Bible Reading Plan

Author: Hannah Thacher

  • Psalm 4

    Psalm 4

    Read Psalm 4

    For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

    1 Answer me when I call to you,
        my righteous God.
    Give me relief from my distress;
        have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

    2 How long will you people turn my glory into shame?
        How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?
    3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
        the Lord hears when I call to him.

    4 Tremble and do not sin;
        when you are on your beds,
        search your hearts and be silent.
    5 Offer the sacrifices of the righteous
        and trust in the Lord.

    6 Many, Lord, are asking, “Who will bring us prosperity?”
        Let the light of your face shine on us.
    7 Fill my heart with joy
        when their grain and new wine abound.

    8 In peace I will lie down and sleep,
        for you alone, Lord,
        make me dwell in safety.

     

    Go Deeper

    Have you ever considered what it would be like to be mindful of God with every breath? So often we’re mindful of Him for a few moments but then our thoughts drift and we forget about God. Maybe a phone call or text distracts you, or in the midst of your prayers, you start getting anxious about a work meeting or a struggle with your spouse or friend. We start off with the best of intentions but our mind and heart quickly drift to the worries and concerns of the world.

    In Psalm 4, King David describes a life that is constantly focused on God. In his rest, in his day to day decisions, in his sleep at night, and everywhere in between, the Psalmist remains focused on the Lord. He’s in constant communication with God, and he’s not afraid of being honest with the Lord about his worries and concerns. With honesty and courage he seeks the Lord’s help in trouble and asks the Lord to fill him with joy. Because of his intimate relationship with God, the Psalmist is confident God hears him when he calls out (v.3).

    In his book Respectable Sins, Jerry Bridges describes the sin of ungodliness where we live life as though God doesn’t exist. We may know the gospel and be saved, but we don’t live life in a dependent, mindful posture. We go about our daily lives in our own power and strength and we don’t acknowledge our need for the Lord. In Psalm 4, David shows us what it’s like to live a godly life in constant communication with and mindfulness of the Lord. The result of David’s mindfulness is peace and safety. We would all benefit from a Psalm 4 type of life.

    Questions

    1. How can you be more mindful of God today? 
    2. When your mind and heart drift away from God, what’s something you can do to call you back to the Lord?
    3. When you experience trouble, where do you first turn: to others or to the Lord?

    Did You Know?

    Psalm 4 is sometimes categorized as a psalm of trust, where the Psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord. See also Psalm 16, 23, 27, 62, and 73 for other Psalms of confidence. While we don’t know the specific cause of trouble, we do see a confident trust and hope in God.

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  • Psalm 3

    Psalm 3

    Read Psalm 3

    A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom.

    1 Lord, how many are my foes!
        How many rise up against me!
    2 Many are saying of me,
        “God will not deliver him.”

    3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
        my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
    4 I call out to the Lord,
        and he answers me from his holy mountain.

    5 I lie down and sleep;
        I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
    6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
        assail me on every side.

    7 Arise, Lord!
        Deliver me, my God!
    Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
        break the teeth of the wicked.

    8 From the Lord comes deliverance.
        May your blessing be on your people.

    Go Deeper

    In Psalm 3 we see a transformation take place. David begins by explaining his current circumstances: he has many foes, many are rising up against him, and many are saying that God will not deliver him. From the outside looking in, David has every reason to be terrified—he is totally alone, with no ally in sight, enemies surrounding and encroaching in from all directions. But then something happens. He remembers who he’s talking to. David says “but You… are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” After remembering who God is and setting his mind on truth, David’s perspective changes. He declares that he will not fear no matter how many thousands go against him. David’s circumstances didn’t necessarily change, but his mindset did. The transformation wasn’t external, but internal.

    The process we see David go through in this Psalm is something we see taught and modeled throughout the Bible. Scripture encourages us often to take every thought captive and to think on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. We’re directed to set our minds on things above. Focusing on truth allows us to view our circumstances here on earth with a Christ-centered perspective. When we do that, while our circumstances may not change, our attitude about them does. 

    Maybe we need to take a lesson here from David. What are your foes? Who is rising up against you today? What situation are you in that seems downright impossible? Take it to God. Give your circumstances proper perspective, frame them in the lens of truth, and allow God to remind you of who He is and what He can do. Your situation may not change overnight, but perhaps you’ll be changed in the process. 

