Joshua 6
Instructions regarding conquest of Jerichoverses 1-5
Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel
none went out – none came in
And the LORD
said to Joshua
See – I have given into your hand Jericho – and the king thereof
and the mighty men of valor
And you shall compass the city – all you men of war
and go round about the city once
thus shall you do six days
And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horn
and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times
and the priests shall blow with the trumpets
And it shall come to pass
that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn
and when you hear the sound of the trumpet
all the people shall shout with a great shout
and the wall of the city shall fall down flat
and the people shall ascend up every man
straight before him
Joshua gives instructions to priests and peopleverses 6-7
And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests
and said unto them
Take up the ark of the covenant
and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’
before the ark of the LORD
And he said to the people
Pass on – and compass the city
and let him that is armed pass on before
the ark of the LORD
Joshua orders silenceverses 8-11
And it came to pass – when Joshua had spoken to the people
that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of the rams’ horn
passed on before the LORD – and blew with the trumpets
and the ark of the covenant of the LORD
followed them
And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets
and the rereward came after the ark – the priests going on
and blowing with the trumpets
And Joshua had commanded the people
saying
You shall not shout – nor make any noise with your voice
neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth
until the day I bid you shout
Then shall you shout
So the ark of the LORD compassed the city – going about it once
and they came into the camp – and lodged in the camp
Pattern of marching followed same instructionsverses 12-17
And Joshua rose early in the morning
and the priests took up the ark of the LORD
And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horn before the
ark of the LORD went on continually
and blew with the trumpets
and the armed men went before them
BUT the rereward came after the ark of the LORD
the priests going on and blowing with the trumpets
And the second day they compassed the city once
and returned into the camp
so they did SIX DAYS
And it came to pass on the seventh day
that they rose early about the dawning of the day
and compassed the city after the same manner seven times
only on that day they compassed the city seven times
And it came to pass at the seventh time
when the priests blew with the trumpets
Joshua said to the people SHOUT
for the LORD has given you the city
And the city shall be accursed – even it and all that are therein
to the LORD only Rahab the harlot shall live
she and all that are with her in the house
BECAUSE she hid the messengers that we sent
All treasure goes into the treasury of the LORDverses 18-19
And you – in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing
lest you make yourselves accursed
when you take of the accursed thing
and make the camp of Israel a curse – and trouble it
But all the silver – gold – vessels of brass and iron
are consecrated unto the LORD
they shall come into the treasury of the LORD
Walls of Jericho came downverses 20-21
So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets
and it came to pass
When the people heard the sound of the trumpet
and the people shouted with a great shout
that the WALL FELL DOWN FLAT
so that the people went up into the city
every man straight before him
and they took the city
And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city – both
man and woman – young and old – and ox –
and sheep – and ass with the edge of the sword
Joshua sends two spies to save Rahabverses 22-23
BUT Joshua had said to the two men that had spied out the country
Go into the harlot’s house – and bring out thence the woman
and all that she hath as you swore to her
And the young men that were spies went in – and brought out Rahab
and her father – mother – brethren – all that she had
And they brought out all her kindred
and left them without the camp of Israel
Clean up after victoryverses 24-25
And they burnt the city with fire – and all that was therein
only the silver – gold – and the vessels of brass and of iron
they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD
And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive
and her father’s household – and all that she had
And she dwell in Israel even unto this day
BECAUSE she hid the messengers
which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho
Curse of Joshua on future building of Jerichoverse 26
And Joshua adjured them at that time
saying
Cursed be the man before the LORD
that rises up and builds this city Jericho
He shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn
and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it
LORD was with Joshua’s leadershipverse 27
So the LORD was with Joshua
and his fame was noised throughout all the country
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him. (8478 “flat” [tachath] means in the same place, beneath, the place in which one stands, underneath, in one’s place, or to be lowered)
DEVOTION: Instruction being followed is very important in our world. When we are learning to drive a car someone is trying to train us to be very careful on the highway. We are to be looking in all directions as often as possible. The main direction we should be looking is straight ahead. We don’t want to hit the car in front of us. However, we have to look to the side to make sure we are not changing lanes with someone in the other lane.
God gave the children of Israel strange instructions regarding their battle against Jericho. They were only to march around this large city for seven days. Six of those days they were to be silent. On the seventh day the priests were to sound the trumpet and the people were to shout.
What happened then seems impossible. The walls of the city fell down. God had performed a miracle in the defeat of the city. It only happened because the people were obedient to the commands of the LORD.
