The Book of Joshua
1. First Impression
1.1 Obviously the original reader of this book seems to be
the people of Israel as it describes in detail how the Israelites conquered the
Promised Land and divided the land among their tribes. It is hard to pinpoint a
specific verse as evidence.
1.2 According to the Jewish tradition, Joshua is the author
of this book but some narratives may have been composed by the priest Eleazar,
son of Aaron. [Sourceview]
1.3 The main theme of this book is the Israelites’ conquest
of the land of Canaanites and the division of the land acquired among the
twelve tribes. Unlike the pattern of ceaseless complain and rebellion of their
parents’ generation, this new generation led by Joshua displayed a shocking
level of obedience, hence victory! (Jos 1:1-13:7)
1.4 According to the account in Neson’s book, the final
composition of the book was completed after the lifetime of Joshua, perhaps as
late as the early kingdom period under Saul. The reason why Joshua wrote this
book can be drawn from the episode depicted in Jos 22:10-34, which is to remind
the descendants of Israel of how they conquered the land, basically through the
mighty hand of God, and how the land was allotted among the tribes so as to
prevent any dispute from arising afterward.
2. Theme Tracing
2.1 One of the most striking revelations of who God is in
the Bible can be found in Jos 5:14 when Joshua met the commander of the LORD’s
army. When asked by Joshua, “Are you friend or foe?” he said “Neither one.”
This is shocking to us who are conveniently convinced that God is on OUR SIDE!
To our dismay, God tells us that he is neither friend nor foe of us. This poses
us a critical question: on whose side are you on? God’s or the other’s? The
same question is repeated by Joshua nearing his death “Choose today whom you
will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the
Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of Amorites in whose land you now live? But
as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD. (Jos 24:15)” What matters is
whether we are on God’s side, not the other way round.
2.2 The story of Rahab in Joshua chapter 2 shows the
beautiful story of God’s salvation. Out of all the people living in Jericho who
were destined to be killed according to God’s plan, only Rahab and her family
and relatives stayed in her house were spared from the war. I used to think the
reason why Rahab was saved because she did something favorable to Israel. But
what if the two spies stayed in other house that night? Or even if she had them
as her guest, what would have happened if she hardened her heart and turned
them over to her king? How could this gentile woman who had little knowledge of
God up until then fear the God of Israel, more than her own king and gods? What
about the other people who were lucky to be her family and relatives to be
saved? They were the ones who absolutely did nothing to deserve to be saved. Isn’t
it for the sheer grace of God for them to be saved, not for something they
contributed? I believe this story of Rahab symbolizes the redemption through
Jesus under the new covenant. The sinners who are destined to die are redeemed
just by hiding behind what Jesus did for them on the cross. There is nothing
they can do to make themselves worthy of receiving this wonderful salvation. It
is just granted to them only by grace of God.
3. Application
At the beginning of Joshua taking the leadership role, he
must have felt like throwing up for the sheer burden of taking charge of the
historically proven stubborn people of Israel and taking the land through the
war. Knowing so well how he felt, God told him over and over again “Be strong
and courageous…Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with
you whenever you go.” (Jos 1:6-9) As promised, God was with him and gave him
victory over and over again. Later on in chapter 10:25, now Joshua told his men
the same message “Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged. Be strong and
courageous, for the LORD is going to do this to all of your enemies!” What a
change!!! How well did God a good job turning a person with fear and doubt into
a person of faith and valor! This God is the same God I believe in. So I am
sure that he will do a perfect job making me into what he originally designed
to be!
The Book of Judges
1. First Impression
1.1 This book was written to the people of Israel as it gave
detailed accounts for how the tribes of Israel failed to drive all the
Canaanites and the ensuing results (Jud Ch 1). It also includes the stories of
their judges to give the nation prior to the time it became a kingdom (Jud Ch
2-16), [Sourceview].
1.2 There is no direct reference to pinpoint the author in
the book of Judges. Tradition credits the prophet Samuel, but we don’t know for
sure who wrote it. The author may have been one of Samuel’s associates, perhaps
another prophet [Sourceview].