    Questions

    1. Do you struggle to take your thoughts captive? What does that even mean?
    2. What is a circumstance facing you that seems impossible to you right now?
    3. What is a promise in Scripture about God that can reframe your perspective on that situation?

    Did You Know?

    The phrase “Arise, O LORD” recalls the words of Moses when he used this phrase as Israel broke ground in the wilderness (Numbers 10:35). Arise, O LORD is a military phrase, calling on God to both defend Israel and lead them to victory.

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  • Rest Day 1

    Rest Day 1

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Memory Verse

    “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.”

    ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭1:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

    Memorization Tip

    Use technology to your advantage. There are many Scripture Memory Apps available on the app store, such as The Bible Memory App, Bible Memory, Fighter Verses, Remember Me, Verses, and more! Some use games, memorization tools and methods, employ different translations, and help you track your progress. Simply download the app, load the verses you want to memorize, and get to work!

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  • Psalm 2

    Psalm 2

    Read Psalm 2

    1 Why do the nations conspire
        and the peoples plot in vain?
    2 The kings of the earth rise up
        and the rulers band together
        against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
    3 “Let us break their chains
        and throw off their shackles.”

    4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
        the Lord scoffs at them.
    5 He rebukes them in his anger
        and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
    6 “I have installed my king
        on Zion, my holy mountain.”

    7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

    He said to me, “You are my son;
        today I have become your father.
    8 Ask me,
        and I will make the nations your inheritance,
        the ends of the earth your possession.
    9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
        you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

    10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
        be warned, you rulers of the earth.
    11 Serve the Lord with fear
        and celebrate his rule with trembling.
    12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
        and your way will lead to your destruction,
    for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
        Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

    Go Deeper

    There is great power in knowing the truth of God’s Word. It should be the filter through which all of our life experiences flow. Although troubling, it comes as no surprise to those familiar with Scripture that nations rage and people plot against the Lord and His anointed. In fact, Peter recalls the truths found in Psalm 2 to encourage himself and his companions in the face of great adversity. How many times have we found ourselves frustrated because some conflict arose when we were following Jesus with all of our heart? It can be easy to become offended by our life circumstances. Jesus Himself did only what the Father told Him to do and He was faced with great opposition, even death on the cross. Without the truth of Scripture to light our way, we may become discouraged and lose hope in this life. Time and time again God’s Word declares that He is sovereign and He is good.

    Psalm 2 tells of people who are raging and plotting against not only their Maker but the very One who has sacrificed everything to save them. Can we declare ourselves innocent from this hopeless attitude? Mankind momentarily thrives in the illusion of control and when we feel it slipping from our grasp we begin to plot and scheme for ways to hold on to it. Fear becomes the motivating factor in our lives rather than faith. Our thoughts and vision become blurred and we lose sight of the truth of Scripture that Jesus is enthroned in the heavens. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that the road is not easy but we have an example of victory in Jesus Christ.

    No, this life of following Jesus is not going to feel safe. But those of us who have made the Lord our refuge can live in peace knowing our destiny is secure. We don’t have to spin our wheels plotting for ways to retain “control.” God tells us, “Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). This psalm ends with the charge to “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Fear of God doesn’t rob us of joy but instead it should drive us to Christ where there is safety. The reality of the Scriptures truly can set us free and embolden us to live a life full of joy in Christ.

    Questions

    1. This psalm states, “Blessed are those who take refuge in him”. Where are you tempted to seek refuge apart from the Lord?
    2. Throughout Scripture, men and women found strength and boldness from the Word of God. What current circumstances in your life do you need to filter through the reality of God’s Word?
    3. Does fear tend to drive you to Christ or away from Him?

    Listen to This

    Click on this link for an overview of the book of Psalms! 

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  • Psalms Preview and Psalm 1

    Psalms Preview and Psalm 1

    Getting Started

    Welcome to the Bible Reading Plan! We are so glad you are joining us as we read through the first section of the Book of Psalms. Each day, you will read one chapter of the Bible followed by a short devotional, answer a few questions, and if you want, record any observations or insights using the interactive comments section. We believe God will use this resource to grow our knowledge and affection for Him. We know God’s Word does not return void (Isaiah 55:11). Sign up with a friend, your Life Group, or your family, and let’s dig in!

    Make sure to download our Harris Creek App and turn on push notifications, or visit us at biblereadingplan.org and sign up to receive the BRP in your inbox. Also, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram (@harriscreek) for some fun, creative ways to interact with the readings. 

