Joshua 4
Twelve men gather twelve stonesverses 1-3
And it came to pass – when all the people were clean passed over Jordan
that the LORD spoke to Joshua
saying
Take you twelve men out of the people – out of every tribe a man
and command ye them
saying
Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan
out of the place where the priest’s feet stood firm
twelve stones – and ye shall carry them over with you
and leave them in the lodging place
where you shall lodge this night
Twelve stones for a memorialverses 4-7
Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the
children of Israel – out of every tribe a man
And Joshua said to them
Pass over before the ark of the
LORD your God into the midst of Jordan
And take you up every man of you a stone on his shoulder
according unto the number of the tribes of the
children of Israel
That this may be a SIGN among you
that when your children ask their fathers
in time to come
saying
What mean you by these stones?
THEN you shall answer them
That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the
ark of the covenant of the LORD
When it passed over Jordan – the waters of Jordan were cut off
and these stones shall be for a MEMORIAL to the
children of Israel for ever
Memorial stones carried with children of Israelverse 8
And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded
and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan
as the LORD spoke to Joshua
according to the number of the tribes of the
children of Israel
and carried them over with them unto the place
where they lodged and laid them down there
Memorial in the middle of Jordanverse 9
And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan
in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the
ark of the covenant stood
and they are there to this day
Ark leaves the Jordan Riververses 10-11
For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan
until everything was finished that the LORD
commanded Joshua to speak to the people
according to all that Moses commanded Joshua
and the people hasted and passed over
And it came to pass – when all the people were clean passed over
that the ark of the LORD passed over – and the priests
in the presence of the people
Two and a half tribes crossed in front of all othersverses 12-13
And the children of Reuben – and the children of Gad
and half the tribe of Manasseh
passed over armed before the children of Israel
as Moses spoke unto them
about forty thousand prepared for war passed
over before the LORD to battle
to the plains of Jericho
Joshua a great leaders before peopleverse 14
On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel
and they FEARED him – as they FEARED Moses
all the days of his life
Priests left the Jordan Riververses 15-18
And the LORD spoke to Joshua
saying
Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony
that they come up out of Jordan
Joshua therefore commanded the priests
saying
Come you up out of Jordan
And it came to pass when the priests that bare
the ark of the covenant of the LORD
were come up out of the midst of Jordan
and the soles of the priest’s feet were lifted up to
the dry land
that the waters of Jordan returned to their place
and flowed over all his banks as they did before
Memorial set up in Gilgalverses 19-20
And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month
and encamped in Gilgal – in the east border of Jericho
And those twelve stones – which they took out of Jordan
did Joshua pitch in Gilgal
Joshua gave the message of the memorial stoneverses 21-24
And he spoke to the children of Israel
saying
When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come
saying
What mean these stones?
THEN you shall let your children know
saying
Israel came over this Jordan on dry land
For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan
from before you – until ye were passed over
as the LORD your God did to the Red sea
which HE dried up from before us
until we were gone over
That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD
that it is mighty
that you might FEAR the LORD your God forever
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man (413 “called” [‘el] means motion to, direction towards, to tend to anything, to verge to or towards any place, of motion to a place, or to verge to or towards any place)
DEVOTION: Joshua knew the exact spot he wanted the twelve men to be at. He had picked one man from every tribe as the LORD had directed. They were preselected and then given instructions regarding their purpose for being chosen.
They were to take one stone each from under the feet of the priests that were in the middle of the Jordan River while the LORD caused the waters to not be in the place where they were standing.
Now each tribe had a witness to the fact that the LORD had parted the Jordan River, so that, the whole nation could travel into the Promised Land. This was an act that we needed to encourage the faith of this new generation of Israelites that had not seen the Red Sea parted forty years earlier.
They needed a fresh lesson regarding the power of the LORD to work miracles. It was a step in their trust in HIM to do more for them in the future. Each generation needs to see that the LORD is still working in this world.
We need to show our children how the LORD had worked in our lives and then ask the LORD to show our children how HE is going to work in their lives in the future.
HE still can show us the proper direction for each of us to take as we are a witness in our world for HIM.
Too often we doubt HIS power today to conquer evil in our world but HE still can give victory to HIS people over the works of this world. We are to depend on HIM to give us victory over the world, the flesh and the devil in our lives and in the lives of our children.
