Sirach chapter 46
[This chapter is in Orthodox and Catholic Bibles] Joshua is a hero of the faith. Caleb is a hero of the faith. The Judges are heroes of the faith.
The Book of Sirach is recognized as Deuterocanonical Scripture by the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
JOSHUA IS A HERO OF THE FAITH
VERSE 1. Joshua the son of Nun was valiant in war, And was the successor of Moses in prophecies: Who according to his name was made great For the saving of God’s elect, To take vengeance of the enemies that rose up against them, That he might give Israel their inheritance.
NAB translation. Valiant leader was JOSHUA, son of Nun, assistant to Moses in the prophetic office.
valiant in war. For all of time, Joshua will be remembered as a great hero of the faith.
the successor of Moses. Joshua’s greatness began with his 40 years as an assistant to Moses.
Joshua shows us that one need not be quick to try to be in charge.
Rather, the LORD God seems pleased when you are faithful where you are at right now.
VERSE 2. How was he glorified in the lifting up his hands, And in stretching out his sword against the cities!
VERSE 3. Who before him so stood fast? For the Lord himself brought his enemies to him.
VERSE 4. Did not the sun go back by his hand? And didn’t one day become as two?
NAB translation. Did he not by his power stop the sun, so that one day became two?
by his power. Indeed, Joshua son of Nun stopped the sun.
But here’s a question. Did the sun stop due to Joshua’s power? Or due to God’s power?
The text says Joshua stopped the sun by Joshua’s own power.
Our human faith is extraordinarily powerful. We can and should expect nothing less than authentic miracles when we pray.
Sirach 46:4. Did not the sun go back by his hand? And didn’t one day become as two?
John 14:12. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (NIV translation).
Philippians 3:10. that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death,
VERSE 5. He called upon the Most High and Mighty One, When his foes pressed him round about; And the great Lord heard him.
VERSE 6. With hailstones of mighty power He caused war to break violently upon the nation, And in the going down he destroyed those who resisted; That the nations might know his armor, How that he fought in the sight of the Lord; For he followed after the Mighty One.
CALEB IS A HERO OF THE FAITH
VERSE 7. Also in the time of Moses he did a work of mercy, He and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, In that they withstood the adversary, Hindered the people from sin, And stilled the murmuring of wickedness.
He and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb were two of the twelve spies sent to reconnoiter the Promised Land.
Of the twelve, only Joshua and Caleb gave a favorable report to Moses and the nation that they could indeed conquer the Promised Land:
Numbers 13:30. Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let’s go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it!”
he did a work of mercy. That is,
he showed himself loyal (NAB translation)
VERSE 8. And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two alone were preserved To bring them into the heritage, Even into a land flowing with milk and honey.
VERSE 9. Also the Lord gave strength to Caleb, And it remained with him to his old age; So that he entered upon the height of the land, And his seed obtained it for a heritage:
VERSE 10. That all the children of Israel might see That it is good to walk after the Lord.
THE JUDGES ARE HEROS OF THE FAITH
VERSE 11. Also the judges, every one by his name, All whose hearts went not a whoring, And who turned not away from the Lord, May their memorial be blessed.
VERSE 12. May their bones flourish again out of their place, And may the name of those who have been honored be renewed upon their children.
VERSE 13. Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, beloved of his Lord, Established a kingdom, and anointed princes over his people.
VERSE 14. By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, And the Lord visited Jacob.
VERSE 15. By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet, And by his words he was known to be faithful in vision.
VERSE 16. Also when his enemies pressed him round about He called upon the Lord, the Mighty One, With the offering of the sucking lamb.
VERSE 17. And the Lord thundered from heaven, And with a mighty sound made his voice to be heard.
VERSE 18. And he utterly destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians, And all the princes of the Philistines.
VERSE 19. Also before the time of his long sleep He made protestations in the sight of the lord and his anointed, I have not taken any man’s goods, so much as a sandal: And no man did accuse him.
VERSE 20. And after he fell asleep he prophesied, And showed the king his end, And lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, To blot out the wickedness of the people.
after he fell asleep he prophesied. King Saul had asked the witch in Endor to summon Samuel from the dead.
She did so.
Samuel prophesied:
1 Samuel 28:19. Moreover the LORD will deliver Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will deliver the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.
SIRACH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Chronology
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