Joshua 14 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 14.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/14/1/s_201001

Meditate on verse 8.  Caleb is speaking.

 

“Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me

made the heart of the people melt with fear, but

I followed the LORD my God fully.”

 

Recall Caleb and Joshua were two of the twelve men sent to spy out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13).  They returned with a good report about the land, encouraging the people, confident God would give them the land; the other ten spies put fear into the people’s hearts, causing them to distrust the LORD and His provision (Numbers 14).  The results were disastrous (Numbers 14:26-35).  Forty-five years later, God rewarded Caleb for his faithfulness, giving him the land of Hebron and allowing him to be as strong at the age of 85 as he was at the age of 40 (vs. 10-14).

 

Read the meditation verse again.  Which half of the verse best describes you?  Are you a fearful person, imagining the worst, causing your heart and the hearts of others to melt with fear, or are you a person who follows the LORD your God fully, confidently knowing He protects you and those you love?

 

Ask the LORD to make you and those you love like Caleb by praying Joshua 14:8 and 10-11 as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, do not let __________ and me cause the

 heart of people to melt with fear, but let

 us follow You, LORD our God, fully.  Let us

be as strong today as when You called us

 years ago.  Even when we are 85, let our

strength be for fighting for Your Kingdom.

 And for going out and coming in Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Joshua 13 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 13.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/13/1/s_200001

Meditate on verse 1.

 

Now Joshua was old and advanced in

 years when the LORD said to him,

 "You are old and advanced in years, and

 very much of the land remains to be possessed.”

 

Have you ever felt like Joshua—old—yet, with so very much of the LORD’s work still to be done?  It’s refreshing to hear God acknowledge Joshua was old because we all have days (whether we are literally old or not) when we cry out, “LORD, do You realize how old and tired I am!?  LORD, help me!”

 

Observe how God takes control of the situation by saying:

 

"All the inhabitants of the hill country from

Lebanon as far as Misrephoth-maim,

 all the Sidonians, I will drive them

out from before the sons of Israel;

only allot it to Israel for an inheritance

 as I have commanded you.”

—Joshua 13:6

 

God promised to take possession of the land for His people; Joshua just had to divide it among the tribes as the LORD commanded. 

 

Appeal to the LORD for His help by praying Joshua 13:1, 6, and 33 as His faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, You know I am old and advanced in

years; at least I feel that way, and

there is very much of Your Kingdom on earth

 to be possessed.  LORD, drive out

Your enemies from before Your people

and give us the inheritance as You

have commanded.  LORD God, thank

You that You are our inheritance.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

Joshua 12 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 12.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/12/1/s_199001

Meditate on verse 1a.

 

Now these are the kings of the land whom the sons of Israel defeated.

 

There was to be no doubt God gave Israel all the land of Canaan, for He listed the conquered kings and kingdoms as a forever reminder of their inheritance from Him.  And, He uses the word one after every kingdom named because every individual victory is important to God.

 

Recall God’s faithfulness to you and those you love.  Every sin He has conquered and every victory He has won is part of your forever inheritance from the LORD.   Any one thing He does on your behalf is worth celebrating.  List what God has done for you, like He listed the thirty-one conquered kings in Joshua 12:7-24, in a prayer of thanksgiving as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62;6-7).

 

“LORD, now these are areas in __________ and my life that

 You defeated and conquered, giving us victory:

_____________________________________________________, one; _____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one;

_____________________________________________________, one:

In all, thirty-one victories for Your glory, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Joshua 11 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 11.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/11/1/s_198001

Meditate on verses 4-6a.

 

They came out, they and all their armies with

 them, as many people as the sand that is

on the seashore, with very many horses and

chariots. So all of these kings having agreed

to meet, came and encamped together at

 the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not

be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this

time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel."

 

Israel conquered the southern kingdoms of Canaan (Joshua 10), and the news prompted the northern kingdoms to combine forces in an effort to stop Israel from conquering them, too.  Can you imagine so many kings with so many armies, as many as the sand on the seashore, coming with their horses and chariots to fight against you?  How fearful Joshua must have felt!  How comforting God’s words must have been to him!  “Do not be afraid, for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver all of them slain before Israel” (v. 6). 

 

God promised to do the impossible on behalf of His people.  He delivered these enemies of Israel into their hand, so they could defeat them (v. 8).

 

Are you and your loved ones facing overwhelming situations which war against you?  Give these enemies to the LORD, asking Him to fight for you, praying Joshua 11:23 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, help ________ and me to do according

 to all that You have spoken.

As we do, please give us rest from war.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Joshua 10 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 10.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/10/1/s_197001

Meditate on verses 12-14.

 

Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the

LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel,

and he said in the sight of Israel, "O sun, stand still at

Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon."

