Monday February 6, 2023

Sorry for my lack of posts (not that anyone is chomping at the bit to read my posts), I have been busy with church stuff and school. Let's get back to crossing the interpretive bridge. If you have not read my last 2 posts, I would encourage you to do so before reading this one, as today builds on those.
Just as a reminder, here are our steps to interpretation:
1. What did the text mean to the original audience?
2. What are the differences between the biblical audience and us?
3. What is the theological principle in this text?
4. How does our theological principle fit with the rest of scripture?
5. How should individual Christians today live out the theological principle?
Joshua 1: 1-9
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; [b]be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may [c]have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may [d]be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will [e]have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Here is the question we are asking today:
3. What is the theological principle in this text?
Today we are looking at the 3rd step in our hermeneutics journey. Obviously I do not have the time to do a deep dive into the theological principles displayed in this passage, but I will touch on a couple of ideas. One of the main theological principles on display here is the idea of promise. God promised Abraham that he would be the father of a nation. Because of the obedience of Moses and Joshua, that promise came into fulfillment...despite some bumps along the way. So, the theological principle is that God keeps His promises...and of course, we see that all throughout scripture, in the O.T. and the N.T. 
The other theological principle I'll point out is that God honors obedience. God tells Joshua to make sure and obey the principles given to him by Moses...and if he does that, God will honor that obedience. This is another principle we see all throughout scripture. 
​What do you think? Can you think of any other theological principles?