What is the meaning of Joshua 1:7? Above all • This opening phrase lifts the coming command to the top of Joshua’s agenda—nothing outranks it. • It echoes the priority language of Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart” and Colossians 3:14 “Above all, put on love,” highlighting that God often pinpoints a single non-negotiable focus for His people. • For Joshua, that focus will be faithful strength grounded in obedience, not military strategy or personal charisma. Be strong and very courageous • Strength here is more than muscle; it is steadfast trust in God’s promises (Deuteronomy 31:6–7; 2 Timothy 1:7). • “Very courageous” raises the bar from ordinary bravery to unwavering resolve, the same quality David charged Solomon with when building the temple (1 Chronicles 28:20). • God had already guaranteed victory (Joshua 1:3–5). Joshua’s part was to refuse fear, echoing Ephesians 6:10, “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you • “Be careful” calls for deliberate, meticulous attention. Half-hearted obedience was never an option (James 1:22–25). • “All the law” rules out selective submission. Psalm 1:2 and John 14:15 tie genuine love for God to comprehensive obedience. • Moses’ commands were God’s commands, now transferred to Joshua as Israel’s leader, underscoring Scripture’s unbroken authority. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left • The picture is of a traveler who refuses detours. Deuteronomy 5:32–33 and Proverbs 4:25–27 use the same imagery: staying on the narrow path. • Veering “right or left” can mean adding to or subtracting from God’s Word, compromising under pressure, or chasing trendy alternatives (Hebrews 12:1–2). • The only safe way forward is straight obedience, neither innovating beyond Scripture nor neglecting parts that seem inconvenient. So that you may prosper wherever you go • Prosperity here is not a guarantee of luxury but of success in God’s mission—fulfilling His purpose with His favor (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:3). • The promise is geographic (“wherever you go”) and comprehensive, matching the expansive call to conquer the land. • Obedience and blessing move together (Proverbs 3:5–6; Jeremiah 17:7–8). When God’s Word governs every step, He ensures the outcome that glorifies Him and benefits His people. summary Joshua 1:7 stacks priorities: place God’s Word first (“Above all”), meet every challenge with Spirit-inspired grit (“be strong and very courageous”), give painstaking obedience to the whole revelation (“observe all the law”), refuse every distraction (“do not turn…right or left”), and enjoy God-given success in every arena He assigns (“so that you may prosper wherever you go”). The verse is a timeless roadmap: unwavering courage plus wholehearted obedience equals fruitful living under God’s unwavering promise. |
    |