God’s Word at the Center
Joshua 1:8 and Deuteronomy 17:18-20
“This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.” (Joshua 1:8)
The centrality of Scripture in the life of the community of faith is clear and repeated throughout both the Old and New Testaments. In Joshua 1, as the mantle of leadership passes from Moses to Joshua, God commands Joshua to mediate on the “book of the law” daily and to observe its instructions so that he and the people of Israel may prosper and be successful. While Joshua has been by Moses’ side for 40 years, he cannot simply depend on what he has been taught or learned in the past. He must continue each day to ruminate on the Word of God. Here we can see a type of “lifelong learning” or “continuing education” in the meaning and application of Scripture that is necessary for the life of faith and especially for those in leadership.
The “book of the law” is typically understood by interpreters to mean the book of Deuteronomy, as that phrase is the self-referential term found repeatedly in the book. And, indeed, the book of Deuteronomy becomes the most prominent of the books of the Torah/Law across the centuries, as its theology, values, and distinctive terminology can be seen throughout the historical books, the prophetic books, and Proverbs. Deuteronomy is also the book most cited by Jesus, as his message often stands in tension with the Jewish leaders of his day over how to interpret and apply the message of Deuteronomy in light of his understanding of the Kingdom of God.
This recognition of Deuteronomy’s importance is also reflected in the commands to Israel’s future kings in Deuteronomy 17. The monarch is instructed to have the book written for him so it can be read “all the days of his life” providing the core of his understanding of God, faithfulness, and how to reign over the people ensuring that its expectations are implemented. The result of such diligence and attention is the success of the people and the longevity and prosperity of the king’s lineage. Knowing and obeying Scripture is the key. This perspective also puts a check on the monarch. The ruler is not the final authority (or, at least, was not intended to be), as the king is accountable to the Law, just as are all the people of Israel. The king is not above the Law nor can the king ignore it. Instead, Israel’s system of government places the ruler (at least, ideally) under the authority of God’s Law and in collaboration with the “levitical priests” who will help the king interpret and implement it, restricting the power of the monarchy. Throughout the Old Testament, those kings who follow the teachings of the Law, and especially those contained in Deuteronomy, are deemed “righteous” and “faithful”.
As with Joshua, we see the monarch is to read and observe diligently the commands of Scripture throughout one’s life. So with us, the journey is never complete; we never arrive with all knowledge; we must return to Scripture again and again. We must faithfully, consistently, and earnestly continue to grow in our understanding of Scripture so that we may individually and corporately experience all the good things that God has for us, as promised throughout the Word. May we continue to be “Rooted in Christ, Growing in Knowledge” as we turn frequently and thoughtfully to the wisdom and guidance of Scripture.
