Devotion 210

“Cleave to The LORD”

Reference: Joshua Chapter 23

We cleave to the Lord by cleaving to His Word.

Let’s read:

Joshua 23:1-3 “And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age. [2] And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age: [3] And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.”

He fought for them when they walked according to His Word. The Lord fights for people who hold on to this Word. Israel had His Word while the other nations didn’t. This is always the two sides of the fight.

We continue our reading:

Joshua 23:4-6 “Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. [5] And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you. [6] Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left.”

Here is the key; to honor every word in the book. Today. It’s the Word of God, the Bible. Every Word must be honored. We cannot pick and choose but honor the whole Word. Then He shall expel every enemy (anyone who has not or believes not the enemy).

We continue our reading:

Joshua 23:7-8 “That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: [8] But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.”

Cleave unto the Lord and He shall cleave unto you. We cleave unto Him by cleaning unto His Word. Remember the Lord is His Word.

We continue our reading:

Joshua 23:9-10 “For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. [10] One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.”

One man or woman fully lined up with the Word of God will chase a thousand and none can stand in their presence. He promised to Abraham and his children. Today, we are the spiritual children of Abraham because we have the same Word given to Abraham. The promise holds just the same.

We conclude our reading:

Joshua 23:11-16 “Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. [12] Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: [13] Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. [14] And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. [15] Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. [16] When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.”

On the contrary, if we transgress the His Covenant (the Word) then we place ourselves in the same condition as His enemies. For it’s His Word that separates us from His enemies. We go contrary to the Word then we walk contrary to Him. We cannot say we love God and walk contrary to His Word.

Let the Word of God separate you unto God. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. He fights for His children, in Christ!