Prophetic Word for the 17th March 2025 (With Bible Verses)

Joshua 1:6–8 (KJV)

Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Strength, Obedience, and Daily Alignment With God’s Plan

Joshua 1:6–8 is spoken at a moment of transition. Moses is gone. The promise remains. God does not begin by giving Joshua strategy or military detail; He begins by forming Joshua’s inner posture. This passage teaches that God’s plan is not sustained by talent, charisma, or momentum—but by strength rooted in obedience and continual alignment with His word.

This is a blueprint for anyone stepping into responsibility, calling, or a new season with God.

1. Strength Is a Command Before It Is a Feeling

God tells Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage.” Strength here is not emotional confidence; it is a decision. The Hebrew word chazaq means to be firm, resolute, or established.

Joshua likely did not feel strong. But God commands strength before circumstances change. Strength in God’s plan often begins as obedience to a command, not a surge of emotion.

Application for today:
Do not wait to feel confident before acting. Choose obedience first. Strength often follows movement, not the other way around.

2. Courage Is Required to Carry Inheritance Forward

God connects courage with responsibility: “unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance.” Joshua’s calling was not personal success but faithful stewardship of God’s promise to others.

Leadership in God’s plan requires courage because it carries weight beyond the self.

Application for today:
Ask where your obedience affects others—family, ministry, work, or community. Step forward knowing God equips those He entrusts.

3. Obedience Is the Pathway to Prosperity

God narrows the focus: “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do…” Courage is defined as ** hookup to obedience**, not bold personality.

The Hebrew shamar (“observe, guard, keep”) shows that prosperity flows from careful, intentional obedience—not shortcuts.

Application for today:
Examine your decisions today. Are they shaped by convenience or by God’s instruction? Prosperity follows alignment, not impulse.

4. God’s Word Must Shape Daily Speech and Thought

God instructs Joshua that the Book of the Law must not depart from his mouth. Speaking God’s word keeps the heart aligned and the mind renewed.

The Hebrew hagah (“meditate”) means to mutter, rehearse, or quietly speak. This is daily, rhythmic engagement with God’s truth.

Application for today:
Speak Scripture aloud during your day. Let God’s word guide conversations, decisions, and internal dialogue.

5. Success Comes From God-Ordered Consistency

God promises prosperity and success—but only after obedience, meditation, and faithfulness. The Hebrew tsalach implies advancement that comes from divine enablement, not human striving.

God’s plan succeeds when His people walk steadily, not sporadically.

Application for today:
Focus on consistency, not intensity. Faithfulness today compounds into fruitfulness tomorrow through the Lord Jesus.

Historical Scholarly Support on Joshua 1:6–8

Scholar + Dates + University/Institution	Key Hebrew Word	Emphasis	Summary of View
Rashi (1040–1105, Troyes Rabbinical Academy, France)	chazaq	Commanded strength	Strength is obedience anchored in trust, not emotion.
David Kimhi (1160–1235, Narbonne Rabbinical School, France)	shamar	Careful observance	Prosperity flows from guarded obedience to the Law.
Abraham Ibn Ezra (1089–1167, University of Toledo, Spain)	tsalach	God-given success	True success is advancement enabled by God, not effort alone.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714, University of Oxford, England)	hagah	Continual meditation	God’s word must saturate thought and speech daily.
John Gill (1697–1771, University of Cambridge, England)	derek (way)	Ordered life path	God directs success through ordered obedience.
John Calvin (1509–1564, Academy of Geneva, Switzerland)	shamar	Discipline of faith	Obedience sustains leadership under pressure.
Hugo Grotius (1583–1645, University of Leiden, Netherlands)	torah	Instructional law	God’s law forms moral and spiritual direction.
Johannes Cocceius (1603–1669, University of Leiden, Netherlands)	brit (covenant)	Covenant continuity	Joshua continues covenant faithfulness after Moses.
Henry Hammond (1605–1660, Magdalen College, University of Oxford, England)	hagah	Verbal meditation	Speaking Scripture maintains alignment with God’s will.
Johann Albrecht Bengel (1687–1752, University of Tübingen, Germany)	tsalach	Sustained success	Success is God’s response to faithful obedience.