JOSHUA 1:8
SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING
The following illustration from A Primer on Meditation points out what happens when the mind is directed and focused on one thing:
"M.A. Rosanoff, long associated with Thomas Edison, had worked futility for over a year to soften the wax of phonograph cylinders by altering their chemical constitution. The results were negative. Rosanoff relates how he mused night after night trying to 'mentally cough up' every theoretical and practical solution.
'Then it came like a flash of lightning. I could not shut waxes out of my mind, even in my sleep. Suddenly, through headache and daze, I saw the solution. The first thing the next morning, I was at my desk; and half an hour later I had a record in the softened wax cylinder...This was the solution! I learned to think waxes...waxes...waxes, and the answer came without effort, although months of thought had gone into the mental mill" (ODB)
Although you have not worked on a formula for wax on records, you have had times when you needed to remember something, or you needed a solution to a problem. You thought, about it, and thought about it, and then stopped thinking about it, or so you thought. A short time later, God, through your wonderful mind gave you the name or solution you wanted.
We use our brain power for many purposes. We use it to figure math, read, figure out the solution to a personal or work problem, daydream and a number of other things. Doesn't it make sense that our minds should be used by God so that we will better know Him, better know His word, and better serve Him?
Tonight we want to consider what God told an Old Testament Character, about using his mind to serve God. Our text for this evening is Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Before we analyze this verse, we need to consider a little about Joshua.
Joshua was with the Children of Israel when they left Israel for the Promised Land. He served as Moses' servant. He was also the General of the Army, and the head of the Tribe of Ephraim.
When spies went into the Promised Land to spy it out, ten spies brought back a bad report, while Joshua, along with Caleb, brought back a good report. They were all for trusting God, and going into the new land.
The negative report was accepted by the majority of Israel, and the end result was that Israel, as punishment, ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Only 2 of the adult generation were allowed to enter the Promised Land. They were Joshua and Caleb.
Joshua was given the job of being successor to Moses.
Read and Comment on Joshua 1:1-7.
Verse 8 contains the keys to success for Joshua, when he went to conquer the land, and for us, as we strive to live the Christian Life successfully. I find 5 key thoughts in this verse.
PORTION - "This book of the law..."
PERMANENCE - "...shall not depart out of thy mouth..."
PROCESS - "...but thou shalt meditate therein day and night..."
PURPOSE - "...that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein..."
PROMISE - "...for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
PORTION - "This book of the law..."
There are those who will argue that the Books of Moses, the first five books, called the Pentateuch were not written by Moses, but years later by someone else.. However, it is obvious that Joshua had the book!
For Joshua "this book" was only a library of five books in one.
He had Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
For us as Christians, we have the benefit of completed Scriptures.
In our day, "this book" includes Genesis through Revelation.
I am impressed that God did not give Moses a number of different authorities, a number of books. He only gave him one book. And Joshua was to use only one book as his absolute authority - this book!
Today we have many different books available. There are literally thousands of books about the Bible, but there is only one book that is "this book"! This book is the only authority. Other books may help, but they are not perfect. I use commentaries to help me learn, but I can very easily find something in a commentary with which to disagree. Not so, if I honestly approach "this book."
There are other religions that have other books that they want to use with or instead of the Bible. They are wrong. The Koran, the works of Mary Baker Eddy, the Jehovah's Witnesses and the Mormons, to mention a few are not authoritative. They are not "this book".
What is special about this "book?"
2 Timothy 3:16 – “All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
Romans 15:4 – “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
2 Peter 1:21 – “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Psalm 19:7-11 – “The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD [are] right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD [are] true [and] righteous altogether. More to be desired [are they] than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: [and] in keeping of them [there is] great reward.”
Notice that this book is the "book of the law." Yes, the first 5 books are the books of the law. And yes, the ten commandments are law.
But in another sense the Bible is "the law", because it is God's final word on everything!
"A skeptic in London, in speaking of the Bible, said it was quite impossible in these days to believe in any book, whose author was unknown.
"A Christian asked him if the compiler of the multiplication table was known.
"No", he answered.
"Then, of course, you do not believe in it," persisted the other.
"Oh, yes, I believe in it because it works well."
"So does the Bible, was the answer," and the skeptic had no answer."
PORTION
PERMANENCE - "SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH"
Back in 1954, when I was 7 years old, the World Series was on TV
I remember asking my mother if the Yankees were playing. She told me, no, it was the Giants. The Yankees, oddly enough for the times, were not in the World Series that year.
In 1954, the Yankees were a topic that came out my mouth. Here it is almost 50 years later, and the Yankees are still a topic of conversation on my lips. The Yankees have not departed out of my mouth.
