“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
God keeps His promises. He never lies, unlike humans. God made a promise to a couple who couldn't have children that their descendants would be as many as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17).
The promised birth of Isaac began the fulfillment of descendants through Abraham and Sarah, and “through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed because you have obeyed me” (Genesis 22:18).
Joshua 1:8 echoes God's promise to Abraham's descendants. God promised to help Joshua, the humble but mighty leader who followed Moses, and assured him he would be “prosperous and successful.”
How did Joshua show his trust in God? If he kept the Book of the Law always on his lips by meditating on it day and night, he could do everything written in it. Then, he would be prosperous and successful as God promised.
Moses assigned Joshua, Caleb, and 10 others to investigate the Promised Land. The congregation's reaction to the fearful report from the ten was to appoint a new leader and return to Egypt. Joshua defended God’s promise of conquering the land and commanded the people to remember what God said.
Joshua had been with Moses on the mountain when God wrote the commandments with his finger (Exodus 24:9-12; 31:18).
He witnessed God's astonishing support and help and also saw the outcomes of not following, rebelling against, and doubting God (Deuteronomy 1:26, 43). Joshua followed God's commands, knowing they would lead to prosperity and success.
The reason for Joshua's success was his hunger for God. After Moses had a face-to-face conversation with God at the Tent of Meeting, Joshua “did not leave the tent” but lingered there in God’s presence (Exodus 33:11).
Joshua, the new leader of Israel, witnessed God's faithfulness when the banks of the Jordan rolled up as the Israelites crossed over, similar to what happened at the Red Sea crossing (Joshua 3:16).
Joshua led the charge, and the walls of Jericho fell, just as God had promised (Joshua 6:8). He had such faith in God's power to conquer their enemies that he even asked God to make the sun stand still until the battle was won. And God did (Joshua 10:12-13).
Joshua's unwavering faith in God's Word prompted him to remind the people repeatedly to "listen to the words of the Lord your God" (Joshua 3:9). Each time God spoke, Joshua obeyed. And God kept His promise.
“So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled there. The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of the enemies withstood them. The LORD gave all their enemies into their hands. Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; everyone was fulfilled” (Joshua 21:43-45).
Keeping God’s Word, our Bible, on our lips, meditating on it day and night, and doing what it says, we, too, like Joshua, will know the same success in life.
Keep This Book of the Law Always on Your Lips
Words we speak either bring life or death. And “the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart” (Matthew 15:18).
It's crucial that we embed God's Book of Law into our hearts so that the words that come from within are full of His words, always on our lips. Our words will speak life or speak death.
Our elementary school boys were participating in a national scripture memorization program, Junior Bible Quiz. They competed with other church teams.
At one of the quiz meets, our oldest son, Matt, the state champion, was not present, but our youngest, Tom, buzzed in first and responded with a long quote that had to be verbatim.
With a bit of fear and trepidation, we weren’t sure he could perfectly recite the verses. But he nailed it. The time and study to learn and memorize brought these scriptures to mind under pressure at the quiz meet, as if "always on your (Tom’s) lips."
In times of need, the Holy Spirit draws out the buried treasures of God's Word from our innermost being, whether it's an inspiring verse, a cherished childhood song, or the calming voice of the Savior providing peace and comfort through His Word.
What we treasure, we keep close — children, good friends, precious memories. And we talk about those most important things in life, always on our lips — “I am graduating from college,” “I’m getting married,” “We’re having a baby,” “God spoke through this verse to me today.”
We speak from the overflow of the heart. As we keep this Book of the Law, we can be assured of God’s presence and power with us. “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:8).
Filling up our hearts with God’s Word packs in God’s promises.
Meditate Day and Night
Biblical meditation centers on God's Word, not emptying the mind but filling it with Scripture. Cultivating a stronger relationship with God involves mental exercise with full concentration and focus. Meditating actively involves studying, learning, memorizing, and applying Scripture.
God's Word, when meditated upon, is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path in this dark world. It instills the power to say “no” to sin. "Your word have I hid in my heart that I won't sin against You" (Psalm 119:105).
In his exposition of Holy Scripture, Alexander MacLaren, regarding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, says, "If you don't know how to quickly pull out your sword in battle, it will be too late to defend yourself.”
He continues, "When crises or dangers come…we shall be able, without much difficulty, or much time spent in perplexed searching, to fall back upon the principles that decide our conduct — that is essential to all successful and victorious Christian life."
Eating and digesting God’s Word, under the Holy Spirit’s direction and guidance, will enable us to do what God commands us to do. The ethics of conduct and moral values God honors will guide our choices.
And the Holy Spirit grows a garden of love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, and self-control. That is being prosperous and successful, living an abundant life with godly character through Christ.
Do Everything Written in It
The Holy Spirit will help us learn obedience as we faithfully keep God's Word. Each of God's children receives gifts filled with grace and power to do more than they think possible.
One of our staff pastors was the ideal person to be the lead character in a seasonal production. He refused, saying learning and memorizing so many lines would be impossible.
But with help from the director, study, and rehearsing, he successfully and wonderfully played the lead role.
Similarly, learning God’s Word, putting in the focus, meditating, and memorizing God’s Word will not fail to bubble out of the heart in each needed circumstance and choice.
Jesus said, "Whoever has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me" (John 14:21). Time with God in His Word will embrace all the promises, blessings, and provisions from a loving God.
The power afforded the Christian to be successful, authentic, and transformed through God's powerful love and life-giving Word is enough to conquer the hardest battle, most attractive temptation, or impossible crisis.
We can do as Joshua did, realizing God’s promises as we “Keep this Book of the Law always on our lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
For further reading:
What Are the Promises of God in the Bible?
Why Are We to Wait on the Lord and Be of Good Courage?
Should Christians Follow the Book of the Law Today?
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