| Joshua: Strength and Courage |
Joshua: Choose This Day
Joshua: Strength and Courage for the True Man of God
Joshua 20-24
Chapter 20
Vss. 1-16 Cities of Refuge
This addresses the issue of involuntary manslaughter. What this does is show that not only is God merciful, His
people are to be merciful as well.
Chapter 21 Levi’s Allotment
No formal land area, but cities and the ground (pastureland) around the cities (48 in all). Four in each tribe was
by design. They are “scattered” throughout Israel because they are the priests of Israel – they are to serve.
St. Peter tells us that we are also a “nation of priests” as Christians. We do not have our own land, but rather are
scattered among the rest of the world.
In the world, but not of the world, however.
Chapter 22
Vss. 10-34 Altar of Witness
The lesson here is to not be quick to judge the faith-life of another man if it is different from yours. We must live
our faith out where we are. While it is true that God makes us new creatures, He puts us in vastly different
cultures and areas of the world.
Chapter 23
Many years pass – somewhere between 25-30, possibly – since crossing the Jordan. “Be strong” in following
God. God will bless faithfulness. But stay faithful! For God will be just to those who reject Him (as we have seen
throughout Joshua).
Even though we are scattered throughout vastly different cultures and areas of the world, we are not to
“intermarry” because God will be just to those who reject Him. Intermarriage tends to draw people away from
their faith.
Chapter 24
Vss. 1-15 Israel’s History
This is a recounting of how God has been faithful to His people. Note what is missing from this history lesson –
Israel’s failures! Jeremiah 31:34 “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Vss. 14-16 Choose this day…
This is what is facing us. And it is a daily choice.
Luther’s Small Catechism: What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam
in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a
new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Jesus, Luke 9:23: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow Me.
Big Idea: Serving God is a daily choice.
Joshua 20-24
Chapter 20
Vss. 1-16 Cities of Refuge
This addresses the issue of involuntary manslaughter. What this does is show that not only is God merciful, His
people are to be merciful as well.
Chapter 21 Levi’s Allotment
No formal land area, but cities and the ground (pastureland) around the cities (48 in all). Four in each tribe was
by design. They are “scattered” throughout Israel because they are the priests of Israel – they are to serve.
St. Peter tells us that we are also a “nation of priests” as Christians. We do not have our own land, but rather are
scattered among the rest of the world.
In the world, but not of the world, however.
Chapter 22
Vss. 10-34 Altar of Witness
The lesson here is to not be quick to judge the faith-life of another man if it is different from yours. We must live
our faith out where we are. While it is true that God makes us new creatures, He puts us in vastly different
cultures and areas of the world.
Chapter 23
Many years pass – somewhere between 25-30, possibly – since crossing the Jordan. “Be strong” in following
God. God will bless faithfulness. But stay faithful! For God will be just to those who reject Him (as we have seen
throughout Joshua).
Even though we are scattered throughout vastly different cultures and areas of the world, we are not to
“intermarry” because God will be just to those who reject Him. Intermarriage tends to draw people away from
their faith.
Chapter 24
Vss. 1-15 Israel’s History
This is a recounting of how God has been faithful to His people. Note what is missing from this history lesson –
Israel’s failures! Jeremiah 31:34 “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
Vss. 14-16 Choose this day…
This is what is facing us. And it is a daily choice.
Luther’s Small Catechism: What does such baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam
in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a
new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
Jesus, Luke 9:23: If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and
follow Me.
Big Idea: Serving God is a daily choice.
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