Our victories depend on our obedience to the LORD first. If we are obedient to the LORD we will be obedient to parents that honor the LORD. We will be obedient to teachers who give instructions that in line with the commands of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Parents are to be obedient individuals to the LORD, so that, they can raise children that are obedient to the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout: then shall you shout. (8085 “shama] means to cause to hear, to cause to perceive (sound) via the auditory sense, utter a sound, to sound aloud, to make proclamation, to cause to be heard, or to utter a voice)
DEVOTION: Have you ever heard the saying that “silence is golden?” Today we live in a world full of noise. It is hard to find a quiet place. Even in a library it is sometimes not to quiet.
Imagine thousands of soldiers marching around a city with no noise except the sounding of the trumpets by the priests. This took place for six days. The only time the soldiers could talk was when they returned from marching around the city.
What was their conversation like in the camp after a day of marching? It was work to march. They might have wondered what the LORD was doing. They were not using any weapon.
Today we know that there are times necessary to prepare for victory in a given situation. There should be planning done, but in this case, it was the LORD planning and the people just being obedient.
We need to learn silence at times before we go to battle. Our silence should be done before the LORD in our times of prayer and meditation in the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Once we receive our instructions for the day we need to follow the LORD’S instruction.
:16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout; for the LORD has given you the city. (7321 “Shout” [ruwa] means noise, cry, to shout a war-cry or alarm of battle, to shout in applause, to cry out in distress, or to raise the war-cry/alarm.)
DEVOTION: God doesn’t want us to do great things for HIM all the time. Sometimes HE wants us to do simple things for HIM. Here we have an example of warriors just marching around the city without making a sound for six days. When they were done marching around the city they went back to their camp for the night.
This happened for six days and the people in the city were watching them and wondering what they were doing. Sometimes we do something for the LORD that just makes people wonder why we are doing it.
The things that we should be doing for the LORD don’t always have to happen with great noise but with continual service to the LORD in silence whether it is at a city mission or in helping the elderly or visiting those who are sick or just bring a meal to a house that needs a meal. All these thing are not something that makes a loud noise but it can be done with silence and with a heart to help those in need.
In this case the LORD was going to give the children of Israel a great victory in a large city after they just marched around it. It doesn’t make sense to us but that is what the LORD wanted done and they did it.
Are we willing to serve the LORD in the same way today? Are we willing to be silent for a time period before it is time to make a sound or give an invitation to someone or a group and then talk about the gospel?
CHALLENGE: God want us to be obedient servants even when it doesn’t make sense what HE is telling us to do.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. (2764 “accursed” [cherem] means doomed object, dedicated thing, things which should have been utterly destroyed, or devoted thing)
DEVOTION: Warnings are good. Joshua was giving final instructions regarding the conquest of the city of Jericho. He told them about their marching orders. He gave instructions regarding their silence. He gave the priests their instructions. He tried to deal with all the events that would take place before the walls of Jericho would fall.
Now comes the temptation time. Once the walls of the great city fell there would be the temptation to take the spoils of the city. The children of Israel had been forty years in the wilderness. They had conquered some land before coming into the Promised Land but the land before them was said to be a land of “milk and honey.” It was a rich land and many would want riches for themselves. They had worn the same clothes throughout their travels. They had worn the same shoes. It was time for a change of clothes and some other things.
Joshua stated that the silver, gold, brass and iron was to go into the treasury of the LORD. The rest of the city was to be destroyed and burned. So, the people would receive nothing from the victory over the city of Jericho. To some it might not be right. However, it was a test of obedience that the LORD was putting before the people.
Our idea of something that was doomed is different from things that are dedicated to the LORD. The children of Israel were not to take anything that was supposed to be utterly destroyed or dedicated things out of Jericho. Everything fell into one or the other category.
Joshua wanted the people to know what the LORD wanted them to do with the possessions in Jericho. HE was to receive the first fruits of their conquering of the Promised Land. If anyone took anything from the city it would bring a curse on the children of Israel and would cause trouble in the camp.
The LORD wants to be first in the lives of the children of Israel. HE wants them to depend on HIM for everything. This is true in our lives as well if we are followers of Christ. Christ died on the cross for our sins. Christ was buried for three days and nights. Christ rose from the dead to show us the way.
While we are here on this earth, we have to glorify HIS name. First, we are to confess our sins and become a follower of HIM. Then way we glorify HIS name is with our possessions. Our first check each payday should be written to our local church and other missions. Once we have given our tithe to the LORD, HE can bless the rest of our money.
