Joshua 15:1-12: a reflection

1The lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south. 2Their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looks southward; 3and it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh Barnea, and passed along by Hezron, went up to Addar, and turned toward Karka; 4and it passed along to Azmon, went out at the brook of Egypt; and the border ended at the sea. This shall be your south border. 5The east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. The border of the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan. 6The border went up to Beth Hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 7The border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that faces the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the river. The border passed along to the waters of En Shemesh, and ended at En Rogel. 8The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite (also called Jerusalem) southward; and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the farthest part of the valley of Rephaim northward. 9The border extended from the top of the mountain to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of Mount Ephron; and the border extended to Baalah (also called Kiriath Jearim); 10and the border turned about from Baalah westward to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim (also called Chesalon) on the north, and went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed along by Timnah; 11and the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to Mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea. 12The west border was to the shore of the great sea. This is the border of the children of Judah according to their families.

As the inheritance of Judah is described, its borders are carefully traced, marking out a settled, God-given portion with real and defined boundaries. The lot for the tribe of Judah, the account says, was to the border of Edom, and it traces the border, south and east and north and west, point by point, to the great sea. This was no vague or uncertain grant; Judah's inheritance had defined boundaries, carefully described, a settled portion marked out and secured, given by God as their possession. The careful tracing of the borders speaks of a real, bounded, God-given place, theirs to hold. This shows the security of a settled, God-given inheritance with defined boundaries. God gives his people a settled, bounded inheritance, secured by him. Your portion from God is real and defined, not vague or uncertain. There is security in a place marked out and given by God. God secures for his people a real and settled possession.

Notice the careful marking of the boundaries. The account does not describe Judah's inheritance vaguely, but traces its borders precisely: south to the wilderness and the brook of Egypt, east to the Salt Sea, north through the valleys and springs, west to the great sea. This was a real, defined, bounded portion, carefully marked out and given by God as Judah's settled possession. There is a security in this: not a vague or uncertain grant that might be here or there, but a defined inheritance with real boundaries, secured and given by God. This holds a picture worth pondering. God gives his people a settled portion, a real and defined inheritance, secured by him. Our place with God, our portion in him, is not vague, uncertain, or precarious, held by a slender thread; it is a settled inheritance, marked out and secured by God himself, ours to hold. There is a deep security in this, in belonging to God and having in him a portion that is real, defined, and secured, not something we must anxiously wonder about or fear to lose. As Judah's inheritance had firm boundaries, carefully traced and given, so those who belong to God have in him a settled and secure portion. We do well to rest in the security of the settled, God-given portion we have in him, real and defined, secured by God himself. Rest in the security of the settled, God-given portion you have in him. Your inheritance in God is real and defined, not vague or precarious. God secures for his people a settled possession, marked out and given. There is deep security in the portion God has secured for you.

That is worth resting in, for God gives his people a settled, bounded inheritance, secured by him, and we can rest in the security of the portion we have in him, as Judah's inheritance was traced with defined boundaries. We can hold our place with God as vague, uncertain, or precarious; but Judah's inheritance was a real, defined portion, carefully marked out and secured by God. Your portion is secure. Do not hold your place with God as uncertain or precarious; rest in the security of the settled, defined portion he has given and secured for you. Rest in the security of the settled, God-given portion you have in him, real and defined and secured by God himself rather than vague or precarious, as the inheritance of Judah was described with its borders carefully traced, marking out a settled, God-given portion with real and defined boundaries from the border of Edom to the great sea; for this was no vague or uncertain grant but an inheritance with defined boundaries, carefully described, a settled portion marked out and secured and given by God as their possession, the careful tracing of the borders speaking of a real, bounded, God-given place theirs to hold, which holds a picture worth pondering, that God gives his people a settled portion and a real and defined inheritance secured by him, so that our place with God and our portion in him is not vague, uncertain, or precarious, held by a slender thread, but a settled inheritance marked out and secured by God himself and ours to hold, in which there is a deep security, belonging to God and having in him a portion that is real, defined, and secured rather than something we must anxiously wonder about or fear to lose, so that as Judah's inheritance had firm boundaries carefully traced and given, those who belong to God have in him a settled and secure portion, and we do well to rest in the security of the settled, God-given portion we have in him.

Lord, as the inheritance of Judah is described, its borders are carefully traced, marking out a settled, God-given portion with real and defined boundaries. The lot for the tribe of Judah, the account says, was to the border of Edom, and it traces the border, south and east and north and west, point by point, to the great sea. This was no vague or uncertain grant; Judah's inheritance had defined boundaries, carefully described, a settled portion marked out and secured, given by you as their possession. The careful tracing of the borders speaks of a real, bounded, God-given place, theirs to hold. Show me the careful marking of the boundaries. The account does not describe Judah's inheritance vaguely, but traces its borders precisely, south and east and north and west. This was a real, defined, bounded portion, carefully marked out and given by you as Judah's settled possession. There is a security in this: not a vague or uncertain grant, but a defined inheritance with real boundaries, secured and given by you. This holds a picture worth pondering. You give your people a settled portion, a real and defined inheritance, secured by you. My place with you, my portion in you, is not vague, uncertain, or precarious, held by a slender thread; it is a settled inheritance, marked out and secured by you yourself, mine to hold. There is a deep security in this, in belonging to you and having in you a portion that is real, defined, and secured, not something I must anxiously wonder about or fear to lose. As Judah's inheritance had firm boundaries, carefully traced and given, so those who belong to you have in you a settled and secure portion. Take that to my heart. Keep me from holding my place with you as uncertain or precarious; help me rest in the security of the settled, God-given portion I have in you, Lord, real and defined and secured by you yourself, mine to hold, so that I need not anxiously wonder about it or fear to lose it.