Do you wonder
if you are following the Lord's leading to the place where He wants
you to be? The Israelites cried out to God, and He heard them,
raising up Moses to deliver them out of slavery in the land of Egypt
and lead them towards the Promised Land. Because of their sin,
however, they suffered the consequences and wandered in the
wilderness for nearly forty years. What can you learn from the
children of Israel so that you won't make the same mistakes? 7
lessons
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Clarke (1760-1832) was
Methodist, Wesleyan,
Arminian, (e.g.,
Clarke "suggested that although God can know all future events, He
chooses not to know some events beforehand" Baker Encyclopedia of
the Bible, page 808). He did not always interpret Scripture
literally
and so was amillennial (to quote Clarke on 1000 years - "I am
satisfied that this period should not be taken literally" [see
comment on Rev 20:4]
- he interpreted Revelation as a
Historicist) which led him to
interpret the church as fulfilling many OT promises to Israel.
Influential in development of doctrine of Entire Sanctification (or
"Christian perfection").
Affirmed the authority and sufficiency of Scripture, but held a
belief of "plenary dynamic inspiration" (idea of every
thought inspired), thus falling short of "plenary verbal
inspiration" (every single word inspired) (Bib. Sacra: Vol 125, p
163, 1968). In summary, a useful, respected commentary but as with
all extra-Biblical resources you are advised to
"Be a Berean!" Acts
17:11
This was John Calvin's
last written work in 1563 completed shortly before his death. David
Howard notes that "It consistently engages the text and is filled with
many good insights, even for today." (Evaluating
Commentaries on Joshua)
Miscellaneous
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John Piper says
that Horae Homileticae "is the best place to go for
researching Simeon's theology. You can find his views on almost
every key text in the Bible. He did not want to be labeled a
Calvinist or an Arminian. He wanted to be Biblical through and
through and give every text its due proportion, whether it sounded
Arminian as it stands or Calvinistic. But he was known as an
evangelical Calvinist, and rightly so. As I have read portions of
his sermons on texts concerning election and effectual calling and
perseverance he is uninhibited in his affirmation of what we would
call the doctrines of grace....What Simeon experienced in the word
was remarkable. And it is so utterly different from the counsel that
we receive today that it is worth looking at." (Brothers,
We Must Not Mind a Little Suffering) (Bolding added)
Note: The best commentary on
Scripture is Scripture (Compare
Scripture with Scripture)
and these cross references compiled by Torrey are the most
comprehensive work of this type with over 500,000 entries. However,
always check the context (Keep
Context King) to
make sure that the cross reference is referring to the same subject as
the original Scripture. The Puritan writer Thomas Watson said it this
way - "The Scripture is to be its own interpreter or rather the Spirit
speaking in it; nothing can cut the diamond but the diamond; nothing
can interpret Scripture but Scripture." See an
example of the value of comparing Scripture with
Scripture. See
also
Use of Cross-References
"Arise, go over this Jordan...I will not leave you nor forsake
you." - Joshua 1:2,5
Whenever the Lord assigns us a difficult task, He gives us what we
need to carry it out. John Wesley
wrote,
"Among the many difficulties of
our early ministry, my brother Charles often said, 'If the Lord
would give me wings, I'd fly.' I used to answer, 'If God bids me
fly, I will trust Him for wings.'"
Today's
Scripture tells us that Joshua was thrust into a position of great
responsibility. No doubt
the enormity of the challenge before him made him tremble with
fear. How could he ever follow such a
great leader as Moses? In his own strength it would be impossible
to lead the people into the Promised Land. But along with the
marching orders, the Lord gave him an assuring promise: "I will
not leave you nor forsake you" (Josh. 1:5). Then He said, "Have I
not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be
afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go" (v. 9). Such reassurances were the backing Joshua needed.
If God has given you some special work to do that frightens you,
it's your responsibility to jump at it.
