Tuesday 3 September 2024

Psalm 55:16-23

Background
The chapter benefits from being read in one go, if you are able to do that, although we will reflect on it in these notes both today and tomorrow.

In line with typical military strategy, two of Joshua’s men are sent undercover to obtain information about the strength and defences of Jericho. It was viewed as a key bridgehead to be captured in order to conquer the whole promised land. It makes for a good story when somehow their cover is blown and the king of Jericho learns that they have gone to the house of the prostitute Rahab. She then misleads the king’s men into a wild goosechase, and the city gate is shut in verse 7 leaving the reader to guess how the spies will get out.

The surprising answer will only come in verse 15, so the anticipation the reader feels helps draw attention to the intervening verses which form the highlight of today’s passage, as Rahab declares her faith in the God of Israel (as well as suggesting that many others in Jericho will be ready to surrender to Israel). Her example in terms of faith is twice highlighted in the New Testament: Hebrews 11:31 and James 2:25.

The implication of Rahab’s report to the spies is that, even if “all the inhabitants of the land melt in fear before you” (v. 9) is exaggeration, it's widely recognised that the Exodus and the Amorite conquest had evidenced the power of Israel’s God. This leads her to the declaration in the verse quoted at the head of these notes which, in those times when polytheism was the norm, must not be underestimated. Israel had already come to this conclusion about her God (Deuteronomy 4:39) but Rahab – a Canaanite – is the first foreigner to do so.

To Ponder:

• We see in this passage how Rahab’s faith – as demonstrated by her confession and by the risk she took in hiding the spies – resulted from considering all that she had heard reported about God. Do you recognise a similar process of hearing the testimony of others in your own faith development?
• If you are a committed Christian, what is the greatest risk you have taken as a proof of your faith?
• How do you respond to the fact that the spies chose a prostitute as their informant, and that Rahab lied in order to protect them?

Prayer
God of heaven and earth, we pray for those who want to embrace you despite belonging to cultures that do not acknowledge you. Give them the faith and courage of Rahab to stand firm for truth, expecting you to act on their behalf. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd Dr Stephen Mosedale
Stephen is a retired Methodist minister living near Exeter. He served in West Africa and Scotland and was a New Testament tutor at Cliff College.