HISTORICAL BOOKS
JOSHUA
CHAPTER
1
1. After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, saying, 2. My servant Moses is dead. Now proceed to cross the Jordan, you and all his people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the Israelites.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 1 and 2)
Oh God You love us so much that You never leave us without a leader. As in the case of Moses, while he was still alive You were already preparing Joshua as his follower. In the case of the Roman Catholic Church when Pope John Paul was still alive, You were already preparing Pope Benedict who was his assistant to walk in his shoes. On the other hand Pope Francesco had always been a candidate for the papacy and when the appointed time came You chose him to be Pope the physical leader in Your name of the Roman Catholic Church.
Oh God verses 1 and 2 are very encouraging. After such a long time of dry arid desert which may symbolise those long and depressive moments of our lives, came the moment of victory over those negative moments. Therefore we are to be glad and overjoyed that our moment of deliverance is always in God's plan and when the time comes He will open all the doors so that we can overcome that situation with flying colours. Amen. Our God is a victorious God. There is none like You oh God.
3. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you. 4. From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be your territory.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 3 and 4)
Oh God you are faithful in Your ways. Ever since the time of Abraham You had promised that Your people would inherit a vast land flowing with milk and honey that would stretch from the Lebanon to the Euphrates. In order to view a map of this vast territory please refer to the following illustration that shows Abraham's route to this promised land.
(http://www.biblestudy.org/maps/journey-of-abraham-to-promised-land-and-egypt-large-map.html)
5. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you or forsake you.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 5)
Oh God you love us so much that You are even ready to protect us by being with us in our conflicts against those who have plans to harm us both physically and even psychologically or spiritually. We always need to keep in mind that You are our protective shield and that we are never alone. So if you ever think or feel that you are alone in a particular situation it is best for us to remember that You God are on our side and that You will fight the battle with us and for us. Amen.
6. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 6)
Oh Jesus You are a fortress of courage and support. Every time I feel weak and dejected you always empower me to stand on my feet and move on with my head held high, with You as my protective shield. I invite the readers and those who use this blog to meditate to click on the following link and join me in this powerful song.
Song "Be Bold be strong...
7. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 7 to 8)
Oh God my father I also thank You for giving me the opportunity to meditate on the Bible. This is part of my daily routine in the morning and in the evening. Your Word is always on my my mind and in my heart. I thank You for this calling. On every verse that I meditate on I receive blessings and consolations, however I even thank You when rebuke me by means of Your Word, by kindly and lovingly make me aware of my sinful self and the pending faults that are still not yet resolved in me. However I thank You for those areas in which You have healed me both the physical and even the spiritual.
9. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go".
(Joshua Chapter 1 verse 9)
When You choose the right time oh God You prompt us and motivate us to accomplish the desired task that we may have been waiting for for, a very long time. Although we may grumble that You really take Your time before giving us what we want, we are to be patient and wait on You for only You know the perfect time of our deliverance.
12. To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13. "Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, "The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest, and will give you this land.'
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 12 to 13)
Oh loving Father You are also saying the same thing to me on this very day. Even though I have endured many tribulations throughout my life, You are promising me rest when I end my life on this earth and be found worthy to enter into Your holy presence. This is my one and only promised land oh God. However in the meantime I am to keep Your Word in my heart and in my time during this time of pilgrimage in this world every day of my life. with Your help oh God Your promise will always stay alive in me until the time of its fulfilment.
14. Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all the warriors among you shall cross over armed before your kindred and shall help them, 15. until the LORD gives rest to your kindred as well as to you, and they too take possession of the land that the LO?RD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan to the east."
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 14 to 15)
It seems that the conquest of the promised land involved a process of observing and returning to the land that they were living beyond the promised land. This means that the process of acquisition was gradual. Throughout our lives oh God You permit us to reach our worldly goals also by means of stages and not at once. This also applies in our relationship with You oh God. During the time of our childhood You were introduced to us by means of signs and symbols, however when we reach adulthood, You make Yourself accessible to us in a more mature way by means of the Holy Eucharist and also by means of situations where we make an experience of Your presence, where You permit us to have a peep at the promised land that is heaven. Finally there comes that blessed day when we die and are reunited with You forever.
16. They answered Joshua; "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 16)
17. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses!
(Joshua Chapter 1 verse 17)
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 3 and 4)
Oh God you are faithful in Your ways. Ever since the time of Abraham You had promised that Your people would inherit a vast land flowing with milk and honey that would stretch from the Lebanon to the Euphrates. In order to view a map of this vast territory please refer to the following illustration that shows Abraham's route to this promised land.
(http://www.biblestudy.org/maps/journey-of-abraham-to-promised-land-and-egypt-large-map.html)
5. No one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you or forsake you.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 5)
Oh God you love us so much that You are even ready to protect us by being with us in our conflicts against those who have plans to harm us both physically and even psychologically or spiritually. We always need to keep in mind that You are our protective shield and that we are never alone. So if you ever think or feel that you are alone in a particular situation it is best for us to remember that You God are on our side and that You will fight the battle with us and for us. Amen.