It's up to the Lord to see you through. As you faithfully do your
part, He will do His part. - R W De Haan
I'll go where
You want me to go, dear Lord,
O'er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I'll say what You want me to say, dear Lord,
I'll be what You want me to be.- Brown
Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise. —Joshua 1:2
During our
church's annual New Year's Eve Communion service, we say this
prayer together: "Father, we surrender this past year and give it
up to You. We give You our failures, our regrets, and our
disappointments, for we have no more use for them. Make us now a
new people, forgetting what lies behind and pressing on toward
that which lies ahead of us.
"We give You all our hopes and dreams for the future. Purify them
by Your Spirit so that our wills shall truly reflect Your will for
us.
"As we stand on the threshold of another year, encourage us by our
successes of the past, challenge us by the power of Your Word, and
guide us by the presence of Your Holy Spirit."
In every transition, it's good to look both ways. When Joshua
assumed leadership of Israel, God told him to consider the past
and the future: "Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise,
go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I
am giving to them" (Joshua 1:2). Then He promised, "As I was with
Moses, so I will be with you. . . . Do not be afraid, nor be
dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go"
(vv.5,9).
With confidence in God, we can look back and look ahead, then walk
boldly into a new year.—David C. McCasland
Forgive us, Lord, for failures
past,
Then help us start anew
With strength and courage to obey
And closely follow You. —Sper
The victories of the past give courage for the future.
"Be strong and of good courage; for the Lord your God is with you wherever
you go." Joshua 1:9
I was in England during World War II working as a surgical technician in
an army hospital when I heard the shocking radio announcement: "Franklin
Delano Roosevelt is dead!" I was saddened and troubled. Was Vice President
Harry Truman qualified to be President?
I was relieved when I heard him say that he felt as if an enormous weight
had fallen on his shoulders and that he desired people everywhere to pray
for him. This reassured me that he humbly recognized his inadequacies and
his need for God's help.
Few of us will ever be thrust into a position of leadership with duties of
that magnitude, but most of us know the feeling of inadequacy in the face
of great responsibility we are about to assume. It might be that of taking
on a new job, getting a promotion at work, choosing a spouse, becoming a
parent, or accepting a new ministry in Sunday school or church.
When we face a new challenge, we can take courage from the Lord's words to
Joshua (1:9). We can accept our opportunity as from Him and believe that
He will give us all we need to do it well. If we meditate on His Word,
obey it, prayerfully rely on Him, and work diligently, He will do the
rest. He will equip us for the task.—H. V. Lugt
The Lord will give
you help and strength
For work He bids you do:
To serve Him from a heart of love
Is all He asks of you.
God's call to a task includes His strength to complete it.
"You have not passed this way
before" (Joshua 3:4).
When I was a boy, the flame of adventure burned brightly in my soul,
filling my life with anticipation. I loved to read stories about
pioneers who ventured into the unknown, and I still remember these
words of Rudyard Kipling:
"There
is no sense in going further—it's the edge of civilization,
So they said, and I believed it—
Till a voice, as bad as conscience, rang interminable changes
On one everlasting whisper day and night repeated—
Something hidden. Go and find it.
Go and look behind the Ranges—
Something lost behind the Ranges.
Lost and waiting for you. Go!"
Although I
still like to try new things, I have lost some of my adventurous
spirit as I've grown older, and I find myself feeling a bit uneasy
as I draw closer to retirement, old age, and death. It's natural, I
believe, to feel a mixture of fear and anticipation as we face the
unknown. But as I trust God and keep walking with Him, I find that
fear diminishes and my longing for heaven grows stronger.
The Israelites undoubtedly felt both uneasiness and eagerness as
they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Knowing this, Joshua told
them to follow the ark, the symbol of God's presence. The people
leading the column were to stay far enough behind the ark so that
those in the rear could see it. By trusting God and obeying Him,
their fear dissolved and their sense of anticipation grew stronger.
And it still works that way today. —H. V. Lugt
Faith keeps
the sails of life filled with the breath of heaven.
