Josué 3

Josué 3

Spurgeon - THEY had come out of Egypt, they had gone up and down in the wilderness, but they had not before crossed the Jordan. It was new ground to them, a new difficulty, and a new series of events lay before them. As a fresh emergency had arisen, they had new orders direct from the Lord their leader, and Joshua and his officers were busy going throughout the host to communicate the divine directions. Beloved, when it shall be our lot to come into new positions we shall always obtain renewed guidance from the Spirit of God, if we will but wait upon him for it and cry, “Show me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path.” (Excerpt from Sermon - Untrodden Ways) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 3 There shall be a space—about two thousand cubits. Two thousand cubits amounted to about one thousand yards, or three quarters of a mile, and this space was to intervene between them and the ark, in order that they might be impressed with a becoming awe and reverence of the symbol of the Divine presence. They would see, too, by this means, that instead of their protecting it, they owed all their protection to it. Another reason is expressed in the words immediately following. That ye may know the way by which ye must go. The ark was to be their pilot across the waters, and by being advanced so far ahead of them, would be more conspicuous than if the people had gathered and pressed close around it. As it was put at such a distance before them, they would all have the satisfaction of seeing it, and would be animated by the sight. This was the more necessary, as the passage of the Jordan was an untrodden way to them. Ye have not passed this way heretofore. Heb. מטמול שלשם mittemōl shilshōm, since yesterday and the third day i. e. never hitherto. The same form of expression occurs, Gen. 31:2. It is perhaps intimated, moreover, that they were now to cross the river, not at any usual fording place, but at some point entirely new, by a passage which should miraculously open before them as the priests and the ark advanced JOSHUA 3 "You have not passed this way before" (Joshua 3:4). When I was a boy, the flame of adventure burned brightly in my soul, filling my life with anticipation. I loved to read stories about pioneers who ventured into the unknown, and I still remember these words of Rudyard Kipling: "There is no sense in going further—it's the edge of civilization, So they said, and I believed it— Till a voice, as bad as conscience, rang interminable changes On one everlasting whisper day and night repeated— Something hidden. Go and find it. Go and look behind the Ranges— Something lost behind the Ranges. Lost and waiting for you. Go!" Although I still like to try new things, I have lost some of my adventurous spirit as I've grown older, and I find myself feeling a bit uneasy as I draw closer to retirement, old age, and death. It's natural, I believe, to feel a mixture of fear and anticipation as we face the unknown. But as I trust God and keep walking with Him, I find that fear diminishes and my longing for heaven grows stronger. Faith keeps the sails of life filled with the breath of heaven. (cf Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word) Joshua 3:5 Then Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you." Consecrate yourselves: Jos 7:13 Ex 19:10-15 Lev 10:3 20:7 Nu 11:8 1Sa 16:5 Job 1:5 Joe 2:16 Joh 17:19 Tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you: Jos 3:13,15 Ps 86:10 114:1-7 Joshua 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 19:10-11+ (CONSECRATION HERE ENTAILED RITUAL WASHINGS) The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. CONSECRATED FOR THE CROSSING Then - When? Presumably when they saw the Ark, the symbol of God's presence, which would have or should have motivated a willingness to consecrate themselves. Clearly this was not just a military exploit but was a spiritual matter, and so it needed spiritual rather than military preparation. This was not ceremonial but spiritual! Joshua did not tell them to sharpen their swords but to sanctify their soul. They were to set themselves apart before God led them into the land. We see a similar charge repeated in Joshua 7:13. “Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.” THOUGHT - For spiritual victory we must be willing to separate ourselves from all that might defile us, so that we can be set apart for God's purposes in our life. In addition, before God can do in our lives what He wants to do, we must become clean vessels for Him. "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work." (2Ti 2:21+) Related Resource: What does the Bible say about consecration? | GotQuestions.org Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate (qadash) yourselves - NET = "Ritually consecrate." Separation from the common and profane would allow them to fully focus on the Ark (the LORD). This command signifies that their following the Ark was in a sense an act of worship. It was more important for the people to be ritually clean, then for their swords to be gleaming and sharp! This war would be a "holy war" against the abominable godless pagans. God's ways are often the antithesis of the ways of natural (fallen) man! The Hebrew for Consecrate (qadash) is rendered in the Septuagint by hagiazo a command to do this now (aorist imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey), to " to purify or cleanse and so make acceptable for cultic use.... to set oneself apart in dedication." (BDAG) God Demands our Personal and Corporate Purity before He is willing to work wonders on our behalf -- Paul Apple Cyril