Psalms 8:1, 16:2, 18:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures, wandering about seeking His face. I had been pondering the saying we have in America: We are “the land of the free,” because we are the “home of the brave.”

I was unsure of what I thought about that saying. I would say that we are the land of the free because of Christ’s Truth, and His Spirit of liberty (John 8:32 and 2 Corinthians 3:17). I’ve been preaching on patriotic themes for this 250th year anniversary of our Independence, and I’ve often said the American soldier did not “give” us our freedom and liberty: it is the Truth that makes us free, and Liberty comes from Christ’s Spirit.  Besides, the only place in our Bible where I find the word brave is in the expression bravery used in what appears to be an unflattering way: “In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet” (Isaiah 3:18).

He called me over to Joshua 1, and I read verses 6-9:

Joshua 1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Jesus was telling Joshua to be brave, at least in the way we understand the word. Originally, the word described something or someone splendid, fine, a handsome man or woman, someone or something magnificent, impressive, glorious in character and/or bearing.*

It was sometimes used to speak of someone whose behavior was regarded as brash, crude, or unseemly. Our KJV translators were sensitive to this range of meaning and used courage instead. But we say “brave” for what they called “courage” and mean the same thing.

Along the still waters, the Spirit corrected me. Divine gifts of wisdom, strength, and boldness come to the brave. While some will dispute it, I think God saw this quality in Gideon when He chose him to lead His army, similarly to how He saw a commander in Abram (Genesis 18:19; see Judges 6:12). Faith inspires bravery; remember David and Goliath.

The American soldier, unlike the very unexceptional exception, Bergdahl, is inspired by faith in Lincoln’s maxim: “RIGHT MAKES MIGHT!”**

It’s a biblical perspective that upended the world’s notion of power (Proverbs 14:34 says “Righteousness exaltech a nation,” and Zechariah 4:6 tell us it’s “not by ight, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”) The Spirit of holiness and righteousness — indeed RIGHT MAKES MIGHT!

The American soldier has fought believing their cause just, and inspired by this conviction, has displayed extraordinary bravery in battle. Honor to whom honor! In this way it may be said, we are indeed the home of the free because we are the home of the brave: a people committed to the proposition that it is not “might makes right,” but RIGHT MAKES MIGHT.

In the valley, I knelt in the shadow of the Cross of the “man Christ Jesus” Who bravely contended with sin and laid aside His crown to take up a Cross. And O what a Mighty warrior He, Who wrestled death from the grip of sin, and freed mankind from Satan’s power. Shall we not follow Him, knowing He has achieved the victory for us? By faith, shall we not be courageous and bravely take up our cross to follow? Hear Him speak His charge to follow Him: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Where are we going, Lord: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), for when “This gospel of the kingdom” is preached in all the world for a witness to all nations then the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and mixed into my cup His grace sufficient for the day. We walked together into the harvest, goodness and mercy following close.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7d9gmu-shepherds-pasture.html

[* Shakespeare used it this way commonly (See https://www.shakespeareswords.com/Public/GlossaryHeadword.aspx?headwordId=1799&utm_source=chatgpt.com — You’ll notice he used it both to speak of manliness or fierceness in battle, but more often in the sense of magnificence. It’s easy to see the correspondence between these uses. A brave woman might be splendid in appearance and bearing, and a brave man might be splendid in expressions of manly courage.]

[**Abraham Lincoln used this expression as a twist on the older maxim of the tyrant and the bully, “might makes right.” He said it often, and when the speech was reprinted in a pamphlet, he insisted that the line would be presented in all capital letters.]