CHALLENGE; Are we presenting these facts to our children, so that, they trust the LORD to work in their lives? We need to show them how God is working in our lives regularly. Where are your “stones” showing the LORD has worked in the past?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, what mean you by these stones? (226 “sign” [‘owth] means tokens, a public display of a message whether using a crafted or natural object, mark, banner, example, distinguishing mark, commemorative token, or miracle)
DEVOTION: The LORD wants children to ask their parents questions. Throughout the first five books of the Bible the LORD instructed parents to answer their questions. At each of the feasts there was to be a training as to the meaning of each feast they celebrated to honor the LORD.
Here we have another occasion where there can be a teaching opportunity. The children will ask about the twelve stones that were taken out of the Jordan River and set up to be a memorial of how the LORD separated the water of the river for the people to walk across on dry ground.
Once the question is asked the parents were to have an answer. That is true today as well. We need to be training our children regarding what the LORD is doing in our world today. When children see something amazing happening, we need to tell them that the LORD was the one who provided.
Too often we miss opportunities to show our children how great our God really is. Each time the LORD answers one of our prayers that affect the family we need to give God the glory.
If we establish this habit without going overboard our children will learn that they can go to God for help when trouble comes their way. Each generation needs to understand the Word of God and if they see their parents reading and applying the Word of God regularly they will have to make a choice as to whether they will live their life surrounded by the works of God or they can just think that they are on their own
CHALLENGE: Are we training our children to ask the right questions? Are we answering their questions correctly?
: 11 And it came to pass when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. (8552 “clean’ [tamam] means to finish, to be completed, to come to an end, cease, be exhausted, be spent, or entirely passed over)
DEVOTION: Order is one of the characteristics of the work of the LORD. HE wanted all of the children of Israel to see the protection HE can provide. The symbol of HIS presence was the Ark of the Covenant.
The LORD used this occasion to make sure the nation of Israel looked at the priests and the ark and saw the protection of God. When they honored the ark and the priesthood the LORD’S presence brought protection and blessing to all of the people.
Every single individual crossed the Jordan with water on each side of them that was not moving because the LORD was holding them back. The priests and the ark were the first ones to enter the Jordan River and the last ones to exit.
The priests had to trust the Word of the LORD. They were putting their feet into a river that was at flood stage and accepted the fact that the LORD could protect them from harm.
We need to step into a river at flood stage and watch the LORD work today. We need to take steps of faith that are commanded by the LORD in our life. HE wants us to lead people into a place where it takes faith to see a great miracle the LORD can do today.
HE has promised to build HIS church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Do we think this statement is true? If we do are we willing to step out in faith?
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD where HE wants you to be in your life of faith. See if there is any overflowing river you need to cross.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the day of his life. (1431 “magnified” [gadal] means to twist, make large, advance, bring up, exceed, increase, lift up, or promote.)
DEVOTION: God is the one who decides who should lead HIS people. HE makes some choices that we would have never put in the office of leadership. Each leader HE picked was different. Abraham had a problem of lying but the LORD chose him and used him to start the nation of Israel. Isaac and Jacob followed his example but they were still chosen as leaders.
Joseph went through a long training period before he was given a leadership position. Then along came Moses who didn’t want to be a leader because he had a rough start. Yet he became a leader the LORD could speak face to face with on a regular basis. His leader in training was Joshua.
Moses had allowed Joshua to be with him on special occasions. Moses had allowed Joshua to lead the army in battle. Moses had laid hands on Joshua to show that he was passing leadership on to him.
But the children of Israel were waiting to see how he did on his own. The change of leadership is always hard on any group of people. The children of Israel were no different. The crossing of the Jordan was the sign that God used to show the children of Israel that Joshua was their new leader. Joshua was now an established leader of the children of Israel. They were going to take over the Promised Land under his leadership.
Moses had trained him for this responsibility. We need to be training people to take over leadership when we are gone from our place of leadership.
The LORD gifts people for leadership. Those with the gift have the hand of the LORD on them and people see their gift. The Bible calls them the LORD’S anointed. There are many want-to-be leaders who have not be called by the LORD to that position.
Are we training people who have the gift of leadership in our churches? Are we allowing them to take the responsibility of leadership?
