Josué 14
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Josué 14
Guzik - We should imitate Caleb’s boldness in asking for what God promised him. We may find it hard to believe, but God appreciates this kind of boldness. Gene Getz - Though the biblical record in Numbers and Deuteronomy makes no reference to a specific inheritance for Caleb (only a general reference to the inheritance of the land), God must have mentioned at that time the exact area Caleb spied out in Canaan. Consequently, Caleb also reminded Joshua of Moses' response at that time to God's promise. At age eighty-five and after supporting Joshua for seven war-filled years, he boldly and courageously asked for the “hill country about which the LORD spoke on that day” (v. 12). This specific request confirms the fact that the Lord had spelled out clearly that He would give Caleb a special place in Canaan because of his faithfulness. This was the exact area Caleb spied out many years before. And though it was strongly fortified and heavily populated by men of great size, God promised Caleb he would be able to defeat his enemies, even in his old age. Caleb was as confident of God's promise as he was in himself and his own abilities. (Men of Character: Joshua)
Josué 14
Guzik - This is how God wants us to be in our spiritual life as we advance in years: growing older, but never weaker in Jesus. I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me; as my strength was then, so my strength is now, for war and for going out and coming in - Hebrew = "like my strength then, like my strength now, for battle and for going out and coming in." "I can fight and go about my daily activities with the same energy I had then." (Jos 14:11NET) This is an amazing testimony/declaration. At 75 I can not even make such a statement and I exercise daily and seek to keep myself physically (and spiritually) fit. While I might be overstepping the text somewhat, I personally believe that God had supernaturally intervened in Caleb's life to enable him to make such a declaration. And as the following passages demonstrate he would need to avail himself of his strength (mentioned 3 times in this verse!). Had he not maintained his physical prowess, it is hard to imagine how he could make the following statement. It is sad when believers allow "old age" to make complainers out of them when they ought (like Caleb) to be conquerors. -- Warren Wiersbe Note the phrases for war and for going out and coming in which clearly are normally not applied to the average aging person, but Caleb was no average aging person! Psalm 103 alludes to the LORD giving strength in old age... Psalm 103:5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed (Lxx = anakainizo - qualitatively new!) like the eagle. C H Spurgeon (this comment speaks primarily of God satisfying one's years but is so beautiful I felt compelled to include it in this section) - Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, or rather "filling with good thy soul." No man is ever filled to satisfaction but a believer, and only God himself can satisfy even him. Many a worldling is satiated, but not one is satisfied. God satisfies the very soul of man, his noblest part, his ornament and glory; and of consequence he satisfies his mouth, however hungry and craving it might otherwise be. Soul-satisfaction loudly calls for soul-praise, and when the mouth is filled with good it is bound to speak good of him who filled it. Our good Lord bestows really good things, not vain toys and idle pleasures; and these he is always giving, so that from moment to moment he is satisfying our soul with good: shall we not be still praising him? If we never cease to bless him till he ceases to bless us, our employment will be eternal. So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Renewal of strength, amounting to a grant of a new lease of life, was granted to the Psalmist; he was so restored to his former self that he grew young again, and looked as vigorous as an eagle, whose eye can gaze upon the sun, and whose wing can mount above the storm. Our version refers to the annual moulting of the eagle, after which it looks fresh and young; but the original does not appear to allude to any such fact of natural history, but simply to describe the diseased one as so healed and strengthened, that he became as full of energy as the bird which is strongest of the feathered race, most fearless, most majestic, and most soaring. He who sat moping with the owl in the last Psalm, here flies on high with the eagle: the Lord works marvellous changes in us, and we learn by such experiences to bless his holy name. To grow from a sparrow to an eagle, and leave the wilderness of the pelican to mount among the stars is enough to make any man cry, "Bless the Lord, O my soul." Thus, is the endless chain of grace complete. Sins forgiven, its power subdued, and its penalty averted, then we are honoured, supplied, and our very nature renovated, till we are as new-born children in the household of God. O Lord we must bless thee, and we will; as thou dost withhold nothing from us so we would not keep back from thy praise one solitary power of our nature, but with all our heart, and soul, and strength praise thy holy name. J Oswald Sanders - Caleb has been worthily described as the Mr. Greatheart of the Old Testament . His chief distinction was that he never stopped growing. The passing years, instead of witnessing his gradual eclipse, only served to increase his stature and enhance his prestige. His name is appropriately derived from a Hebrew word associated with the ideas of fidelity, obedience and alertness to discern the master's will. His biography which is condensed into a few sentences, illustrates two exhilarating truths. First, that it is possible for life's greatest achievement to take place in old age . Second, that there is no retiring age in the service of God. He merits our emulation at every stage of life and nowhere does he disappoint our highest expectations. (Bible Men of Faith) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 14 As my strength was then, so is my strength now. My ability not only for counsel, but for action, remains unimpaired; I am as competent as ever for the hard services and difficult exploits of war. He mentions this, both to give glory to God who was the strength as well as the length of his days, and also to intimate to Joshua that it would not be throwing away a portion upon a weak old man, who was unequal to the task of either taking or retaining it. On the contrary, even if it were to be taken from the hands of giants, and should require the utmost prowess, energy and nerve of the youthful warrior, he was still able to put it forth. He was not afraid to cope at eighty with the same power which he would readily have encountered at forty.—If we would make sure of a ‘green old age,’ let us begin early to follow the Lord fully. It is usually the excesses of youth which bring on the premature decay of the bodily and mental powers. It is precisely that sobriety, temperance, and moderation which religion enjoins, that secures to us the longest continuance and the highest enjoyment of life, health, and strength; and these habits cannot begin to be practised too early. Both to go out and to come in. A proverbial phrase, equivalent to performing all the duties belonging to an official station. See on Num. 27:17. F B