Joshua 5, Psalm 139, Philippians 4

Three great events happen in this chapter of Joshua.

1. The second circumcision
2. Manna ceased
3. The Angel of the Lord appeared to Joshua

The second circumcision was necessary because it was the first one for these men. It symbolized a fresh start and their real commitment to the Lord. It was a terrible thing to endure as an adult. But it was necessary to seal the covenant. It was literal for them and is spiritual for us. Our hearts are circumcised at salvation. We have a fresh start. We're forever and always different afterward.

The manna ceased because the people didn't need it anymore. They were in the Promised Land and could eat its produce. Another fresh start.

The Angel of the Lord appeared to set the tone for another fresh start. Battles would now be fought with the Lord as commander. When we face spiritual battles, remember this image. God is still fighting for us as we "take" our "Promised Land" for Him.

Psalm 139 is a beautiful word picture of the warrior. You. Me. God made us, knows every single part of us, and is right here to help us. He will fight for us. (verse 19) Here is the key to victory: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139:23-24) NKJ

Philippians 4:6-9 are extensions of Psalm 139:23-24. They, again, are keys to victory.

What to think about:

What is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, whatever is virtuous or praiseworthy.

What to do:

The things you learned and received and heard and saw in Paul.

It's simple, really.

Joshua 4, Psalm 138, Philippians 3

This generation of the People was obedient. So God performed another miracle, similar to the crossing of the Red Sea for them. Only this time, the people were armed for battle. They knew what lay ahead. And they were ready. But just so they wouldn't forget that day, God instructed them to take stones from the river and set them up as a reminder.

I have reminders of past spiritual victories in a collection. I've put items that represents the events in a box. They are tangible and an occasional look through them along with a walk down memory lane fortifies me when life gets hard.

For the Psalmist, a song was the reminder. His words paint the picture of the glorious Lord who helps His children and saves us from our enemies.

Paul remembers how he used to trust in his circumcision, and his adherance to, and zeal for, the law in order to be found righteous. He says all that was worthless. The only thing that matters is what Christ did for us on the cross. This is the victory we need to remember as we press on into the battle.

Walking in a manner worthy of Christ is our battle. We press forward, gaining ground as we deny the power of our flesh and focus on Christ.

The miracle of salvation is behind us. But the power of Christ goes before us into battle. We need to remember that as we face the future. We know what lies ahead, but we also know Who wins!

Joshua 3, Psalm 137, Philippians 2

Joshua told the people what they should do and what God would do. The people obeyed exactly, and watched God do what He promised. The Bible is full of God's promises and we can trust Him. The key is our obedience.

The cry from captivity is a mournful one. Sin caused the captivity. The contrast between Joshua 3 and Psalm 137 is stark and illustrates the difference between blessings from obedience and consequences of sin.

The whole point of obedience is to become like Christ, humble and obedient to death and then exalted. Paul encourages the Philippians to be obedient, reminds them of his own obedience, commends Timothy and Epaphroditus for their obedience, and chides the Philippians a bit for what they lacked toward Paul. The point is not that we'll be exalted now or even as Christ later, but we will be heirs with Christ later. It is all for Christ.

Our obedience now brings - attracts - others to Him. If we suffer for the cause now, it's not the same as suffering the consequences of sin. We need to recognize the difference. Sometimes we get so caught up in the experience of suffering that we fail to see why we are suffering. There is suffering because of our faith, suffering as a result of sin, and suffering that is designed to refine us. (Of course, all suffering refines us, but some is only for that purpose.)

Paul was persecuted for his faith, and so were Timothy and Epaphroditus. The Philippian Christians faced the very real possibility that they would be, too. This is the suffering to which he refers. But even when going through something so terrible, Paul and others of his day watched God do what He promised. God won all kinds of victories for them, even though they ultimately died for Him. Christ died, too - more accurately, first. But that didn't mean God forgot His promises.

We are promised a place at the table in heaven. God always keeps His promises.

