The New Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible ESV: Year One • June 1

Year One, June 1

A Servant Is Not Greater Than His Master1

John 15:16-27

16“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

The great reason for our salvation is not that we chose the Lord Jesus, but that he chose us. The election of his people is through him. He takes the first step toward us. However, he has not chosen us to be lazy, but to bear fruit. He has not chosen us to work for his kingdom only once in a while, but to constantly labor for him. He has also chosen us to be people of real prayer, not just worshipers on the outside, but coming to him frequently with our requests. Does our Lord see us bearing the fruit he desires? How can we know if our election is real except by bearing fruits of holiness and receiving answers to prayer?

17“These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (This command comes often, but never too often. We need to hear it again and again.)

18“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. (Therefore there is no reason to be surprised when people slander2 and abuse us. It is their normal way of saluting every ship that flies our great Captain’s flag.) 19If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (Election guarantees us human hatred as well as divine love. For the sake of the sweet fellowship with Jesus, we joyfully accept the bitter hatred of most of mankind. In fact, we should be worried if the world smiles on us. Many have desired the world’s love and fallen into destruction.)

20“Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. (Let us not expect easy times. We are servants of a Master who was surrounded by disapproval and died on a cross. How can we expect those who crowned HIM with thorns to crown us with roses?) 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (When truth is rejected, sin increases. There is no excuse left for a person who knows the truth about the Lord Jesus and refuses to accept it. Those who have had Jesus for their teacher and yet refuse to learn, are guilty of being ignorant on purpose, and they deserve the severest judgment.) 23Whoever hates me hates my Father also.”

An opponent of Christianity cannot, therefore, be a sincere worshiper of God. People who say they believe in the one true God, but do not accept the Lord Jesus Christ really hate the God they pretend to worship.

24“If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. (Our Lord’s miracles proved he was who he claimed to be and proved that Israel’s rejection of him was a deliberate rebellion against the light. When they sinned against the true Light, they actually added to their sin. Once the conscience is enlightened by the Truth, their sin becomes even greater.) 25But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’3

26“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. (This is the Holy Spirit’s great work. What a sweet proof he gives in his people’s hearts! Do we know the power of that inward experience? Let us think seriously about this matter as if we were in the very presence of the God.) 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”

Yes. When the Holy Spirit has witnessed in us, we too may become witnesses to others about the Lord Jesus. But we must be with him to know him and we must know him before we can witness about him.

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¹ John 15:20

² slander - To make false and damaging statements about someone.

³ Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4

Year One, June 2

I Will Not Leave You or Forsake You1

Joshua 1:1-9

1After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, 2“Moses my servant is dead. (Of course, Joshua knew this, but the Lord mentioned the death of this great leader to impress him with the huge task ahead of him and the need to act quickly as Moses’ successor. The deaths of good people are calls to others to awaken them to action.) Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.”

Crossing the Jordan River without boats or bridges was easier said than done, but Joshua’s faith was not astonished by the Lord’s command. He knew that the Lord was master of the river just as he had been of the Red Sea.

3“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. 4From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory. 5No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (Here are extremely great and precious promises to cheer Joshua. A promise of conquest in war, guidance for overseeing the nation of Israel, and blessing for himself personally. The Lord overflows with tender promises. May he, by the Holy Spirit, also speak some pleasant word to our own hearts. It would be a joy, indeed, to hear him say, “I will not leave you or forsake you.”

6“Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. (The solemn promise and covenant of God are central to faith. That is why the Lord mentions them to his servants. There is no better rock of confidence than the unchangeable promise of a faithful God.) 7Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. (We see here that it needs strength and courage to be obedient to God. Some people think Christians are cowards, but the Holy Spirit does not think so. It is a brave person who is afraid to sin and it is a hero who flees youthful lusts that battle against the soul. Notice that Joshua was to avoid a turn to the right hand as much as a turn to the left. We are not allowed to disobey God by hoping to do good any more than we are permitted to offend him by doing harm.)

8“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, (talk about it) but you shall meditate on it day and night, (think about it) so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it (practice it). For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (rejoice in it). 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Where God’s command is our authority we can afford to be bold. Who shall contradict us when the Lord of hosts gives us clear direction? To be afraid, in such a case, is to dishonor our Invincible Commander. When the Lord is on their side, the believer has every reason to be confident.

