Be strong, very courageous and be careful Josh 1:7.
Introduction:
Douglas MacArthur, American general best known for his command of Allied forces in the Pacific Theatre during World War II.
His farewell speech at West Point, May 12, 1962... "Duty," "honour," "Country" - those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying point to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn. They build your basic character. They mould you for your future roles as the custodians of the nation's defence. They make you strong enough to know when you are weak, and brave enough to face yourself when you are afraid. They teach you to be proud and unbending in honest failure, but humble and gentle in success; not to substitute words for action; not to seek the path of comfort, but to face the stress and spur of difficulty and challenge; to learn to stand up in the storm, but to have compassion on those who fall; to have a heart that is clean, a goal that is high; to reach into the future, yet never neglect the past; to be serious, yet never take yourself too seriously; to be modest so that you will remember the simplicity of true greatness; the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. They give you a temperate will, a quality of imagination, a vigour of emotions, a freshness of deep springs of life, a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity, an appetite for adventure over love of ease. They create in your heart sense of wonder, unfailing hope of what next, joy and inspiration of life. They teach you in this way to be an officer and a gentleman. I do not know the dignity of birth, but I do know the glory of death. Always for them: Duty, honour, Country.
Likewise, here we see Josh 1:7. We advise our children, spouse, parents, friends and dear ones. These very words were repeatedly pronounced by YHWH to Moses then to Joshua, then to Israelite's and prophets (Dt.5:32). God of all generations. He never changed; his words never changed. His promises never changed. Be strong in you, Be courageous before others
Be careful to observe and obey in the sight of the Lord.
Joshua was only a plain, fiery soldier, with energy, swift decision, promptitude, self-command, and all the military virtues in the highest degree (Maclaren, 2018).
BE STRONG 1:6,7,9:
Meaning powerful, effective, skilled or doing good at something, firm and determined, difficult to break and destroy.
In Dt. 31:7-8 Moses said these same words to Joshua, again God confirmed these sentences to him. The words of Moses were the words of YHWH. The same way these words were repeated by Joshua to Israel in 10:25.
Our life should be filled with the Word of God. We all need to give importance to the word of God.
The words of Jesus are so powerful, Creative, encouraging and life filling. Our preaching, witnessing must be of the LORD and from the LORD. In Jud.14:14 Samson told a riddle. “out of the strong has come something sweet. If you are strong in the LORD you are sweet, good, useful, pleasing person.
Some are always discouraging, volatile, pessimistic. But be positive, be strong. Let people enjoy your fellowship, friendship, leadership.
Joab said to his brother be strong to fight, be courageous for our people, for our city (1Chr.19:12-13). DAVID said to his son Solomon in 1 Chr. 28:20. Be strong to finish the service of the lord, work of the Lord.
Be stronger to dispute those who are stronger in apostasy (Eccl.6:10). Be strong to bind the evil (Mt.12:29, Lk. 11:21). Be strong in the Lord (Eph.6:10). Be strong to wait for the Lord (Ps.27:14).
Be Courageous:
Moses said stand firm (Ex.14:13). Jesus was courageous to take up the cross. The soldiers and guards had come to arrest him. He went and asked whom do you want. They said Jesus. He said “I am”.
DAVID went in the battle against Goliath with courage. (2 Sam 10:12). Ac 4:12 peter and John were courageous to speak the name of Jesus in midst of persecution, they uttered how can we keep quiet. Heb. 4:16 says ‘take courage to come near to the throne of grace’.
Be careful:
Dt.5:32 be careful, not turn to right or left. Dt. 4:40 says “Keep his statutes, his commandments for your own wellbeing and that of your descendants after you, you may long remain in the land”.
Mathew Henry: Joshua must himself be under command; no man's dignity or dominion sets him above the law of God. He is to encourage himself with the promise and presence of God.
‘Joshua’s firm and inflexible adherence to the law of God lead to the victory’(Jamieson-fausset-brown,2018).
Wesley: Commanded thee — Remember, that though thou art the commander of my people, yet thou art my subject, and obliged to observe all my commands.
Joshua made the book of the law as the guide of his conduct, strictly adhering to it in every point, and always recommending the strict observation of it to the people (Benson, 2018).
Wesley: To the right hand or to the left — That is, in any kind, or upon any pretence; which plainly shews, that God's assistance promised to him and the Israelite, was conditional, and might justly be withdrawn upon their breach of the conditions. Whither so ever thou go — That is, whatsoever thou do. Men' actions are often compared to ways, or steps by which they come to the end they aim at.
Isaac was blessed after the death of Abraham. Gen.25:11. DAVID and Jonathan were very thick and close friends. because of Jonathan, David blessed his children, he remembered them and also showed them mercy. Read: 1 Sam. 20:14-17 & 2 Sam 9:1
How much God would do for us? Read 2 Sam 12:24-25 Solomon was loved so much by God because of David’s prayer, weeping, and pleaded for special grace, restoration of the spirit. He was broken in heart (12:16). So, everything whatever you do will bring blessings to your children and grandchildren.
At the same time our sin will bring curse upon the generations, ex., Achan Joshua 24:24. Gehazi greed brought curse upon his generations. 2 Ki 5:27.
Conclusion:
Winston Churchill, House commons, London, June 4, 1940.
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our Island home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. We shall go on to the end, “we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old”. He further said: “Every morn brought forth a noble chance and every chance brought forth a noble knight”
