Joshua 1:6-11: a reflection

6“Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7Only be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success. 9Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11“Pass through the middle of the camp, and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare food; for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives you to possess.’”

As Joshua takes up the leadership of Israel, God gives him a command that ties his success to God's word. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, God says, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous. Joshua was to keep God's word constantly before him, meditating on it day and night, so that he might do it. The word was to be central, not occasional; kept before him always, meditated on continually, so that his life would be shaped by it. Success and prosperity were tied to keeping God's word central and living by it.

Notice how central God's word was to be: not departing from his mouth, meditated on day and night. Joshua was not to consult God's word occasionally, or keep it at the margins of his attention; he was to keep it constantly before him, meditating on it day and night, so that it filled his thoughts and shaped his doing. The word was to be central, continually before him, not an occasional reference. And this centrality of the word was tied to observing and doing it; meditating on it day and night was so that he would do it. To keep God's word central, meditating on it continually and living by it, was the way to a prosperous path. The word was to be always before him, filling his thoughts, shaping his life.

That is worth taking to heart, for we do well to keep God's word central, meditating on it and living by it. We can keep God's word at the margins of our attention, consulting it occasionally, letting it be crowded out by other things; but Joshua was to keep it constantly before him, meditating on it day and night, so that he would do it. To keep God's word central, filling our thoughts and shaping our lives, is the way to walk rightly. Do not keep God's word at the margins, consulting it only occasionally; keep it central, meditating on it and living by it, as Joshua was to meditate on it day and night. Keep God's word central in your life, meditating on it continually and living by it rather than keeping it at the margins, as Joshua was commanded to keep the law before him and meditate on it day and night; for the way to walk rightly is to keep God's word central, filling our thoughts and shaping our doing, not letting it be crowded out to the margins of our attention.

Lord, as Joshua takes up the leadership of Israel, you give him a command that ties his success to your word. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, you say, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous. Joshua was to keep your word constantly before him, meditating on it day and night, so that he might do it. The word was to be central, not occasional. Show me how central your word was to be: not departing from his mouth, meditated on day and night. Joshua was not to consult your word occasionally, or keep it at the margins of his attention; he was to keep it constantly before him, meditating on it day and night, so that it filled his thoughts and shaped his doing. And this centrality of the word was tied to observing and doing it. To keep your word central, meditating on it continually and living by it, was the way to a prosperous path. Take that to my heart, for I do well to keep your word central, meditating on it and living by it. I can keep your word at the margins of my attention, consulting it occasionally, letting it be crowded out by other things; but Joshua was to keep it constantly before him, meditating on it day and night. To keep your word central, filling my thoughts and shaping my life, is the way to walk rightly. Keep me from keeping your word at the margins, consulting it only occasionally; help me keep it central, Lord, meditating on it and living by it, as Joshua was to meditate on it day and night.