From Joshua 19-21
Q. What are the promises of the LORD we can count on?
Overview
Josh 19.1-9; Story; The Inheritance for Simeon
Josh 19.10-16; Story; The Inheritance for Zebulun
Josh 19.17-23; Story; The Inheritance for Issachar
Josh 19.24-31; Story; The Inheritance for Asher
Josh 19.32-39; Story; The Inheritance for Naphtali
Josh 19.40-48; Story; The Inheritance for Dan
Josh 19.49-51; Story; The Inheritance for Joshua
Josh 20.1-9; Story; The Cities of Refuge, protecting the manslayer before trial
Josh 21.1-42; Story; Cities and Pasturelands Allotted to Levi
Josh 21.43-45; Summary; The Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers
Passage and comments
The inheritances for Israel have just been allocated. Following all these we have a summary statement.
43 Thus the Lord gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers. And they took possession of it, and they settled there. And the Lord gave them rest on every side just as he had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies had withstood them, for the Lord had given all their enemies into their hands. Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass. (Josh 21.43-45)
Lets remind ourselves, what were some of the covenant promises God gave Abraham and his offspring?
12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said,
“To your offspring I will give this land.”
So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. (Gen 12.1-7)
The LORD has fulfilled his covenant obligation to give Israel the land he swore to give their fathers. The LORD fulfills his promises.
Story of Israel
But these are not the only promises the LORD gave. There is another significant promise made to David in 2 Samuel. Nathan the prophet repeats what the LORD said;
12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me.3 Your throne shall be established forever.’ ” 17 In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David. (2 Sam 7.12-17)
Sure enough David did father a long line of Kings. And many of them did commit iniquity but the LORD’s steadfast love did not depart from them.
Story of Jesus
This line continues all the way up to Jesus and then it stopped. It stopped not because Jesus died and the line no longer continued. It stopped because Jesus rose again and continues to this day to be the eternal King. He reigns forever. Jesus is another promise fulfilled by the LORD.
Promised inheritance still awaits us
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Pet 1.3-5)Give thanks to our Lord Jesus and live in hope for the imperishable inheritance that awaits you.