 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the

nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not

written in the book of Jashar?  And the sun stopped in

 the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down

 for about a whole day.  There was no day like that

before it or after it, when the LORD listened to the voice

of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.

 

What an amazing chapter in Israel’s history!  God fought for the Israelites because Joshua obeyed Him, confidently trusting Him to do the impossible on behalf of His people.

 

There are situations in your life where you need God to do the impossible for the sake of those you love.  There are people who need to be saved, people who need healing, people facing incredibly difficult situations.  Ask the LORD to reveal unconfessed sin in your life.  Repent, desiring to be faithful and pleasing to Him.  Then, pray for God to do the impossible for yourself and those you love.

 

Pray Joshua 10:14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, let this be a day like no other when You

listen to my voice and fight for ___________ and me.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

Joshua 9 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 9.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/9/1/s_196001

Meditate on verse 14.

 

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions,

and did not ask for the counsel of the LORD.

 

Joshua’s God-given marching orders were to utterly destroy all the inhabitants of Canaan because they were godless idolaters who would lead the Israelites into paganism.  One of those groups was the Gibeonites.  They tricked the Israelites into believing they were not from Canaan, cutting a covenant with them.  Duped by the Gibeonites, Israel had to keep their covenant vows and spare their lives (v. 19).  The Gibeonites will be a thorn in Israel’s side for years to come.

 

Oh, what complications we create when we act on our presumptions without seeking the counsel of God!  Oh, what complications we create when we enter into a covenant relationship with the godless instead of acting on the counsel of the LORD!

 

Do not be bound together with unbelievers;

 for what partnership have righteousness and

 lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

—2 Corinthians 6:14

 

Pray to do the opposite of Joshua 9:14 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please let _________ and me always

 ask for Your counsel and obey it.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

Joshua 8 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 8.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/8/1/s_195001

Meditate on verse 27.

 

Israel took only the cattle and the spoil

of that city as plunder for themselves,

according to the word of the LORD

which He had commanded Joshua.

 

The Israelites learned their lesson from the Achan debacle (Joshua 7).  When they took Ai, they did it “according to the word of the LORD” rather than their own way (v. 27).  What a difference God’s way made for them and their families!

 

Ponder that phrase, “according to the word of the LORD.”  Is it a governing phrase in your life?  Ask God to make it your heart’s desire to do things according to His Word.  Ask Him to give you a hunger for His Word, so you will know what it says and do accordingly. 

 

Pray Joshua 8:27 and 34-35 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please help _________ and me do according

to Your Word.  May we read all the words of Your law,

the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in Your Book. 

Let there not be a word of all that You command

that we not read.  LORD, let everyone in my family and

 in my church, even the little ones, hear, read, and know Your Word.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joshua 7 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 7.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/7/1/s_194001

Meditate on verse 1.

 

But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard

 to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of

Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from

 the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under

the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD

 burned against the sons of Israel.

 

The repeated phrase, “under the ban,” continues into chapter 7 of Joshua.  Recall from yesterday’s devotional, the phrase is translated from the Hebrew word cherem, meaning “a thing appointed to utter desctruction.”¹  Tragically, rather than utterly destroy the things under the ban, Achan chose to keep some banned things for himself.  The consequences were devastating.

 

Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan

the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar

of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his

donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged

 to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.

 Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? 

The LORD will trouble you this day."

 And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned

 them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.

—Joshua 7:24-25

 

An entire family destroyed because a man could not control himself.  Determine to protect yourself and those you love by obeying God and His Word.  Pray Joshua 7:11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, please keep ________ and me from sinning

and transgressing Your covenant

 which You command.  Do not let us take

things under the ban.  Do not let us steal

 and deceive.  Do not let us put

banned things among our own things.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

1.      Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2764&t=NASB

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

Joshua 6 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read Joshua 6.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/jos/6/1/s_193001

Meditate on verse 18.

 

But as for you, only keep yourselves from

 the things under the ban, so that

you do not covet them and take some

of the things under the ban and

 make the camp of Israel accursed

and bring trouble on it.

 

“Under the ban” is a repeated phrase in this chapter.  It comes from the Hebrew word, cherem, which means: “a thing appointed to utter destruction.”¹ God warned the Israelites not to be tempted to take things from Jericho which He banned because those things would bring trouble to Israel.

 

The world is filled with things banned to us as Christians, things that when brought into our lives and homes bring trouble to us and those we love.  And, with electronic media, it is easy for banned things to enter.  Take heed to God’s Word and “set no worthless thing before your eyes” (Psalm 101:3).  Purpose to utterly destroy and remove from your media libraries things the Holy Spirit bans.

 

Pray Joshua 6:18 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 

“LORD, may ________ and I keep ourselves

 from the things under the ban

 so that we do not covet them and take

some of the things under the ban

and make our home accursed

and bring trouble on it.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

1.      Retrieved from www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H2764&t=NASB

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell