June, 1944
203
I n t e r n a t i on a l Lesson Commen t a r y
Outline and Exposition B. B. S utcliffe Points and Problems H omer A. K ent Golden Text Illustration
A lan S. P earce Blackboard Lesson G retchen S ibley Object Lesson E lmer L. W ilder Children’s Division M ildred M . C ook
JULY 2, 1944 ENTERING THE PROMISED LAND J oshua 1 to 6, 23, 2.4
Lesson material is based on outlines of International Sunday S c h o o i Lessons, copyrighted by International ' Council of Reli gious Education; used by per mission. the believers’ appropriation of them. Second, Joshua was to receive strength to conquer. Enemies might stand be fore him, but they could be victorious only by Joshua’s consent. Likewise, strength has been promised- to the be liever. Any failure is because the Christian refuses to use the power God has provided, not because of the pow er of the enemies. Third, he was to enjoy God’s presence with him. As the Lord was with Moses, so He would be with Joshua. And this is true for Christians today (cf. Heb. 13:5, 6). II. T he E xhortation to -J oshua (1:6-9) First, he was to be strong and cou rageous to divide the land. That land held powerful enemies who would not be driven out without a bitter struggle. Second, he was to be strong and courageous to observe God’s Word. In that Word he was to meditate day and night, being careful to follow its teachings. If he would do this,.his way would be made prosperous. Likewise, it is attention and obedience to the Word that bring success to Christians today. Third, he was to be strong and cou rageous and without fear of the “ giants” in the land, remembering al ways that “the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Chris tians today have a similar promise (cf Matt. 28:20). III. T he E ncouragement T hrough J oshua (23:1-5) First, he reminded the people of what the Lord had done for them (vs. 1-3). They had rest from all their
Joshua 1:1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came 'to pass» that the Lord spake unto~Joshua the son of Nun, Moses? minister, saying, 2 Moses my servant is dead; now there fore arise, go oyer this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel. 3 Every place 'that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the' gréât riv.er, the river Eu phrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life; as I. Was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the l^nd, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very coura geous, that thou mayest observe to do ac cording to all the law. which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to th e'left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart Qut of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thbu mayest ob serve to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, nei ther be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 23:1 And it came to pass, a long-time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. 2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for the elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: 3 And ye have seen all that the 'Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you. 4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inher itance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I; have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. 5 And the Lord ypur God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall pos sess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you. LESSON TEX T: Josh. 1:1-9; 23:1-5. GOLDEN TEX T: “ Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest” (Josh. 1:9). DEVOTION A ». R F A O IN O i P 99 . 1?1.
Outline and Exposition V I, T he C all of J oshua (1:1-5) M OSES stands for law.; Even when Moses died, Joshua, who stands for grace, was called to lead the people into the- Promised Land. Canaan is not a type of heaven, but of "the heavenlies,” the dwelling place for the saints today. God’s blessings for the. saints are in the heavenlies, where the present-day enemies also are to be found (cf. Eph. 1:3; 6:12). There will be no enemies in heaven. Joshua was. called to go “over Jor dan,” and “ all the people” with him— that is, the people born in the wilder ness. The ones who came from Egypt, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, had died during the forty years of wandering (cf. Num. 14). Joshua was given a threefold prom ise (vs. 3-5). First, he was to possess the inheritance. W h i l e the gift was unconditionally presented, the ex perience of enjoying this gift was con ditioned upon Joshua’s action. Chris tians, too, have had blessings uncon ditionally promised.to them (cf. Eph. 1:3), but the practica1 experience of these blessings is conditioned upon
aside from his deflection (cf. Deut. 3:23-28; Psa. 106:32, 33), law could not inherit the promise. But
BLACKBOARD LESSON
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