Too often we are individuals who do not think we need others leading us. This was a problem in Israel and it can be a problem in the local church. Remember that the LORD is the one who raises leaders up and takes leaders down. Our responsibility is to pray for our leadership. Are we praying for them? Once we have prayed for them, we willing to follow them where they lead?
If you are a leader, are you leading them in a Biblical manner? If you are not called to leadership in the local church, are you willing to follow those who are leading, as long as, they do it in a Biblical manner?
CHALLENGE: Remember there is judgment on those who will not follow the leaders God has given them. Remember that there is judgment on leaders if they lead people in the wrong direction.
: 24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that you might fear the LORD your God for ever. (2389 “mighty” [chazaq] strong, stout, powerful, firm, or stalwart.)
DEVOTION: The LORD didn’t want only the children of Israel to know how they came into the Promised Land. HE wanted the whole world to know how they came in to conquer the land.
It was a very public testimony to the power of the LORD. HE had shown HIS power in the land of Egypt with the plagues. Now HE was showing HIS power in the Promised Land.
Too often we seem to think of the LORD as weak but in reality, HE is very strong in HIS witness to the LORD. HE wanted the world to fear HIM. HE wanted that fear to last until the end of time.
Does our world fear the LORD? It seems that they don’t even respect HIM. However, many times HE shows HIS power to those who are watching.
Today we have some people in our world trying to teach about “global warming” and they have changed the name to “climate change” but the LORD shows that HE is in control of the weather even today. They say one thing about the weather and HE shows them that HE is in control. Those who are watching what is happening in our world know that the LORD is powerful. HE rises up leaders and brings them down. The people of the Promised Land were stronger in number then the children of Israel but the LORD still conquered all the nations because their iniquity was full.
When any nation’s iniquity is full, HE will conquer them through whatever means HE chooses. HE goal is to show that all nations need to fear the God of the Bible. HE wants every nation in the past and present and future to know that HE is in control and they should understand what it means to fear the LORD.
CHALLENGE: We need to teach our world that the LORD is mighty. Give a testimony to everyone the LORD gives you an open door to reach.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Ark of the LORDverses 5, 11
Ark of the Covenantverses 7, 9, 18
Priestsverses 9, 10, 11, 14, 16-18
Stood in midst of Jordan
Twelve stone in midst of Jordan too
Ark of the Testimonyverse 16
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant-keeping)verses 1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13-15, 18, 23, 24
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 5, 23, 24
LORD your Godverses 5, 23, 24
Ark of the covenant of the LORDverses 7, 18
LORD magnified Joshuaverse 14
Dried up the waters of Jordanverse 23
Dried up Red Seaverse 23
Hand of the LORDverse 24
Mighty handverse 24
Fear of the LORD your Godverse 24
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Jordanverses 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 16, 18, 19, 22
Waters of Jordan return when priests left
People of the earthverse 24
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Preparedverses 4, 13
Signverse 6
Covenantverses 7, 9
Memorialverse 7
Magnifiedverse 14
Fear the LORD you Godverse 24
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Joshuaverses 1-24
Magnified by the LORD
Feared by people
Twelve men = twelve stonesverses 2-4, 8, 20
to lodging place
Children of Israelverses 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 21
Ark of the LORDverses 5, 11
Tribes of the children of Israelverses 5, 8
Sign: What mean these stones?verse 6
Ark of the covenantverses 7, 9, 18
Twelve stones in the midst of the Jordanverses 9, 20
Pitched in Gilgal
Mosesverses 10, 12, 14
People feared him
Children of Reubenverse 12
Children of Gadverse 12
Half tribe of Manassehverse 12
Forty thousand soldiersverse 13
Plains of Jericho
Ark of the Testimonyverse 16
1/ 10 Soldiers of Israel in Gilgalverse 19
Children ask about stonesverses 21-24
Red sea
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Memorial for eververse 7
Fear of the LORD your God for eververse 24
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QUOTES regarding passage
21–23 Joshua foresaw the importance of this stone heap for future generations, as a memorial to the miraculous crossing (vv.21–22). Again the term “dry ground” is mentioned to emphasize the supernatural aspect of the crossing. Notice the pronoun “you” (v.23). Subsequent generations are to be told the story as if the event had happened to them personally so that they could participate in all that God had done for Israel (cf. the fluctuation of pronouns between second and third persons in 24:5–13). The crossings of the Red Sea and the Jordan were mighty miracles that were to be celebrated by Israel forever (cf. Ps. 114). They marked Israel’s exodus from the land of bondage and entrance into the Land of Promise. They were a sign of Israel’s transition from slavery to freedom. (Madvig, D. H. (1992). Joshua. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, p. 272). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
4:21–23. The purpose of the stones was clearly pedagogical: to remind Israel for generations to come that it was God who brought them through the Jordan (cf. vv. 6–7) just as He had taken their fathers through the Red Sea.
