Today’s reading: Josh 22:10–24:33, 2 Cor 13:11–14, Ps 60:1–12

Today’s theme: Cling to the Lord

Today we learn that we should not be driven by fear but should choose to cling to the Lord and be careful to love the Lord. We should recognise His graciousness in our lives as we trust in Him. Note the five admonitions in our New Testament reading.

Joshua 22:10–24:33

Do not be driven by fear

No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the LORD. Joshua 22:24–25 (ESV)

The tribes living across the Jordan did not build the altar in rebellion against God as the rest of Israel had feared. Israel expressed their fear of this based on their recent experience of corporate responsibility. This meant that all members of the community suffered when just one broke faith. A concept we have forgotten in the west.

The tribes explained that they were innocent before God as the structure was built as a witness. However the reason they built it was out of fear. They feared being cut off in future generations and that as a result their children would not fear the Lord.

So fear has a large part to play. They acted out of fear in building the witness. Israel reacted in fear and went to do battle and both parties did this because they feared the Lord. The missing element in all of this was faith. All the tribes should put their trust in God’s covenant keeping love and not be driven by fear.

Let us act out of faith and love, not in fear. See 2 Corinthians 5:7 and 1 John 4:18-21.

Cling to the Lord

but you shall cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day. Joshua 23:8 (ESV)

We too must cling to the Lord. Looking at the word “cling” in this context and in the original Hebrew will be help us meditate on what it means to cling to the Lord.

In Hebrew the word is dābaq. Cling is used in this sense, to cling to. It is a verb meaning to hold firmly or tenaciously, usually with one’s hands.

The word is defined in Hebrew as the following: to stick to; cling, cleave to; cling to, stick to; hold to, overtake; cause to stick to; pursue closely; keep close; to adhere, to be glued; join; follow; hold onto; fasten; catch up with; follow hard; joined fast; be made to cleave; stay close; be united; be associated; to stay with.

If we do not cling to the Lord we will cling to something else. Luke 16:13

Careful love

Be very careful, therefore, to love the LORD your God. Joshua 23:11 (ESV)

This would almost seem strange with our modern concepts of love. We would not think to use careful and love in the same context but love is in fact a very thoughtful and deliberate thing. It involves our volition more than we often acknowledge. As we are reminded in 1 John 3:18 ‘Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth’.

God’s grace

I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’ Joshua 24:13 (ESV)

This is a picture of God’s grace which should encourage us to serve the Lord with gladness. Jesus alludes to this in John 4:36–38.

Choose a master

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

In today’s society “choice” has been exalted as an idol and has become the rationale of the people for all manner of sin and abomination (abortion, same sex marriage etc).

God did not give us the ability to choose to abuse ourselves or dishonour Him. Choice should not be our God. Joshua turns the worship of choice around by saying he takes the power he has to choose to choose to serve the Lord.

The choices we are presented with are often false options. The fact is that whoever we submit ourselves to we are servants / slaves to obey, so choose your master.

This is illustrated well in Romans 6:16 which states “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”.

Lets choose to serve the Lord today!

2 Corinthians 13:11–14

Five admonitions

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

The assurance, “And the God of love and peace will be with you,” is dependent on each of the five admonitions made earlier about joy, restoration, submission, unity, and peace.

We have this promise today too as we actively seek to do God’s will. He will impart to us His love and peace. Let’s meditate on these five admonitions today.

Psalm 60:1–12

Man’s salvation is vain

Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. Psalm 60:11–12 (ESV)

The salvation provided by man is vain. We need to trust in God as we fight the spiritual battles around us today.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 13

Today’s reading: Josh 21:1–22:9, 2 Cor 13:1–10, Ps 59:1–17

Today’s theme: Examine yourself

We are called to examine ourselves and should be encouraged in the good fight of faith as we seek to enter God’s rest.

Joshua 21:1–22:9

Rest from God

And the LORD gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the LORD had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. Joshua 21:44–45 (ESV)

God gave His people rest and fulfilled every one of His promises. This should fill us with hope and joy. If God had the power, desire and ability to actively bring His word to pass for the children of Israel entering the promised land, then we can have confidence that God will bring His promises to pass for us and has a rest for us to enter into as well.