By faith I on your strength lay hold,

And walk in Christ my way,

Divinely confident and bold

Your precepts to obey.

I would perform your utmost will,

With heart most fixed and true;

And dare to follow onward still

Where Jesus bids me go.2

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¹ Joshua 1:5

² Author unknown.

Year One, June 3

For by Grace You Have Been Saved Through Faith1

This section is best told in one sitting and therefore, on this occasion, we will take a little extra time for our reading.

Joshua 2:1-21

1And Joshua the son of Nun sent two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute, whose name was Rahab and lodged there. (There is no reason for believing that Rahab was anything else than what our Bible says. She had been a sinful woman, but God’s grace had appeared to her and empowered her to believe in Jehovah, the only living and true God. Perhaps, because of this, she began to practice hospitality, and therefore, when the two men came to the city gates she was waiting to give them shelter. At any rate, God’s directing and God’s grace brought Rahab into contact with those who could bring her safety. On her part, it was a work of faith to receive the spies.) 2And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.”

Israel’s enemies do not sleep, but are constantly on the lookout. We also may rest assured that Satan and his legions will soon find us out if we go to war against his kingdom.

3Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.”

This must have been a trying moment for Rahab. All of a sudden, she found herself in a place where she must immediately decide whether she would give up her country or her God. Whatever error she committed in protecting the spies, her decision to follow the living God had no fault in it.

4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” (This was a a complete lie and it is not to be looked at in any other way. Her faith was weak and therefore she adopted a wrong plan for achieving a right thing. We may not lie under any circumstances; but Rahab was very imperfectly aware of this. The people of her day did not condemn, but rather admired clever deceit. Therefore her conscience did not condemn her about this. This fact shows that although faith may be imperfect because of our faults, it will save the soul if it is sincere.)

6But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof.

Do we not see evidence of Rahab’s new found faith here? Vice is very seldom industrious. Yet here we see a virtuous and hard working woman. She has been diligently gathering linseed to make cloth.

7So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. (Rahab had successfully misdirected the pursuers and lulled to sleep all suspicion against herself. Her success does not, however, justify her deceit. Whether it succeeds or fails, falsehood is always wrong.)

8Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction. 11And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. (Rahab declares her faith and gives her reasons for it. Her reasons show that she had diligently gathered all information and carefully studied the facts. In this way, she became fully convinced that Jehovah alone was the true God, ruling both in heaven and earth. She had heard no sermons, and had seen neither Moses nor the prophets, and yet she believed. She will surely rise up in judgment against those, who, even though they live where the grace of God is preached, still remain unbelievers.)

12“Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a sure sign 13that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” (She pleaded for her own life, but like a true child of God she did not forget her family. One of the certain results of grace in the heart is a holy concern for others. Grace and selfishness are as opposite as light and darkness. Oh may none of us forget to pray for our fathers, and mothers, and brothers, and sisters. May we live to see the whole family saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.)

14And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”

In this way, she secured a promise of safety at once and it was expressed in the very cheering words “We will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” This is the same way in which the Lord Jesus deals with all who put their trust in him.

15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16And she said to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father’s household. 19Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head.”

When the men were leaving her they gave her the red rope as a reminder and a symbol of their agreement. An agreement which is full of instruction. The scarlet cord was to her house what the blood over the door was to Israel in Egypt. The blood-red banner is the national flag of believers. Those who want to be part of God’s people must enlist under their banner. Therefore, Rahab was instructed to raise the sacred flag. Safety was promised to all beneath the scarlet cord, but to no one else, no matter how near and dear to her they might be. The same advantages belong to Christian households. Those of us who believe in Jesus, and rest in his precious blood, will be saved, but no one else. Oh let us see to it that we do not rest easy until we all live where the blood-red cord is displayed. That house alone will stand when all others fall with a crash. We must live in Jesus, if we hope to escape the great judgment day. The only thing that makes our faith really certain is the blood of the covenant.

