Reflection: Decay: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     When have you doubted God’s promise of eternity?

2.     Do you accept His design of each of us created in His image? Why? Or why not?

3.     Does the cycle of life give you hope or fear?

Share: What oath from God gives you the strength to hold on in times of  distress?

Promises: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Promises

Words sworn

many years ago

kept in full

kept in faith

many despaired

wondered if truly able.

Lord gave

promises

not one failed

all delivered

all complete

none withheld

power His alone.

Light of life.

Oath: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 21

“Not one of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21: 45

As the Lord had sworn the Levites received an inheritance of towns and pasturelands within the lots of all the tribes.

As the Lord had sworn all Israel received the lands that He had promised their ancestors.

As the Lord had sworn to their ancestors He gave them rest on every side.

In His time.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Jesus promised to preach the gospel to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, to free the downtrodden, and recovery of sight to the blind.

Jesus promised to take up our burdens, and listen to our prayers, and send His Holy Spirit.

Jesus promised His Presence, His refuge, His strength, His forgiveness, His mercy and so so much more.

Jesus promised He will return.

In His time.

Forgive us, Lord, for the many times we allow our doubts to cloud Your promises. Help us to remain as faithful to You as You are to us. And to remember that in Your time all will be fulfilled.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 141: 8

“But my eyes are turned towards you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; do not leave me defenseless.”

Unknown: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 9

“‘And now we are in your hand; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.’ This is what he did for them; he saved them from the Israelites; and they did not kill them. But on that day Joshua made them hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to continue to this day, in the place that he should chose.” Joshua 9: 25-27

Like Rahab the Gibeonites believed in the words God had spoken and feared greatly for their lives. Unlike Rahab, instead of standing up and making a verbal contract, they used guile and deception to save their lives. They also hoped that the Israelites would honor a covenant because of their God.

And they did. “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we must not touch them.” Joshua knew that the word they gave to others had to be upheld. Especially because it was their own error that created this dilemma. Once again they had not sought the Lord’s counsel but negotiated solely on human perception—on surface appearances.

I cringe too at how many times I continue to act on my own before seeking the Lord’s counsel, how often I think I have everything under control and instead bring embarrassment to the Lord’s name.

Yet the Lord blessed both Israelites and Gibeonites because they both trusted His words. Israel’s leaders experienced another important lesson in leadership and the Gibeonites not only kept their physical lives but were also given the means to discover the spiritual life of Israel as well. They worked for the house of God. Every day they would now see faith lived out.

They were willing to face the unknown. They believed God’s promises to Israel before they even had any relationship with the Lord. Now they had a lifetime to learn who He was. Somewhat like us, I think, when we first step out in faith. And God changes us from the inside out cutting away the sin that we carry—the sin we often do not even recognize.

The Gibeonites admitted to Joshua that he would do with them whatever he chose, but even if they died right then, they wanted to die under God’s words of truth—or be slaves under His words if in fact they would live.

Lord, please give us eyes to see You as clearly today.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 129: 4

“The Lord is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked.”

Oath: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Oath

She hid the spies

and gave them counsel

these men whom she knew

came to take her land.

Some would say a traitor.

She knew the truth

they carried

mattered more

than land and city.

Instead she hungered for life.

Saved her family and their kin.

She counted on words

words of oath, of covenant

words bound by promises

given by messengers.

Sent to bring light.