Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Joshua
Book: Joshua
Chapter: 1
Overview:
The
Lord appoints
Joshua to succeed
Moses.
(1-4) God promises
to assist
Joshua.
(5-9) Preparation to pass over
Jordan.
(10-15)
The people promise to obey
Joshua.
(16-18)
1-4 Joshua had attended upon
Moses. He who was called to
honour, had been long used to business. Our
Lord Jesus took upon
him the form of a servant.
Joshua was trained up under command.
Those are fittest to rule, who have learned to obey. The removal
of useful men should quicken survivors to be the more diligent
in doing good. Arise, go over
Jordan. At this place and at this
time the banks were overflowed.
Joshua had
No bridge or boats,
and yet he must believe that
God, having ordered the people
over, would open a way.
5-9 Joshua is to make the
Law of
God his rule. He is charged to
meditate therein
Day and night, that he might understand it.
Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not
neglect the one thing needful. All his orders to the people, and
his judgments, must be according to the
Law of
God.
Joshua must
himself be under command;
No Man's dignity or dominion sets him
above the
Law of
God. He is to encourage himself with the
promise and presence of
God. Let not the sense of thine own
infirmities dishearten thee;
God is all-sufficient. I have
commanded, called, and commissioned thee to do it, and will be
sure to
Bear thee out in it. When we are in the way of duty, we
have reason to be strong and very bold. Our
Lord Jesus, as
Joshua here, was borne up under his sufferings
By a regard to
the will of
God, and the commandment from his
Father.
10-15 Joshua says to the people, Ye shall pass over
Jordan, and
shall possess the land; because
God had said
So to him. We
honour the
Truth of
God, when we stagger not at the promise of
God. The two tribes and a half were to go over
Jordan with their
brethren. When
God,
By his
Providence, has given us
Rest, we
ought to consider what service we may do to our brethren.
16-18 The people of
Israel engage to obey
Joshua; All that thou
commandest us to do we will readily do, without
Murmuring or
disputing, and whithersoever thou sendest us we will go. The
best we can ask of
God for our magistrates, is, that they may
have the presence of
God; that will make them blessings to us,
So that in seeking this for them, we consult our own interest.
May we be enabled to enlist under the
Banner of the
Captain of
our
Salvation, to be obedient to his commands, and to fight the
good fight of
Faith, with all that trust in and
Love his name,
against all who oppose his authority; for whoever refuses to
obey him must be destroyed.