Sword & Trowel 2019: Issue 1
7 DON’T BOW DOWN The seventh resolution is expressed in the words ‘nor bow yourselves unto them’ (Joshua 23.7). The words refer not only to worship, but to any submission to the authority of false religion, error or sin. Don’t accept the advice of worship leaders who promote compromised musical gen- res that belong to the world. Don’t yield to apostate denominational au- thorities as some do. Look again at the progression of some of these resolutions – don’t look, don’t mix, don’t mention, don’t depend on, don’t swear by, don’t serve, and don’t bow down to or yield authority to them. The apostle Paul echoes this in the New Testament, ‘I will not be brought under the power of any.’ We will certainly yield to the author- ity of a boss at work, or a father or mother at home, or any other proper authority, but we will not be brought under the spiritual authority of false worship music advocates or apostate teachers. This must be our unswerv- ing pledge before the Lord.
8 CLING TO THE LORD For the eighth resolution Joshua
moves from negative to positive du- ties, the first of these being – ‘Cleave unto the Lord your God, as ye have done unto this day’ (Joshua 23.8). The Hebrew verb translated cleave
is adhere or cling. You might think this is similar to courage or tenacity, but cleave or cling applies here to God, and denotes an unbreakable bond to someone precious to you. This is like having union with a close relation, or
page 8 Joshua’s Sixteen Resolutions
even better, the union of the body to a limb.
No one would want to lose a leg or an arm, bodily parts being integral and precious to us, and the Lord is even more crucial to the believer. Our resolution must be to make sure that we are close to him, walking in his sight and conscious of his near- ness. My Saviour, we say, is not remote; nor is Heaven in the misty distance, but in my frequent thoughts. It is already part of me, it is mine; I pos- sess it, I won’t let it go. God’s Word is daily in my hands, and my prayers constantly ascend. All these treasures and blessings are like arms and legs to me, and this is what it means to ‘cleave’ unto the Lord. My resolution is – I will stay close and dependent no matter what shall take place in my life.
9 EXAMINE YOURSELF The ninth resolution is to ‘Take good heed therefore unto yourselves’ (Joshua 23.11). Modern translations tend to run this into what follows – ‘that ye love the Lord your God’, but it is also a distinctive exhortation – take good care of your deportment and behaviour. The Hebrew is literally – hedge
it about, or protect or watch over it. Never take your eyes off your Christian performance. Daily reflec- tion and scrutiny is vital. How have I thought today? How have I spoken today? What have I done today? Have I erred by omission of good deeds and duties? Have I honoured the Lord? We are to put a fence around our conduct, be aware of our
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