Psa 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psa 5:12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
In order for the Lord to get the children of people from Egypt to the promised land he had to deal with their flesh. When they came to the Jordan River this represents the transition from carnality to spirituality. The Lord told Joshua to circumcise Israel again.
Jos 5:2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
Rom 2:29 The mark of God on the heart of people changing their hearts and minds makes them circumcised
In order to get favor with God we must deal with our flesh.
Jos 5:8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
Jos 5:9 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
The manna ceased, not so they would starve but so they could go on to the next blessing.
Our pain is a necessary preparation for our promotion.
Jos 5:13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
Jos 5:14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
The angel of the Lord , a captain over a large army of Angels said I am come to fight for you.
Jos 5:15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
While Joshua stood in an unsure foreign and a dangerous place, the Lords prescence madeit a holy place.
The sequence here is significant: first humble worship, then holy walk, then heavenly warfare. This parallels the "spiritual postures" found in the Epistle to the Ephesians. Joshua first bowed the knee (Eph 3:14); then he submitted to a holy walk (4:1,17; 5:2,8,15); and then he went out to battle the enemy in the power of the Lord (6:10ff). Like Joshua, we have already been given our inheritance (described in Eph 1-2) and we must over-come the enemy in order to claim it for ourselves and enjoy it.
Let us remember that this is not just our lives. We are part of God’s plan. We are weapons and tools in God’s great overriding eternal plan. He will not be defeated, dismayed, downtrod, destroyed or become desperate.
If we find what God wants and follow where he LEADS we to will not fail.
Although Joshua saw one angel he was representing thousands and thousands that were unseen.
"The Lord's host" does not refer to those Israelite armies encamped beside the overflowing waters of the Jordan, but to invisible hosts encamped all around on those heights, though no ear ever heard the call of the sentries at their posts of duty, or saw the sheen of their swords flashing in the sunlight, or beheld their assembled ranks.
Those troops of harnessed angels were the hosts of which this wondrous Warrior was captain. The story of the conquest of Canaan is not simply the account of battles fought between Israel and the Canaanites, but of the results of a conflict yet more mysterious and far-reaching between the bright squadrons that follow the lead of the captain of the Lord's host, and the dark battalions of evil entrenched in the hearts and strongholds of the enemies of God. Is it, therefore, any cause for wonder that the walls of Jericho fell down; or that vast armies were scattered without a blow being struck;
These achievements were the earthly and visible results of victories won in the heavenly and spiritual sphere by armies which follow the Word of God. Those walls fell down because they were smitten by the impact of celestial hosts. Those armies fled because the dark powers with which they were in league had been put to the rout before the Lord God Almighty.
To a wandering Abram the Lord appeared as a wanderer
To a fighter Jacob the lord came as a fighter
To the warrior Joshua the lord came as a Joshua
He is our I am.
the first thing the Lord required -- "Loose thy shoe," Leave worldly cares, cut off carnal indulgences, and give yourself up wholly to Me." "And Joshua did so... And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand, Jericho,"
The Message Bible (MSG), translates our Holy Scripture text for today in this way: "But Noah was different. God liked what He saw in Noah." The New Living Translation (NLT) says: "But Noah found favor with the Lord."
Almighty God was displeased with the world and its wickedness - however, as God pronounces Judgment upon the world; and, prepares to destroy it with a flood, we find encouraging Words concerning Noah - he "found grace in the eyes of the Lord" - he found favor in Almighty God’s sight! Why did Noah find favor in the sight of Almighty God? How might we apply that reason or set of reasons to our situation today?
Noah found grace (or, favor) because he was a "just man!" Some translations say "righteous" man! More than likely, this is a refence to Noah’s moral relation to Almighty God!
Noah was "perfect in his generation!" Other translations use the word "blameless!" - not that he was sinless; but, that he had no blatant faults! He was a man of moral integrity among the people!
Noah "walked with God!" This is how Noah manifested his righteousness and integrity! In walking with Almighty God, Noah imitated the example of Enoch, his great-grandfather! Walking with Almighty God more than likely involved calling upon the name of the Lord - which began in the days of Seth - and, offering sacrifices to Almighty God - which began in the days of Cain and Abel!
Noah "did according to all that the Lord commanded him!" This fact is emphasized twice in the Holy Scriptures! The writer of Hebrews tells us that this obedience of Noah came from faith!
Noah was "a preacher of righteousness!" He not only lived a righteous life; but, he also "proclaimed" the need for righteousness, even though he lived in a very ungodly world!
Noah certainly was an unusual man; but, perhaps we see why he and his family "found grace in the eyes of the Lord!" What about ourselves? We also live in a very ungodly world - is there a need for us to "find grace in the eyes of the Lord?" The answer, my brothers and sisters, is YES! - why?
Psa 124:1 A Song of degrees of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
Psa 124:2 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
Psa 124:3 Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
Psa 124:4 Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
Psa 124:5 Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
Psa 124:6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Psa 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