6. Be strong and courageous; for you shall put this people in possession of the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 6)
Oh Jesus You are a fortress of courage and support. Every time I feel weak and dejected you always empower me to stand on my feet and move on with my head held high, with You as my protective shield. I invite the readers and those who use this blog to meditate to click on the following link and join me in this powerful song.
Song "Be Bold be strong...
7. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that my servant Moses commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go. 8. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 7 to 8)
Oh God my father I also thank You for giving me the opportunity to meditate on the Bible. This is part of my daily routine in the morning and in the evening. Your Word is always on my my mind and in my heart. I thank You for this calling. On every verse that I meditate on I receive blessings and consolations, however I even thank You when rebuke me by means of Your Word, by kindly and lovingly make me aware of my sinful self and the pending faults that are still not yet resolved in me. However I thank You for those areas in which You have healed me both the physical and even the spiritual.
9. I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go".
(Joshua Chapter 1 verse 9)
Due to the fact that You oh God are aware that the conquest of the promised land was not to be an easy task,, You kept on encouraging Joshua. Oh God You love us so much that You want us to grow, mature and develop and not remain babies in our faith. However this can never be achieved if we are not put to the test. Therefore when we face tribulations in life, we are to welcome them as tests given to us by God with the intention of helping us grow in ourselves and more in our relationship with God. Therefore in themselves these moments are blessed because they are gifts from God and we are to thank Him for such moments.
10. Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, 11. "Pass through the camp, and command the people: 'Prepare your provisions; for in three days you are to cross over the Jordan, to go in to take possession of the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess.'"
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 10 to 11)
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 10 to 11)
When You choose the right time oh God You prompt us and motivate us to accomplish the desired task that we may have been waiting for for, a very long time. Although we may grumble that You really take Your time before giving us what we want, we are to be patient and wait on You for only You know the perfect time of our deliverance.
12. To the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh Joshua said, 13. "Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, "The LORD your God is providing you a place of rest, and will give you this land.'
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 12 to 13)
Oh loving Father You are also saying the same thing to me on this very day. Even though I have endured many tribulations throughout my life, You are promising me rest when I end my life on this earth and be found worthy to enter into Your holy presence. This is my one and only promised land oh God. However in the meantime I am to keep Your Word in my heart and in my time during this time of pilgrimage in this world every day of my life. with Your help oh God Your promise will always stay alive in me until the time of its fulfilment.
14. Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But all the warriors among you shall cross over armed before your kindred and shall help them, 15. until the LORD gives rest to your kindred as well as to you, and they too take possession of the land that the LO?RD your God is giving them. Then you shall return to your own land and take possession of it, the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan to the east."
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 14 to 15)
It seems that the conquest of the promised land involved a process of observing and returning to the land that they were living beyond the promised land. This means that the process of acquisition was gradual. Throughout our lives oh God You permit us to reach our worldly goals also by means of stages and not at once. This also applies in our relationship with You oh God. During the time of our childhood You were introduced to us by means of signs and symbols, however when we reach adulthood, You make Yourself accessible to us in a more mature way by means of the Holy Eucharist and also by means of situations where we make an experience of Your presence, where You permit us to have a peep at the promised land that is heaven. Finally there comes that blessed day when we die and are reunited with You forever.
16. They answered Joshua; "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verses 16)
To this very day I remain faithful to You and Your calling oh God. If this is a reminder for me oh God I will remain faithful. Throughout my life, by means of the different employments that You gave me and wanted me to go to, I have proclaimed Your Word, everywhere I was to this very day, however if You wish me to move on and find another place of work where I can meet new people who need your word, may Your will be done. Even though it will be a challenge after all these years at my current occupation, I am open to Your Holy Will and even ready to move on, if this is Your will. Amen.
17. Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you, as he was with Moses!
(Joshua Chapter 1 verse 17)
Oh God this is our prayer to You and to Pope Francesco. In Your name oh God I am ready to obey all the laws and values that he promotes in Your name, as I obeyed You in the presence of the other popes. In Your name I pledge my obedience and loyalty and not choose what to accept from the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, that are according to my values and discard the rest.
18. Whoever rebels against your orders and disobeys, whatever you command, shall be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."
(Joshua Chapter 1 verse 18)
With reference to verse eighteen which brings us to end of the first chapter of the book of Joshua I would like to pray the following prayer:
As Christians we have given our word and confirmed it thus pledging our loyalty to You oh God and to Your body on earth that is the Roman Catholic Church for those who are Christians, others may also have given their word in other ways. However whatever the way, or church I pray that You give us the faith and energy to remain faithful and true to our pledge.
(Joshua Chapter 1 verse 18)
With reference to verse eighteen which brings us to end of the first chapter of the book of Joshua I would like to pray the following prayer:
As Christians we have given our word and confirmed it thus pledging our loyalty to You oh God and to Your body on earth that is the Roman Catholic Church for those who are Christians, others may also have given their word in other ways. However whatever the way, or church I pray that You give us the faith and energy to remain faithful and true to our pledge.
