Joshua 1:9 KJVS 

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou go. 

COMMENTARY by Robert  

Whatever affairs of this world we have to mind, we must not neglect the one thing needful. All Joshua’s 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. 

Here are earnest exhortations to several Christian duties, especially contentment. The sin opposed to this grace and duty is covetousness, an over-eager desire for this world’s wealth, with envy of those who have more than us.  

Christians have reason to be contented with their present lot. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises; “I will never, no, never leave thee, no, never forsake thee” In the original, there are no less than five negatives put together to confirm the promise: the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him, in life, at death, and forever. Men can do nothing against God, and God can make all those men do against his people to turn to their good. 

As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for tomorrow or its events. God has given us life and has given us our bodies. And what can he not do for us, who did that?  

If we take care of our souls and for eternity, which is more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less.  

Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God. We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter Providence’s disposals; therefore, we must submit and resign ourselves to them. 

God does not need to be told our wants or desires; he knows them better than we do, but he will have us show that we value the mercy and feel our dependence on him.  

The peace of God, the comfortable sense of being reconciled to God, and having a part in his favour, and the hope of the heavenly blessedness are a greater good than can be fully expressed.  

This peace will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus; it will keep us from sinning under troubles, and from sinking under them; keep us calm and with inward satisfaction. Believers are to get and keep a good name, a name for good things with God and good men. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide therein; then, whether our praise is of men or not, it will be of God. 

Please remember these articles are the work of a humble servant of Yeshua doing His bidding as a Watchmen sounding the Trumpet to warn of impending danger within the Assembly. May our Father abundantly bless each one of you with wisdom and discernment to go forward as “Modern Day Disciples.”

Thou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee, Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Yeshua is everlasting strength. (Isaiah 26:3-4)