Sabbath: Ultimate Loyalty: Worship in a War Zone
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 8th of November 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Joshua 5:1-7; Exodus 12:6; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Joshua 8:30-35; Deuteronomy 8:11,14; Hebrews 9:11-12.
Memory Text: “ ‘But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you’ ” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).
This week we are going to look at some key moments during Israel’s presence in the Promised Land, when the people rededicated themselves to the Lord, sometimes in the face of impending danger. Joshua made the seemingly irrational decision to circumcise the Israelites on enemy territory (Joshua 5:1-9); to celebrate the Passover in the face of imminent danger (Joshua 5:10-12); to build an altar and worship the Lord while the conquest was in full swing (Joshua 8:30-35); and to set up the tabernacle of the Lord when seven tribes in Israel had not yet received their inheritance (Joshua 18:1-2).
In our busy lives, we tend to give attention to the urgencies that life throws at us. Very often we neglect to carve out quality time to renew our commitment to God and to pause and express our thankfulness for what He has done and daily continues to do for us. Morning and evening worship, as well as the family altar, seem to be so out of context in our overcharged, convenience-driven, and achievement-oriented life. Yet, deep in our hearts, we all know that the occasions spent together with God and our loved ones are the best investment of our limited time.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 15.
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When my non-religious friends find out that I go to church, they usually tell me something like, “%$@@! ##@@$%!” OK, I shortened it a bit, but I think you get the picture; they think belonging to a church and doing what churches do is unbelievably stupid. For those who stick with me, our discussions often involve spiritual aspects of believing rather than church attendance and worship activities.
Even in this forum, we concentrate on personal spiritual aspects rather than the Church. We sometimes forget the importance of the church community and its role in our spiritual lives.
If I have pre-read this week’s lesson correctly, we will be examining some of the national religious ceremonies that Joshua reinstituted when they entered Canaan. Apart from their spiritual significance, they also provided a sense of national identity and common purpose. It may just be a little reminder that the Gospel mission is not just about Jesus and me, but about the role of our spiritual identity with one another.
It’s common, as you described, for believers to focus on personal spirituality — prayer, Bible study, and relationship with God — while sometimes overlooking the importance of the church community.
The Bible emphasizes both personal faith and communal worship:
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT):
“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…”
This shows that spiritual growth is strengthened by community. Belonging to a church is not just about rituals; it’s about mutual encouragement and accountability.
Even if some see church attendance as “unnecessary” or “stupid,” it provides:
A place to encourage one another spiritually.
A shared identity in Christ.
Opportunities to participate in the mission of God together.
Faith is strongest when personal devotion and corporate worship work together — just as Israel’s ceremonies reminded them of God’s faithfulness and their shared calling.
For Joshua, he had experienced hearing the voice of God and God's powerful acts of leading his people. Joshua's action showed that when he asked the males to be circumsised, celebrate passover during the height of their conquest had complete trust in God.
Challenges (difficulties) are a guaranteed portion of life for all human beings, be it for believers or non-believers. However, for believers, there is solace when they turn to God for worship. How do we face life when we are engulfed with insurmountable challenges from all sides? When the world around us seems to be crumbling under our feet, how should we respond? The Bible records a story of a man who found an answer amidst all the challenges in life.
“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshipped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord”
Job found solace in worship despite all the challenges and trials that he faced. Job chose to worship instead of despair. Job demonstrated that faith is not the absence of challenges but a refusal to walk away from God. In the face of difficulties, God is still in control. Israel chose to worship God amidst the impending real danger because they had a conviction that God had the power to save them. We too should have the conviction of Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him”(Job 13:15). In our darkest hour, we should have the courage to worship God, knowing that beyond the present God holds the future.
Faith that has not been tested cannot be trusted. We worship not because life is easy, but because in all things God is in control.
Thank you
Powerful 🙏🏾
Just as Israel, after years in the wilderness, had to demonstrate faith and obedience before fully entering the Promised Land, so too will God’s people in the time of persecution be tested to reveal whether their faith is truly built on the solid foundation Christ, the Chief Cornerstone. During times of peace, it is easy to profess faith, but persecution will expose what lies beneath the surface.
Joshua’s acts of rededication circumcision, Passover, and altar building were not acts of convenience but of conviction. They signified trust in God’s covenant promises even when surrounded by danger. In the same way, God calls us today to “buy of Him gold tried in the fire” (Revelation 3:18) to develop a faith refined by trial and grounded in His righteousness, not in worldly security.
Israel’s wilderness experience had taught them dependence on God for every need manna for food, water from the rock, and guidance by the pillar of cloud and fire. Likewise, in our spiritual journey, especially in the coming time of trial, faith will be our only sustenance. True faith, built on Christ, will endure when external support systems fail.
In moments of persecution, as in Joshua’s time, worship and rededication will not be luxuries—they will be lifelines. Those who have cultivated daily communion with God—through prayer, worship, and obedience will stand firm when tested, for their roots will run deep in the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ.
Zechariah 4:6 - ”So he said to me, “This is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.” Though given to Zechariah to assure him that the rebuilding of the Temple at Jerusalem will be successfully completed, this Word is also a comfort to all who seek assurance that God will be present in all our struggles.
Yes, believers are called to ‘worship God in Spirit and Truth’ – John 4:24. How can we do this unless the ‘Compass’ we have been given – His Holy Spirit - is carefully maintained and in perfect working order? Finding ourselves in the ‘spiritual warzone’ of life every minute of every day, we need to be able to hear and follow Him explicitly.
God’s strategy uses the spiritual and physical aspects of life to benefit mankind; most importantly, though, is our spiritual wellbeing. God's 'strategy' is to bring all conflicts to their proper/spiritually correct conclusion.
Ultimately, success is measured not by manifest physical ‘might and power’, but by His Spirit decides to resolve the conflict to the benefit of everything involved – 1 Cor.2:13-15; 1 John 5:20; Eph.4:18; John 8:47.
I love this
Thank God for His mercy and love. God is the ultimate reason for our existence. We can only be thankful for every single thing that happens to us. Thank You, Lord.
How long does it take to 1. revover from circumsion 2. prepare for passover and celebrate it 3. gather stones and erect altar and to perform the rituals 4. and the preparation and celebrating of erecting tabernacle?
Not as much time that it takes to prepare for pagan holidays!