If we are not giving our first fruits to HIM and wondering why our money is not lasting to pay our other bills, then we should get back into the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: Instructions are given to God’s people throughout the ages. HE is to be first in everything we do. Are we passing HIS test regarding our giving to HIM?
: 27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was noised throughout all the country. (8089 “fame” [shoma] means report, news, widely honored and acclaimed, renown, reputation, implying status, obedience or hearsay)
DEVOTION: The LORD Jesus Christ met with Joshua before the battle of Jericho as the Captain of the LORD’S host. HE gave Joshua instructions which he followed to the “T.” So he was obedient to the LORD and because of that he gained a reputation of being a servant of the LORD.
Now that the battle was done all of the surrounding communities found out that one of their largest communities had been destroyed by Joshua and his army. This victory sent fear throughout the land.
News traveled fast because people talked to one another. Today people are not talking in person to one another but news still travels fast because of the internet, tweeting, and texting. It is not hard to find out what is happening in our world if we just get on our computer or phone and do a search.
If the people of Joshua’s time had texting the whole world would have know about the battle and the victory that the children of Israel had over a strong city.
Today if we heard that an army was moving toward us that was having victory in each of their battles it would cause fear in the people in the next area of battle.
What type of reputation do we have in our world? Are we given a good report by people or a bad report? Sometimes even when we do good people will speak evil about us.
In fact, bad news travels faster than good news. When we talk to people do we give good reports about people and things or do we prefer to spread bad news about people and things? Do we want to spread a bad report about people, so that, we can have a good report?
Our speaking needs to be done according to Philippians 4: 8. There will be times when we have to deal with people that have done something that is not pleasing to the LORD but even in those times it should be with the idea of restoration to a proper relationship with Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: What are you spreading by word of mouth concerning others? Are you and I giving good reports? Are we encouraging to others?
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)
Treasuryverses 19, 24
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)
Priests bearing Arkverses 4, 6, 7
Seven priests blow the seven trumpetsverses 4, 8, 9, 13
Priests called by Joshuaverse 6
Ark of the LORDverses 6, 7, 11-13
Ark of the covenant of the LORDverse 8
Consecrated to the LORDverses 19, 24
Silver, gold, vessels of brass and iron
Go into treasury of LORD
House of the LORDverse 24
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant-keeping, Personal)verses 2, 6-8, 11-13, 16, 17, 19, 24, 26, 27
Treasury of the LORDverse 19
Treasury of the house of the LORDverse 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)
Rahab shall liveverses 17, 23
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Accursedverses 17, 18
Curseverses 18, 26
Troubleverse 18
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Consecratedverse 19
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Jericho given to Israelverse 1
Mighty men of valor in it
Children of Israelverse 1
Joshua the son of Nunverses 2-27
Compass the city: six days
Saved Rahab the harlot
Cursed anyone who rebuild city
LORD was with Joshua
His fame was noised throughout all the country
Seven trumpetsverses 4, 6, 8
Shoutverses 5, 16, 20
Wall of city will fall flat
Silenceverse 10
Armed men went before priestsverse 13
Seventh dayverses 15, 20
Compassed the city seven times
Priests blew the trumpets
Joshua told people to shout
People shouted
Walls of Jericho fell
Utterly destroyed city
Rahab the harlot sparedverses 17, 23, 25
All in her house
Reason: she hid the messengers
Warning to keep from accursed thingsverse 18
Camp of Israelverses 18, 23
Two men that spied the countryverses 22, 23
Told to go to harlot’s house
Rahab, father, mother, brethren
All she had
Taken without camp
City burnedverse 24
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
25 The statement “she lives among the Israelites to this day” could be evidence that the account was written during Rahab’s lifetime, but probably what it means is that “she lives on in her posterity.” In this chapter the two themes of chapter 2 are concluded: the capture of Jericho and the salvation of Rahab. (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. 282). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Second, if you are not a Christian—if you are still in arms against the Lord Jesus Christ, the rightful ruler of this world and all in it—you must remember that the victory won by the Jews at Jericho, followed by the destruction of the entire city, is a picture of what will surely come to you in the day of God’s judgment. You have shut your heart against God. You have manned the battlements of your life, and although you are trembling, you refuse to repent of your sin and turn to God for his cleansing. What folly! How can you hope to stand against the only sovereign God of this universe? If you do not come to terms with God now, if you continue to hold out, you will perish in the final judgment, and your doom will be just.
