What is the meaning of Joshua 23:6? Be very strong Joshua, nearing the end of his life, urges Israel to possess an inner toughness that outlasts battles and transitions. Strength here is not brute force but spiritual resilience. God had spoken the same words to Joshua decades earlier—“Be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6–7)—and that call never expires. Paul later echoes it: “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10). Real strength flows from confidence that the Lord “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6). Key ideas: • Strength is rooted in God’s presence, not self-reliance. • Courage is needed just as much in peace as in warfare, because complacency erodes faith. so that you can keep Strength has a purpose: perseverance in faithfulness. “Keep” carries the sense of guarding a treasure (see Proverbs 4:23). Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). James adds, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only” (James 1:22). God supplies power so His people can watch over His word in their hearts and lives. Highlights: • Spiritual muscles are exercised by day-to-day obedience. • The goal is not simply knowing Scripture but treasuring it enough to protect it from neglect. and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses Partial obedience was never an option. Moses had warned, “You shall not add to the word I command you, nor take from it” (Deuteronomy 4:2). Jesus affirmed every “jot or tittle” of the Law (Matthew 5:17–18). Paul reminds Timothy that “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16). Joshua urges comprehensive submission—every command, precept, and promise matters. Takeaways: • God’s word is complete; we do not edit His authority. • Reverence for Scripture demands both hearing and doing—all “is written” applies. not turning aside from it to the right or to the left The picture is a narrow path bordered by danger on both sides. Moses used the same phrase (Deuteronomy 5:32); Solomon echoed it—“Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil” (Proverbs 4:27). Hebrews 12:13 picks up the imagery: “Make straight paths for your feet.” The directive guards against drift, distraction, and distortion. Bullet points: • Right or left deviations may look different—legalism on one side, license on the other—but both miss God’s way. • Steadiness requires daily recalibration to Scripture, refusing cultural or personal detours. • The Holy Spirit empowers believers to stay centered (Galatians 5:16). summary Joshua 23:6 calls God’s people to unwavering strength that fuels wholehearted obedience. The verse stitches together courage, vigilance, comprehensive allegiance to Scripture, and steady course correction. True strength does more than withstand enemies; it keeps hearts and actions aligned with every word God has spoken, resisting any pull that would divert us from His straight and life-giving path. |
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