To Restore Their Covenant Relationship (Josh. 5:1-7)

8/20/2009 9:30 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                    Focus:  To restore their covenant relationship

Bible Reading & Meditation                        Reference:  Joshua 5:1-7

            Message of the verses:  “1 ¶  Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel. 2  At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel the second time." 3  So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. 4  This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along the way after they came out of Egypt. 5  For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6  For the sons of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to the voice of the LORD, to whom the LORD had sworn that He would not let them see the land which the LORD had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7  Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along the way.”

            This section begins a new chapter in Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on Joshua “Be Strong,” and the first section of this chapter is entitled “Renewing the Lord’s covenant.”  At the end of the introduction to this section, which is about having all of the men circumcised, the question is asked as to why the Lord would do this at this time, for when one reads the first verse in chapter five they can see that all of the Canaanites were now terrified because they all heard of the Lord stopping up the waters of the Jordan River to allow Israel to cross on dry land.  So why would God want to stop the nation of Israel from going right out and conquering these Canaanites, for they were ripe for the picking?  “Why did God command this ritual at this time?”  The answer to this question is what this first section is all about and the first part of this answer is in today’s SD.

            The men who came out of Egypt who were ready to be in Israel’s army had all been circumcised when they were born in Egypt, but when Israel sinned against the Lord and did not trust Him to lead them into the Promised Land and so the Lord made Israel walk around in the wilderness for forty years until all of the men who were eligible to be in the army died.  Those who were born in the wilderness had not been circumcised so it was time for them to have this done in order to restore their covenant relationship with the Lord. 

            During the time of wandering in the wilderness God suspended His covenant relationship with Israel and thus this sign of the covenant was not practiced, but now that they were about to conquer their inheritance the sign of the covenant had to again be performed. 

            As mentioned in earlier SD’s on what circumcision was about it will be repeated here:  Circumcision was meant to be a symbol of a spiritual operation on the heart.  “Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer”  (Deut. 10:16).

           

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Sin separates me from fellowship with the Lord, and even though the Lord has chosen me for salvation and saved me through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ I still sin and need to confess my sins to the Lord so that I can be in fellowship with the Lord and be used of Him for His glory.

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.”

8/20/2009 10:28 AM