    Let’s Go, Church!

    Overview

    The book of Psalms, the longest in the entire Bible, consists of 150 different songs (or psalms) written by a variety of authors. While almost half of them (73 to be exact) are attributed to David, some of the other 77 were written anonymously and some were penned by Asaph, Solomon, and even Moses. 

    This is an interesting book because each psalm stands on its own. Unlike some of the books we have read, it’s unique in that each psalm does not necessarily build off of the one before it. Each one was written for a particular audience for a particular purpose, but then they were compiled and published collectively for the good of Israel because it gave them a theology to sing together. In the same way that we still attach words and music to show our affections for God, the Israelites were doing the same thing about three thousand years ago. 

    The book of Psalms is broken up into five different sections, so that is how we are going to study it. While the book itself is not divided up by genre or theme, there are different types of psalms scattered throughout the book that we need to be aware of. There are psalms of lament, where the author is mourning or complaining to God about the state of the world. There are messianic psalms, pointing to the Messiah who is going to come some day and set the world back as it should be. There are also hymns, psalms of thanksgiving, and psalms of wisdom. Some are long (Psalm 119 will take us five days to study). Some are short (Psalm 117 contains all of two verses). 

    Each day we’ll get to dive in and learn from the faith of those who came before us. The book of Psalms gives us a real glimpse into how God’s people were feeling, both individually and corporately. Just like the songs we sing now, these words were written and put to music to express emotion and affection towards God.

    We’re going to read Psalms 1-41 to begin the book. As we read, remember to keep a journal handy. Grab a highlighter. Underline verses. Circle words that stand out. Commit these words to memory! Some of us are going to resonate with the psalms of lament–and that’s okay. Some of us are going to resonate with the psalms of thanksgiving–and that’s okay. Wherever you are at today, there are words from God for you in the book of Psalms. We’re excited to start this journey with you and look forward to seeing how God uses these ancient texts to shape our lives this year.

    Read Psalm 1

    1 Blessed is the one
        who does not walk in step with the wicked
    or stand in the way that sinners take
        or sit in the company of mockers,
    2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
        and who meditates on his law day and night.
    3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
        which yields its fruit in season
    and whose leaf does not wither—
        whatever they do prospers.

    4 Not so the wicked!
        They are like chaff
        that the wind blows away.
    5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
        nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

    6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
        but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

    Go Deeper

    Since the book of Psalms is written by a variety of authors over different parts of their lives, we’ll read many emotions throughout these 150 books. Some chapters are filled with joy, others with pain, others with gratitude, and even some with anger. Since the book contains such a variety, it can be difficult to notice the common thread.  However, chapter 1 serves almost like a preface to the entire book of Psalms. If we’re going to understand the diversity in the other 149 chapters, we need to first understand the simplicity of Psalm 1. The lesson in this chapter is true for every stage of life. There are two paths we can take: one that leads to God, and one that leads to destruction. For all the complexity that life will bring, this truth is our reality in each and every season.  There is a way that leads to life and a way that leads to death.  

    Everyday we get to stand at this crossroads and choose what we actually believe. And the choices that we make are consequential. The psalmist paints a picture of a life that thrives in every season, and pairs it with a life that is progressively fading. The difference between these two lives is a connection with God, who is our ultimate life source. While many times the way of the wicked may look better, the reality is it’s much more dangerous. The way to find life isn’t to drink deeply from all this world has to offer, but to instead dig deeply into the faithfulness of God. When we are planted near Him, He’ll guide us through the ever changing emotions of life.

    Questions

    1. What did you notice about the differences between the wicked and the righteous?
    2. What do you think it means to delight in the law of the Lord?
    3. What would it mean for you to live your life “planted” near the Lord?

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  • Joshua In Review

    Joshua In Review

    Joshua In Review

    As we reach the end of Joshua, it’s helpful to look back at the command God gave Joshua multiple times at the beginning of the book: “Be strong and courageous”. Joshua was stepping into some gigantic shoes. Following up Moses was no small task. There would be opportunities to doubt (or ignore God’s instructions altogether). But God really wanted Joshua to remember what was true: He was going to be with the Israelites no matter what. Over the remaining chapters, we saw what happened when Joshua did (and did not) heed those instructions. 

    What we learned through this book is faithfulness matters. There were times that Joshua and the Israelites listened to God, followed His instructions, and kept up their end of their covenant with Him. There were other times when they went rogue, doing their own thing and only trying to fulfill their own desires. 

