Jesus said: ‘The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.’
Reading. Joshua 3:7-17. This passage consolidates Joshua’s leadership of the people as they prepare to cross the Jordan and enter the Promised Land. We should not assume Joshua was a young man for he had been a servant of Moses’ as they crossed the wilderness. (c/f numbers 11:28). He was also a great man of faith having been set aside by Moses and blessed. c/f Deuteronomy 34:9) He would draw on all this preparation before the land was finally settled. In this story we read that he was closely in touch with the Lord and his commands. He would need that intimate contact for the journey that lay ahead.
The Jordan River was at peak flow and standing waiting to cross would have been a challenging situation. In these circumstances the miraculous intervention of the Lord gives a clear demonstration of Joshua’s God given authority. The people cross on dry land just as they had done when fleeing from the Egyptians at the Red Sea. The story shows that there is more going on here than simply an amazing nature miracle. Firstly the Priests have to lead the way. They have to be the ones to first step into the flowing water, a reminder that godly leadership calls for godly risks. Faith calls for the leaders to trust in the directions of God before others are put at risk. Secondly, the priests were to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the water and stand still in the middle while the waters piled up and allowed the people to cross. The Ark was more than a symbol of God’s presence; it was the reminder of the Covenant that had been made between the Lord and their ancestor Abraham centuries before. Here in this Ark was the record of history that the Lord God was always true to his promises: His promises will always be fulfilled. A leader from each tribe was to carry a stone from the river bed, across the Jordan and then build a cairn to be a perpetual reminder of the miraculous crossing. The stones reminded them that they came to this Land through the blessing of God. The cairn was a tangible symbol to each tribe that the presence of God was active in real life situations. The people crossed over under a new leader and a new era had begun but the faithful presence of the Lord remained.
Prayer. Faithful God, great Creator, ever watching over all that you have brought into being. We your humble servants bow before you with thanks and praise at your great goodness and mercy: We thank you for every day of our existence is your gift to us, you give us life and breath. You give us knowledge of yourself which enables us to live each day in hope and expectation. You stand with us in both joy and sorrow. It is your strength which allows us to be the people you have purposed us to be. Help us, gracious Lord to keep our trust in you; Always seeking your leadership and your directions to guide us on our way. In all we do may we at all times honour you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Reading. Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37. The psalmist views life as a journey. For Israel, the people of God, the journey had been filled with twists and turns; from slavery in Egypt and from exile in Babylon. Often the psalmist notes that the people had wandered away into the desert; they were lost from God by disobedience. It was a mighty metaphor describing the long history of failure to obey God’s call to righteous living. However when they cried out, God delivered them and placed them on the straight road again. As we read this psalm in the quiet of our private space perhaps we might also reflect on our own journey with the Lord. By necessity a page like this is done in a hurry with immediate thoughts going into the summary. Later in the week as other thoughts come to mind the mistakes and shortcomings become obvious but by then it is too late. Today’s psalm reflects something of that hurry as the day to day decisions in life are made. Only afterwards are the mistakes so painfully obvious. How often we leave the Lord’s direction out of our planning. Isaiah says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (NRSV). The psalmist though is in no doubt that finally the Lord God will deliver the people into a safe place. As the psalm comes to completion the theme is strongly on deliverance by a powerful God. The picture the psalmist paints is of a bountiful harvest in a settled community. “And there he lets the hungry live, and they establish a town to live in; they sow fields, and plant vineyards, and get a fruitful yield. Psalm 107:36-37 (NRSV). Through all the back-sliding, in the end the Lord delivers the people, it is his faithfulness and mercy which brings them to security. In the psalmist’s view those who have been delivered are to live lives that in every way declare that the Lord is good and his steadfast love endures forever. It challenges us to keep the Lord at the heart of all the decisions we make in life.
Prayer. As this week begins Lord we pray that we may travel its course in harmony with you. Create in us a desire to live at peace with all we meet; give us a desire for a justice which is available to all; and give us hearts for service in your Name, that we may fulfil your perfect will. Through all the busyness that this week will bring, may the peace that passes all understanding flood our hearts and minds. In this week’s turmoil help us not to lose touch with your life giving presence. We ask this through Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Amen
Collect .Almighty Father, you are both just and rich in mercy. So protect us from the distortions of pride, that, being made aware of your loving purposes, we may willingly give ourselves in service to all; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Sunday just passed was “All Saints Day” a time to remember those who have gone from this life and into the glory that Christ has prepared.
They stand before the throne of God, worshipping day and night; and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. Revelation 7:15
Collect. Eternal Father, from whose love neither death nor life can separate us: grant us grace to follow Christ as true saints, that here on earth we may serve you faithfully, and in heaven rejoice with all your saints who ceaselessly proclaim your majesty and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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