"You have not passed this way before." - Joshua 3:4
When our son Stephen was eight, he was invited to stay overnight at
a cousin's house. It was his first time away from home and it all
sounded like an exciting adventure. But when we got ready to leave,
he started getting that homesick feeling! With tears glistening in
his eyes and his voice quavering, he cried, "Mommy, I don't feel so
good. I'd better go home with you."
My wife responded, "It's up to you, but I know you'd have a good
time."
"But Mommy," Stephen whimpered, "they said they were going to climb
a big hill tomorrow, and I've never been there before."
We too can become fearful sometimes as we look ahead because we've
"never been there before." But just as the Lord took care of Joshua
and Israel (Josh. 3), He will take care of us.
Perhaps right now you are anxious about some new and untried pathway
on which the Lord is leading you. Then listen to God's Word and take
courage: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should
go; I will guide you with My eye" (Ps. 32:8).
Place your hand by faith in your heavenly Father's hand, and let Him
lead the way.-- R. W. De Haan
I have promised
you My presence
With you everywhere you go;
I will never, never leave you
As you travel here below.- Rose
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.... Hebrews 11:30
In the story about Joshua and the city of Jericho, we have a most vivid
illustration of faith. God commanded Joshua to gather all the men of war
and have them march around Jericho once a day for six days. Then, on the
seventh day, they were to compass the city seven times, after which the
priests were to blow with the trumpets and all the people were to shout
with a great shout. The Lord promised Joshua that if they did this, the
walls of the city would fall down flat.
Have you ever tried to put yourself in Joshua's place, and imagine how you
would have reacted to such a command? When the Lord gave him these
instructions, do you suppose Joshua responded: "Lord, that's a reasonable
thing to do. In fact, I'm rather ashamed of myself that I didn't devise
such a brilliant plan in the first place. It really makes a lot of sense."
Of course, he said nothing of the kind, simply because God's command was
not a "reasonable" one to Joshua's mind. That is, he couldn't take out his
"slide rule" and calculate scientifically that the predicted results would
necessarily follow such actions. And yet, even though some would have
ruled it an insane plan thus to attempt the conquest of Jericho, Joshua
obeyed God anyway, simply because he had faith! Yes, he was willing to
rely on the word of the Lord, despite the fact that it seemed contrary to
his own understanding of things. That's what God expects of us today. He
wants us to believe His Word — to accept the Bible record in its entirety
— whether we can comprehend it or not. There is much in the Book we cannot
explain: for example, the Trinity, the virgin birth, Christ's
substitutionary death, His resurrection, and His coming again; yet we
believe these things with all our heart just because God says so!
Remember, without such faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6).
So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Loin had said
to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel (Joshua 11:23).
Writing to a new generation after World War 1, Winston Churchill
challenged,
"You have not an
hour to lose. . . . Don't be content with things as they are. `The earth
is yours and the fullness thereof.' Enter your inheritance; accept your
responsibility."
God gave Israel the land of Palestine as their inheritance. He first
promised it to Abraham, and He reconfirmed His pledge to others throughout
Old Testament times.
In addition to whatever land he owned, the Jewish man would pass on his
possessions to his children. Only the priests and Levites owned neither
land nor possessions; their inheritance was the Lord.
In the Old Testament, a person had rights to an inheritance only through
the death of a parent or relative. Under Roman law of New Testament times,
a person became an heir at birth, though he might not receive a full
inheritance until a family member died.
In Jesus Christ, the truths about inheritance from both testaments reached
their pinnacle: He died that we might enter our inheritance; and He gave
us a second birth that we might accept our responsibility
"Choose
for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my
house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15
Abe Lincoln told the story of a blacksmith who heated a piece of iron in
the forge, not knowing what he was going to make. At first he thought of
shaping it into a horseshoe but changed his mind. After hammering on the
iron for a while, he decided to try to make it into something else. By
this time the metal was no longer malleable. Holding it up with his tongs
and looking at it with disgust, the blacksmith tossed it into a vat of
water. "Well," he shrugged, "at least I can make a fizzle out of it!"