    We have no shortage of opportunities to make the same mistakes the Israelites made. It’s easy for us to live fearfully or to try and take matters into our own hands. But we also have the opportunity to take small steps of obedience every single day. We can prayerfully talk through every big decision with God. We can pay attention to the instructions given to us in Scripture and apply those to our lives. We can live strong and courageous lives in a world that feels chaotic. Which one will we choose?

    Questions

    What did you learn about God throughout the book of Joshua?

    What did you learn about humanity throughout the book of Joshua?

    Why is it important for us to understand the story of Joshua?

    What did you learn about leadership from Joshua?

    What connections to Jesus were you able to make throughout the book of Joshua?

    What story from Joshua stuck out to you the most? Why did that one speak to you?

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  • Joshua 24

    Joshua 24

    Read Joshua 24

    The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

    1 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.

    2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.

    5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the Lord for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

    8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.

    11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’

    14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

    16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”

    19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”

    21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”

    22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”

    “Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.

    23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”

    24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”

    25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.

    27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”

    28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.

    Buried in the Promised Land

    29 After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 30 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

    31 Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel.

    32 And Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. This became the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants.

    33 And Eleazar son of Aaron died and was buried at Gibeah, which had been allotted to his son Phinehas in the hill country of Ephraim.

    Go Deeper

    Here we are shown two necessary characteristics of the Christian life: remembrance and decisiveness. Joshua begins this chapter by describing the faithfulness of God to the Israelites.  He reminds them that God has led them out of Egypt, defeated their enemies, and now given them a new land to live in. God has been good to His people. Now with this remembrance comes the need for action. Joshua is nervous that the Israelites have taken God for granted.  They just assume that God is their magical genie who will work wonders for them regardless of what they do. But God will not be mocked. He will not continue to be their God if they have chosen to serve other gods. Therefore, Joshua demands decisive action from the people. Will they choose God or not?

    This same pattern should be used in our own life. One of the most effective ways to renew our passion for Jesus today is remembering what He did for us yesterday. When we recall the faithfulness of Jesus during his life and His goodness throughout our own, we are encouraged to trust Him today. This practice that Joshua leads the Israelites through is one we should do frequently. How often do you take time to write down all of the things that God has carried you through? Instead of worrying about what He’ll do next, maybe you need to remember what He’s already done. And when you see His past faithfulness, you’ll have a greater trust in His future faithfulness. So take some time today and bring to mind what God has done for you.  He’s been active in your life, even from before you were born. But His activity requires an active response. He deeply desires for you to respond to His love. Choose this day to let His faithfulness to you prompt you to live faithfully to Him.

    Questions

    1. What are the “Egypts” in your own life? What has God saved you from?
    2. What keeps you from remembering God’s faithfulness to you?
    3. Just like the Israeltes, what are “gods” in your life you need to forsake so that you can more fully serve the true Lord?

    Did You Know?

    Shechem (where Joshua gathers the tribes together) is modern day Tell Balata, a city in the Palestinian West Bank. It was the site where Abraham built an altar to God in Genesis 12:6-7, as did Jacob in Genesis 33:16-20.

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  • Rest Day 3

    Rest Day 3

    Rest Day

    Today is a Rest Day. There is no new Bible reading to do. Today, the goal is simple: rest in the presence of God. Maybe you need to use today to get caught up on the reading plan if you’re behind, maybe you want to journal what you’re learning so you don’t forget what God is teaching you, or maybe you want to spend time in concentrated prayer–do that. Above all, just spend time in God’s presence. Each Rest Day, we will also introduce a memory verse for the week. Meditate on this week’s verse and begin to memorize it.

    Memory Verse

    “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

    ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

    Memorization Tip

    Who says Scripture memorization has to be boring? Make it a game! Write the verse out on notecards, a different word for each card. Then, shuffle them around and place them back in the correct order from memory.

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  • Joshua 23

    Joshua 23

    Read Joshua 23

    Joshua’s Farewell to the Leaders

    1 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: “I am very old. 3 You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.

    6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.

    9 “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

    12 “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, 13 then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

    14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. 15 But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. 16 If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.”

    Go Deeper

    What wisdom would you try to impart to the world if you knew it was your last chance? 

    This is the premise of a lecture series at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, often referred to as “The Last Lecture.” In Joshua 23, we hear Joshua give his last lecture. Verse 8,  “But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.”   