20“But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. (She followed their instructions. We must neglect no gospel command, however unimportant it may seem to those who do not understand it. We must tie the scarlet cord in our window by publicly declaring our faith. Neither Baptism, not the Lord’s Supper, nor any other Gospel command must be ignored. We must note well that the gospel runs this way: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”2

Faith was very evident in Rahab’s case, as Paul reminds us in:

Hebrews 11:31

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

But at the same time good works were not missing, for we are reminded of the practical nature of her faith in:

James 2:25-26

25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

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¹ Ephesians 2:8

² Mark 16:16

Year One, June 4

When You Pass Through the Waters, I Will Be With You1

Joshua 3:1-13

1Then Joshua rose early in the morning (He did not serve God and his people in a lazy manner. Those who want to accomplish great things will never do them by lying in bed.) and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

They had a promise that they would cross over the Jordan River, but they did not know how it would be accomplished. Nevertheless they went forward in faith. If we only know our responsibility up to a certain point, let us continue to that point, even if we cannot see another inch beyond it. Let us follow God’s directions as far as we know and leave what happens next to him.

2At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. (During their years in the wilderness, the ark was in the center of all the tribes of Israel, but now it leads the way, as if the Lord defied his enemies and went out in front to battle them alone and without a guard.)

4“Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits (about 1,000 yards) in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” (The distance assigned was intended to allow the people to see the ark and also to show that God met his enemies alone. The Lord kept the armed soldiers behind him and advanced unarmed against his foes. Today we will travel a new road we have never taken before. Let us rejoice that our gracious covenant God goes before us.)

5Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” (God always does wonders among a sanctified people. Our sins may limit him, but God will accomplish wonders through a clean heart.) 6And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.”

God works through his ministers and wants his people to honor them.

8“And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.’” 9And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. (The ark’s passing through the Jordan River was both a sign of the Lord’s presence and a promise of the conquest of the land of Canaan. Every time God shows his grace to us, it is a fresh assurance of our ultimate victory over all sin, and our entrance into the promised rest.)

12“Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” (The Lord who was the Alpha {or beginning} of his people’s deliverance at the Red Sea became the Omega {or the end} of it, by repeating the miracle at the Jordan River. Do not be afraid. The Lord will do great things for us at the end of our days, just as he did when he brought us out of the Egyptian bondage of our sins.)

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¹ Isaiah 43:2

Year One, June 5

The Rivers, They Shall Not Overwhelm You1

Joshua 3:14-17

14So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), (The river was overflowing its banks, but this was no difficulty for God. He can dry up an overflowing river as easily as a shallow one.) 16the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. (When God parted the Red Sea the waters stood as a wall on both sides, but on this occasion the floods arose on one side only, and on the other side the water quite disappeared, flowing at once into the Dead Sea. The Lord has many ways to bring about the same result. Variety in the way God works is a clear proof that the Lord is never at a loss for ways and means.)

And the people passed over opposite Jericho. (The enemies of Israel watched as God worked this miracle and his people passed over to the other side. And in the face of the arch-enemy God will give his people safe passage through death’s cold flood.) 17Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. (The ark of the covenant first led the way and then kept the road open. The priesthood of Jesus and the ark of his redemption give all believers a passage into the better land.)

Joshua 4:4-11; 18

4Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”

In the same way, we should try hard to find ways to remind those who come after us of the wonders of the Lord’s grace. This is also an important reason why we baptize new believers and celebrate the Lord’s Supper. These two sacred ordinances of our holy faith should be very special to us.

8And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. 10For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua.

The people passed over in haste. (Christ will never stop praying for his people until all of his redeemed ones are safely in heaven. Pastors ought to be brave men, the first to risk everything for God’s sake, and the last to leave their post. Notice how the Israelites were both trembling and believing. They went “in haste,” --here was fear, and “passed over” --here was faith.) 11And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people.

18And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before. (This proved that this was truly a miracle. The stopping of an overflowing river cannot not be explained away by referring to natural causes. Let the Lord be praised for it.)

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¹ Isaiah 43:2

Year One, June 6

Do Whatever He Tells You1

Joshua 5:1; 10-15

1As soon as all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the people of Israel until they had crossed over, their hearts melted and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel.

Matthew Henry says about this verse, “How dreadful is the case of those who see the wrath of God and his deserved vengeance steadily advancing toward them without any possibility of preventing it or escaping. Such will be the horrible situation of the wicked when summoned to appear before the court of an offended God. Words cannot express the pain of their feelings or the greatness of their terror. Oh, that they would heed the warning now, before it is too late, and flee for safety; that they would take hold of that hope that is set before them in the salvation of the gospel.”2

10While the people of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho. (Before they began the conquest of Canaan the people focused their attention on circumcision and the Passover. We cannot expect God to help us if we are careless about keeping his commands. Before getting involved with any Christian activity it is best to look inwardly. When all is right within ourselves, then we shall be in a fit condition to do battle with the evils around us.)

