Strong and Very Courageous

The Lord gave these words to Joshua when he became the leader of the children of Israel after Moses was translated: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. 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” (Joshua 1:7-8). The “book of the law” for him was the scriptures that the Lord had given to Moses, and the Lord invited him to not just read it but to “meditate therein day and night,” and surely this is great counsel for us today. The scripture help for this verse says this: “The Lord commanded Joshua to meditate on the book of the law ‘day and night.’” The Hebrew word for meditate in this context suggests a quiet recital or contemplating of the scriptures: “The Lord commanded Joshua to meditate on the book of the law ‘day and night.’ The Hebrew word for meditate in this context suggests a quiet recital or contemplating of the scriptures.” So the Lord is promising each of us that we will prosper and have “good success” when we meditate on and focus on the scriptures in our lives. Surely these words of the Lord were a great comfort to Joshua as he had such big shoes to fill taking over the prophetic mantle for Moses. 

               It struck me as I thought about these words to Joshua that one of the main purposes of scriptures is to give us power and courage to accomplish our own missions. They are not just for knowledge or academic curiosity. Joshua had just taken on the mantle of prophet to lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan. In the scriptures Joshua was told six times to “be strong and of a good courage,” highlighting the fact that he must have had great trepidation in his new role. The Lord had a great mission for Joshua to fulfill and in addition to encouraging him with these words, He instructed Joshua to meditate on the scriptures. The purpose was not simply for Joshua to know the commandments, as valuable as that would be, but it was to give him power and courage and strength to accomplish the mission he had to fulfill. I love how Mormon spoke of the power of the scriptures: “Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out” (Helaman 3:29-30). The scriptures are able to help us across our course in this life, to help us overcome the wiles of the devil and lead us to our salvation. The scriptures are not just about the words but about the Giver of the words who fills us with power through them.