Day 89

We find ourselves at the end of Joshua today. He summoned the leaders of the nation to him and recounted what was true. He told of the Lord having fought for them all and having kept his promises. And then he gave this charge:

6 Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, 7 that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, 8 but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. 9 For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. 10 One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. 11 Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. 12 For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, 13 know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you. (Joshusa 23:6–13 ESV)

He calls them to fidelity to the Lord. How often do we think about being “very strong” to keep the ways of the Lord? The temptations to sin are numerous…and strong. We must be strong in our devotion to the Lord and our intention to keep his ways. And truly foundational to that is a strong love for God. Our hearts must be captured by his love and grace.

This is not always easy. It is good to be reminded (as Joshua does throughout) of the Lord’s work on our behalf. He spoke of deliverance from Egypt, we can rehearse deliverance from sin and death. We can look to the founder and perfecter of our faith so that we will not grow weary in this and lose heart (cf. Hebrews 12:2,3). Because the further reality is that it is all too easy to lose heart in the struggle.

We also find ourselves in what could be called “Silent Saturday” or “Holy Saturday.” Last night we celebrated Good Friday, and tomorrow we celebrate Christ’s resurrection - but today we sit in the silence of God. And often that is part of our life of faith and obedience. There is weariness and trouble. There is suffering and pain. Jesus went through it all and endured on our behalf. And his resurrection displayed his victory over sin and death and hell…and even over the pains and troubles and weariness. Let us look to him in our trouble and in our weariness.