But how were the future generations to know what the stones meant? The answer is clear. Parents were to teach God’s ways and works to their children (cf. Deut. 6:4–7). A Jewish father was not to send his inquisitive child to a Levite for answers to his questions. The father was to answer them himself. (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 336). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The stones placed at Gilgal were carried over by twelve previously selected men, one from each tribe (3:12). When these men reached the midst of the river, they each picked up a large stone and carried it about eight miles to Gilgal where the nation camped for the night. Gilgal was about two miles from Jericho and excluding the transjordan was the first territory in Canaan claimed by Israel for their inheritance. In later years Gilgal became an important center for the nation. Israel crowned their first king at Gilgal (1 Sam. 11); there David was welcomed back after Absalom’s rebellion was subdued (2 Sam. 19); and Samuel thought Gilgal important enough to include it in his “ministry circuit” (1 Sam. 7:16). There was a “school of the prophets” at Gilgal in the days of Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:1–2; 4:38). Gilgal was important to Joshua because it became his camp and center of operations (Josh. 9:6; 10:6, 15, 43; 14:6).
This heap of twelve stones was a reminder of what God did for His people. The Jews were great believers in teaching the next generation about Jehovah and His special relationship to the people of Israel (4:6, 21; Ex. 12:26; 13:14; Deut. 6:20; see Pss. 34:11–16; 71:17–18; 78:1–7; 79:13; 89:1; 102:18). To an unbeliever, the heap of twelve stones was simply another stone pile; but to a believing Israelite, it was a constant reminder that Jehovah was his or her God, working His wonders on behalf of His people.
But also note that Joshua put an obligation on the Jews to fear the Lord and bear witness of Him to the whole world (Josh. 4:24). The God who can open the river is the God everybody ought to fear, love, and obey! Israel needed to tell the other nations about Him and invite them to trust Him too. The God of Israel cares for His people, keeps His promises, goes before them in victory, and never fails. What a witness to give to the world!
It’s unfortunate that this memorial at Gilgal gradually lost its spiritual meaning and instead became a shrine where the Jews sinned against God by worshiping there. The Prophet Hosea condemned the people for worshiping at Gilgal instead of at Jerusalem (Hosea 4:15; 9:15; 12:11), and Amos echoed his warnings (Amos 4:4; 5:5). Unless we teach the next generation the truth about the Lord, they will turn away and start following the world. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Strong (pp. 52–53). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
That monument of stones was designed first as a “sign” unto Israel. It was a message for their hearts via their eyes rather than ears. It was an enduring sermon in stone. It spoke of the goodness and power of God exercised on their behalf at the Jordan. That word “sign” is a very full one—our Lord’s miracles are termed “signs” (John 20:30; Acts 2:22). The two wonders which Moses was empowered to work before his brethren were called “signs” (Ex. 4:1–9), they authenticated him as their Divinely-appointed leader and signified that the power of the Almighty was with him. In Deuteronomy 11:18, and Judges 6:17, “sign” has the force of token or representation—of Israel’s being regulated by God’s Word, and of the Lord’s granting success to the commission He had committed to Gideon. In other passages a “sign” was a portent or pledge of something concerning the future—1 Samuel 10:1–9; 2 Kings 19:29. In each of those senses may “sign” be understood in Joshua 4:6. That cairn of stones was to signify that Israel had not crossed the Jordan by their own ability, but because of the miracle-working power of God. It was a representation unto them that they had passed through the river’s bed dry-shod. More especially, it was an earnest and pledge of what God would yet do for them.