The great authority for life is the Word of God.
It is the portion given to us from God.
It is to be a topic of conversation with others.
It is to be a topic of conversation with myself.
It should be something that is so read, studied, and thought about, that it cannot but come out in conversation!
You are what you eat! But the Bible tells us you are what you think.
I might also mention that you are what you talk about. You talk about what you think about.
Joshua was the leader of Israel. It was his job to get the people who remained into the Promised Land. In order for these people to be right with God, so they would do what God wanted them to do, and to occupy and conquer the land Joshua needed to convey to them the Word of God. The only way Israel would be successful, was if they adhered to the Word. of God. They would not know about the Word of God, unless the leaders talked about it.
A.W. PINK - "If Joshua was to complete the work which Moses had begun, then he must maintain the Law which Moses had established." A.W. Pink, Gleanings in Joshua, (Chicago, Moody Press, 1964) p. 40
There are places where you will be a leader, especially at home. The more you talk about the Word of God the more those following you are likely to follow its directions.
But you can't talk about the Word of God, unless you know the Word of God. You will not know the Word of God, unless you read and study the Word of God.
I've never heard my brother the carpet salesman talk about Nuclear Engines.
I've never heard my son in-law the contemporary music fan talk about Classical Music.
And, I've never heard any of you talk about the opera.
That’s because they do not know enough to talk about these subjects.
Get into the Word of God, so you can talk about the Word, and so that it will not depart from being in your mouth.
PERMANENCE
PORTION
PROCESS - "BUT THOU SHALT MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT"
What is meditation? It is thinking about the Word of God. It is mulling it over, thinking about what it means and how it applies to our lives.
This is something which we are to be doing continually - day and night..
Joshua was a soldier. Soldiers must drill. They have to practice when there is no war in order to be effective when there is a war. I can not say it better than Alexander MacLaren has already said it:
"And not only is there courage needed for the application of the principles of conduct which God has given us, but you will never have them handy for swift application unless, in many a quiet hour of silent, solitary, patient meditation you have become familiar with them. The recruit that has to learn on the battle-field how to use his rifle has a good chance of being dad before he has mastered the mysteries of firing. And Christian people that have their Christian principles to dig out of the Bible when the necessity comes, will likely find that the necessity is past before they have completed the excavation. The actual battle-field is no place to learn drill. If a soldier does not know how his sword hangs, and cannot get at it in a moment, he will probably draw it too late." Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scriptures Volume 2 (Grand Rapids, Michigan, William B. Erdman’s Company, 1944) p.97 This is a reprint of MacLaren’s Classic Work.
Meditation begins with reading the word of God and then thinking about what has been read.
The best mediation requires memorization. The more of the Bible that I have memorized, the easier it is for me to meditate upon it.
People do not think that they can memorize God's word. It is as easy as writing a verse of Scripture down on a 3x5 card and constantly reviewing it until you have it memorized. Then go on to another one.
Make sure you review.
After you have memorized a verse, you can now meditate on it.
Do it like a cow that eats, and then brings up his food again to chew it some more.
As you meditate on a verse, think of what it means.
Think how the verse applies to your life.
To talk to God about the verse.
One of the secrets for meditating on God's Word, is loving God's Word.
Psalm 1:2 - But his delight [is] in the law of the LORD; and in his law dot he meditate day and night.
Psalm 119:97 - O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day.
PORTION
PERMANENCE
PROCESS
PURPOSE - that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.
The purpose of meditation is obedience. I meditate in God's word so I will obey God's Word.
Psalm 119:11 - "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that might not sin against thee."
The example of Ezra in Ezra 7:10 – “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do [it], and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”
The best kind of obedience is from a person who loves the one he or she is obeying. When you love someone, you remember that person's words, and often try to live by them.
When we love the Lord, we should love His word enough to do it.
Jesus said in John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Matthew 7:21 – “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.“
PORTION
PERMANENCE
PROCESS
PURPOSE
PROMISE - "...for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
This is not a promise for a million dollars, or a rich life style.
A prosperous way is a Godly way.
And true success is how well I please God.
One of the measures of success that I have is if my earthly Father, my Dad, approves. If he approves, it often won't matter if anyone else does.
Just the other day I did a Eulogy of my great Aunt. I asked my Dad what he thought. I told him later, that it might sound corn ball, but his approval is still very important to me.
How much more important should my Heavenly Father's approval be.
If He approves, nothing much else should matter.
2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.”
PORTION
PERMANENCE
PROCESS
PURPOSE
PROMISE