Reaffirming the Lord's Presence (Josh. 5:13-15)

8/27/2009 10:03 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                              Focus:  Reaffirming the Lord’s presence

Bible Reading & Meditation               Reference:  Joshua 5:13-15

            Message of the verses:  “13 ¶  Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us or for our adversaries?" 14  He said, "No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, "What has my lord to say to his servant?" 15  The captain of the LORD’S host said to Joshua, "Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.”

            This is the last section in the chapter “Preparing For Victory” in Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Joshua “Be Strong.”  He stated at the beginning of this chapter that “There were three steps of preparation necessary before God would give His people victory over the nations in the land of Canaan.”  The first step of “Renewing the Lord’s covenant, which had four parts to it, and the second step was “Remembering the Lord’s goodness” and not this third step “Reaffirming the Lord’s presence” for today’s SD.

            These three verses are some of the most memorable in the entire book of Joshua, as in these verses the Lord Jesus Christ comes personally to give orders to Joshua.  Joshua saw Him standing with His sword drawn and was wondering who He was, and so he, being the good soldier that he was, came to confront Him.  Little did he know that he was talking to the Creator of the Universe, who was very interested in the affairs of Joshua and the nation that he was leading.  As I think about all of this it was very important to the Lord that Joshua be successful in his battles with these enemies, for if Israel would have lost this battle and were destroyed then the Lord Jesus would not have been able to come to destroy our main enemy, that is the enemy of sin. 

            Warren Wiersbe compares the sequence of events that took place here to different verses in the book of Ephesians and I will go over this at this time, “First humble worship, then holy walk, then heavenly warfare.  This parallels the Epistle to the Ephesians.  Joshua first bowed the knee (Ephesians 3:14) ‘For this reason I bow my knees before the Father’; then he submitted to a holy walk (Eph. 4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15) ‘Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called; So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light; Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise.’  And then he went out to battle the enemy in the power of the Lord (Ehp. 6:10ff) ‘10 ¶  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.’”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  “Like Joshua, we have already been given our inheritance (Described in Ephesians 1-2) and we must overcome the enemy in order to claim it for ourselves and enjoy it.”  This is the remainder of the paragraph that was quoted above and it seems to me that it is a great thing to have as my spiritual meaning for my life today and for that matter for when ever I have to make a big decision. 

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.  Romans 12:1-2  “1 ¶  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
    
2. Proverbs 3:5-6  “5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”   
3. Psalm 139:23-24  “23  Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24  And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.”
4. Philippians 4:11  “11  Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.”
5. Ephesians 6:14-18  “14  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, 15  and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; 16  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.”
6. 1 ¶  Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

8/27/2009 11:11 AM