Second, that monument was designed as a “memorial” that Israel had passed through the river of death, that they were now (typically) on resurrection ground, that judgment lay behind them. Israel upon the Canaan side of Jordan adumbrated that blessed truth expressed by our Redeemer in John 5:24, where He so definitely assures His people that each soul who hears His word and believes on the One who sent Him “hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.” The reason why he shall not “come into condemnation” is because in the person of his Surety he has already been condemned and suffered the full judgment of God upon all his sins, and therefore, judicially, as federally united to Christ, he “is passed from death [that death which is the wages of sin] unto life”—that “life” which is the award of the Law, as it was “magnified” by the Savior and “made honorable” (Isa. 42:21). As the ark of the covenant entered the river of death and judgment the flow of its waters was stopped until the ark had secured a safe passage for all who followed it; so Christ endured the unsparing wrath of God that by His atoning death those who were legally one with Him, and who are made voluntary followers of Him, shall be delivered from all future judgment.
In addition to the monument erected on the Canaan side of the river we are told that “Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there unto this day” (Josh. 4:9). Thus there was a double monument to perpetually commemorate Israel’s passing through the place of judgment: the one in the midst of the Jordan, the other in their new camping-ground at Gilgal. What anointed eye can fail to see in them the two signs and memorials which Christ has instituted to symbolize that, as the result of their faith in His atoning death, His people have not only passed through death and judgment, but are now united to a risen Christ and are “alive unto God”! The meaning of the two ordinances appointed by Christ dearly confirms this, for each of them speaks of both death and resurrection. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4, 5; and cf. Colossians 2:12). Christian baptism is designed to symbolize the believer’s union with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, as well as being his personal profession that he is dead to the world and has resolved to walk in newness of life. (Pink, A. W. (1964). Gleanings in Joshua (pp. 114–115). Chicago: Moody Press.)
Ver. 21. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, &c.] At the same time he set up the stones: when your children shall ask their fathers, &c. as in ver. 6. see the note there.
Ver. 22. Then ye shall let your children know, &c.] The meaning of the erection of these stones, acquaint them with the whole history, the meaning of which they are designed to perpetuate: saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land; and if they should ask how that could possibly be done, or if they did not, they were to inform them by what means it was brought about, as follows.
Ver. 23. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, &c.] As this is supposed to be said in future time, and to persons who were not upon the spot when this was done, and so entirely ignorant of the affair; it is not to be understood of them personally, but of the same people they were of, the people of Israel in former times, of their ancestors, and of them in them; the benefits of which they enjoyed by possessing the land of Canaan their fathers were at this time introduced into: as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over; for though the generation of men, for the most part, was dead, that passed through the Red sea; yet as Joshua himself, and Caleb and Eleazar, and it may be some others that were not among the murmurers, were still living, for whom that miracle was wrought, this way of speaking is very properly made use of; and especially when it is observed, that there were many of the present generation then young, which passed over, and even those unborn were in and represented by their ancestors, and who enjoyed the advantages of that wonderful mercy; so these two strange events are joined together, as instances of divine power and goodness, in Psal. 114:3, 5.
Ver. 24. That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, &c.] Even almighty, and can do that which is marvelous and surprising, and above the power of nature to effect; things unsearchable and past finding out, which can’t be expressed, or conceived how and by what means they are brought about; this the very Heathens would own and acknowledge when they should see these stones, and be told the meaning of them, or should hear of this amazing event: that ye might fear the Lord your God forever; as the above-mentioned end was to be answered among the people of the earth by these stones, this among the people of Israel; who upon sight of them would call to mind the power and goodness of God, which would serve to keep an awe of his majesty on their mind, a due reverence of him and his greatness, and engage them to fear, serve, and worship him; who by such acts as these had abundantly shewed himself to be the only true and living God, and the covenant-God of them his people Israel; the Septuagint version is, “that ye may worship the Lord your God in every work.” (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 192–193). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
No one appreciates a glass of water like a man who is truly thirsty. It takes deprivation to appreciate the significance of our blessings. That is why the Christian life is not always easy—with blessings flowing unabated. We get dull and stale to it—just as we do when we have too much food and too little exercise. We are indeed blessed to have the Word of God in such abundance. The returning Jews have never heard the Word, and they are truly thirsty. They stand — from dawn till dusk — and drink it in. To appreciate the Word in your life, imagine not having it at all. (Quiet Walk)
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelation 21:6 We must realize that Christ brings us into His kingdom by dying for us, by bearing our sins in His own body, by being made the Lamb of God for us; that He bears our punishment, and that He is our only way of deliverance and salvation. You believe it and you say: Just as I am, without one plea but that Thy blood was shed for me, and that Thou bid’st me come to Thee, O Lamb of God, I come.