11And the day after the Passover, on the very day, they ate of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12And the manna ceased the day after they ate of the produce of the land. And there was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate of the fruit of Canaan that year. (We must not expect miracles when ordinary circumstances will accomplish his will. There is, if we would only see it, as much wisdom and grace in supplying our daily needs by common methods as there would be in the Lord’s raining bread from heaven on us. We may also mention here that God will continue to provide what we need until we receive our inheritance above. We must gather the manna of the wilderness until we feast upon the harvests of Immanuel’s land. Grace will help us every day until we enter glory.)

13When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. (The Lord Jesus usually appears to his people in a way that proves his oneness with them. He shows himself to be like his brothers. To Abraham the pilgrim he appeared as a pilgrim. With Jacob the wrestler he wrestled. To Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego he appeared as one in the furnace. And to Joshua the soldier he showed himself as a warrior. Our Lord is the defender of his chosen and will show himself strong on their behalf.) And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” (Joshua spoke like the strong and brave friend of Israel that he was. He wanted to know who’s side each person was on and would then act toward him accordingly.)

14And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” (Jesus is the Commander-in-Chief. He is not only, as someone once called him, “our august ally,”3 but he is the Captain over everything.) And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?

True adoration bows its heart to hear as well as its knee to worship.

15And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua must first worship and then he may go to war. God will not honor people who disrespect him. It is not enough to ask the Lord Jesus to instruct us. We must also love him dearly and continue to be faithful to him.)

Great Captain of the saints and holy angels, we adore you! Give us your commands, and go with us into the battle, and we will not fear those who are against us, however great or many they be.

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¹ John 2:5

² Matthew Henry (1662-1714). Spurgeon said of this famous Bible commentator: “First among the mighty for general usefulness.” —editor

³ our august ally - In other words, Our strongest military supporter.

Year One, June 7

My Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness1

Joshua 6:1-5; 12-21; 23; 25

1Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. 2And the LORD said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor.”

God had given the city to them, but they were to take it the way he had already decided on. In the same way God has chosen us before the world began, but he has said we must make a wholehearted effort to come to him.

3“You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. 4Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. (What commander would choose such a way to begin a battle? But God works wonders in ways in which we would never even think.) On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. 5And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, than all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”

There appeared to be virtually no connection between the method used and the desired result; yet it was not for the people to wonder how it could work; it was for them to do what the Lord told them.

12Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD. 13And the seven priests bearing the seven rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets blew continually.

The Israelites did exactly as they were ordered, even though followers of Belial2 probably looked on and laughed at them. The citizens of Jericho must have thought this was a very strange way to fight a battle and that God’s people had lost their minds.

14And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days.

15On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. 16And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the LORD has given you the city. (Up to now they had proved their faith in God by patiently being silent. Now they proved their faith by giving the shout because they believed the victory was theirs.) 17And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. 18But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19But all the silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.” (It was only right that the firstfruits of the war against Canaan should be the Lord’s.)

20So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. (This seems like a strange way to break down a wall, and yet when God ordained3 it, it was as effective as the best made battering ram. How strange Rahab’s house must have looked towering above the rubble. Faith destroys strongholds,4 but faith also builds them up.) 21Then they devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

23So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them outside the camp of Israel.

In the day of judgment the house with the scarlet cord in the window is not left to perish in the general destruction. Others may perish, but believers are kept safe by the promise of one who cannot lie, and they have nothing to fear.

25aBut Rahab the prostitute and her father’s household and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive.

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¹ 2 Corinthians 12:9

² From 2 Corinthians 6:15 and 16 other Bible passages: Belial is used for Satan, the Wicked One.

³ ordained - Ordered, commanded, willed, predetermined.