There was a correlation between all the enemies being defeated and entering rest. Although we can have rest and peace in this life through Jesus Christ (John 14:27), we will enter into true rest in the promised land of Heaven (Hebrews 4:1-11). This is when the final enemy death will be defeated (1 Corinthians 15:26).

2 Corinthians 13:1–10

Examine yourself

Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 2 Corinthians 13:5 (ESV)

Paul challenges the Corinthians to examine themselves to confirm whether they are continuing in the faith in terms of both belief and conduct. Paul has mentioned elsewhere that the Corinthians themselves are the proof of his ministry, so he tells the Corinthians to look at themselves. Knowing that they are true fruit is the ultimate approval of Paul’s ministry.

We can learn from this that we need to examine ourselves too. Not with self loathing and doubt but to affirm and encourage ourselves as we grow in the Lord. We are also called to this type of self examination every time we observe communion.

We should not be afraid to measure our obedience and belief against God’s word. If we fail to meet the test then we need to seek restoration. In some cases this self examination will prove we were never saved and need to submit to God’s word (for example those in cults).

Psalm 59:1–17

God of covenant keeping love

But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. Psalm 59:16 (ESV)

We can trust in our God of covenant keeping love. He will keep us and be a fortress and refuge in times of distress. We should sing of God’s love and protection for us.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 13

Today’s reading: Josh 19:10–20:9, 2 Cor 12:11–21, Ps 57:1–58:11

Today’s theme: Stand in faith

We learn today that we should not lose ground to the enemy by not standing in faith on God’s promises. Be encouraged that God will bring his purposes to pass in and through your lives as you trust in him.

Joshua 19:10–20:9

Just stand in faith

When the territory of the people of Dan was lost to them, the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem. After capturing it and striking it with the sword they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor. Joshua 19:47 (ESV).

The full account of the tribe of Dan’s taking of the city of Leshem is found in Judges 18. Although it seems good that they did not settle for being run out of their allotted land and so moved to the far north and took the city they named Dan. The reality is that they should have stood their ground in their own allotted inheritance and should not have lost the ground to the enemy.

The problem is that the people of Dan did not hold onto their inheritance because it was not held in faith, they did not truly put their trust in God.

We can learn from this today that we should not lose our inheritance and end up setting ourselves up in some halfway house of compromise because we do not have the guts and faith to fight the enemy. No, we should stand and fight and having done all we can just stand in faith as mentioned in Ephesians 6:13-17.

2 Corinthians 12:11–21

Willing to be spent

Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 2 Corinthians 12:14–15 (ESV)

In a day where the perverted prosperity gospel is spreading across the world with it’s focus on paying for breakthroughs and millionaire preachers. It is refreshing to read Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians, he is not seeking their possessions but seeking them, their very souls and allegiance for the sake of Christ.

Paul also says he is willing to be spent in full for them. We should have this same attitude as we serve the body of Christ today to the glory of God.

Psalm 57:1–58:11

God fulfils his purposes

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2 (ESV)

We can boldly put our trust in God. He will see his purposes fulfilled in us Philippians 2:13.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition OR Desiring God on 2 Corinthians 12

Today’s reading: Joshua 18:1–19:9, 2 Corinthians 12:1–10, Ps 56:1–13

Today’s theme: Sovereign over our trials

We learn today that God is sovereign over our trials and has provided an abundance of grace to help us in times of need.

Joshua 18:1–19:9

Continuing effort

So Joshua said to the people of Israel, “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you? Joshua 18:3 (ESV)

I have the following note in my bible “The Christian life is always described in continuing effort… Pilgrimage, war, a race – Pastor Dennis Greenidge”. This is so true, as God’s children we need to avoid falling into the trap of procrastination and instead learn from both the attitudes of Judah “to go first” and Joseph “to work and expand”.

2 Corinthians 12:1–10

What is your thorn in the flesh?

