The Daily Devotions for Monday, 3 July 2017 through Sunday, 9 July 2017 - Sermon Theme: "Leading Role" Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14 from First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States

The Daily Devotions for Monday, 3 July 2017 through Sunday, 9 July 2017 - 

Sermon Theme: "Leading Role" 

Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14 from First United Methodist Church in San Diego, California, United States

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Scriptural Text: 
Joshua 2:1 Y’hoshua the son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Sheetim with these instructions: “Go, inspect the land and Yericho.” They left and came to the house of a prostitute named Rachav, where they spent the night. 2 The king of Yericho was told about it — “Tonight some men from Isra’el came here to reconnoiter the land.”

3 The king of Yericho sent a message to Rachav, “Bring out the men who came to you and are staying in your house, because they have come to reconnoiter all the land.” 4 However, the woman, after taking the two men and hiding them, replied, “Yes, the men did come to me; but I didn’t know where they had come from. 5 The men left around the time when they shut the gate, when it was dark. Where they went I don’t know; but if you chase after them quickly, you will overtake them.” 6 Actually she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them under some stalks of flax she had spread out there. 7 The men pursued them all the way to the fords at the Yarden; as soon as the pursuit party had left, the gate was shut.

8 The two men had not yet lain down when she returned to the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that Adonai has given you the land. Fear of you has fallen on us; everyone in the land is terrified at the thought of you. 10 We’ve heard how Adonai dried up the water in the Sea of Suf ahead of you, when you left Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Emori on the other side of the Yarden, Sichon and ‘Og, that you completely destroyed them. 11 As soon as we heard it, our hearts failed us. Because of you, everyone is in a state of depression. For Adonai your God — he is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 So, please, swear to me by Adonai that, since I have been kind to you, you will also be kind to my father’s family. Give me some evidence of your good faith, 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers and sisters and all who are theirs, so that we won’t be killed.” 14 The men replied to her, “Our lives are certainly worth yours, provided you don’t betray our mission. So when Adonai gives us the land, we will treat you kindly and in good faith.”

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John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Joshua 2:1-14

Verse 1

[1] And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.

Sent — Or, had sent: Two men - Not twelve, as Moses did, because those were to view the whole land, these but a small parcel of it.

To spy — That is, to learn the state of the land and people. It is evident Joshua did not this out of distrust; it is probable, he had God's command and direction in it for the encouragement of himself and his army.

Secretly — With reference not to his enemies, that being the practice of all spies, but to the Israelites; a good caution to prevent the inconveniency which possibly might have arisen, if their report had been discouraging.

Jericho — That is, the land about Jericho, together with the city. Heb. The land and Jericho, that is, especially Jericho.

Harlot's — So the Hebrew word is used, Judges 11:1, and so it is rendered by two apostles, Hebrews 11:31; James 2:25, such she either now was, or rather, had been formerly.

Lodged — Or, lay down; as the same word is rendered, Joshua 2:8, composed themselves to rest; but they were hindered from that intention.

Verse 2

[2] And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.

To night — This evening.

Verse 3

[3] And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.

Probably Israel had but one friend in all Jericho: and God directed them to her! Thus what seems to be most accidental, is often over-ruled, to serve the great ends of providence. And those that acknowledge God in their ways, he will guide them with his eye.

Verse 4

[4] And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:

And the woman — Or, But the woman had taken - and had hid them, before the messengers came from the king; as soon as she understood from her neighbours, that there was a suspicion of the matter, and guessed that search would be made. And this is justly mentioned as a great and generous act of faith, Hebrews 11:31, for she apparently ventured her life upon a steadfast persuasion of the truth of God's word and promise given to the Israelites.

Whence they were — Her answer contained in these and the following words, was false, and therefore unquestionably sinful; tho' her intention was good therein. But it is very probable, she being an Heathen, might think, that an officious lie is not unlawful.

Verse 6

[6] But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.

Roof — Which was flat after their manner.

Upon the roof — That they might be dried by the heat of the sun.

Verse 7

[7] And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.

Fords — Or passages, that is, the places where people used to pass over Jordan, whether by boats or bridges.

The gate — Of the city, to prevent the escape of the spies, if peradventure Rahab was mistaken, and they yet lurked therein.

Verse 8

[8] And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;

Laid down — To sleep as they intended.

Verse 9

[9] And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.

Your terror — That is, the dread of you.

Verse 11

[11] And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.

Melted — That is, were dissolved, lost all courage.

Verse 12

[12] Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

By the Lord — By your God who is the only true God: so she owns his worship, one eminent act whereof is swearing by his name.

My father's house — My near kindred, which she particularly names, Joshua 2:13, husband and children it seems she had none. And for herself, it was needless to speak, it being a plain and undeniable duty to save their preserver.

True token — Either an assurance that you will preserve me and mine from the common ruin: or a token which I may produce as a witness of this agreement, and a means of my security. This is all that she asks. But God did for her more than she could ask or think. She was afterwards advanced to be a princess in Israel, the wife of Salmon and one of the ancestors of Christ.

Verse 13

[13] And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.

All that they have — That is, their children, as appears from Joshua 6:23.

Verse 14

[14] And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.

For yours — We will venture our lives for the security of yours.

Our business — That is, this agreement of ours, and the condition of it, lest others under this pretence, should secure themselves. By which they shew both their piety and prudence in managing their oath with so much circumspection, that neither their own consciences might be ensnared, nor the publick justice obstructed.

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Daily Devotional
Sunday, July 9, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• Pray for those who feel they have no usefulness in this world.

Daily Devotional
Saturday, July 8, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• What new opportunity is before you today?
• What is God saying to you about it?

Daily Devotional
Friday, July 7, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• How have you rejected or accepted God’s role in your life during this last week? 

Daily Devotional
Thursday, July 6, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• Why is it that God calls and uses some of the most broken people? 

Daily Devotional
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• When have you discounted your abilities and gifts needlessly? 

Daily Devotional
Tuesday, July 4, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• What do you make of Rahab’s background and place in this story? 
• What is God saying to us? 

Daily Devotional
Monday, July 3, 2017
Sermon Theme: "Leading Role"
Text to read: Joshua 2:1-14

• Read this text from Joshua. What kind of “dealmaking” is happening here?

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First United Methodist Church of San Diego

2111 Camino del Rio South

San Diego, California 92108, United States

(619) 297-4366

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