Scripture Union Daily Guide 22 August 2024 For Today’s Devotional (Thursday) Topic is Seek God’s Guidance In All Things
TODAY’S TOPIC: SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE IN ALL THINGS
OPENING PRAYER: Help me to understand the exceeding greatness of your power as I read through this passage, dear Lord.
Before you continue Study Yesterday’s Devotional: Scripture Union Daily Guide 21 August 2024: Victory Accompanies Restoration
SCRIPTURE: JOSHUA 9:1-27
9 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Question(s) for Reflection
* Q2: Is there any example for me to follow or not to follow?
* Q5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 22 August 2024 Outline:
Our warfare against the kingdom of Satan is not a one-off affair. The battles continue throughout our lifetime. After the defeat of Ai, multitudes of other enemy countries united their forces to attack Israel (vs.1-2).
But compare the reaction of the Gibeonites in vs.3-4&24. What does that say about their understanding of the power of the God of Israel (cf. 2:8-11). Often the unbelievers recognise the power of our God more than we do.
Joshua again failed to enquire of the Lord before making a treaty with the Gibeonites. This mistake was committed soon after the disaster of Ai. Do we ever learn our lesson? Impulsive or rash decisions without seeking God’s counsel often leads to errors, regrets, and disasters.
Notice the reaction of the Israelites when they found out the Gibeonites’ lies (vs.18-19). Pick a lesson from v.19. Are you sometimes tempted to go back on your word when you find it difficult to uphold? Note also the attitude of the Gibeonites when they were confronted with their offence in vs.24-25 (compare Psalm 51:17). What is your attitude towards correction and criticism?
The Gibeonites were put under the “curse” of being attached to the congregation and to the altar of the Lord. Was this really a curse? See Psalm 84:4,10.
* Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
You Can Connect to MFM Devotional for Today’s Lesson Here: MFM Devotional 22 August 2024: Not Everyone That Calls Me Lord
Closing Prayer
Lord, please help me to lean on you rather than on my own understanding.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with 1 Samuel 2:9
“He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
One-Year Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading Plan: Day 235- Jeremiah 49-50
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN 22 AUGUST 2024
PRAYER FOCUS
SAVED AND CALLED
Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works.. 2 Tim 1:9
THANK GOD FOR:
‣ The privilege we have in Christ, to be saved and called by his grace.
PRAY FOR:
‣ God will awaken us to our salvation and calling, so that we will live in holiness, being made to be more like Jesus in every way.
‣ Fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon individual lives for revival, holiness and service.
‣ Grace to daily examine ourselves in the light of the Scripture and in preparation for Jesus’ coming.
Daily Guide Devotional For Today 22 August 2024 (Thursday) Anthem
WE HAVE A MESSAGE
1 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
And time now is speeding, the moments are few;
The Master is come, O make haste to receive Him,
For sinners He waits; He is calling for you!
Refrain
For you He is calling, for you He is calling,
Yes, Jesus is calling, is calling for you.
2 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
A message of hope to the weary of heart;
The love of my Savior, there’s nothing so precious,
The friendship of Jesus will never depart.
3 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
A message of love to the poor drunkard’s soul;
The love of my Jesus will snap all his fetters,
The blood of my Savior makes perfectly whole.
4 We have a message, a message from Jesus,
O do not reject Him and forfeit your soul!
The Savior invites you just now to receive Him,
And in His great love to be made fully whole.