“Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has fallen; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has fallen” (Josh 23:14).
The phrase “not one word has fallen” rarely appears the Hebrew Bible. Most striking is the fact the phrase is used to describe two of the most significant events in the biblical history of Israel as recorded in the Former Prophets (Joshua – Kings). In Joshua, this phrase serves as the reason for Israel’s successful conquest and inheritance of the Promised Land (Josh 21:45, 23:14). And this phrase also provides the reason for the successful completion of Solomon’s temple in Kings: “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; NOT ONE WORD HAS FALLEN of all His good word, which He promised through Moses His servant” (1 Kings 8:56).
Two of the most significant historical events in the Former Prophets are not attributed to Israel’s good deeds. Rather, they happen because of “all the good words which the LORD your God spoke.” It is worth noting, moreover, that in between these two extremely significant events (the conquest and the construction of the temple) comes a lot of really bad behavior (consider, for example all Israel’s terrible sins in Judges and in Samuel). But despite all these bad deeds God’s good word came to pass.
And this is the case for God’s church as well. Despite all the terrible things the church has done “in Jesus’ name” and despite the many scandals of popular church leaders, God’s good word to the church still stands! “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt 16:18).
So how do we keep ourselves from becoming incapacitated with grief over our personal failures? How do we keep from becoming embittered against the church? How do we resist the daily temptation of becoming consumed with anger over all the antisemitism in the world? We must meditate on God’s good word instead of mulling over all this bad behavior. Israel can fall, church leaders can fall, and we can fall too. But God’s good word will stand forever!
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt 24:35).