Joshua would have seen an important lesson in that story. He knew that a
meaningful life must have clear purpose. "Choose!" he urged his followers.
If you're not going to live for God, then decide against Him. If you are
going to live for God, then let your life reflect that decision. But
whatever you do, decide! Joshua made it clear that he and his family had
made their choice to serve the Lord (24:15).For him, life was not an
amusement park but an arena where important decisions had to be made.
What about you? If you don't choose to trust Christ and serve Him, all you
will have to show for the living of your days will be a loud fizzle.--
Haddon W. Robinson
Joyfully enlisting
By Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord's side,
Savior, we are Thine.- Havergal
If you decide not
to choose,
you've already made the wrong choice.
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." - Hebrews
12:1
Few experiences match the challenge and exhilaration of mountain climbing.
Those who participate in this exercise of endurance and skill like to
compare peaks and share experiences. When European climbers get together
to swap stories, they often tell of passing a certain grave along the
trail to one famous peak. On the inscription: HE DIED CLIMBING.
To me, mountain climbing is a picture of the life of faith. Throughout our
lives we are to continue moving upward -- learning more about God, growing
in our relationship with Christ, becoming stronger in our battle with
temptation, pushing ahead in telling the lost about Christ.
The author of Hebrews put it this way: "Let us run with endurance." The
words "with endurance" may be translated "with perseverance," or more
commonly, "to the end."
Joshua was just such a man of God. His "climb" began in Egypt and ended in
the Promised Land. He won great battles. We are told that "Israel served
the Lord all the days of Joshua" (Josh. 24:31). At the
close of his life, Joshua was still urging Israel to serve God faithfully
(V. 23).
Lord Jesus, help us to serve You faithfully. May we still be climbing to
the very end. -- D C Egner
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a glimpse of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till heaven I've found,
"Lord, lead me on to higher ground."-- Oatman
Faith grows stronger as we climb
higher.
DEVOTIONALS
C H SPURGEON Morning and Evening
Faith's Checkbook
“I will be
with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”—Joshua 1:5
THIS word to Joshua is often
quoted; it is the basis of that New Testament word, “He hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Beloved, a life of warfare
is before us, but the Lord of Hosts is with us. Are we called to
lead a great but fickle people? This promise guarantees us all the
wisdom and prudence that we shall need. Have we to contend with
cunning and powerful enemies? Here is strength and valor, prowess
and victory. Have we a vast heritage to win? By this sign we shall
achieve our purpose: the Lord Himself is with us.
It would be woe to us indeed
if Jehovah could fail us but, as this can never be, the winds of
disquietude are laid to sleep in the caverns of divine
faithfulness. On no one occasion will the Lord desert us. Happen
what may, He will be at our side. Friends drop from us; their help
is but an April shower. But God is faithful, Jesus is the same
forever, and the Holy Spirit abideth in us.
Come, my heart, be calm and
hopeful today. Clouds may gather, but the Lord can blow them away.
Since God will not fail me, my faith shall not fail, and, as He
will not forsake me neither will I forsake Him. Oh, for a restful
faith!
