All Articles For Joshua

Rev. Lanning is pastor of Faith Protestant Reformed Church in Jenison, Michigan. Previous article in this series: February 1, 2008, p. 208. An officebearer in Christ’s church entering into office is in need of courage. He needs courage because his task of caring for Christ’s flock on behalf of the Good Shepherd Himself is not a task he can accomplish in his own strength. So it was with Joshua when he was given the work of leading Israel into Canaan. Four times in Joshua 1, God encourages him with the exhortation, “Be strong and of a good courage.” God Himself supplies...

Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.  And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. 

It belongs, of course; to the essence of a sacrament that it be instituted by God through Jesus Christ. The sacraments are signs, but all signs are not necessarily sacraments. All things are signs. Bread and water and wine are always signs. God created the entire universe as one gigantic picture. The Lord created the earthly with a view to the heavenly. The heavenly renewal of all things in Christ Jesus does not simply replace the earthy as created with Adam at its head.

In our last article we discussed the subject of beginning our homes in the fear of the Lord. We emphasized how important it is to establish our homes in the fear of the Lord. It is in a sense, of course, easy to vow when we begin our homes that we will fear the Lord. We are inclined to be as Israel in the latter days of Joshua when Joshua charged Israel to choose to serve the Lord God.

The truth before us as a topic is rare. It is by no means found everywhere in the theologicalBibliothek. One may scan many volumes before place is found where the subject is treated, or taken up with more than passing notice. Nor where the name Lord is explained is lordship necessarily elucidated. The subject is to be distinguished from the deity of Christ. In His person He is God of God, true God of true God.

“And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”  I Samuel 14:6

“And the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying,  Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;  Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.” 

In the on-going debate about Scripture and its authority no little stir has been created by a brochure (in the series Kampen Exercise Books) from the pen of Dr. H.M. Kuitert under the title “Understandest Thou What Thou Readest?” This brochure is supposed to be about he interpretation of the Bible, according to its sub-title.

[Note: This article should have appeared in the October 15 issue. The article which did appear in the October 15 issue under the same title should have followed this article and should have carried the title, “Faltering Faith And Guiding Grace.” The mix-up is neither the fault of the author nor the fault of the editor, but of our typesetter, who apologizes for the error. HCH]

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Heb. 11:8