Week 1 -- Footnotes

The following are footnotes taken from my Study Bible.

Joshua 1:6-8 Footnote:

Many people think that prosperity and success come from having power, influential personal contacts, and a relentless desire to get ahead.  But the strategy for gaining prosperity that God taught Joshua goes against such criteria.  He said that to succeed Joshua must :


1.  Be strong and courageous because the task ahead would not be easy;


2.  obey God's law; and 


3. constantly read and study the Book of the Law -- God's Word.  


To be successful, follow God's words to Joshua.  You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes -- and his opinion lasts forever.




A cross-reference took me to Psalm 1:1-3.  I love this!

"Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:1 Footnote:


God doesn't judge people on the basis of race, sex or national origin.  He judges them on the basis of their faith in him and their response to his revealed will.  Those who diligently try to obey God's will are blessed.  Their happy condition is like healthy, fruit-bearing trees with strong roots, and God promises to watch over them.  God's wisdom guides their lives.  In contrast, those who don't trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. 


There are only two paths of life before us -- God's way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction.  Be sure to choose God's path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.


Psalm 1:2 Footnote:


You can learn how to follow God by meditating on his Word.  Meditating means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read.  It means asking yourself how you should change so you're living as God wants.  Knowing and meditating on God's Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life.  If you want to follow God more closely, you must KNOW what he says.


This "law of the Lord" means all of Scripture; the first five books of Moses, the Prophets, and the other writings.  The more we know of the whole scope of God's Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily decisions.


Psalm 1:3 Footnote:


When Scripture says, "Whatever he does prospers," it does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties.  Nor is it a guarantee of health, wealth, and happiness.  What the Bible means by prosperity is this:  when we apply God's wisdom, the fruit (results or by-products) we bear will be good and receive God's approval.  Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God's Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God.  To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God's Word in our hearts.


I want to be like that tree!

All footnotes in italics taken from Life Application Study Bible, New International Version.