Charlotte Elliott In other words, it means that you…cast yourself entirely into His hands. And if you do these things, the kingdom of God is within you. You have entered the kingdom, and the kingdom has entered you; you see that He is everything to you, and you are nothing. You see that Christ is “the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.” “He is the lily of the valley: the bright and morning star. He is the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.” Thou, O Christ, art all I want; More than all in Thee I find. Charles Wesley You just give yourself to Him and acknowledge Him as the Son of God and your personal Savior….Your one desire is to know Him, to be near Him, and to follow Him in order that you may be in glory with Him in the final regeneration when He comes at the end of time. A Thought to Ponder Your one desire is to know Him. (From The Kingdom of God, pp. 66-67. By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jude 1
Jude is challenged to earnestly contend for the faith against false teachers.
INSIGHT
False teachers were a major problem in the early church, and many of the epistles deal with them. Jude offers scathing rebukes and warnings to false teachers, but in addition he offers insights on how we can protect ourselves from them. In verses 20-21, Jude uses four phrases which are instructive: “building yourselves up” (studying and doing things to encourage your spiritual growth); “praying in the Holy Spirit” (cultivating a healthy prayer life); “keeping yourselves in the love of God” (monitoring your lifestyle and guarding against sin); and “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (cultivating an eternal perspective). (QuietWalk)
FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS IN PRAYER
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. 1 John 5:15
One sees the very Son of God Himself at prayer. So, if you are interested in the philosophical aspect of prayer, go immediately to the case of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is the only begotten, the eternal Son of God; there is the one who says of Himself that though He is upon earth, He is still in heaven; there is the one who says, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). Why had He any need to pray? Why, before choosing His disciples, did He spend all night in prayer? If you are interested in philosophical problems, answer that. Why was it ever necessary for the Son of God to pray so much while He was here on earth? And yet He did.
In other words, the Scripture teaches that prayer is essential and vital to us, and everywhere we are exhorted to it. Not only that, but if you read the lives of God’s greatest saints in the long history of the Church, you will find that they were men and women of prayer. I believe I am right in saying that John Wesley used to say that any Christian worthy of the name should spend at least four hours every day in prayer, and he tended to judge his people by that. There has never been a man or woman of God who has been singularly used of God in this world, but that they spent much time in prayer. The nearer people are to God, the more they pray to Him; so the testimony of the Christian Church supports the teaching of Scripture itself.
Furthermore, we have numerous incidents in Scripture of what God has clearly done by way of answer to prayer, and it seems to me that the explanation ultimately is not really difficult. The God who determines the end determines the means; and if God in His infinite wisdom is determined that He is going to bring certain things to pass as a result of and in answer to the prayers of His people, I ask with reverence, why shouldn’t He?
A Thought to Ponder
The nearer people are to God, the more they pray to Him.
(From Life in God, pp. 116-117, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Origin of the Races
“These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.” (Genesis 10:32)
This is the concluding verse of the tenth chapter of Genesis, known as “The Table of Nations.” It tells us that all the original nations of the world were formed from the descendants of Noah. The basis of this worldwide division was their dispersion at Babel (Genesis 11:9), “every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations” (Genesis 10:5; see also 10:20 and 10:31). Lest anyone think this list of original nations is simply folklore, he should remember that William F. Albright, probably the greatest archaeologist of the 20th century, called it “an astonishingly accurate document.” Many ethnologists still speak of Japhetic, Hamitic, and Semitic peoples and languages.
But what about the origin of races? One searches the Bible in vain for this information, for neither the word nor the concept of “race” appears in the Bible at all! There is no such thing as a race—except the human race! Skin color and other supposed racial characteristics are mere recombinations of innate genetic factors, originally created in Adam and Eve to permit development of different family characteristics as the human race was commanded to multiply and fill the earth (Genesis 1:28; 9:1).
“Race” is strictly an evolutionary concept used by Darwin, Huxley, Haeckel, and the other 19th-century evolutionists to rationalize their white racism. But from the beginning it was not so! “God that made the world and all things therein;… hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:24, 26). “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother?” (Malachi 2:10). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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