⁴ 2 Corinthians 10:4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”

Year One, June 8

Let the One Who Boasts, Boast in the Lord1

The history of the fall of Jericho through the blast of rams’ horns reminds us of Paul’s words in his letter to the church in Corinth. “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”2 Let us read a passage in which the supposed weakness of the gospel is gloried in, because the Lord shows his power by what the world considers weakness.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (The same thing is seen differently by different people. One sees folly in the gospel, and another the omnipotence3 of God. Those who have felt the gracious power of God are positively convinced of what they believe.) 19For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Never forget this. It will help cure us of wishing for the world’s idea of scholarly and intellectual preaching. Why should we want what God intends to destroy? The plain gospel of Jesus, simply preached, is infinitely superior to all the “deep thinking” and supposed “scientific reasoning” of modern times.

21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (Philosophy4 has left the world in the most disgusting mess of wrong desires and unbelief. At the same time God’s followers whom the world considers uneducated have delivered the Lord’s message of love just as they received it and millions have been saved.) 22For the Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (Personal tastes must not control the gospel message. What people want is one thing, but what the gospel gives them is another. Instead of signs and wisdom, God’s ministers show people the crucified Savior, and nothing else.)

25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (In the end it will be seen that what people think is foolishness and weakness in God’s gospel, will be more than a match for human power and learning.)

26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in this world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

God’s election does not take human greatness into account. The preacher must not change his message just to keep from offending people the world thinks are great. He is to proclaim his message to ordinary people and be satisfied if his converts are despised as being the worst humans on earth. If God’s election was for the great, then he might have given them a philosophical gospel presented with highly intellectual speeches that most people could not understand. But this is not our Lord’s gospel.

As a family, let us hold tightly to the old gospel and love the honest pastors who care more about seeing sinners saved than about being thought of as great public speakers. The gospel which saved the apostles, the martyrs, the reformers, and our godly ancestors, is quite good enough for us. While others want to be wise according to worldly standards, we will follow the teaching of the Lord.

30And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Jesus is everything to us. He deserves all the glory for everything he does through us. Worship the Lord, from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same.

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¹ 1 Corinthians 1:31

² 2 Corinthians 10:4

³ All powerfulness

⁴ Philosophy is the study of the most basic beliefs and values of mankind without considering what God has to say about it.

Year One, June 9

One Sinner Destroys Much Good1

Joshua 7:1-13; 15

1But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

The chapter opens with a “but,” and a very serious “but” it was. One man in Israel had dared to break the express command of Jehovah and had taken for himself from the spoil of Jericho. By doing this Achan defied the curse that had been declared against any who kept any of the plunder for themselves. One sin by one man was like a single drop of a deadly poison. It was enough to harm the whole nation of Israel. Sin is so deadly an evil that the smallest amount of it may do more injury than we can calculate or imagine.

2Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” (Israel had become convinced that victory would not be difficult. Obviously, they were beginning to think they could take life easy. The Lord would fight for them and therefore they could lay down their weapons. In all ages, the grace of God has been abused by people who would rather please themselves than please God.)

4So about 3,000 men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water. (Defeat is the certain result of lazy self-confidence. It is good when such defeats force a believer back to God and leads them to a holy decision to make their best effort. God works in us to make us work ourselves. He never leads us to be lazy.)

6Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! (Joshua was wrong to think this way. It showed a lack of trust on his part. It was not because Israel had crossed the Jordan River that they had been defeated in battle. It was their sin that had destroyed them!) 8O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!”

The grand old warrior felt his blood boil at the thought of his nation being defeated by Canaanites.

9“For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”

This was the master appeal of Moses. When Joshua came to plead that way, he was sure of success. We ought to be more concerned for the honor of God, than for anything else in the world.

10The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them, they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. 13Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.”’” (Sin will take away the power of a church to do good. Though it may be an unknown sin, its effects will soon be visible enough. It really is a blessing when suffering humbles us and, being humbled, we search our hearts. Lord, keep this family from open and hidden sin. Keep us in your will. Make us to always obey you.)