The Bible says, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way” (Ps. 2:12).
Rahab did that. The Bible says that the Jewish armies “burned the whole city and everything in it.… 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” (Josh. 6:24–25). Her position was neither better nor worse than yours, and she was saved. Why should her experience not be yours? Why should you too not escape wrath through faith in the God of Israel? (Boice, J. M. (2005). Joshua (p. 56). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.)
Josh. 6:25. But Rahab and all that belonged to her Joshua suffered to live, so that she dwelt in Israel “unto this day.” It is very evident from this remark, that the account was written not very long after the event (Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 53). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.)
6:22–25. Like an oasis in this doleful account of Canaanite extermination is the story of Rahab’s deliverance. Before the city was burned (v. 24), Rahab was spared. Joshua kept the promise made to Rahab by the two spies (cf. 2:12–21) and sent those same young men to the house where the scarlet cord hung from the window. She and her entire family followed them without hesitation to the appointed place outside the doomed city. Rahab and her family, being Gentiles, had to be ceremonially cleansed; the men were no doubt circumcised before they could be identified with the people of Israel. Rahab’s history is an example of the grace of God operating in the lives of an individual and her family. Regardless of her past life she was saved by faith in the living God and even became a part of the messianic line (Matt. 1:5). In keeping with the biblical pattern, Rahab and her family were spared from divine judgment (cf. Gen. 7:1; 1 Thes. 5:9) because of their faith. (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 342–343). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Rescue Rahab and her family (Josh. 6:22–23, 25–26). When the walls of the city fell down, it appears that the section of the wall that held Rahab’s house (2:15) didn’t fall down! It wasn’t necessary for the spies to look for a window with a red cord hanging from it (vv. 18–19), because the only house that was preserved was the house in which Rahab and her family waited. When the spies made their covenant with Rahab, they didn’t know exactly how God would give them the city.
God saved and protected Rahab because of her faith (Heb. 11:31); and because she led her family to trust in Jehovah, they were also saved. These Gentile believers were rescued from a fiery judgment because they trusted the God of Israel, for “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). They were “afar off” as far as the covenants were concerned (Eph. 2:11–12), but their faith brought them into the nation of Israel; for Rahab married Salmon and became an ancestress of King David and of the Messiah! (Matt. 1:5)
Rahab and her relatives were put “outside the camp” initially because they were unclean Gentiles, and “outside the camp” was the place designated for the unclean (Num. 5:1–4; 12:14; Deut. 23:9–14). The men in the family would have to be circumcised in order to become “sons of the covenant,” and all of the family would have to submit to the Law of Moses. What grace that God spared Rahab and her loved ones, and what abundant grace that He chose her, an outcast Gentile, to be an ancestress of the Savior!
Like Jericho of old, our present world is under the judgment of God (John 3:18–21; Rom. 3:10–19); and His judgment will eventually fall. No matter what “walls” and “gates” this present evil world will try to hide behind, God’s wrath will eventually meet them. God has given this lost world plenty of evidence so that sinners can believe and be saved (Josh. 2:8–13; Rom. 1:18ff). The tragedy is, lost sinners willingly reject the evidence and continue in their sins (John 12:35–41). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Strong (pp. 78–79). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
6:22–25 Joshua honored the promise of safety to the household of Rahab. The part of the wall securing this house must not have fallen, and all possessions in the dwelling were safe. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Jos 6:22–25). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Ver. 25. And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, &c.] From perishing by the sword, as the rest of the inhabitants did. Kimchi says, some interpret it of his giving her food, and an inheritance by which she might live; and Josephus intimates the same: he says, he gave her fields, and had her in great honour and esteem; and it is the notion of some Jewish writers, that he took her to wife, and that this is meant by saving her alive; which sense Kimchi disapproves of, as being foreign; besides, it was not Joshua, but Salmon, a prince in Israel, that married her, Matt. 1:5. and her father’s household, and all she had; that is, he saved alive all her relations, and it may be her cattle, if she had any; and those of her kindred also, as their sheep, oxen, and asses, when those of others were killed, ver. 21. Some also understand this of intermarriages of principal persons in Israel with some of her father’s family; but it only signifies that their lives were spared, when the whole city was destroyed with the edge of the sword: and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; which may be meant either personally of Rahab, who was living and dwelt in the land of Canaan, when this history was written; and serves to strengthen the opinion that Joshua was the writer of it, and to explain the meaning of the phrase unto this day, elsewhere used in this book; and to remove any objection from it against his being the author of it; or else of her dwelling there in her posterity, and so she might dwell in it unto the times of the Messiah, who sprang from her, Matt. 1:5. because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho; this was the reason of her and her father’s family being saved alive; see the note on ver. 17. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 201). 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!!)