Joshua 2, Psalm 136, Philippians 1

We can live in the state of promises, but only for so long. There comes a time when we have to go do something - whatever God instructs. In this case, the spies went into Jericho. For her part, Rahab had to do something also. But as individuals obeyed, God worked and protected them all. Rahab was certainly an unlikely candidate, so we need to learn from her example not to judge others.

His mercy does endure forever. It is the Lord who created the earth and us and who rescues us from our enemies. (Read: spiritual enemies, those forces who would cause us doubt, worry, fear, and ultimately stop us from following God.) Those enemies are defeated by the cross and we need to stand strong because His mercy endures forever!

Paul's enemies thought that by arresting him they'd stop the spread of his message. How wrong they were! Paul knew that physical affliction, even death, was not defeat, but actual victory. He encourages the Philippians to remember this when they suffer. "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (Phil. 1:21) The whole purpose of prolonging Paul's life was to produce more fruit of the gospel and for the benefit of others, not Paul.

Does my life benefit others? Am I willing to give it up to benefit others as the spies were? Can I really say with Paul that it doesn't matter to me whether I live or die, only that God's will is done? These are heavy questions, but really are the bottom line.

So as long as I live, I better be doing what I know God has called me to do. 

Joshua 1, Psalm 135, Ephesians 6

After Moses died, Joshua stepped into the leadership role as a military leader. The Lord told Joshua it was time to go in and possess the Promised Land and also promised to go with the people as they fought for it.

This Psalm is a praise to the Lord for keeping His promise to His people. He delivered them from Egypt and settled them in the land He gave them. He is the only true God.

Just as Joshua became a military leader and led the people to fight for their land, we also are in a battle for our land. Our land is our minds and God is with us to help us fight in the power of the Holy Spirit. He provides our armor and weapons, but He actually wins, defeating the enemy for us. (Col. 2:15)

Just as Psalms 135 records the victory from Joshua, Colossians 2:15 records the victory from Ephesians 6.

Deuteronomy 34, Psalm 134, Ephesians 5

When Moses died, it was the end of an era. The slavery experience, deliverance, wilderness experience, and tabernacle construction were finished. It was time to move on with a new leader. New beginnings are fresh starts, but they're even better than the first start because of the wisdom gained from what has gone before.

Yes, bless the Lord - the God of new beginnings. By standing in the house of the Lord at night, it indicates round-the-clock devotion and prayer and praise. Difficult times and good times should both drive us to our knees and lift our hands before our God.

Ephesians five can be summed up in two words: love and wisdom. If we love God and each other and pray day and night for wisdom, our new beginnings in Christ will be light-filled.

The Moses era was like night. Taking the Promised Land was a new day. When we are saved we pass from darkness to light. The Psalm passage is that--the passage--from dark to light.

Deuteronomy 33, Ps. 133, Ephesians 4

Just as Moses blessed each of the tribes before his death and told them what a good thing it was to belong to the Lord, we as Christians have that same blessing. We, too, are a people "saved by the Lord" and our enemies will submit to us and we will "tread down their high places" because of the power of the Holy Spirit living in us.

"How good and how pleasant it is" not only to be saved by the Lord, but to dwell together in unity. Christianity is not merely an individual, solitary life, although it certainly begins with God and me alone. The instant I stepped into a relationship with my Heavenly Father, I also began a relationship with His other children--my brothers and sisters. Despite the human propensity for sibling rivalry, it is good, the Psalmist reminds us, to live in unity and harmony!

And so, Paul found it necessary to instruct further, more specifically, on the topic of unity. We do need to remember that we all have the same Heavenly Father and the same Spirit living in us. But as Moses gave a unique blessing upon each of the tribes, emphasizing how God would use them--Levi to minister in the tabernacle, Judah to be a warrior, Asher to be strong, Benjamin to rest in the Lord, Gad to administer justice, Reuben to multiply in the land, and so on--similarly, Jesus Christ gives each of His children, you and me, grace gifts. We know them as spiritual gifts. It's important for us to live out these gifts for the building up of the body, the church. And it's also important to live in a way that pleases Christ.

"And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Eph. 4:32