Key Verse: Verse 8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Key Words: then thou shalt have good success
Joshua was governed by the book of the law. This book was prepared for Joshua according to Exodus 17:14, “And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”
Rabbinical scholars record that Joshua was holding the book of Deuteronomy in his hands when he was notified of Moses’ death. We do not know if that is factual, but we do know that the law of God was important to Joshua. God instructed him to meditate day and night upon God’s Word so he could know and obey the Word of God. Meditation was not optional; it was a command. As you read Joshua 1:8 you come to the realization that meditation plus application equals success. This is the only place in the Scripture where the word success is used. No doubt Joshua obeyed the Word and was prosperous.
H. P. Barker gives a graphic illustration that points out the need for both knowing and applying the truths of Scripture. When he looked out into his garden one day, he noticed three things. He first saw a beautiful butterfly that would light on a flower and then flutter to another just for a few seconds. It touched as many flowers as it could, but derived no benefit from the flowers. He watched a little longer and a botanist came into the garden. He was equipped with a notebook under his arm and a big magnifying glass that he used to study the flowers at length and then write his findings in his notebook. After studying the flowers for several hours, he left. The third thing that was noticed was a tiny bumble bee that would land on the flowers and sink deep down into it, extracting all the nectar and pollen it could carry. It went into the flower empty and came out full. That is what the Lord wants to happen to us when it comes to studying His Word. He wants us to get something from our study of the Scriptures that will satisfy us and fill us with His joy and power.
That’s what real success and prosperity is: it’s getting inside the Word of God and coming out full. Let me encourage you to make this a daily habit in your life.
Dr. Mike Rouse
What to do:
✞Get inside God’s Word, obey it, live it, love it. Spiritual success is sure to follow.
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