Joshua 1:7 “Only be thou strong and very
courageous.” — Joshua 1:7 Morning and Evening
Our God’s tender love for his servants makes him concerned for the
state of their inward feelings. He desires them to be of good
courage. Some esteem it a small thing for a believer to be vexed
with doubts and fears, but God thinks not so. From this text it is
plain that our Master would not have us entangled with fears. He
would have us without carefulness, without doubt, without
cowardice. Our Master does not think so lightly of our unbelief as
we do. When we are desponding we are subject to a grievous malady,
not to be trifled with, but to be carried at once to the beloved
Physician. Our Lord loveth not to see our countenance sad. It was
a law of Ahasuerus that no one should come into the king’s court
dressed in mourning: this is not the law of the King of kings, for
we may come mourning as we are; but still he would have us put off
the spirit of heaviness, and put on the garment of praise, for
there is much reason to rejoice. The Christian man ought to be of
a courageous spirit, in order that he may glorify the Lord by
enduring trials in an heroic manner. If he be fearful and
fainthearted, it will dishonour his God. Besides, what a bad
example it is. This disease of doubtfulness and discouragement is
an epidemic which soon spreads amongst the Lord’s flock. One
downcast believer makes twenty souls sad. Moreover, unless your
courage is kept up Satan will be too much for you. Let your spirit
be joyful in God your Saviour, the joy of the Lord shall be your
strength, and no fiend of hell shall make headway against you: but
cowardice throws down the banner. Moreover, labour is light to a
man of cheerful spirit; and success waits upon cheerfulness. The
man who toils, rejoicing in his God, believing with all his heart,
has success guaranteed. He who sows in hope shall reap in joy;
therefore, dear reader, “be thou strong, and very courageous.”
Joshua 1:7 Rules for Prosperity (from
Faith's Checkbook)
“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant
commanded thee: turn not from the right hand or to the left,
that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”—Joshua 1:7
YES, the Lord will be with
us in our holy war, but He demands of us that we strictly follow
His rules. Our victories will very much depend upon our obeying
Him with all our heart, throwing strength and courage into the
actions of our faith. If we are half-hearted, we cannot expect
more than half a blessing.
We must obey the Lord with
care and thoughtfulness. “Observe to do” is the phrase used,
and it is full of meaning. This is referred to every part of the
divine will; we must obey with universal readiness. Our rule of
conduct is “according to all the law.” We may not pick and
choose, but we must take the Lord’s commands as they come, one and
all. In all this we must go on with exactness and constancy. Ours
is to be a straightforward course, which bends neither to the
right nor to the left. We are not to err by being more rigid than
the law, nor turn out of levity to a more free and easy way. With
such obedience there will come spiritual prosperity. O Lord, help
us to see if it be not even so! We shall not test thy promise in
vain.
Joshua 2:21
“She bound the scarlet line in
the window.” — Joshua 2:21 Morning and Evening
Rahab depended for her preservation upon the promise of the spies,
whom she looked upon as the representatives of the God of Israel.
Her faith was simple and firm, but it was very obedient. To tie
the scarlet line in the window was a very trivial act in itself,
but she dared not run the risk of omitting it. Come, my soul, is
there not here a lesson for thee? Hast thou been attentive to all
thy Lord’s will, even though some of his commands should seem
non-essential? Hast thou observed in his own way the two
ordinances of believers’ baptism and the Lord’s Supper? These
neglected, argue much unloving disobedience in thy heart. Be
henceforth in all things blameless, even to the tying of a thread,
if that be matter of command.
This act of Rahab sets forth a yet more solemn lesson. Have I
implicitly trusted in the precious blood of Jesus? Have I tied the
scarlet cord, as with a Gordian knot in my window, so that my
trust can never be removed? Or can I look out towards the Dead Sea
of my sins, or the Jerusalem of my hopes, without seeing the
blood, and seeing all things in connection with its blessed power?
The passer-by can see a cord of so conspicuous a colour, if it
hangs from the window: it will be well for me if my life makes the
efficacy of the atonement conspicuous to all onlookers. What is
there to be ashamed of? Let men or devils gaze if they will, the
blood is my boast and my song. My soul, there is One who will see
that scarlet line, even when from weakness of faith thou canst not
see it thyself; Jehovah, the Avenger, will see it and pass over
thee. Jericho’s walls fell flat: Rahab’s house was on the wall,
and yet it stood unmoved; my nature is built into the wall of
humanity, and yet when destruction smites the race, I shall be
secure. My soul, tie the scarlet thread in the window afresh, and
rest in peace.
Joshua 5:12 “They did eat of the fruit of
the land of Canaan that year.” — Joshua 5:12 Morning and Evening
Israel’s
weary wanderings were all over, and the promised rest was
attained. No more moving tents, fiery serpents, fierce Amalekites,
and howling wildernesses: they came to the land which flowed with
milk and honey, and they ate the old corn of the land. Perhaps
this year, beloved Christian reader, this may be thy case or mine.
