of the Lord is mighty and to fear his name forever. Today, we celebrate Communion to remember the salvation we have received in Jesus. We do this to remember his great love for the whole world as he shed his blood on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. We celebrate his resurrection and remember the hope we have in eternal life. This is how we honor his name.

 

Prayer Lord, help us to remember your great work.

One Word Teach others about what God has done

LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF THE LORD

Joshua 3:1-17 / Keywords 3:9-10

Joshua said to the Israelites, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.

 

Crossing the Jordan

3:1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[a] between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. 8 Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.

Footnotes

a. Joshua 3:4 That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters

1. The people of Israel came to the Jordan river and lodged there. How would they ever cross this great river and take possession of the land of Canaan? Today, the Jordan River can reach up to a mile in width during the flood season. We often face what seem to be insurmountable obstacles as well. What do we do when we face these trials of life? Do we despair? We learn from Joshua and the Israelites that we are to allow God to lead us through them. The ark represented the presence of God, and the people were to follow it and cross the Jordan. Joshua commanded the people to consecrate themselves and be ready to see the wonders that God would do among them. Is this our first instinct? In difficult times, do we renew our dedication to the Lord and wait on him?

 

2. Joshua said to the people, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” By listening to the word of God, we can know that the living God is among us and that he is leading us to our inheritance. As Christians, our inheritance is eternal life in the kingdom of God. We must allow God to lead us there and bring us home. He is the one who halts the river and brings us safely across. The people of Israel arrived safely on the other side of the Jordan when they trusted and obeyed the word of the Lord. Their feet didn’t even get muddy.

 

Prayer Father, give us a faith that trusts and obeys.

One Word Know that the living God is among you

A FAITH IN THE GOD WHO SAVES

Joshua 2:1-24 / Keywords 2:11

When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

 

Rahab and the Spies

2:1 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”

14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”

15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”

17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”

21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”

So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.

22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

Footnotes

a. Joshua 2:10 Or the Sea of Reeds

b. Joshua 2:10 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.

1. Joshua sent two spies to survey the land, but God used them to bring a daughter home. Is there any doubt about God’s love for all people? Do you question the extent God draws his children to grant them new lives? Rahab’s story reassures us of all these wonderful things about our God. The Bible is honest about Rahab’s past. She lived as a prostitute in a rebellious and pagan society. However, when she heard about God’s mighty acts on behalf of Israel, a faith in God was planted in her heart. She recognized him as the LORD who is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. The Bible says that faith comes from hearing, and Rahab is proof of this. Are we sharing the mighty works that God has done with others?

 

2. Rahab had a living faith that took action. By faith, she risked her life to hide the spies, divert the pursuers, and provide a means of escape. She sought salvation not only for herself, but for her whole family and God rewarded her faith. Hebrews 11:31 says, “By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.” Today, God rewards the faith of all those who trust the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation.

 

Prayer Father, give us a living and active faith.

One Word Our faith is in God who saves

BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS

Joshua 1:1-18 / Keywords 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

 

Joshua Installed as Leader

1:1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: 11 “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

1. Arise and go! These words are filled with both excitement and apprehension. The time had come for the Israelites to enter the land God had promised them many generations ago. It could only be claimed through faith and obedience as there were many obstacles and trials ahead of them. However, God’s commands are always accompanied by his promises. God, the sovereign Lord of Heaven and Earth was giving them the land, and no enemy would be able to resist them. God also declared that he would always be with them. Amazing, isn’t it? The Lord has given us a similar command. We are to arise and go preach the gospel of Jesus and make disciples of all nations. Like Joshua, we must be strong and courageous, holding fast to the promises of God. Jesus says, “‘And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” God is with us. Are you ready to go?

 

2. What was Joshua’s response? Where would he find the strength and courage he needed? Joshua was instructed to meditate on the word of God, day and night, even muttering it to himself. By faith, he responded with an obedience that led him from one victory to another. In the same way, God’s word is to be our guide and the source of our strength. Obedience to God’s word is the key to spiritual victory each and every day of our lives.

 

Prayer Lord, give us strength and courage to obey.

One Word Arise and go. God is with you!

PERSEVERE IN LOVE AND MERCY

Jude 1:17-25 / Keywords 1:21

Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

 

A Call to Persevere

17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.[f]

Doxology

24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Footnotes

f. Jude 1:23 The Greek manuscripts of these verses vary at several points.

1. Jude speaks to the believers as friends. His charge comes to them as close friends, not one lording over others. He directs them to remember Jesus’ own warning against false teachers who would come in the last days. They would be marked by their lack of morality and their ungodly character. We must be alert not to follow the bad influence of worldly Christians. We live in a time of amorality, super materialism, and unabashed greed. We should not be influenced by socalled Christian leaders who endorse such a lifestyle.

 

2. Again, he refers to them as dear friends, and encourages them to build themselves up in the most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, so that they can guard ourselves spiritually. It is so hard to be filled with God’s love and practice his mercy. But when we live the most holy faith and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us, we can be truly merciful to those who are wavering in their faith and save them from the fires of hell.

 

3. Lastly, Jude praises Jesus who sustains and presents us to the Father without fault and in great joy. Let’s persevere with this hope, faith and love.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for Jesus who is able to keep us to the end when we seek you in the most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, and practicing God’s love and mercy.

One Word Persevering in God’s love and mercy

CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

Jude 1:1-16 / Keywords 1:3

Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

 

1:1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,

To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for[a] Jesus Christ:

2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

The Sin and Doom of Ungodly People

3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about[b] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord[c] at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”[d] 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”[e] 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.

Footnotes

a. Jude 1:1 Or by; or in

b. Jude 1:4 Or individuals who were marked out for condemnation

c. Jude 1:5 Some early manuscripts Jesus

d. Jude 1:9 Jude is alluding to the Jewish Testament of Moses (approximately the first century a.d.).

e. Jude 1:15 From the Jewish First Book of Enoch (approximately the first century b.c.)

1. Jude is Jesus’ younger brother Judah (Mark 6:33). He is a church leader. He was planning on writing to the church a longer letter about salvation. But when he heard about the urgent matter of false teachers hijacking the church, he wrote to them this letter. He draws on other Hebrew literature that was well known to his audience of Jewish Christians. These stories are regarded as important as the Bible. They warn about rebellious people, and even angels, and their outcomes.

 

2. Likewise, we should heed Jude’s writing. We should contend for the faith when proud and rebellious people try to divide the church and lead members astray. We should not join in with them, remembering 1) how God dealt with the Israelites who rebelled in the wilderness after being set free from slavery in Egypt, 2) God’s judgment on the angels who rebelled, and 3) his destruction of Sodom. We should fear God and contend for the faith.

 

3. People who rebel are following Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Enoch who was persecuted prophesied how God wins the final victory over evil men who defy God, while seeking their own advantage.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for giving us the final victory. Help us contend for the faith and fight against those who are corrupt and bring down the church for their own gain.

One Word Contend for the faith

SHOW HOSPITALITY TO BELIEVERS

3 John 1:1-14 / Keywords 1:8

We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth.

 

1:1 The elder,

To my dear friend Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

5 Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters,[a] even though they are strangers to you. 6 They have told the church about your love. Please send them on their way in a manner that honors God. 7 It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. 8 We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth.

9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will not welcome us. 10 So when I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, spreading malicious nonsense about us. Not satisfied with that, he even refuses to welcome other believers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.

11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 12 Demetrius is well spoken of by everyone—and even by the truth itself. We also speak well of him, and you know that our testimony is true.

13 I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink. 14 I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

15 Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.

Footnotes

a. 3 John 1:5 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

1. In this letter, the elder John is writing to Gaius and his house church. He praises him for his faithfulness and for raising his children as true believers. When we see the life of faith passing down to the next generation, this gives us real joy. This is a reason to be proud of our children.

 

2. Next, he thanks Gaius for welcoming disciples who came from John to share his message and to encourage the church. He encourages Gaius to keep on serving them in a manner worthy of their faith and godly character. When missionaries or coworkers come from other chapters and nations, we should whole-heartedly welcome them, serve them with hospitality, and learn from them.

 

3. John the elder cautions him against a leader in the church, Diotrephes, who is being political, and discouraging them from welcoming anyone from John. He even goes so far as to exclude from their fellowship anyone who does so, blocking John’s influence over the church from superseding his. Gaius must be alert and not be pressured by him. When we see such behavior, we have to make our own decision to do what is good and right, even if we become unpopular or on the “wrong” side of politics. God will help us and bless us.

 

Prayer Father, please help me to welcome your servants and show genuine hospitality to them. Protect our church from political struggles.

One Word Show hospitality to God’s servants

WALK IN LOVE

2 John 1:1-13 / Keywords 1:6

And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

1:1 The elder,

To the lady chosen by God and to her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

4 It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. 5 And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. 6 And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.

7 I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we[a] have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. 11 Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

12 I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your sister, who is chosen by God, send their greetings.

Footnotes

a. 2 John 1:8 Some manuscripts you

 

1. This book is written by John the Elder to a house church that seems to be led by a woman. He praises her for her staunch faith and clear upbringing of her children in the faith.

 

2. He encourages the believers in her house church to continue to walk in love and obedience to God’s commands. When we make love our aim and humbly obey Jesus’ command to do so, we can remain faithful to him.

 

3. Next, he cautions her house church not to welcome false teachers who deny Jesus is God. These deceivers have rejected Jesus’ teachings and destroy the community of faith, love and obedience. We also need to be on guard against good sounding humanism and cultural relativism that can lead us to compromise. For example, people say love is love, live together outside of marriage, and put rainbow signs in church windows. This humanistic view of love compromises God’s truth and denies Jesus who died to save people from their sins of immorality. We should not share in their wickedness, but love them by helping them to repent and be saved.

 

Prayer Father, help me to hold fast to the truth that your one and only Son Jesus died for my sins. Help me to love Jesus and to obey his commands to walk in his love.

One Word Love Jesus and obey his commands

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

1 Timothy 6:11-21 / Keywords 6:12

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

 

Final Charge to Timothy

6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

20 Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, 21 which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

Grace be with you all.

1. Paul’s final words to Timothy are that he must fight the good fight of faith as a Christian. He reminds us to hold onto our faith until the second coming of Jesus, when God will bring his judgment upon the world. Until then, we should fight against the temptation of evil.

 

2. Paul commands us to put our hope in God, not in our wealth or other worldly things. We must protect our faith diligently, as it is easy to be deceived by other things that do not originate from God.

 

3. Additionally, we must guard ourselves from gossip and unholy talk, as they will turn us away from God. We must have our guard up at all times and ask for God’s protection.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for blessing me with this faith. Be with me on my journey as a Christian to shine the light of Jesus.

One Word Fight the good fight of faith