Sword & Trowel 2019: Issue 1


JOSHUA’S SIXTEEN RESOLUTIONS


‘And it came to pass a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their offi cers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age’ (Joshua 23.1-2).


ROUND 1375BC Joshua proclaimed his ‘farewell’ address to all the elders and heads of the families of Israel. Speak- ing by divine inspiration the aged leader gave the people sixteen pro- found and heart-searching resolutions that stand to this day as monitors of the committed spiritual life. Although given in the form of ex- hortations, they are clearly intended to be embraced as personal resolu- tions or pledges by those who love and serve the Lord. Down the centuries Christian be-


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lievers have frequently emphasised the keeping of spiritual pledges (we may think of the seventy famous resolutions of Jonathan Edwards), and here are Joshua’s, the inspired forerunner of them all. These resolutions are naturally subordinate to the Ten Commandments, the moral law of God,


– by the Editor –


and to the graces of Galatians 5.22-23 – the fruit of the Spirit. They are the standards of holiness, while resolutions are our pledges of response.


1 HAVE TENACIOUS COURAGE The fi rst resolution is given in these


words: ‘Be ye therefore very coura- geous’ (Joshua 23.6). However, we should be aware that a remarkable formula for courage is provided here, the Hebrew word for courage being different in meaning from the English word. ‘English’ courage comes from the Latin for heart, and refers to the ability to control your fears, push- ing them aside and suppressing or quenching them. ‘English’ courage asks us to stifl e natural fears. The Hebrew word, however, is


The form and fl ow


of Joshua’s resolutions are amazing. For comprehensiveness in short compass they surely have no equal. Every conceivable aspect of obedience to God’s standards is covered.


page 4 Joshua’s Sixteen Resolutions


the verb to hold, or seize on, or to fi x on something. It calls us to be tenacious and hold tightly on to what God has commanded us or given us. The He- brew notion of courage in warfare is to so value your position, let us say, your defensive line, that you hold it at all costs. Or let us suppose you are called on to save a life at great danger to yourself. You will do it by clinging to your sym- pathy for the one about to die, and to your inner duty to save life.


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