15“‘And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”

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¹ Ecclesiastes 9:18

Year One, June 10

Be Sure Your Sin Will Find You Out1

Joshua 7:16-26

16So Joshua rose early in the morning, (He did not waste time, but acted right away. The sooner sin is found out and put away the better. Nobody would wait around if they knew their house was on fire, but sin is a far worse evil than the raging flame.) and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken. 17And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken. 18And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah was taken. (Achan may at first have laughed at the idea of his being detected, but when the tribe of Judah was taken, he must have felt ill at ease; when the Zerahites were taken, fear must have seized him, and his terror must have been extreme when at last the lot fell on his father’s family. One way or another sin will be brought home to the guilty person, and what will be their horror when the finger of God points directly at them with a “you are the [one]”?2)

19Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” (Joshua urged the criminal to confess. Achan had been clearly identified. Joshua gave him the best advice a judge can give to a condemned person. He told Achan to admit his guilt and agree that God was right in punishing him.) 20And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels (about 80 ounces) of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels (about 20 ounces), than I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” (He saw, he coveted, he took, he hid, he was detected, convicted, and condemned. This reads like a short version of John Bunyan’s book “The Sinner’s Progress or the Life and Death of Mr. Badman.”)

22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. (What good is it to have treasure and expensive clothes if you need to keep them hidden? Achan was foolish as well as wicked. Stolen goods are not true riches.) 23And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD. 24And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. 25And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. (This terrible punishment may have been all the more necessary, because this happened at the beginning of their new life in Canaan. God wanted them to know right from the start that he was not to be trifled with and that his laws must be respected.)

26And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.3 (Let this pile of stones be a awful warning to us. Do we have any hidden sin within our hearts? Are there persons in this family giving in to evil passions or doing wrong things in secret? If so, be sure your sin will find you out. The only way of escape is to make a heartfelt confession to God and a believing cry to the Lord Jesus for pardon.

Sins and follies not forsaken,

All will end in deep despair;

Formal prayers are unavailing,

Fruitless is the worldling’s tear;

Small the number

Who walk the path of wisdom fair.4

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¹ Numbers 32:23

² Nathan to King David (2 Samuel 12:7)

³ Achor means trouble

⁴ Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

Year One, June 11

Speak the Truth To One Another1

After the destruction of Achan the conquest of Ai was very swift. And then a remarkable thing happened that is recorded in the following chapter.

Joshua 9:3-21

3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?”

9They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”’ 12Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.”

Their wish to stay alive was natural. Their submission to Israel was commendable. But their clever deception was inexcusable. When we surrender ourselves to Jesus we need only to speak the truth. There is no need for us to put on old and worn-out clothing. A sinner’s spiritual clothing is nothing except honesty.

14So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 15And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.

Joshua thought the matter was so clear that he did not need to pray and ask for divine direction. It is usually when the right thing to do seems obvious that we make mistakes.

16At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. 17And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders.

Some probably murmured because they wanted to take the spoil of the Gibeonites, and others because they really believed they should not be spared.

19But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. (An oath is never to be treated lightly. Neither should any promise. The Christian’s word should be their promise and just as unbreakable as an oath.) 20This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them. (The poor Gibeonites were glad to escape even on these terms. If the Lord Jesus will only spare us, we will also be only too glad to cut wood or draw water for him, and for his people.)

The passage shows us that the desire to protect themselves makes people use their wits. And it makes us wonder why so few people appear to use common sense and ordinary care when it comes to the salvation of their souls.

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¹ Zechariah 8:16

Year One, June 12

I Have Chosen the Way Of Truth1

The honest way in which Joshua and the leaders of Israel kept their promise to the Gibeonites, even though that promise was the result of lying and deceit, reminds us of that portrait of an honorable man, that was sketched by the master hand of David, in:

Psalm 15

1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?.

Who shall be God’s special friend? Who shall be an honored guest in his home? Who shall be allowed to always make the Lord’s home his home? What kind of person will be allowed to actually live in the presence of the thrice Holy God? Like fire, God’s nature burns against all sin. What kind of person can dwell with such a devouring flame?

2 He who walks blamelessly

Here is the first line of the good man’s portrait. He must be honest, genuine, sincere, and fair before both God and man. The word, “walks” implies that this is his normal habit.

and does what is right

His way of life must be right. He not only does not do what is wrong, but does do what is good.

and speaks truth in his heart;

His words must reflect his soul. He must speak truth, love truth, and live truth. God will not allow liars to stay in his presence. Who can make us righteous like this? Only the Holy Spirit!

3 who does not slander with his tongue

and does no evil to his neighbor,

nor takes up a reproach against his friend;

The person who lives in the presence of God is too brave to say something behind a person’s back that they would not say to their face. They are too good to wish or do their neighbor any harm. God will have no gossips as his guest. He does not keep company with verbal abusers. Those who are quick to express disapproval demonstrate a great lack of love. God is just, and therefore does not listen to hurtful lies, and neither should we. God is love. Therefore if he honors us by making us part of his family, let us not do anything that does not reflect that love.

