Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 6:5, 27

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 6:5, 27
"And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye 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.
So the Lord was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country."

The Lord instructions them on how to take the city of Jericho. The men or war are to silently march around the city once six days in a row. They are to march with the ark of the covenant and seven priests are to blow seven trumpets of rams' horn continually as they do so. Then on the seventh day, they proceed to march seven times around the city. Then on the seventh time around Joshua tells the people to shout; for the lord hath given you the city. When the people shouted with a great shout and the trumpets blew, the wall of the city of Jericho fell down flat. Then men went in and took the city.

I sat and pondered on so many things. Putting myself in the shoes of all the different characters. I wondered if I would believe that it was possible for the city walls to fall down like that simply from marching, trumpets blaring and people shouting. I sure hope I would. I guess I can't know that unless I am faced with something so incredible. So far, all I have had to have faith in is small things for me. I guess faith starts with small things first.

Then I thought about the people in the city. Would I tremble and quake to know the children of Israel were outside the city walls? How would I feel to see this curious event happen six days in a row? I know from Rahab's earlier words the people were already afraid of the God of Israel. Man, I would just want to leave the city. I know Israel's God could do anything. I found it interesting I could feel more assurance of the power of Israel's God as one being conquered, than thinking as a children of Israel. I have no idea what that means.

I wondered if the people of Jericho grew tired of seeing men marching around their city for six days?  Did they begin to laugh or mock at the sight? When things changed on the seventh day did they feel terror or dread? They didn't know what the plan was, they were only watching the events from inside the safety of their walls.

I pondered on Joshua, the prophet. What great shoes he had to fill after Moses. With the Lord cutting off the waters of the Jordan for the children of Israel to pass, and now the walls of Jericho falling down, I can see how the fame of Joshua would be noised around the country. I pictured what it would be like to hear this news. It made me think of the folk spiritual "The Battle of Jericho". I had to sit and listen to it. I couldn't help but think of how many generations the fame of this event has been passed down. Of course, reading the bible tells the story, but those with no faith have usually heard this song.


Day 768

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 5:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 5:13-14
"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: an Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?"

At first I misread this and thought Joshua worshiped the angel. But then when he said "What saith my lord unto his servant?" I saw that he wasn't. He knew the angel would speak the words of Christ. That is where his heart was. It made me sit and ponder on what I would do if I saw an angel. Would I worship the angel or the message I know he brought from the Lord's lips? An angel of God can only speak the words of Christ, so if an angel were to have me worship the angel then I know if wouldn't be of God.

I felt impressed to go back and look at a recorded event that happened 100 years ago this year in another faith, that actually didn't sit right with me, but I couldn't figure out what was wrong when I heard it. I read some quotes given from the apparition.

Now I understand what didn't sit right with me. The apparition was wanting people to worship them and not Christ. Anything that comes and does not testify of the divinity of Christ and worship only him, is not of him. Reading this event again and seeing it in these eyes just left me a little horrified. That was not a religious event, it had all the hallmarks of a satanic one. Satan absolutely can quote scriptures, he can tell of coming events, and he can show great signs and wonders, to make people worship him, and not Christ.

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matthew 24:24)

"For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Revelations 16:14)

The only way back to the presence of the Father is through Jesus Christ. Anything that teaches a different path is not of the Father.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)


Day 767

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 4:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 4:24
"That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mightly: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever."

Today I pondered on what it means to "fear the Lord".

I know I must fear the Lord, but yet at the same time Satan will motive by fear. So how do I reconcile what fear is?

The bible dictionary tells me, Fear can have two meanings:
(1) to fear God is to feel reverence and awe for Him and to obey His commandments
(2) to fear man, mortal dangers, pain, and evil is to be afraid of such things and to dread them.

I went through a scriptures looking up all the verses for "fear the Lord" and pondered on what they meant. These are some of my favorites.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Psalm 111:10)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

"Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield." (Psalm 115:11)

"Bless the Lord, O house of Levi: ye that fear the Lord, bless the Lord."  (Psalm 135:20)

"Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the see of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel."  (Psalm 22:23)

"Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:5)

"Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:7)

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul." ("Deuteronomy 10:12)

"And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14:7)

"And behold, he spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us." (Alma 36:7)

"But it is they who do not fear me; neither keep my commandments but build up churches unto themselves to get gain, yea, and all those that do wickedly and build up the kingdom of the devil - yea, verily, verily, I say unto you, that it is they that I will disturb, and cause to tremble and shake to the center." (Doctrine & Covenants 10:56)

"And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: (Isaiah 11:2-3)

From pondering these over I think before I can love the Lord I must fear him. I must come to know His power and glory. All shall fear the Lord, the righteous and the wicked. The difference is in how I come to love, trust and reverence Him. As I keep his commandments he will reveal himself to me. His power and glory that will make men tremble will instead impart to me wisdom, knowledge, protection, and grace. I will come to understand I am as the dust of the earth beneath him. He is omnipotent, yet he loves me. I won't fall to the earth for fear of him, it will be to reverence Him.

In this chapter the fear of the Lord is to understand God's power.


Day 766

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 3:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 3:3
"And they commanded the people saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it."

I could visualize Israel following the ark as I read this. I knew it had meaning for me. Then I saw it. The ark of the covenant was the earthly dwelling place of Jehovah. Where His spirit would reside. It was treated with great reverence. The Lord would speak from the mercy seat to guide and direct the prophet of the church. We have that still today. I must follow the ark or the prophet. If the church moves forward, so must I. If I dig my heels in and don't move in the direction they are being lead, then I have moved away from the Lord, even though I didn't go anywhere. The council of the prophet is a living thing. It is moving forward to accomplish God's work upon the earth. I remove from my place to follow the will of the Lord. It doesn't stay put to suit me. "Go after it" means I must ever be striving to do the will of the Lord.


Day 765