    Hold fast. It means to bear down and fight through the storm; to cling to a belief when others deliver resistance.

    For the Israelites, this meant not following in the faulty footsteps of their forefathers, who created a golden calf to worship as they had in Egypt. It meant intimately knowing and diligently following the laws from God, completely avoiding close relationships with those who worshipped other gods, and surrounding themselves with true believers. The Israelites faith was strong, but unsteady, and Joshua urged them to withstand those who sought to distract them.  

    So what does “hold fast” mean for us? Our charge is not much different than that of the Israelites, but we get Jesus! Because of Jesus and His Holy Spirit actively working in and through us, “hold fast” becomes our battle cry. We are to intimately know Jesus’ love and diligently follow His example (Matthew 16:24). Our faith is not to be damaged by the workings of this world because we know that Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). The Spirit’s power enables us to love those of this world and still remain faithful and steady to the one true God. We “hold fast” by focusing our eyes and hearts on Him, not looking to the overwhelming odds against us in fear on the right or the bickering arguments of propriety in pride on the left.  

    Just hold fast to Jesus!

    Questions

    1. What do you learn and observe about the character of God in this chapter?
    2. Why do you think Joshua was so repetitive and zealous in his instructions to the Israelites to remember God and hold fast to His commands? 
    3. What situations in your life make it difficult to hold fast to Jesus? What is one action step you can take to loosen your grip on your situation and tighten your hold on Jesus?

    Did You Know?

    There are noticeable parallels between Joshua’s final speech and Moses’ in Deuteronomy 31. Both include urges for Israel to press on and remain faithful as they move into the future.

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  • Joshua 22

    Joshua 22

    Read Joshua 22

    Eastern Tribes Return Home

    1 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3 For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. 4 Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

    6 Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

    9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

    10 When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.11 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12 the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

    13 So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14 With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.

    15 When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: 16 “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17 Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! 18 And are you now turning away from the Lord?

    “‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19 If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. 20 When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things, did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’” 

    21 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22 “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. 23 If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.

    24 “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? 25 The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

    26 “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ 27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’

    28 “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

    29 “Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.”

    30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31 And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.”

    32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 33 They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.

    34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that the Lord is God.

     

    Go Deeper

    The land promised to the Israelites is now established. The proverbial dust has settled. The promise fulfilled. Each tribe staying the course until the last acre of land acquired. Not one person selfishly falling behind to enjoy their secured inheritance while the rest of the tribes fought to secure theirs. A job fully done. Faithfulness to the end. Family fighting for the desired goal. Family fighting for one another. 

    Each tribe now had possession and provisions. Final exhortations and goodbyes given. The two and a half tribes that lived on the east side of the Jordan river finally sent home to enjoy and rest in their inheritance given by God. But not before Joshua’s final commendation and instruction: 

    Love the Lord your God.

    Walk in obedience to Him.

    Keep His commands. 

    Hold fast to Him.

    Serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

    And as it sometimes goes with family, the goodbyes aren’t even off the tongue before fighting for our families turns to fighting with our family. 

    Misunderstandings are inevitable. Family dynamics and expectations are often layered and complicated and missed. But, we can learn and apply wisdom to our relational misunderstandings from these strange names and often confusing rituals found on the holy pages of Scripture. 

    Like Phinehas and the representatives of the western tribes we can hold in tension a readiness to courageously take a stand against sin and a readiness to listen for understanding. Courage to confront while believing the best in another. Like the western tribes we, as believers, move toward other believers in attempts to reconcile…not assume or alienate or abandon them. 

    This is the gospel. While we were still sinners, Christ moved into our world. Hating sin and loving people. He died a death we deserve so that we may be called children and friends of God and be part of His eternal family. He taught us how to be reconcilers. Let’s put His teaching into practice.

    Questions

    1. What do you learn from Joshua’s leadership in this chapter? 
    2. Why was it so important for the Israelites to be unified in their worship to God? Why is it important for us as believers to be unified?
    3. Is there someone in your life with whom you need to make a step toward reconciliation today? What action will you take to move toward them?

    Did You Know?

    There are multiple reasons Phinehas was chosen to go confront the wayward Israelites in Gilead. Not only was he the high priest over the whole nation, but he was also a prominent figure in their war with the Midianites (Numbers 25, 31). He had a lot of credibility built up with them, so he was a logical person to send.

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