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 Corinthians 12:7 (ESV)

In this ultimate conclusion to Paul’s argument in this letter, Paul gives us two accounts which he attributes to God. One is his rapture and vision of heaven, receiving such revelation that some could not be shared. The other is the thorn in the flesh or messenger from Satan that God allows to help him stay humble. In both cases God remains the ultimate orchestrator and sovereign.

There has been much debate throughout church history regarding the identity of the thorn. The most likely option being some form of illness but attempts to identify it miss the point of Paul’s intended ambiguity in using this sort of figurative language. Forcing a single meaning to this sort of language misses the point, which is that it remains open so that the lesson can be applied in all circumstances in every age.

God’s grace is sufficient

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)

Paul’s main point here is not the identity of the thorn but its origin (from Satan yet given by God), it’s cause (the great revelations) and its purpose (to keep Paul from conceit). The climax is that no matter what we are allowed to go through and the reasons behind it, God’s grace will give us the strength we need to endure. God is glorified when we persevere through difficulties and challenges in humility before Him.

This verse embodies Paul’s entire argument. The Christian life is not marked by happy days of no suffering, bliss, wealth and health… No, our lives are marked by endurance and humility in the midst of adversity and persecution to bring Glory to God.

The vagueness around the thorn and the definite promise of sufficient grace (said in the present tense) means we can all take comfort from this promise for our own walk with the Lord today.

Psalm 56:1–13

Confront fear with trust in God

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56:4 (ESV)

When we are afraid we should not ignore our fear but confront it with our faith in God’s word. We should come to the firm realisation that we can trust in God and His word and that nothing can happen to us as God’s children outside of God’s control. See 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 12

Today’s reading: Josh 16:1–17:18, 2 Cor 11:24–33, Ps 55:1–23

Today’s theme: Take the land

Today we learn about the need to have holy energy in our hearts to God in faith and work to take the land. We need to cut down the trees and expand, making our boast not in our efforts but our reliance on the Lord. We work from a place of rest because we cast all our cares on the Lord who cares for us.

Joshua 16:1–17:18

God’s just society

because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of the people of Manasseh. Joshua 17:6 (ESV)

The law set by Moses concerning daughters being given an inheritance when there are no sons was now fulfilled. Again this points to the fact that women were not to be treated with contempt or like possessions as the Pagan cultures taught.

Go clear tress and take the land

but the hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and possess it to its farthest borders. For you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong.” Joshua 17:18 (ESV)

Pastor Dennis preached a powerful message helping us apply this passage to our lives in Christ some years ago. The children of Joseph were not content to stay in a lot that was too small for their people, they boldly asked for more.

Joshua turned the request for more back on the people in the form of a challenge and a promise. The challenge was put forward in verse 15, which was to go and make a second plot of land in the wooded hill area to make room for themselves. The promise in this verse is that they will defeat the enemy despite the enemies power.

Today we should take this attitude in our walk with the Lord. Matthew 11:12 says we should take the kingdom by force. We should boldly go to clear the trees (wood speaking of the flesh) and take the land (God’s promises and kingdom). We need to pray and very actively work to advance God’s kingdom as a church and individually. We must avoid the lazy idea of sitting back and leaving it all to God, let’s go and clear trees and take the land.

2 Corinthians 11:24–33

Boast in relying on God

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 2 Corinthians 11:30 (ESV)

Paul does not boast about the things he has achieved or done well, he instead boasts in his weaknesses which cause him to rely on the Lord and bring God glory. His critics say his life should be characterised by blessing, but according to Paul’s teaching and life a Christian’s life is characterised by suffering for Christ. It is further characterised by God being glorified in the Christian’s constant service, witness and perseverance.

Psalm 55:1–23

Cast your burden on the Lord

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

Like we read in 1 Peter 5:7 we can cast all our cares on the Lord. This brings balance and comfort with today’s other readings where we saw our need to take responsibility and work in the book of Joshua and our call to endure hardship in 2 Corinthians.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 2 Corinthians 11