4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised

but who honors those who fear the LORD;

Honest people do not judge others by their wealth or importance in the world. They honor good people even if they are poor. Wrong and immoral behavior disgust them, even if rich and famous people think it is okay.

who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

This is where Joshua is such a shining example. There is no excuse for not keeping a promise unless we are absolutely unable to keep it or if keeping it would break the law. Even if there are no other people of honor in the world, Christians should be.

5 who does not put out his money at interest

and does not take a bribe against the innocent.

The true believer does not take advantage of the very poor. They never charge them higher interest rates just because their situation is desperate. And they would never accuse an innocent person unjustly even if someone offered them a lot of money to do it. The very thought of it makes them sick to their stomach.

He who does these things shall never be moved.

Good people will have troubles just as others do, but they will accept them graciously. God makes Christians to be the most excellent people on earth. Therefore he will protect them because such marvels of his creation are too rare and special to be left unguarded.

As a family, let us aim at a high standard of character. If we are not yet believers in Jesus, may the Lord give us faith, for faith is the first grace he gives us. If we are already believers, let us, by our consistent lives, prove to others the uplifting and purifying power of the religion of the Most Holy God.

Lord, I would dwell with you,

On your most holy hill:

Oh shed your grace abroad in me,

To mold me to your will.

Faithful, but meekly kind:

Gentle, yet boldly true;

I would possess the perfect mind

Which in my Lord I view.

But, Lord, these graces all

Your Spirit’s work must be;

To you, through Jesus blood I call,

Create them all in me.

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¹ Psalm 119:30 KJV

Year One, June 13

The LORD, the Most High, Is To Be Feared1

Joshua 10:1-6; 8-14

1As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, (The name Adoni-zedek means Lord of righteousness, and is very similar to Melchizedek, who was the king of Salem or Jerusalem during the time of Abraham. That’s makes Adoni-zedek the successor and perhaps a relative of Melchizedek. How frequently those who come after the best of men, are themselves among the worst of characters. Grace cannot be inherited. Someone may pass on their belongings but not their Christianity.) 2he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

3So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4“Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 5Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.

6And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” (Those who join the Lord’s side are sure to have enemies, but they may rest assured that the Lord will come to their rescue.)

8And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. (Joshua made a fast march during the night to rescue the Gibeonites. This showed his commitment to defend all those who were associated with Israel.) 10And the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

The Lord fought for his people, but he gave them the victory only after they fought too. After Joshua and his army showed that they would take part in the battle, then the Lord brought forth his power. God defeated the five kings in such a way, that all the glory for the victory clearly belonged to him. Where we do much, God does more. In fact, he really does it all.

12At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,

and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,

until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. (The book of Jashar is lost, but the book of God is not. Not a single line of it! Everything in the Bible is given by divine inspiration and protected by the Holy Spirit. We would never have even heard the name of this book of Jashar if it had not been preserved like a fly in the amber2 of Scripture.) 14There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD obeyed the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel.

Many people have tried to explain how this wonderful event could have happened, because they want the world to believe it really happened. But there is no need for them to try to protect God’s reputation with their theories. The Almighty God can as easily stop the sun and moon as a watchmaker can adjust the timing of a watch. God did do it, and how he did it is no question for us. We may rest assured he extended the daylight by the very wisest means. It is not ours to try and soften down miracles, but to glorify God in them. At the appearing of our greater Joshua,3 the sun and moon shall be thrown into the background while he will be revealed in flaming fire, taking vengeance on his enemies.

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¹ Psalm 47:2
² Amber is fossilized or petrified tree resin (pitch) which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since ancient times. It is used as jewelry and sometimes an insect can be found trapped in it.
³ Joshua is an Old Testament type of Christ. Joshua means “YAHWEY [God] is Salvation”. Jesus means “God Saves.”

Year One, June 14

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever1

This is an appropriate place to include this psalm. It celebrates the Lord’s relationship with Israel through the time he established them in the land that he had promised to them as their inheritance.

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Praise the Lord for what he naturally is. His own personal goodness deserves our adoration.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,