Abraham, Moses, David, and Esther are all living lives of obscurity when God chooses them. He uses them for great things because they are faithful to Him in the little things. While not all of us are destined to do incredible things in the eyes of man, greatness in the eyes of God is simply being faithful to Him the best way we know how. God has not forgotten about us; His eye is on us. And He will use us—even if only in seemingly “small” ways. (Quiet Walk)
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8
The apostle Paul was once very proud of his achievements all he had accomplished as Saul of Tarsus. But when he saw Christ, all he could say was, “I count them but dung.” “From him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” He will arrive at the bar of eternal judgment with nothing at all, just his own miserable, sinful self–naked, empty, forlorn, and hopeless–and he will go on living like that forever and ever.
This word is a judgment. Do you have this vital thing or do you not? “But what can I do?” asks someone. “I see now that I am a fool. I hadn’t realized that it was a mystery. I thought I knew what Christianity is, but I see now that it means being reconciled to God, being right for the judgment and for eternity. I know nothing about it–how can I get it?”
It is quite simple. Instead of shutting your eyes in blind prejudice, open them and pay attention to the message. Come as a little child, as a pauper. Come as you are, not to criticize, not to be clever, not to justify yourself; come and acknowledge that you have nothing. “Except ye be converted,” says our Lord, “and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3). You need the simplicity of a little child. You need, in other words, an acknowledgment of your sin, of your utter failure. You have to come saying, “I am nothing. I have nothing. God have mercy upon me, a sinner.”
A Thought to Ponder: You have to come saying, “I am nothing. I have nothing. God have mercy upon me, a sinner.” (From The Kingdom of God by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-jones, pp. 103-104.)
Revelation 2
Jesus sends prophetic messages to four churches.
INSIGHT
Jesus commends the church of Ephesus for the good work that they have done. Nevertheless, He commands them to repent and return to their “first love” (v. 4). Unless they seek forgiveness, they will experience the chastening of God. In the face of impending persecution, Jesus offers words of encouragement and hope to the church in Smyrna (v. 10). Addressing the church in Pergamos, our Lord warns the people not to tolerate evil. The same message is sent to the church in Thyatira. Unless they repent, Jesus warns that He will judge them quickly and severely. (Quiet Walk)
SAFE IN THE ARMS OF JESUS
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 1 John 5:18
Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15)—the very thing John says in this verse. Surely, then, we are confronted here by that statement. It is the same thing of which Jude reminds us: “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (24). That is it!
This is the thing we find so constantly in our hymns—the celebration of the fact that the God who has kept and held His people in the past is still our God.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
William Williams
Augustus Toplady’s confidence, too, is that Christ is his keeper; He looks after him.
A sovereign Protector I have,
Unseen, yet forever at hand,
Unchangeably faithful to save,
Almighty to rule and command.
He smiles, and his comforts abound;
His grace as the dew shall descend,
And walls of salvation surround
The soul He delights to defend.
A Thought to Ponder
The God who has kept and held His people in the past is still our God.
(From Life in God, pp. 149-150, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
God with Us
“And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.” (Genesis 4:1)
Here is Eve’s testimony concerning the first child born to the human race. To understand it, we need to recall God’s first promise: “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; [He] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). These words, addressed to Satan, promised that the woman’s “seed” would destroy Satan. Thus, that seed would have to be a man, but the only one capable of destroying Satan is God Himself. Eve mistakenly thought that Cain would fulfill this promise, and when he was born, she testified: “I have gotten a man—even the LORD” (literal rendering).
Over three millennia later, essentially the same promise was renewed to the “house of David,” when the Lord said: “Behold, [the] virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:13-14). The definite article reflects the primeval promise that the divine/human Savior, when He comes, would be born uniquely as the woman’s seed, not of the father’s seed like all other men. His very name, Immanuel, means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). He is “the Word…made flesh” (John 1:14).
While questions have been raised about the precise meaning of almah (Hebrew word translated “virgin”), there is no question in the New Testament: “Behold, [the] virgin [Greek parthenos, meaning virgin and nothing else] shall be with child” (Matthew 1:23). “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman” (Galatians 4:4). “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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