Joyful is the prospect, and if faith be in active exercise, it
will yield unalloyed delight. To be with Jesus in the rest which
remaineth for the people of God, is a cheering hope indeed, and to
expect this glory so soon is a double bliss. Unbelief shudders at
the Jordan which still rolls between us and the goodly land, but
let us rest assured that we have already experienced more ills
than death at its worst can cause us. Let us banish every fearful
thought, and rejoice with exceeding great joy, in the prospect
that this year we shall begin to be “for ever with the Lord.”
A part of the host will this year tarry on earth, to do service
for their Lord. If this should fall to our lot, there is no reason
why the New Year’s text should not still be true. “We who have
believed do enter into rest.” The Holy Spirit is the earnest of
our inheritance; he gives us “glory begun below.” In heaven they
are secure, and so are we preserve in Christ Jesus; there they
triumph over their enemies, and we have victories too. Celestial
spirits enjoy communion with their Lord, and this is not denied to
us; they rest in his love, and we have perfect peace in him: they
hymn his praise, and it is our privilege to bless him too. We will
this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith
and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord. Man did
eat angels’ food of old, and why not now? O for grace to feed on
Jesus, and so to eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan this year!
Joshua
6:26 “Cursed be the man before the
Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.” — Joshua
6:26 Morning and Evening
Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, much more the man who
labours to restore Popery among us. In our fathers’ days the
gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the
perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel
trumpets; and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed
system upon its old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their
unrighteous endeavours, and pull down every stone which they
build. It should be a serious business with us to be thoroughly
purged of every error which may have a tendency to foster the
spirit of Popery, and when we have made a clean sweep at home we
should seek in every way to oppose its all too rapid spread abroad
in the church and in the world. This last can be done in secret by
fervent prayer, and in public by decided testimony. We must warn
with judicious boldness those who are inclined towards the errors
of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth, and tell them
of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must aid in
spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for priests,
like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus and
the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of the
priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the
Pope’s bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel
writings? Luther once said, “The devil hates goose quills” and,
doubtless, he has good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy
Spirit’s blessing, have done his kingdom much damage. If the
thousands who will read this short word this night will do all
they can to hinder the rebuilding of this accursed Jericho, the
Lord’s glory shall speed among the sons of men. Reader, what can
you do? What will you do?
“Thou shalt drive out the
Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be
strong.”—Joshua 17:18
IT is a great encouragement
to valor to be assured of victory, for then a man goes forth to
war in confidence and ventures where else he had been afraid to
go. Our warfare is with evil within us and around us, and we ought
to be persuaded that we are able to get the victory, and that we
shall do so in the name of the Lord Jesus. We are not riding for a
fall, but to win; and win we shall. The grace of God in its
omnipotence is put forth for the overflow of evil in every form,
hence the certainty of triumph.
Certain of our sins find
chariots of iron in our constitution—our former habits, our
associations, and our occupations. Nevertheless we must overcome
them. They are very strong, and in reference to them, we are very
weak; yet in the name of God we must master them, and we will. If
one sin has dominion of us, we are not the Lord’s free men. A man
who is held by only one chain is still a captive. There is no
going to heaven with one sin ruling within us, for of the saints
it is said, “Sin shall not have dominion over you.” Up, then,
and slay every Canaanite, and break to shivers every chariot of
iron! The Lord of hosts is with us, and who shall resist His
sin-destroying power?
