Josué 1

Josué 1:8

Pentecost writes Jehovah's instructions to Joshua meant "that the Law should never depart from Joshua as the dominant influence in everything that came from his mouth. God was not just instructing him to live by it, but to administer it so that the entire nation would be brought under its control, that the Law might do its intended work. This was a large part of Joshua’s work as the theocratic administrator. With one half of Israel before Mount Gerizim and the other half before Mount Ebal Joshua… read all the words of the law (How many of the words?), the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel (Note the repetition which serves to emphasize the vital importance of this endeavor) with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them. (Joshua 8:34,35+) Joshua remained faithful to carry out this practice even unto his dying day. Knowing that he would soon fall asleep (die) he instructs the people of Israel… Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, (Why?) so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, (Why?) in order that you may not associate with these nations (Ed: Referring to the Gentiles with their defiling pagan practices to evil to even mention!), these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. (Joshua 23:6-8+) The last mention of the book of the law is in Joshua 24 just before Joshua passes off the scene… And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the LORD which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, lest you deny your God." Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his inheritance. And it came about after these things that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being one hundred and ten years old. (Joshua 24:26-29+) Shall not depart from your mouth means that this book of the law should be the constant topic of your conversation. Why? "Because you shall meditate on it day and night." Now whatever you're thinking about all day and thinking about all night will show up in your conversation. So Jehovah (the Author of this Word) is saying Joshua should saturate himself with the Word of God. It was to be the dominant thing in him life. He meditates on it, talks about it and naturally (better supernaturally) begins to live it out. THOUGHT - By way of application NT believers will make their way spiritually prosperous and have spiritual success if they do (enabled by the Spirit) according to all that is written in it. There are many believers who can not do according to all that is written in it because they do not understand all that is written. And so it is incumbent upon believers to diligently study the Scripture so that they can understand it so that they can obey it so that they can be blessed and prosperous and have success! The idea is that the law of God (the Word of God) so saturates a person, that it exerts a controlling influence on one's thoughts and one's actions. Depart (04185) (mush) means to be taken away, removed. Joshua did not depart from tabernacle while Moses went into camp (Ex 33:11) When Israel attempted to enter Canaan presumptuously, after having accepted the unbelieving majority report of the spies, the ark of the covenant of the Lord did not depart from the camp (Nu 14:44). Men who trust in the Lord will be like trees planted by a river; they will not cease yielding fruit (Jer 17:8). Mush - 20x in 19v in NAS - Ex 13:22; 33:11; Nu 14:44; Josh 1:8; Jdg 6:18; Job 23:12; Ps 55:11; Pr 17:13; Isa 22:25; 46:7; 54:10; 59:21; Jer 17:8; 31:36; Mic 2:3 4; Nah 3:1; Zech 3:9; 14:4. NAS = cease(1), depart(6), departed(1), departs(2), give way(1), left(1), move(2), remove(2), removed(2), removes(1), take away(1). W. H. Griffith-Thomas has a word from Andrew Murray on the place of "good books" as related to the "Good Book" (the Best Book)… Andrew Murray has reminded us in one of his books that milk represents food which has already passed through digestive processes before it is taken by us. And so we may say that all the little books of devotion, the helps to holiness, the series of manuals of thought and teaching, however valuable, represent food that has passed through the spiritual digestion of others before it comes to us, and it has to be used as such. Do we then decry all these? Far from it; yea, we establish them, but only in their place and for their purpose. If they are put first, to the exclusion of the Bible alone, and the Bible day by day, they become dangerous and disastrous, crutches that prevent vigorous exercise, and lead to spiritual senility. If they are put second, they become delightful and valuable, inspirations to further thought and pathways to deeper blessings. When we have had our own meditation of the Word we are the better able to enjoy what God teaches us through others of His children, and especially those whom God honours with special gifts of teaching. So it must be first, foremost and constantly, "MY meditation of HIM." (Methods of Bible Study by W. H. Griffith-Thomas 1903) Warren