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I started out this morning thinking about the phrase, “Be strong and courageous”.  I found it yesterday in my daily Bible reading in 1 Chronicles, where King David is addressing his son, Solomon.  I always thought of this phrase as being said to Joshua, as he took over leadership after Moses’ death.  And it was said then too.  In fact, Joshua is told by God 7 times in Deuteronomy and Joshua to be strong and courageous. (Deuteronomy 31:6,7,23; Joshua 1:6,7,9,18).  In Joshua 1:7, he is actually told to be very courageous.

Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:7-8)

Joshua than shares this admonition from God with his warriors.  After they have won a battle, where God struck down more of the enemy with hailstones than the soldiers did with their swords, and the LORD revealed the hiding place of the 5 warring Kings to Joshua, Joshua has the commanders of his army come out and put their feet on the necks of the kings.  And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” (Joshua 10:25)

Then as David is ready to relinquish his reign as King to Solomon, he uses the same phrase. Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. (1 Chronicles 22:12-13) David uses the phrase again in 1 Chronicles 28 as he gives his farewell discourse.

Be strong and courageous appears yet again when King Hezekiah address his people before they go to battle. And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 32:6-8)

So what does all of this have to do with “A Bird in Hand”?  I was thinking of a clever lead-in to quotes we think we know the origin of, such as I did with “Be strong and courageous.”  So I looked up the quote, “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush” and found its origins traced back to the Bible, which surprised me.  What surprised me even more, was the context of the saying it came from.  This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that the same event happens to all. Also, the hearts of the children of man are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.  For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.  Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and forever they have no more share in all that is done under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 9:3-6)

Why are all of these Old Testament heroes told to be strong and courageous?  Because they have the promise of God to rely on. Joshua has the promise of God that they will conquer the Promised Land.  David has the promise from God that Solomon will build the temple and that his descendants will reign forever.  Hezekiah is commended as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, receiving God’s blessing for doing so.   But they are told they must be careful to keep the commandments of the Lord.  It is for those who keep the ways of the LORD that the promises apply.

 But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)

If you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you have been joined with all those who live through faith in Him.  If the people of the Old Testament were told to be strong and courageous because of the promise of the Messiah, how much greater is the call to you, as you have seen that promise fulfilled?  Not only that, but the promise to us is that God’s power guards our salvation strengthens our assurance.  I am grateful to be a living Gentile dog, rather than a dead lion, who could not keep up the required level of good works.  The bird in my hand is indeed worth much more than numerous birds in the bush!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Diane