Joshua 20:3 “Your refuge from the avenger
of blood.” — Joshua 20:3 Morning and Evening
It is said that in the land of Canaan, cities of refuge were so
arranged, that any man might reach one of them within half a day
at the utmost. Even so the word of our salvation is near to us;
Jesus is a present Saviour, and the way to him is short; it is but
a simple renunciation of our own merit, and a laying hold of
Jesus, to be our all in all. With regard to the roads to the city
of refuge, we are told that they were strictly preserved, every
river was bridged, and every obstruction removed, so that the man
who fled might find an easy passage to the city. Once a year the
elders went along the roads and saw to their order, so that
nothing might impede the flight of any one, and cause him, through
delay, to be overtaken and slain. How graciously do the promises
of the gospel remove stumbling blocks from the way! Wherever there
were by-roads and turnings, there were fixed up hand-posts, with
the inscription upon them—“To the city of refuge!” This is a
picture of the road to Christ Jesus. It is no roundabout road of
the law; it is no obeying this, that, and the other; it is a
straight road: “Believe, and live.” It is a road so hard, that no
self-righteous man can ever tread it, but so easy, that every
sinner, who knows himself to be a sinner may by it find his way to
heaven. No sooner did the man-slayer reach the outworks of the
city than he was safe; it was not necessary for him to pass far
within the walls, but the suburbs themselves were sufficient
protection. Learn hence, that if you do but touch the hem of
Christ’s garment, you shall be made whole; if you do but lay hold
upon him with “faith as a grain of mustard seed,” you are safe.
“A little
genuine grace ensures
The death of all our sins.”
Only waste no time, loiter
not by the way, for the avenger of blood is swift of foot; and it
may be he is at your heels at this still hour of eventide.
“One man of you shall chase
a thousand: for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for
you, as he hath promised you.”—Joshua 23:10
WHY count heads? One man
with God is a majority though there be a thousand on the other
side. Sometimes our helpers may be too many for God to work with
them, as was the case with Gideon, who could do nothing till he
had increased his forces by thinning out their numbers. But the
Lord’s hosts are never too few. When God would found a nation, He
called Abram alone and blessed him. When He would vanquish proud
Pharaoh, He used no armies but only Moses and Aaron. The “one man
ministry,” as certain wise men call it, has been far more used of
the Lord than trained bands with their officers. Did all the
Israelites together slay so many as Samson alone? Saul and his
hosts slew their thousands, but David his ten thousands.
he Lord can give the enemy
long odds and yet vanquish him. If we have faith, we have God with
us; and what are multitudes of men? One shepherd’s dog can drive
before him a great flock of sheep. If the Lord sent thee, O my
brother, His strength will accomplish His divine purpose.
Wherefore, rely on the promise, and be very courageous.
DOWNLOAD
InstaVerse
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install and simple to use Bible Verse pop up tool that allows you to read
cross references
in context and in the Version you prefer. Only the KJV is free with
this download but you can also download a free copy of
Bible Explorer
which in turn offers
free Bibles
that work with
InstaVerse,
including the excellent, literal translation, the English Standard Version
(ESV). Other popular versions are available for purchase. When you
hold the mouse pointer over a Scripture reference anywhere on the Web (as
well as offline in Word for Windows, email, etc) the passage pops up
immediately.
InstaVerse
can be disabled if the
popups become distractive. This utility really does work and makes it easy
to read the actual passage in context and not just the chapter and verse
reference.
DISCLAIMER:
Before you "go to the commentaries" go to the Scriptures and study them
inductively (Click
here for 3 part overview of how to do
Inductive Bible Study) in dependence on
your Teacher, the Holy Spirit, Who Jesus promised would
guide us into all the truth (John
16:13). Remember that Scripture is always the best commentary on
Scripture. Any commentary, even those by the most conservative and orthodox
teacher/preachers cannot help but have at least some bias of the expositor
based upon his training and experience. Therefore the inclusion of specific
links does not indicate that we agree with every comment. We have made a
sincere effort to select only the most conservative, "bibliocentric"
commentaries. Should you discover some commentary or sermon you feel may not
be orthodox, please email your concern. I have removed several links in
response to concerns by discerning readers. I recommend that your priority
be a steady intake of solid Biblical food so that with practice you will
have your spiritual senses trained to discern good from evil (see note
Hebrews 5:14).