1.3 The main theme of this book is the repeated cycle of the
Israelites’ deterioration, oppression from the enemy, and God’s deliverance
upon the Israelites’ cry (Jdg Ch 2-16). The author constantly reminded the
reader of the wickedness of the Israelites who kept resisting putting the Lord
in their heart (Jdg 2:11; 3:7, 12; 6:1…); the corrective measure God used to
Israel (Jdg 2:14; 3:8, 13; 6:1…); and God’s deliverance through His judges (Jdg
2:16; 3:9; 3:15; 6:11…). Why did He have to show this same pattern to the
Israel and to us today? I believe that He has got the message to hit home,
which is “you humans are all corrupt, unable to not to sin therefore you need a
savior to deliver you from this seemingly perpetual cycle of fall. For now I’ve
sent judges to rescue you from the visible enemy of yours but I will send
someday a true redeemer who would set you free from the bondage of the slavery
to sin once for all and forever.” This book of Judge is telling us, like all
the other books in the Bible, the story of God redemption which is given to His
people only by His grace.
1.4 The book of Judges is assumed to be written after the
commencement of the monarchy based on the repeated phrase “In those days there
was no king in Israel (Jdg 17:6; 18:1; 19:1; 21:25).” The main purpose of
writing this book, I think, is to give Israel a clear account of their history
before the monarchy started as a reminder of who is their true king, the Load
their God. Another reason could be drawn from the negative account for the
tribe of Benjamin depicted from Ch 19 through Ch 21. The author might want to
show a favorable stance for King David before the people of Israel by
highlighting the wickedness of the tribe to which the former king belonged
[informed by Rebecca].
2. Theme Tracing
2.1 One of God’s characters I could read through this book
was his holiness. I used to picture God as a hot-tempered, quick-to-anger
person whenever I hit upon the verse like “This (Israelites’ idolatry) made God
burn with anger against Israel…(2:14)” However, I realize, this expression of
God’s reaction illustrates His nature of holiness, which cannot co-exist with
sin. And he could not let the Israelites, as His chosen people, stay as they
were before. However, at the same time, God knew that these people were unable
not to sin by their own efforts so he promised to send the redeemer which was
foreshadowed by the judges. He is full of grace and mercy, and never gets weary
and tired of our being impossible!! Because our being impossible means nothing
before His being all-possible.
2.2 Refer to 1.3
3. Application
The phrase that caught my eye during reading through this
book was “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed
right in their own eyes. (Jdg 21:25)” And I had to admit that I am no different
from the Israelites. How often times did I take Jesus my Lord down from the
throne of my heart and seat myself in the place! At one point, I think I
surrender myself to him totally but before long I find myself trying to take
charge of my life once again. And it repeats over and over again. Clearly I am
not in the position to laugh at the Israel’s repeated pattern of deterioration
because what they did thousands of years ago is what I do now. However, amid this reality of miserable
sinful life, I have a hope which is the knowledge of who I am. I am among the
chosen people of God therefore the failures I make or even the successes I
achieve on the way of walking with God do not affect my destiny. I could mourn
for my failures or rejoice for the great things God helps me to accomplish in
the way but I would not be shaken about the ultimate destination of my life.
Praise the Lord!!!
* Timeless Truth
Timeless truth that I found in this book is that God's redemption is given to his people solely by his grace. This is clearly displayed how Ruth got into the ancestral line of Jesus Christ by marrying Boaz, how she "happened" to step into the field of Boaz among many other fields, and how she got the faith and conviction that led her to follow her mother-in-law whereas her sister-in-law went back to her own family, country, and gods? I don't think the reason she was able to do that was her virtue or her righteous behaviors as a daughter-in-law as could be easily concluded. Rather it is a sheer grace of God by which she was chosen as his people even before the beginning of the world. It seems to me that the story of Ruth and Boaz is just yet another illustration of God's redemption.
* Application
When Naomi said to Ruth in 3:1, "My daughter, I need to seek some security for you, so that it may be well with you." the Hebrew word for security is the same word for REST (http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/0803.htm). This verse, I believe, reveals the ultimate purpose of God's redemption which is to give us perfect rest in Him. In this vein, I decide to make conscious effort to find the rest regardless of the circumstances I would be situated in (especially given the work duty scheduled for this weekends). I am convinced that I can do this because the rest God gives us surpasses all understanding and situation!! And this rest that only his children can relish comes by the reconciliation of our relationship with God, which has already given to us through our Jesus Christ. Amen!
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